I, along with my usual support staff, am doing the California Melee, a three day, 1,000 mile romp around the back roads of Northern California. The field is pre-1974, and mostly European. A gorgeous '54 Jag, a '55 T-Bird and my '56 Vette are the oldest. Day one is in the books, car ran great. Some pics from the start at the Presidio in San Francisco. More to follow. https://meleerallies.com/ View attachment 5515379 View attachment 5515381
Today's route was not the most picturesque, mostly a slog through the Napa Valley weekend tourist traffic, past Lake Berryessa, lunch in Clear Lake, then a push through the Central Valley to get to the start of tomorrow's drive over Highway 36, a famous, windy, mostly empty two laner that runs over the coastal mountains to the Pacific coast. https://www.dangerousroads.org/north-america/usa/4666-california-route-36.html One notable roadside attraction, the 'Old Man with a Pipe' rock formation just outside of Napa. http://tspauld.blogspot.com/2010/11/napas-old-man-rock-on-monticello-road.html
Thanks for tuning in. Well it appears the fun may be over, or just beginning depending on how you look at it. Rain came overnight, with a forecast of rain all day. Not the best way to traverse a curvy mountain road. On the bright side, my car looks good wet. My wipers work and I have RainX. Last night I pulled a rear wheel off to check a brake that's been locking under hard braking. Sure enough, gear oil. Add to that I may be the only car with all drums (the Tbird has discs). Other parking lot wrenching last night, including electrics on some Britt stuff and others I can't show. One of the Corvairs lost the muffler on a bumpy dirt road. Looks like they fixed it, or not. The Ford GT40 bailed out. It, an AMX, a Cobra and a few other have non-rain tires.
@blowby ,I clean brake shoes with 100 grit sandpaper. Use brake clean and disposable towels to clean drum. It will get you back on the road. New seal install at home.
You went right by me, The Old Man With The Pipe is a few miles from me. That tow yard in Pope Valley belongs to a friend- you should have seen it before they cleaned it up lol...
I thought of this song and show while reading this thread. I remember people saying how rough those cars rode, when I had use of my customers 58 Vette, we drove around for hours and enjoyed every moment. Route 66 Season 1 Opening and Closing Credits and Theme Song - YouTube
Mine rides great. It could use some help in the brake and steering department for vigorous cornering, which I plan to address, but for ride quality I have no issues. Home at last.
Thanks. Didn't have any sandpaper but I did clean the shoes and drum with brake clean. Things got very interesting in the rain the next day. The RR wheel lockup went away, as did most of the brakes when they got soaked. On first application coming into the corners (all 1,000 of them!), nothing, After 2-3 seconds of hard pressure they would slow me down enough, with no emergency situations thank goodness. All that I can live with, I don't normally drive it in the rain. I knew the forecast but had also paid $500 for the privilege of two sleazy hotel nights and a banquet dinner in Sausalito ( tonight).
Won a big trophy, my first car trophy since.. well ever. My wife was very disappointed as you can see.
I had put new wiper refills on but didn't pay attention to the loose metal hinges in the arms. Driver's side rubbed scratches in my otherwise perfect windshield. Not in my line of sight but depressing none the less. Today I used a soft cloth wheel on a 3/8" drill with just metal polishing compound, made it a lot better. Might get some gl*** compound, or just leave it as a reminder of the trip, and that I'm a dope for not checking first.
The Jalopy Journal
