Got back Wednesday from my '57 roadtrip to Florida. 3820 miles total, a few less than I had anticipated. As mentioned in another thread, my first stop was the Fort Worth Goodguys where I met hamber Redzulla. After spending 4 hours to get thru the dfw area Friday night, I went thru Shrevesport to Baton Rough where I visited with a '57 forum member. Then on to Gulfport where I met up with the '57 forum owner. From there my next stop was Tampa at my son's, then we both spent the week in Venice at my sister's. My furthest stop was a friend from growing up in Mass., now living in Naples. Gas mileage for the entire trip was 21.9, which I thought was pretty good considering I spent roughly 8 1/2 hours in 5 traffic jams and freeway accident closures, where I went no more than 4 miles in an hour. (NO overheating!!) Car problems were better than I could possibly have hoped for.........one taillight bulb out, one shock absorber loose that was fixed at my friend's in Baton Rouge, and one gas tank vent tube clogged with gas., caused when I topped off the tank (I knew better). I guess a near miss (?) coming home..........my last stop was a '57 forum stop in Birminghan, Alabama. Yes, the city that was just ripped apart by tornados! My friend told me I had no way of getting home around the storm that was on it's way, and suggested I holed up there for a few days. Glad I didn't. He's fine, btw, nearest tornado was 3 1/2 miles. I only hit light rain for a few hours after I left his place. I left my son's place in Tampa at noon on Monday, went the longer way thru Birmingham where I visited for 4 hours, and could have been home Wed. at 4:30, but my wife called when I was going thru Oklahoma to tell me it started snowing hard in Amarillo, so I holed up for 3 hours in a casino waiting to see if there was snow and ice buildup. There was not, so I came home. So, roughly 1600 miles the last two days....not bad for an old man in an old car I think! Gotta get these cars out on the road.........I had a constant smile on my face for 13 days!! Literally got thunbs ups, horn toots, short and long conversations from hundreds of people. Any Hambers happen to see me on the road?
Good! They should be driven, awesome to see someone using their car how it should be used Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
What a great trip! Glad everything went smoothly. We holed up in Bradenton Fla. For the winter. Was in Venice many times in the last few weeks. Sorry I missed you. With the traffic in these areas it be easy to do. Crazy drivers down here Didn’t see many Hotrod’s on the road for the four months I’ve been here. I wouldn’t like driving mine in this madhouse either. Show us some pictures of your 57.
Sounds like you had a ball. It's always a blast to see peoples reaction when they find you are far from home and driving it not trailering it. My longest was a month and 8,000 mi
...that's a trip "they can't take that away from you",...that's what I always say after a good trip/ride some where in an old car,...glad yours went well, what's the drivetrain in yer Ford?...do you run an overdrive trans?..that's great mileage and a nice lookin car.
Thanks for all the comments guys, and thank you Jeff for posting the pics. I'll post a few after I get them downloaded. Phat rat: Yes, lots of surprised looks, particularly in Fl, when I told them I drove it. Wow, 8,000...that's one I won't beat. Rusty1.......off topic Lincoln, yes, with overdrive, and 3:50 rear gears for highway cruisin'. Petejoe:.....went thru Brandenton several times on I75 (275?). Yes, crazy drivers, and almost no classics on the streets anywhere . Coming into Tampa on 75 when that cement truck rolled, driver killed, closed freeway, That was almost 1/2 of the 8 1/2 hours in traffic jams I mentioned.
That trip was from home to Lake Tahoe, Sacramento, Tampa and back home. I was younger than you back in 06 though only 62.
WOW .... sounds like a great time for you, thanks for telling us about it. 21 MPG is awesome under those conditions!
I enjoy the road way more than the show! I'm jealous buddy I'm just about ready and I've got a lot of making up to do after last year
Lloyd:"I enjoy the road way more than the show!"..........Yep, as much as I love shows, I was itching to hit the road for the long haul, so that's mainly why I didn't stay for Saturday at Goodguys. Probably should have stayed, looks like they had good weather and twice the cars they had on Friday. I just noticed this is now a featured thread! awesome, my first I think.
The Jalopy Journal
