© 2004-2007 david coyote david coyote’s den presents from home to there…and back again…. part...

© 2004-2007 David Coyote© 2004-2007 David Coyote

David Coyote’s DenDavid Coyote’s DenPresentsPresents

From home to there…and back From home to there…and back again… .again… .

Part 3Part 3

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Part ThreePart ThreeOff to the races at Watkins Glen!Off to the races at Watkins Glen!

Some of my fans may not be aware of my interest in vintage Some of my fans may not be aware of my interest in vintage car racing. One of my reasons for wanting to go on this trip car racing. One of my reasons for wanting to go on this trip with the Princess was to see the with the Princess was to see the SVRA Zippo U.S. Vintage SVRA Zippo U.S. Vintage Grand PrixGrand Prix races in Watkins Glen. There were lots of races in Watkins Glen. There were lots of celebratory wine and cheese munching and hosted lunches celebratory wine and cheese munching and hosted lunches at the track, and you know I’m not one to miss a good meal.at the track, and you know I’m not one to miss a good meal.


There was a much-to-do There was a much-to-do Tour de MarqueTour de Marque for those with for those with cars like ours from the cars like ours from the Wings of EaglesWings of Eagles, an airplane , an airplane museum, to the racetrack. That’s one of the original museum, to the racetrack. That’s one of the original MGAs that raced at Watkins Glen.MGAs that raced at Watkins Glen.


I was I was astonished! astonished! Have a look Have a look at the at the number of number of cars that cars that showed up! showed up! Once again Once again the other guythe other guy didn’t miss a didn’t miss a chance to get chance to get his picture his picture taken. taken. Always Always stealing my stealing my limelight.limelight.


Well, I must say Well, I must say that the races that the races were spectacular! were spectacular! People came from People came from everywhere to see everywhere to see this momentous this momentous event. I drove the event. I drove the new racecourse new racecourse and the old and the old original Watkins original Watkins Glen U.S. Grand Glen U.S. Grand Prix course. Prix course.


With farmland surrounding at all sides, I had to be With farmland surrounding at all sides, I had to be watchful for wandering cows as well as the stop-and-watchful for wandering cows as well as the stop-and-start procession of beautiful old MGs.start procession of beautiful old MGs.


There were There were the signs at the signs at roadside, roadside, announcing announcing race history race history as we drove as we drove down the hill down the hill toward toward

Seneca Lake.Seneca Lake.


Over a hundred vintage cars showed up for the 50th Over a hundred vintage cars showed up for the 50th anniversary of the anniversary of the Collier Memorial MG Trophy RaceCollier Memorial MG Trophy Race, named , named after two famous racing brothers, Sam and Miles. The MG after two famous racing brothers, Sam and Miles. The MG turnout was the largest ever in the U.S.turnout was the largest ever in the U.S.

Please note: We drove the furthest of anyone (3,300 Please note: We drove the furthest of anyone (3,300

miles) to get to Watkins Glen.miles) to get to Watkins Glen.


Skies were Skies were mostly clear, mostly clear, with a few with a few puffy puffy SimpsonSimpson clouds drifting clouds drifting past over past over green hills. Ah, green hills. Ah, a glorious a glorious weekend for weekend for racing. racing.


As I wandered through the racecar pits, signing autographs, talking to drivers and taking pictures, I was moved by the camaraderie shared by all. Vintage car racing – the gentlemen’s races.

Some Some drivers drivers seemed a seemed a little taken little taken back by a back by a handsome handsome warthog, warthog, erudite as I erudite as I am, knowing am, knowing so much so much about about vintage vintage racing.racing.


Each morning, as is my custom, I was ‘ready to go’ before Each morning, as is my custom, I was ‘ready to go’ before the the other guyother guy could get out of his bed. Age is catching up with him. We could get out of his bed. Age is catching up with him. We spent a few days after the races, resting up and enjoying the spent a few days after the races, resting up and enjoying the beauty and colors of the New York woods.beauty and colors of the New York woods.

Notice that Notice that the other the other guyguy hasn’t hasn’t been been scrimping on scrimping on meals.meals.


Must there always be elements that threaten good times? From what I Must there always be elements that threaten good times? From what I read in the paper and saw on television weather news, a huge read in the paper and saw on television weather news, a huge hurricane was wreaking havoc as it smashed into the Gulf States and hurricane was wreaking havoc as it smashed into the Gulf States and proceeded in our direction. Hoping to avoid the worst, I lobbied, wisely proceeded in our direction. Hoping to avoid the worst, I lobbied, wisely I might add, to get back on the road for home before the storm I might add, to get back on the road for home before the storm overtook us. I ever offered to drive.overtook us. I ever offered to drive.

Our car was Our car was already already manifesting manifesting electrical electrical problems, most problems, most likely due to the likely due to the earlier rains, and earlier rains, and I was concerned I was concerned that things might that things might get worse. They get worse. They did.did.


By the time we got By the time we got to Milesburg, it was to Milesburg, it was four in the four in the afternoon. We were afternoon. We were in need of serious in need of serious rest and a rest and a substantial meal. At substantial meal. At least I was. With least I was. With threatening clouds threatening clouds blowing our way, we blowing our way, we setting in for the setting in for the

night.night.

Once again, I loaded our gear into the car and we headed southwest Once again, I loaded our gear into the car and we headed southwest for Pennsylvania and hoped-for sanctuary. Skies were clouding. Once for Pennsylvania and hoped-for sanctuary. Skies were clouding. Once blue was replaced by gray. We didn’t tarry, stropping only for fuel blue was replaced by gray. We didn’t tarry, stropping only for fuel and necessary snacks.and necessary snacks.


Once again it was a race against weather…the rain getting Once again it was a race against weather…the rain getting heavier by the hour. We made it as far as Milton, West Virginia heavier by the hour. We made it as far as Milton, West Virginia before the headlights stopped working and the windshield wiper before the headlights stopped working and the windshield wiper burned out in the deluge. burned out in the deluge. The other guyThe other guy was driving, and for once was driving, and for once I was very glad that I wasn’t at the wheel. Heard the old I was very glad that I wasn’t at the wheel. Heard the old expression about it expression about it raining cats and dogsraining cats and dogs? It was raining cattle! ? It was raining cattle!


It was with great good fortune that we found a small auto It was with great good fortune that we found a small auto repair place just a few blocks off the freeway. Hubie repair place just a few blocks off the freeway. Hubie Hatfield, the proprietor, quickly made room in his two-bay Hatfield, the proprietor, quickly made room in his two-bay shop for our car. What a nice man. While Hubie looked shop for our car. What a nice man. While Hubie looked under the hood, under the hood, the other guythe other guy made a phone call, and made a phone call, and ordered parts delivered overnight from the west coast. Mrs. ordered parts delivered overnight from the west coast. Mrs. Hatfield, out of the kindness of her heart, drove us down the Hatfield, out of the kindness of her heart, drove us down the road to Barboursville so we could get a motel room for three road to Barboursville so we could get a motel room for three days while the car was being repaired. Apparently there days while the car was being repaired. Apparently there weren’t any motels in Milton. weren’t any motels in Milton.


Did I mention Did I mention rain? The streets rain? The streets were flooded were flooded curb-to-curb; curb-to-curb; automobiles were automobiles were stalled in deep stalled in deep waters. This was waters. This was a very serious a very serious disaster! Ivan the disaster! Ivan the Terrible was Terrible was doing his terrible doing his terrible feeds! Half of the feeds! Half of the eastern states eastern states were flooded.were flooded.


Lucky for us there was a place to eat right next to our motel. Don’t for Lucky for us there was a place to eat right next to our motel. Don’t for a second think that I was about to let some rain make me miss a a second think that I was about to let some rain make me miss a meal. It was only fifty yards - door to door. It took three hours for me meal. It was only fifty yards - door to door. It took three hours for me to get dry! to get dry!

The next day we called a cab and took in a movie at a nearby mall. The next day we called a cab and took in a movie at a nearby mall. Sky Captain?Sky Captain?

Something like that. Lots of action, villains and heroes. My kind of Something like that. Lots of action, villains and heroes. My kind of movie. One large bag of popcorn, not enough to spoil my dinner that movie. One large bag of popcorn, not enough to spoil my dinner that evening. I was ready to get back to the motel as my right hoof had evening. I was ready to get back to the motel as my right hoof had become cramped from signing autographs for my fans.become cramped from signing autographs for my fans.


Well, Mr. Hubie Hatfield, automotive genius I’m sure, repaired our Well, Mr. Hubie Hatfield, automotive genius I’m sure, repaired our forty-four year old British vehicle in one day, replacing the electrical forty-four year old British vehicle in one day, replacing the electrical wiring harness which burned-out because of the shorted windshield wiring harness which burned-out because of the shorted windshield wiper motor. Got that? I trust I’m not being to technical for you, dear wiper motor. Got that? I trust I’m not being to technical for you, dear reader. We paid the bill and were back on a sunny road, happy that reader. We paid the bill and were back on a sunny road, happy that the rain had blown past.the rain had blown past.


Corydon, Indiana was our next motel stop. We needed Corydon, Indiana was our next motel stop. We needed our rest, for the next day was going to be a run for the our rest, for the next day was going to be a run for the great Mississippi. I slept like a log! great Mississippi. I slept like a log!

Now I need a rest, and naturally prior to that, I need a Now I need a rest, and naturally prior to that, I need a nice dinner. Back to tell you more as soon as I nice dinner. Back to tell you more as soon as I recuperate.recuperate.

WartyWarty


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© 2004-2007 david coyote david coyote’s den presents from home to there…and back again…. part...

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