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American Road Magazine
Celebrating our two-lane highways of yesteryear…And the joys of driving them today!

Keep the Show on the Road!

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Posts posted by Keep the Show on the Road!

  1. Jim,

     

    Good to see you post!

     

    I spotted the road. For others who would like the coordinates they are 39.339247, -87.860487.

     

    It looks like maybe they wanted to change where there was a grade crossing into town, but that is only a wild first impression. Am I seeing another segment a little to the west?

     

    Maybe I can spot some clues, but you are a better a detective than I am!! Are you stumped, or hoping someone has a quick and easy answer? :)

     

    Hope all goes well with you!

     

    Dave

     

    Keep the Show on the Road

  2. Dave,

     

    I dug deeper into your photo trove this morning, and I have to say, you are not helping my US road trip planning! :) Sheila and I have enjoyed the UK and Ireland a few times, but that was many years ago. You are definitely making me think we need another visit.

     

    I dread the awful air trip and the jet lag (and I almost had a head on driving on the right) , but that pales in comparison to spending a few weeks exploring. Years ago I took 6 weeks and toured on a bike....but I fear those days are past. None the less, I think we might do the isles again, and you are helping that along!

     

    Oh, I must add again that the photos are excellent!!

     

    Dave

  3. Rick,

     

    As always, your photography is spectacular. Looking at your blog is a real treat for the eyes, and the mind.

     

    The Oregon Coast is one of our favorite places and I see you are enjoying it as well. We get down as far as Florence fairly often (maybe two or three times a year). That coastal area actually has pretty nice weather in the winter, with lots of variety and drama....and some amazing wild life. Few aircraft though! :)

     

    We always enjoy your posts!!

     

    Dave

     

    Keep the Show on the Road!

  4. Winston,

     

    Brilliant, great, fantastic, terrific....and any other positive exclamation! How wonderful to see your map and comments!! Now I will have hours of study and fun savoring every morsel of your great information.

     

    My wife and I have been discussing if we want to escape the overcast of the Northwest for a sunshine vacation this winter, and you may have provided another reason!

     

    Berwyn Andrus,, Dolph's son, lives in the Salt Lake area and I will send him an email about your post.

     

    Thanks so much and don't be a stranger!!

     

    Dave

     

    Keep the Show on the Road!

  5. Terrific photo of that old distributor!! It looks like it has taken a few spins!

     

    I bet most youngins don't even know why there is a piece of fiber stuffed in the middle of the shaft. And BTW, it looks like yours might be dry.

     

    The cam follower on many cars (perhaps all) was made of a plastic sort of like fiberglass, as I recall. The rotation, as you note, wore them down and changed the point gap over time. I think that is just repeating what you said.

     

    Beyond the points needing to be filed or replaced, the rotor where it contacted the contacts on the rotor cap wore down, and burned. The combination of burned points, rotor, and rotor cap contacts reduced performance, and made the car harder to start. If the cable connection between the rotor cap and coil corroded as well, the spark from the coil through the distributor to the spark plugs was seriously degraded.

     

    All of which you know or the Mercedes would not be running! But I thought for a moment how much easier it was for a kid to tune up a 1958 MGA (my one time car) or a 1960 Mercedes, than any modern rig.

     

    I really enjoyed the photo!!

     

    Dave

     

    Keep the Show on the Road!

  6. Tom,

     

    You were certainly a bit gutsy to do the trip at the time of year you did! And of course, you got a reminder or two!

     

    My Aunt and Uncle had a Mercedes that looked a lot like yours. I visited my cousin in 2001 and there it was, parked in the garage, and still running. They must have been built tough.

     

    Your distributor story struck a note. I worked in a service station when I was a kid, and changed a lot of points and rotors over the years....or filed the points and rotor / distributor contacts. Not something a modern mechanic does much! :)

     

    Dave

  7. Dale,

     

    Thanks for the update. I'm glad he was arrested.

     

    I keep trying to figure out why someone would have the time to plan that kind of act, and still think it was a good idea. Apparent he wasn't drunk, or high all that time. And he had the mental capacity to select a saw and complete a purchase transaction without a caretaker to help him. So what does a guy like that think? Was he barefoot?

     

    Dave

     

    Keep the Show on the Road!

  8. Yes, a sad story, repeated hundreds, perhaps thousands of times across the land. I know of a few nearby. I have wondered if digital projectors cost only $60,000, why the movie producing companies don't spring for at least a few, given that some of their films net millions. Ah, to dream. But thanks for the info!

     

    Dave

     

    Keep the Show on the Road!

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