Classic Cars in the Time of Covid or, I Prefer Coronavirus Without the "Virus"
Tired of waiting for Covid to pass while you finally read
those classic novels? Ah, an intellectual. Then you won’t be able to relate to this; for your sake, stop reading this now and return to War and Peace, you’ll find it more interesting and with better grammar.
You’ll be able to relate to this if you’ve spent the last month
trying to get garage projects done while your three-year-old entertained
themselves by hammering dents into your wife’s car with the tool he stole (to
be like dad, of course).
trying to get garage projects done while your three-year-old entertained
themselves by hammering dents into your wife’s car with the tool he stole (to
be like dad, of course).
Confession, I probably feel less pent-up than most of you.
We were one of the last to go on a vacation in February, visiting San Diego.
We were one of the last to go on a vacation in February, visiting San Diego.
I was still nerding on the Chicago, “Century of
Progress”, World’s Fair (see last blog) so it was a pleasure to visit
Balboa Park, which housed the California Pacific International Exhibition in
1935; the Exhibition was in the same spirit as the Chicago Century of Progress,
even borrowing some of the exhibits from the recently-closed Chicago Fair. Many
of the Exhibition buildings remain in Balboa Park.
Progress”, World’s Fair (see last blog) so it was a pleasure to visit
Balboa Park, which housed the California Pacific International Exhibition in
1935; the Exhibition was in the same spirit as the Chicago Century of Progress,
even borrowing some of the exhibits from the recently-closed Chicago Fair. Many
of the Exhibition buildings remain in Balboa Park.
The Ford Building and The Firestone Singing Fountains, Baja California and the West Postcard Collection. MSS 235. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego.
A highlight is The Ford Building, which now houses the Air
and Space Museum. But if you squint a little, and review some old photos,
Ford’s art deco offering to the Exhibition jumps out at you. And there
are still treasures inside; notably, in the central-courtyard, where several
beautiful 1930’s Fords are parked next to the V8 logo-shaped fountain.
and Space Museum. But if you squint a little, and review some old photos,
Ford’s art deco offering to the Exhibition jumps out at you. And there
are still treasures inside; notably, in the central-courtyard, where several
beautiful 1930’s Fords are parked next to the V8 logo-shaped fountain.
And no warm-blooded car man can walk past the Curtiss motor
display without thinking, “That is one of the prettiest things I’ve ever
seen.”
display without thinking, “That is one of the prettiest things I’ve ever
seen.”
Some men say that about women… I suppose my wife should be
happy.
happy.
Returning from San Diego, I found myself heading to the
Salem Roadster Show in early March. I brought one of my whelps, and met up with
a buddy, Ryan, who brought one of his. We had no idea we’d soon be (asked/told?)
to avoid each other indefinitely.
There were some great roadsters, but an unexpected highlight
was seeing a 1930s Alfa Romeo 8C race car which the owner had rescued from a
South American junk yard. I chatted with the owner for a minute or two;
despite my enthusiasm he didn’t offer to let me drive it.
was seeing a 1930s Alfa Romeo 8C race car which the owner had rescued from a
South American junk yard. I chatted with the owner for a minute or two;
despite my enthusiasm he didn’t offer to let me drive it.
The rumors were growing regarding Covid, Coronavirus, Chinese Virus, Wuhan Virus, or whatever it is going by this week. There were
many hand-sanitizing stations around the fairground buildings.
many hand-sanitizing stations around the fairground buildings.
It’s funny how time and age change things. I would guess that
some of the hot-rodders at the Salem show would have probably been the same individuals to
disregard and ignore Covid in their youth.
some of the hot-rodders at the Salem show would have probably been the same individuals to
disregard and ignore Covid in their youth.
One minute your drinking beer and drag-racing hoopty cars
illegally on country roads at midnight, then suddenly your sanitizing your
hands during breaks from your reclining lawn chair at an indoor car-show. Time
flies.
illegally on country roads at midnight, then suddenly your sanitizing your
hands during breaks from your reclining lawn chair at an indoor car-show. Time
flies.
Fads change too. Leaving the Salem fairgrounds I nearly
crashed braking when I spotted an old-school speed shop, Performance Racing
Equipment.
crashed braking when I spotted an old-school speed shop, Performance Racing
Equipment.
Inside, it was everything I’d hoped it’d be. Hot rod parts
everywhere; you had to step over them, the walls were covered, rows were
overfilled, and more stuff was hanging from the ceiling.
everywhere; you had to step over them, the walls were covered, rows were
overfilled, and more stuff was hanging from the ceiling.
As I desperately tried to keep my three-year old from
destroying something, I talked to the owner, asking him how the speed shop was
faring in 2020. The sad response, not amazing. Seems he’s seen
better business years. I can only imagine what the Covid shutdown is
doing to him. When they’re open again, let’s make sure we spend some money
at these places that we don’t want to see go-away. They’ll need it.
destroying something, I talked to the owner, asking him how the speed shop was
faring in 2020. The sad response, not amazing. Seems he’s seen
better business years. I can only imagine what the Covid shutdown is
doing to him. When they’re open again, let’s make sure we spend some money
at these places that we don’t want to see go-away. They’ll need it.
I did make a small purchase that day. I’m saving my new
Performance Racing Equipment shirt for a special event; you know, the sort of
event where the rest of the family is wearing buttons and collars. They wear
what they think looks nice, why shouldn’t I get to do the same?
Performance Racing Equipment shirt for a special event; you know, the sort of
event where the rest of the family is wearing buttons and collars. They wear
what they think looks nice, why shouldn’t I get to do the same?
The same day I went to the Roadster Show, I saw a little ’34
Ford Legends race car body for sale nearby for $100. I cannot
remember why I bought it, especially since it had been cut in two (down the
middle of the car), but I did. Guess I really wanted a roadster after the
show.
Ford Legends race car body for sale nearby for $100. I cannot
remember why I bought it, especially since it had been cut in two (down the
middle of the car), but I did. Guess I really wanted a roadster after the
show.
Several days later we were being threatened with “shelter-in-place” draconian mandates from the government. Another buddy, Andrew, and I were getting ready for a weekend
motorcycle ride and we started joking that it’d be like Mad Max.
motorcycle ride and we started joking that it’d be like Mad Max.
I laid my bike down on the ride, tearing up my left leg a
little (jeans don’t protect at all; I’ve now ordered kevlar riding pants with
knee pads). Several nights later the original Mad Max
was on t.v. at work, and I saw the scene where he wrecks a motorcycle and tears
up his left leg. Hm, maybe we were a little too Mad Max.
little (jeans don’t protect at all; I’ve now ordered kevlar riding pants with
knee pads). Several nights later the original Mad Max
was on t.v. at work, and I saw the scene where he wrecks a motorcycle and tears
up his left leg. Hm, maybe we were a little too Mad Max.
I found myself buying cheap Chinese parts (radiator, etc.)
to repair the bike. They’re all right, saved me hundreds, but don’t think
you get to bolt the cheap parts right in! I spent several days with the
grinder, drill, etc. to install my Chinese radiator, clutch lever, blinkers,
etc.. Hopefully all the Covid died before I touched the packages.
to repair the bike. They’re all right, saved me hundreds, but don’t think
you get to bolt the cheap parts right in! I spent several days with the
grinder, drill, etc. to install my Chinese radiator, clutch lever, blinkers,
etc.. Hopefully all the Covid died before I touched the packages.
The little Legends car also became a Covid project.
Using parts from around the house, I transformed it into a little push
car for my kids. My daughter Grace was not happy when I sacrificed her
old bike for the front wheels (she has another bike).
Using parts from around the house, I transformed it into a little push
car for my kids. My daughter Grace was not happy when I sacrificed her
old bike for the front wheels (she has another bike).
I did buy a ’34 grill shell for $100 to finish it off.
I felt a little guilt for Craigslisting during Covid but the seller and I didn’t hug, kiss, or sneeze on each other. I welded in a closet shelf for the grill; I think it turned out all right (for the price).
I felt a little guilt for Craigslisting during Covid but the seller and I didn’t hug, kiss, or sneeze on each other. I welded in a closet shelf for the grill; I think it turned out all right (for the price).
I thought about painting “Covid” on the doors of the Legend car…
but I think I might wait until this pandemic has passed. Some people have
went a little nutty in isolation; if I painted “Covid” on the door someone might
set the car on fire and dance gleefully around it. It might be my wife, she’s getting a little tired of social distancing.
but I think I might wait until this pandemic has passed. Some people have
went a little nutty in isolation; if I painted “Covid” on the door someone might
set the car on fire and dance gleefully around it. It might be my wife, she’s getting a little tired of social distancing.
Plus, I have a real car to work on! I’ve spent enough time on a push car.
The Locost is coming along well. I got the brakes and
hydraulic clutch mounted, plumbed and working this week.
hydraulic clutch mounted, plumbed and working this week.
I used Wilwood master cylinders. Now I know why you see so
many Wilwood stickers at hot rod shows; for every Wilwood product you buy, you get
four stickers. Anyone want a Wilwood sticker or three dozen?
many Wilwood stickers at hot rod shows; for every Wilwood product you buy, you get
four stickers. Anyone want a Wilwood sticker or three dozen?
Bleeding the brakes went as well as it always does. I
tried the gravity method, the hose in brake fluid method, and the pumping the
pedals one-thousand times method (and my wife got to try this one too). Nothing worked.
tried the gravity method, the hose in brake fluid method, and the pumping the
pedals one-thousand times method (and my wife got to try this one too). Nothing worked.
Finally, I took the valves at the calipers out, took the
diaphragm out of the reservoirs, and blew some air in the breather hole in the
cap of the reservoir. Instantly brake fluid flowed out of the calipers. I
put the valves back in, and had a nice hard pedal. It took two minutes, after countless
hours, to finally bleed those (censored) brakes. Pressure bleeding for the win.
diaphragm out of the reservoirs, and blew some air in the breather hole in the
cap of the reservoir. Instantly brake fluid flowed out of the calipers. I
put the valves back in, and had a nice hard pedal. It took two minutes, after countless
hours, to finally bleed those (censored) brakes. Pressure bleeding for the win.
I was a little surprised with Wilwood, for being a
higher-quality option they didn’t provide the lock-nuts for the plungers, and
only provided zip ties for holding the hoses on the remote reservoirs. Normally this wouldn’t be a big deal because I could stop by Ace Hardware and
buy some clamps and nuts, but because they are “non-essential” I was
a little frustrated.
higher-quality option they didn’t provide the lock-nuts for the plungers, and
only provided zip ties for holding the hoses on the remote reservoirs. Normally this wouldn’t be a big deal because I could stop by Ace Hardware and
buy some clamps and nuts, but because they are “non-essential” I was
a little frustrated.
Thankfully (sort of) I had an essential reason to go to
the parts store; not driving caused a dead battery in the family wagon.
the parts store; not driving caused a dead battery in the family wagon.
Still, the parts store employees looked at me, through their new
plexiglass counter-shields, like I was trying to kill them by entering the
store. Imagine if I’d only been buying two nuts and some clamps. Come on
Wilwood; I’m sure corporate figured out you’d save $5k per year by not
including the nuts and clamps, but I don’t want to go to the store for two nuts
and clamps.
plexiglass counter-shields, like I was trying to kill them by entering the
store. Imagine if I’d only been buying two nuts and some clamps. Come on
Wilwood; I’m sure corporate figured out you’d save $5k per year by not
including the nuts and clamps, but I don’t want to go to the store for two nuts
and clamps.
So the Locost steers, and stops now! Time to make it
run.
run.
Sounds easy, but I’m finding it’s more complicated than it
sounds, like everything. Just designing the system to feed fuel to the
carbs took me six hours! I’ll probably install it just as fast.
Then, to really shift gears in to a new chapter, I repainted the door… I mean, shop table. Now I’m ready.
I bet it takes me six months to get the Locost running.
Hopefully I don’t need to recreate any more Mad Max scenes when it’s
ready for its first test drive. But aren’t all first drives of the project car
kinda like a scene from Mad Max?
Post Script: If you’re interested in updates between the blog updates, I’ve started an Instagram account VintageandClassiccars, here’s a link.
