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Getting There - 08/15-16
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OFF - The TRAACA contingent to the 75th Anniversary Lincoln Highway Tour:
from left to right are Brad and Marge Tillett, John and Vicky Peters, Ken Talley, Bill Wilcox, Bob Stein, and
Shirley and Bob Woolfitt. Lined up and ready to go - Below, left, the TRAACA entries in (almost) reverse order - the Tillett's 1958 Oldsmobile, the Peters' 1959 Cadillac, the Woolfitt's 1934 Packard, and the Wilcox 1932 Packard. Below right, starting off on the world's largest bridge-tunnel. |
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| Friday - August 15th Started out from Bill’s house at 4:15. Got to the tunnel – everyone was there including Ken’s sister and mother, and Ivan and Marjorie Joslin. Left the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel parking at 5 p.m. – Oldest to newest, which put us in the lead. Sunny day – a welcome break from the seemingly endless rain of the past months. We are heading for Seaford, Delaware tonight to a hotel, and to Jimmy’s Family Restaurant a few miles down the road for dinner, where Bill is going to meet one of the car’s earlier owners. Some interesting sensations riding in the back of this classic old Packard. The convertible top flaps against the bows – not too loud, but always there. Plenty of air – it is quite comfortable in back. However, I can’t hear Ken and Bill talking in the front seat. The ride is very smooth – rather firm, really. Same for the seat, though Bill rather thoughtfully provided woven cushions. The rear seat is huge – I have a pile of luggage next to me, even some in front of my feet, but I am pretty well stretched out. Somewhat ironically, the back of this 71 year-old car has more computer power than the Space Shuttle. In addition to my laptop, I have a cell phone, walkie talkie, and a digital camera, along with Bill’s digital camera and cell phone in the bag next to me. |
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One question I get asked a lot was how fast the cars would go – most people don’t think a car from the early 30s will roll at modern speeds. Both of the old Packards have the triangular warning signs on their trunks that are used on farm equipment. However, we had a man on a Harley Davidson pull up next to us as we were cruising along towards Delaware and tell Bill “You guys need to take that Slow Moving Vehicle sign OFF the car!” We were rolling at 70 several times, and maintaining at least the speed limit. Of course, there were some stops for gas - these cars were all built before anyone ever dreamed of $1.69 per gallon! |  |
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About halfway up the Eastern Shore, we had our first mechanical scare. The Peter’s 1959 Cadillac was making a weird noise. Some investigation turned up the culprit. After many years of inaction, the Caddy’s electric clock was trying to resurrect itself. Some gymnastic work under the dash got the power lead disconnected, and all was quiet again. The ride up to Seaford, Delaware was uneventful – other than getting to Jimmy’s Family Restaurant in Bridgefield just 3 minutes before they closed! A favorite stop for TRAACA members on the way up and back to the National AACA meetings, Jimmy’s has great crab cakes and homemade desserts. As an added treat, Graham Rowley, the man who owned the Wilcox Packard from 1959 to 1975, met us at the restaurant and shared stories about the car and the early days of the hobby. |
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Then to the hotel, which had a lot full
of boats and big trucks thanks to a regatta being held in the area. Happily,
there was safe parking for all three of the big antiques. It was almost 10
o’clock by the time we got to the room, making it a long day. Especially for
Ken, who admitted he’d gotten up at 2 a.m. because he was too excited about
the trip to sleep!
Oh – to keep Shirley Woolfitt from accusing me of favoritism, I suppose I should mention running red lights and missed exits. OK. I mentioned them. |
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| Saturday – August 16, 2003 On the way to New Jersey this morning. After the sunny day yesterday, we have rain again today. Not bad, but enough so that the windows have to be up most of the way. With no A/C in any of the cars, temperatures get a little uncomfortable when the air flow is cut off. The rain doesn’t last very long, however, and we are back under mostly clear skies. I volunteered to take my first stint behind the wheel, since the weather was nice and we would be on Interstate highway with no lights and minimal shifting. |
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| Ummm. Did I say sunny skies and minimal shifting? My inaugural drive in this magnificent and very valuable Packard turns ugly fast. Drizzle turns to rain, and rain turns to downpour. Then we get close to I-95 and traffic come to a standstill. Four lanes of traffic, with New Jersey drivers diving in between us to get into the off ramp lane. I am reminded that this car had mechanical brakes. Then the road itself turns against me – ruts and grooving that would be unnoticed by radial tires seizes the skinny bias-ply tires of the Packard and make steering an adventure. I am more than a little happy when we stop for a late lunch at Applebee’s. Happily, the car and passengers survived my first drive unscathed – well, I did scuff one tire on a curb, and Ken may have fainted during the high-traffic section – I think he was just taking a nap, though. |  |
| After a great lunch at Applebees (this
group does know how to find good food), it is back on the highway with
Bill behind the wheel. I have had enough driving for one day (And I think
he has had enough of my driving for one day, too!). We take some unplanned
sight-seeing tours of Secacus, New Jersey looking for the hotel, but
eventually find our way to the Crown Plaza Hotel.
There are some really nice cars already parked outside – a 1937 Packard 12 convertible sedan, a 1958 Cadillac convertible, and a Porsche 356. However, the Tidewater cars got a lot of attention as we pulled up. We checked in at the trailers and got our tour packages, and then had to scurry a bit to get into the rooms, cleaned up, and back down to the second floor for a nice buffet dinner put on by the Lincoln Highway Tour group. We have to be ready to leave tomorrow at 8 a.m. – the group has exactly one hour in Times Square to get us set up and launched! |
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