Another Model A adventure starting soon

[Slotblog]

Back in Oct-Nov 2014, I purchased a 1930 Tudor in Oregon and drove it back home to Atlanta. That trip was blogged and chronicled in several places, including an article in a summer 2015 issue of the AACA's 'Antique Automobile' magazine.

The trip was so much fun that I kept looking to do something similar again and now I will be doing so. Found a very nice 1930 Coupe on Hemmings Marketplace last week and made the deal. The car is in Connecticut and yes, I'm driving it home, this time without a chase car as this vehicle is in much better condition than was the Tudor. Rebuilt Model B engine with full-pressure oiling, FSI electronic ignition, the Lincoln drum hydraulic brake conversion, recent tires and tubes, recent correct upholstery in the cabin and rumble seat, a trunk rack, and a stone guard, plus a number of spares. The seller runs a vintage race car service and restoration shop he founded in 1978, and he assures me this car is mechanically sound and will be well-serviced before we depart.

Another fun part of the adverture is that I will be able to get directly to pick up the car almost entirely by Amtrak, at a substantial savings over flying (which I detest these days). As in my retirement I help to run a 35-acre train museum in the Atlanta area, this is right in my wheelhouse. Looks like a close friend who lives near the seller may ride along and fly back home afterwards.

The planned route is to avoid i-95 entirely, to stop off in Hershey to see the AACA Museum and the new AACA national headquarters and library, and then to make as much of the southward trip as we can via the Blue Ridge Parkway. Figuring on about four-five days travel time, depending on how much we sightsee and dawdle.

As before, I'll be posting a daily trip blog, most likely on Facebook and perhaps on my hobby website, too. And I hope to dabble with video this trip, something I didn't do at all in 2014. Likely won't try to learn to edit video on the trip so that will be posted after the trip.

Hope some of you here will be interested enough to follow along and if anyone spots me on the road, do try to say hello.

[alexiskai]

In the Asheville area, the Estes-Winn Antique Car Museum is worth a stop, and it's not much of a detour from there to swing by James Rogers's engine shop if that interests you.

[Slotblog]

Appreciate the tips!

I am a little more time-constrained on this trip, as I have to get back to museum by the end of the first week of July, but we'll certainly try to squeeze in as much as we can.

If the timing works out, I'd like again to take in the Sunday brunch at the Grove Park Inn, if they're still doing that.

[alexiskai]

Originally Posted by Slotblog

If the timing works out, I'd like again to take in the Sunday brunch at the Grove Park Inn, if they're still doing that.

They are still doing that, and of course Estes-Winn is right there at the resort.

[ModelA29]

Make sure to take the current MAFCA membership roster along in case you run into problems or need a spare part.
https://www.mafca.com/cart/index.php?productID=127

[Slotblog]

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That's good advice, but I don't have one.

I'll see if they can get one shipped out to me before I leave.

[TerryO]

Sounds like a great drive...I wish I could follow along... Be safe...


TOB

[petew]

Is that shop in Stratford Connecticut ?

[CatMan1]

All I can say is 'I wish I was you!' That sounds like fun! Where can we follow along?

[Slotblog]

Originally Posted by petew

Is that shop in Stratford, Connecticut?

Yes, the seller is connected with a shop in that city, in fact, is the founder of the company, I believe.

[Slotblog]

Originally Posted by ModelA29

Make sure to take the current MAFCA membership roster along in case you run into problems or need a spare part.

Ordered one by phone this morning, and it should be delivered in time for my trip.

[Slotblog]

Originally Posted by CatMan1

Where can we follow along?

Facebook, for sure, and perhaps I'll also post to my hobby website.

Once I get started with the trip blog, I'll post here to indicate where it can be read.

[petew]

Originally Posted by Slotblog

Yes, the seller is connected with a shop in that city, in fact, is the founder of the company, I believe.

That's the area where I grew up and lived for 55 years before relocating to North Carolina. 33 of those years were spent as a cop on Stamford CT which is part of Fairfield County which is where your adventure is going to start.

Driving is a bloodsport up there so be careful. You are wise to avoid I95 and New York City. If you can arrange it the best time to leave that area would be early on a Sunday morning , very early . That will make for a nice traffic free ride out of that highly congested area.
Where are you planning on crossing the Hudson River as you trek towards Pennsylvania ?

[Slotblog]

Peter,

I never get on I-95, even in a modern car.

I'm receiving routing advice from several locals, as well as a couple of professional truckers, so I'm getting good info. Don't have it in my head exactly what the route is at the moment... I know the seller recommend the bridge to take over the Hudson.

As for driving as bloodsport, have you been to Atlanta lately?

[petew]

Originally Posted by Slotblog

Peter,

I never get on I-95, even in a modern car.

I'm receiving routing advice from several locals, as well as a couple of professional truckers, so I'm getting good info. Don't have it in my head exactly what the route is at the moment... I know the seller recommend the bridge to take over the Hudson.

As for driving as bloodsport, have you been to Atlanta lately?

Yes I have , in a 40' rv and it is a crazy place as well.
You are pre planning which will make for a great trip , hope to be reading about it shortly .

[Doug Linden]

Nothing like driving the Model A on a long trip via the "Road Less Traveled." Have a great trip.

[Slotblog]

Thought you guys might like to see some more pics of the car.

[Slotblog]

Got my MARC roster and my Rand McNally large format atlas today.

Getting really excited about my trip, which will start in a couple of days.

My good friend from NY, who will be riding with me from the start, has to leave after a day or so to attend his son's wedding in the Dominican Republic. He and his wife have to fly out on July 4, so he will be dropped off at the airport in Harrisburg after we visit Hershey. Which means I will be traveling solo on the Blue Ridge Parkway. If any of you are in the area, please reach out, as I would love to meet up for a visit or a meal.

My biggest concern is lodging along the Blue Ridge, as most of it is stupidly expensive. Getting too old to camp and it would be hard to bring along on Amtrak the stuff it need to do that. Hopefully, Priceline will point me to cheaper lodging off the Parkway...

As promised, I will post links here to my daily trip blog so you can follow along on this old guy's crazy Model A adventure.

[jb-ob]

Lodging is stupidly expensive every where currently.

I'm probably wrong but the Blue Ridge while scenic is also short of services for someone traveling solo in an 'unknown' Model A.

Always have a 'Plan B' route. Safe travels.

[Marshall V. Daut]

A tip for you: Lower the charging rate on the generator to about 3amp so that it doesn't burn up on the long haul at speed, driving hour after hour. Guys usually set their charging rate higher for quick trips around town to keep the battery charged. But if you leave the charging rate at 5-7amps or higher, that will heat up the generator on a long trip and it will fail. For the short time that you may need the lights to be on, there should be more than enough charge left in the battery on a long trip to run at a slight discharge. You can drive for hours that way. I learned the hard fact of generator life multiple times on my drives from Arizona to Iowa and back 50+ years ago. One burned out generator after another until an old-timer told me what to do with the charging rate. Remember: in the 1970's there was no Internet, no decent repair manuals and we only received national Model A magazines every two months, usually containing very little relating to generators. We relied upon the old village coots, who had decades worth of experience with Model A's, to teach us about these cars.
Marshall