In which Sid and Doris visit New Jersey, where prominent citizens sing about racing in the street.
I got a sixty-nine Chevy with a 396, Fuelie heads and a Hurst on the floor …. Maybe it was a Chevelle SS, GM’s Mustang competitor. Go on, if you don’t know it, look up Racing in the Street on You Tube.
At Matt Peckham’s birthday the afternoon is busy with collectable cars. Sid and Doris take out a light blue frog eyed Sprite. It does not have a 396 cubic inch motor. It has a 1959 Morris Minor A series of 58 cubic inches and all the power you would expect. Even with snorting twin 1 1/8” SUs you will not blow that Camaro off your back – unless perhaps its driver is convulsed with laughing.
The roads around Matt’s are maintained by Barney Rubble. Which is a shame because the Sprite’s suspension design is by Fred Flintstone’s less able English cousin. In the Sprite’s defence the four on the floor is pretty nice. If you think you might like one then be sure you enjoy the company of your chiropractor. This is exactly the sort of car that Sid and Doris had in mind when they designed the Drive it Once business (that they have yet to launch).
Thank you Matt. That was a delightful few minutes. Sid also had in mind to drive the MGB roadster put out for our delight. Pretty, inexpensive, relatively comfortable, can be made to handle and with a V8 quite quick. But true to form it had just lunched its water pump. As the sign says…
So what is running? Many classic Americans. The Model T, the Fangio Coupe, the Derby Bentley, cars from Zuffenhausen and, of course, a reliable VW.
But what is Sid driving? It is a Kubelwagen, a toughened up Dub-based two wheel drive jeep. In this case all rather breathed on. It feels well able to manage the local roads and is a lot of fun. In the background are beans and burgers and crates of root beer, hosts Matt and Linda, Joe and Betka, plus an array of car-crazies. Remember, everybody is normal until you get to know them.
Congratulations to Matt and Linda on still celebrating birthdays. We may be old, but it’s better than the alternative. And on that cheery note, Sid and Doris Uber off to New York. Tonight my baby and me are gonna ride to the sea and there find there really has been racing in the street.