Month: August 2009

It’s that time again: The Monte Shelton NW Classic Rally.

My Dad & I are in Vancouver, WA, just across the river from Portland, where the Monte Shelton Northwest Classic Rally will begin early tomorrow morning. Now you know why I was in such a hurry to fix the Jaguar after the Father-Son road trip finished a bit over a week ago!

We drove down this afternoon, accompanied along for part of the journey by John Morrow aka “Mad Dog” right here on this website, and his daughter Olivia. They’re driving his freshly restored 66 E-type Coupe. I’ll have more pictures soon, provided I can get and stay online. The Internet access at this Hilton in Vancouver is awful, and we’ll be in Central Oregon tomorrow night and I have no idea if I’ll be able to get online.

Wish us luck, and yes, we’ll try to stay on course!

2009 Father-Son Road Trip, Day 10: The Southern Oregon Coast

After yesterday’s long slog into the night we were pretty slow to get moving in the morning. I was actually up pretty early but just didn’t have the heart to wake Nick, who was sleeping like the proverbial log. Instead I went outside in the fog, packed more ice around the starter of the 65E and cared for its other needs such as checking and filling oil, looking for loose bolts (don’t want to have a brake caliper come loose like last summer in Idaho!) Meanwhile Nick slept.

Sleeping Nick.

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Breaking News: The New Starter WORKS!

I realize I have yet to finish writing the story of our Father-Son Road Trip, but I have a major announcement to make. After a week of hot, difficult work; truly an epic mechanical struggle, I’m happy to share this quick video of the first test-firing of my replacement starter. Now you can all join me in a brief Happy Dance! 😀

Now that this major milestone has been passed, this hurdle has been cleared, I promise I’ll wrap up the story of our road trip as soon as possible.

Happy Dance! Happy Dance! Happy Happy Happy Dance!

2009 Father-Son Road Trip Day 9, Part 2: The Northern California Coast.

Nick & I wander out of the Blackhawk collection a couple of hours later than we expected. We had hoped to make it almost to Oregon, but given that it was already afternoon this was unlikely to happen. I’d been offered a place to sleep by a friend in far northern California, but unless we took to the Interstates, there was just no way we could make it that far before very late tonight. Given the geography and scenic potential of the coast roads, we just cant fathom going inland. We decide to just drive, and see where we end up. Lunch is on our minds. We hop in the car and I lay out the route possibilities to Nick on the map… he wants to see San Francisco and drive across the Golden Gate Bridge, so that’s where we go.


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Continue reading “2009 Father-Son Road Trip Day 9, Part 2: The Northern California Coast.”