Heidi Hetzer and her 1930 Hudson now arrived La USA

meetheidialongtheway

The Hudson Essex Terraplane Club has been GREAT. Heidi was very upset the Colorado Springs meeting 3 weeks ago just couldn’t be fit into the route. It would have taken giving up on Canada entirely. I must mention Jon Battle, who has answered calls of help, made contacts and has been super helpful throughout the past months Heidi has been in North America. Thank you Jon!

Heidi does not think Canadian mechanics are superior at all (bad translation job, my fault). Rather, she ran into some problems on the west coast, just bad luck probably, when repair shops declined her business for fear of liability issues if they mess up. Heidi of course finds it utterly ridiculous to think that she would stop her round the world adventure in order to take the time to pursue a law suit because some repair goes wrong!

Thank you so much everyone for your positive feedback! Since the Hemmings online publication a few days ago Heidi has been flooded with invitations from all over, even Peru and Argentina! She will visit with as many people as she can. Meeting people has been the best part of her trip.

Marla, Heidi’s daughter in Germany

Jon B

Wow, I've never heard of a mechanic declining work for "liability issues".  Most people have insurance against that sort of thing.  Sounds like they were simply ignorant of old cars and needed to come up with a plausible reason to refuse Heidi!

I certainly hope we Hudsonites can arrange suitable "welcoming parties" along Heidi's route.  I personally spoke to a Hudson gentleman who lives in the "upper peninsula" of Michigan last night on the telephone.  He says that he and several people hope soon to join Heidi at a certain restaurant whose name is similar to the car Heidi is driving!  I am in the Washington, DC area and hope we can assemble a small gathering of people, to cheer her on.  (Of course this will depend upon what day of the week she comes through here, since many of us are at work during the day!)

Jon B

Despite various mechanical problems (the latest of which was a bad headgasket), Heidi is pressing onward.

After laying over for a few days at the Canadian / North Dakota border, she now seems to have reached Marquette, Michigan (which had been on her route).  My understanding, from talking to an H-E-T "Yooper"* is that a bunch of Hudson enthusiasts were going to join her for dinner at (what else?) Hudson's Restaurant in that city.

Anyway, that's how I heered it.



*--Resident of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan

ken1962

Lovely to see both the ford model A club and Hudson club catch up with Heidi - lovely photos of hudsons and fords on Heidi's Instagram - cheers ken

Jon B

As of this morning Heidi is in Ypsilanti, Michgan, and I believe she is going to visit (or is currently visiting) the Hudson Museum there.  Then there is a possibility that she will visit Henry Ford Museum, but I don't know her exact itinerary.  If you're in the area, look for a blue 1930 Hudson sedan driving by....

Jon B

Heidi appears to be at the GM Renaissance Center in downtown Detroit!  Not too far from where "Hudo" was born 85 years ago!  There was some talk a few days ago that she might meet with the president of GM.

ken1962

Poor Heidi has mangled her hand and lost some fingers - I think the trip may be on hold until further notice. See her Instagram for further details - warning that the photos are very bad - wishing her a speedy recovery - really sad for her injuries - just terrible and so sad to happen to a wonderful old girl

Kdancy

Gosh that's bad! How did she do that?

keithfullmeryahoocom

There is one TOUGH woman.   My hats off to her.  Hope she recovers fast and completely...k

Glowplug

Sad just featured her journey in our chapter newsletter http://south-texas-hudson.org/index_files/September 2015 Vo l 5 Issue 9_ South Texas Newsletter.pdf

ken1962

Certainly a wake up call that poking around in the engine bay of any car is dangerous and we often forgot that the hood is a safety barrier you should not open without a clear mind

SuperDave

So what happened ?

Glowplug

Her blog notes she had a rag in her hand and was wiping oil drops. The wind caught the tag and it pulled it with her fingers into an accessory drive. The blog pictures shown the rag wrapped in the drive and blood all round. The translation of the blog is crude but that appears to me the noted cause...

meetheidialongtheway

I talked to her more about her feelings than about how it happened exactly. She was trying to get to the bottom of an oil leak that's been bothering her for some time. The Hudson was up on an auto lift, the engine running. She was wiping below to get a better look, when the rag got pulled in with her hand. Heidi yanked her arm back.
I don't know how she managed to photo document everything considering the circumstances, but that's Heidi.

A Canadian friend is joining her for a trip to Niagara Falls this weekend and a few days beyond. Presumably he will be at the wheel. Then the doctor wants to take another look on monday in London, Ontario, where the accident happened. My brother Dylan will then ride with Heidi to Boston. The route is as yet unclear.

From there everything will continue as planned. East Coast, hopefully Cuba (does anyone have any contacts, that can get Heidi and Hudo on a ferry to Cuba in November?) If not Cuba, then Miami to Lima on a container vessel, skipping Mexico and Central America. This is sad but probably wise.

Thank you all for your kind words and offers of help. Heidi is a very strong person. A hug from her son and she'll be as good as new!
May I say Hudsonly, even if I don't own one myself?
Marla, Heidi's daughter in Germany

keithfullmeryahoocom

Absolutely amazing that she is continuing the trip.  Just a small set-back for her.   I'd be crying like a 4-year-old, sending the car back home in a box and begging for an airplane ticket...k

Uncle Josh

Spotted her driving E on RT 28 in Indian Lake, NY today at 1 pm

Jon B

YIKES!  She headed right down Rte. 30, through Amsterdam, and is now on her way towards Brattleboro, Vt.  Awful sorry, Unk, I was distracted today (preparing for local AACA show tomorrow, and doing paid work!) and never thought to check her GPS.  I would have alerted you had I but known.

For everyone who doesn't know, Heidi's GPS system is viewable at 

http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0d41tMeR3k9Q93Vlz4U0ZDZYed2evRjN3

Uncle Josh

Egad! She went right by my house...And if I'd been there I wouldn't have seen her at all.

Jon B

Apparently Heidi Hetzer is now on the island of Nantucket!  Heads-up if you live in southern New England, she may be driving past your home any day now!  (See the link to her GPS, above).

Uncle Josh

There was an old man from Nantucket

Who kept all his cash in a bucket

His daughter named Nan

Ran away with a man

And as for the bucket, Nantucket

bharbrecht

Guten Tag Heidi!

Wie geht's?  Hoffentlich besser. Im Winter ( Nov. bis April) wohnen wir in Lake Wales, Florida - in der Naehe von Winterhaven. Wir besitzen einige alte Hudsons u. sind Mitglieder der Florida Hudson Verein. Wir haetten es gern, Sie kennenzulernen.  Wir haben ein extra Schlafzimmer  wo Sie bei uns schlafen koennen. Unser Telefon Nummer in Florida ist 863-439-5620. Die cell Nummer ist 307-1730.  Wir sind Amerikaner aber ich war Deutschlehrerin 31 Jahre.  Gute Reise.  Bob u. Ruth Harbrecht

t

bharbrecht

Fehler : cell Nummer ist 219-307-1730.  Bob u. Ruth Harbrecht

Jon B

The current plan is to have Heidi Hetzer and her car "Hudo" at the Hudson-Essex-Terraplane booth in the Red Field, at the Hershey AACA meet in Hershey, Pa., Oct. 7-10.  The space number is RNE 24-25.  For further information call Jon Battle at (540) 364-1770. 

Jon B

Heidi Hetzer is currently in Raleigh, NC and plans to drive to Wilmington, NC today.  From there she will work her way down the coast, ending up at Hilton Head Island for a big car show there this coming weekend.  If you live nearby and plan to attend the show, be sure to look her up when you get there!

Incidentally, Heidi is in need of one or more pairs of brake shoes for her 1930 Hudson.  Only 1930 and 1931 are interchangeable, it seems.  The mounting holes in the shoes have become elongated over time, making adjustment very difficult. (The lining itself is not a concern; this can be easily replaced.)  If you have -- or know of -- any brake shoes to fit this car please contact me at XXXdetailed@verizon.net (remove the XXX before mailing).  Thank you!

--Jon B.

Turbo26T

• 11/10/15  Heidi and her car are in Clover SC ,after some engine trouble in Wilmington NC. David Ifft went to wilmington and hauled the car back to his shop in Clover.. Seems it lost another head gasket and further inspection showed some piston damage as well. He has the heads off and is trying to find 2 pistons. He also has a complete '29 engine of his own at his shop. He also is doing some brake work ,adjusters,and a general checkover and maintainence..
  
• I met Heidi and what a hoot she is...!
• Will update as soon as I get a chance to visit Daves shop again
• Stan

Rui

Heidi: Im stunned with your adventure. Way to go!

We wish you all the best and please tell the bolts on the old Hudson to hang on.

Be safe.

Regards from Portugal.

Jon B

Heidi's journey is temporarily on hold while a Hudson expert in South Carolina remedies a number of accumulated problems, caused by well-meaning people who were not aware of ancient technology. 

For example, someone used silicone sealant around the oil pan gasket.  When the engine was recently opened up, bits of silicone were everywhere, including clogging the small oil holes in the connecting rods.

The last person to button up the engine (before the Hudson expert opened it) neglected to pre-fill the dipper tray with oil.  As a result most of not all connecting rods must be replaced.

The oil pickup tube had broken off inside the engine, but no one had noticed, until now.

Someone who worked on the brakes, got the adjusting bolt in backwards (I may have the incorrect name for the component) making it impossible to adjust the brakes correctly.

At some point the wet clutch was replaced with a dry one.  There are some clutch problems, but it's not clear whether that was caused by the dry clutch, or whether the dry clutch would have been better (under adverse conditions) as the original wet one.

And so on.

That the car has made it this far is a tribute to the stamina of the car itself and especially to Heidi and her amazing level of energy!

Geoff

Truly amazing the car has lasted as long as it has.   The original motor blew apart in Australia, and the replacement  one that was fitted I suspected was not  done properly when I worked on it here  in N.Z.  It had a massive oil leak form the accessory  housing, due to no gaskets fitted, and the brakes were virtually non-existent.  I was unable to do much apart from fit new gaskets, and adjust the brakes, due to time contstarints. 

Altogether the wrong car to use for this type of adventure.   A Super Six would have coped much better.   

Glowplug

Those who helped in the past were surely the only ones available that juncture. Not knowing the experience of those who assisted, my inclination would be relief there was assistance. We all are at risk of the missteps of our guardian angels. But, with that said our best support to those Angels might be personal contact concerning error.

Jon B

The replacement engine you speak of, Geoff, came from Germany I believe.  They charged Heidi a GREAT amount of money to rebuild it, and (as I understand it) didn't do that great a job.  Mostly because they simply don't understand the engine.  So it's a miracle it made it as far as it did.

Because Hudo is absolutely dead in the water right now, David Ifft is under less pressure than many before him (including you, Geoff) to get if fixed and out the door in a matter of hours.  He is carefully going over everything from engine to clutch to brakes.  When finished, he will carefully break in the engine.  He has even made up one complete spare rod with piston to travel with the car -- ready to mount, should the need arise.  One thing that will REALLY help, will be to have the car driven at the speeds at which it was originally intended to be driven:  40-45 mph!