Alex Burr - hester_nec

Shades of the late 1930's!!!! Amazing what can be done with computers. It has progressed to the point of not knowing what's reality and what isn't. I've done some Hudson club members cars in b&w for my web site. For some reason they look better that way. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

Some of them covered bridges were tough pieces of engineering. A while back one across the Connecticut River, between New Hampshire and Vermont was to be taken down. They got her down, but it was a hell of a job. Old bridge just kept shaking off the dynamite, but finally gave up the fight. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

Me too, me too!!!! Have enjoyed each day reading what you have posted - it's become a hi-point in my day. I've always found the general rule in small towns is that people are friendly and glad to welcome you to their little piece of the world. And that's going back some 50 years!!!!! You just have to treat them with the respect you expect from them. Y'all have a good one. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

Like others I love those "before and currant" photos. JJ's hotel has changed a tad over the years, but the building basically remains the same, outside at least. I did notice in the "before" there were two front doors - or what appears to be a door on the left front corner. But it's not there in your pic, so was probably replaced at some time. I wonder if this was some sort of entrance to something on the 2nd floor. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

There are literally hundreds of those small town scattered throughout that area - Montana, North and South Dakaota. They don't hold many people; they don't attract big box stores; they just exist out there on the edge of nowhere. I know, from traveling with my late friend, Cloyd, thru Montana that the definition of a small town in Montana is any place that has 3 things - a name, a post office and a bar!!! There are people in these towns - but this is ranch country and some of those ranches are huge affairs, in terms of land. So the post office serves the ranches and the bar is a convenient place to stop and catch up with the local news. The ranchers go into the nearest larger town - out there you're talking miles - for provisions. I liked the bridge shots - and the Hudson Jet. Those are nice little cars to run around in. In case anybody's wondering about the high roof line, Frank Spring designed the car with a lower roof line - but the company president, A. E. Barit, had a mind mired in the 1930's. He decreed the higher roofline so "a gentleman would have clearance for his hat!!!" In the minds of many that high roofline really destroyed the overall look of what Spring designed. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

Back in the day, when they were cheap (most always) and available I drove Rambler station wagons. There were many nights, when I was on the road going somewhere or other, that I would stop at a campground and rent a space, usually for around $5-$8 and sleep in the back of the Rambler. Wagons didn't have the fold down "camper" seats like the regular cars, but wasn't required as the back seat folded down and there was more than enough room back there for at least two people - 3 if you wanted to get real friendly!!!! Amercan 440 station wagons weren't all that big, like the Pontiacs, Buicks, etc of the period. With those monsters you could camp a whole family in the back. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

I think half of Montana is dirt or gravel roads. Back in 2001 I drove out to Miles City and linked up with a Hudson club member, Cloyd Steiner. Together we went to Spokane to the H-E-T club National meet. Coming back Cloyd took me up I-15 thru Great Falls (no more great falls now since they dammed the river ) up to Fort Benton. From there we went north to up around Big Sandy, somewhere. From there it was back south over a narrow 2-lane road - I think it was MT 236, but can't remember now. All I know it was narrow, it was gravel and it was interesting meeting someone coming the other way - on one side was a 1000 foot drop in most places; on the other was the other side of the drop, only going straight up. One thing I noticed about the cars (a few) and pickup trucks (a lot) out there - an awful lot of cracked windshields. Cloyd said them was people who didn't know enough to slow down around other cars (trucks). Another thing I noticed out there - there's an awful lot of side roads. Cloyd told me those weren't side roads - those were driveways to ranches. He said if you broke down out there it was better to wait with your vehicle rather than try to walk up the drive-way - some of the ranch houses are 10 or more miles from the main highway. Cloyd said it's almost an un-written law in Montana - if you see a broke down car, you stop and see if you can help. Beautiful scenery out there - up on the high ground can see for miles. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, tN

I don't know me Mike - but as I said on the phone the other day traveling 60-65 on wooden (old wooden) spoke wheels does leave me a little on the cool side. I'd sure be checking them suckers every time I stopped somewhere. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, tN

It's really quite a remarkable car, Hudson. Most of us Hudson-Essex-Terraplane club members tend to consider the touring with this 1919, and there is also a 1917 that the owner does some touring with, just routine. We don't see anything special in it. On the other side of the coin, however, we have way to many members in the club that tend to leave their cars at home in the garage. Not sure if they don't think the car can keep up with traffic, or if they are trying to save the car as an investment, or whatever. While Mike has taken his '19 out on the interstate and run 65 or so with it, there are so many of the old roads, that these cars were built to run on, still left - especially between the Appalachian Mountains in the east and the Rocky Mountains in the west - that there is no reason not to drive the old cars as long as they are in reasonably good condition. We have a club member in California who has a 1953 Hudson Hornet coupe with about 115,000 since rebuild. Walt, who is, by the way, around 90 years old has driven that car between Frisco and Connecticut, where his kids live, many times - usually in conjunction with a club National meet somewhere in the country. And Walt does not baby this car - he runs it around 70-75 on the I-state. Jack Smith, who lived in Canada, regularly drove 1929 Hudsons all over the country - running 65-75 while towing a travel trailer. Yeah, us HudNuts are a little on the insane side. So there you have it. You see an old car touring, be it on 66, 40, 50 or wherever toot your horn and give 'em a wave. You're seeing history on the move. Be waiting to hear from Mike about another trip in the 1919. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

You can thank our resident guru (one of resident guru's that is) Denny Gibson. Denny takes a lot of road trips and they are worth reading. I got a whole collection of them in my e-mail storage bin that I take out now and again. Denny was the reason I started my own travel blog - over at http://www.freewebs....ankeetraveller/ Another fascinating travel story shows up here quite frequently - that's Lifelong Journey on the Road. Great reading so watch for when he posts (there's one on the board right now). Safe travels. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

Hi Mike, I 2nd the welcome. Great bunch of folks over here and a lot of road miles have been discussed. Great pictures - looks like traveling back-in-the-far, far, away days. Enjoyed your phone call yesterday - got to know you more or less. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

Thanks Denny - learn something new every day!!!! Followed your yellow brick road, knocked 3 times and said "Denny sent me" - and they told me to go away!!!!! LOL Found it, check public - hopefully it'll be visible. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

Thought I had downloaded to the gallery. But I just got off the phone with the fellow who owns the car and he registered with American Road, but says he couldn't find the pictures either. I had this problem once before, if you remember. Turns out I did something that that supposedly couldn't be done. I can open the gallery and then click on "Members Gallery" and the first set of pictures are the ones I posted. And when I log on to the forum the pictures are coming up in the recent gallery images. So I wonder what is the problem with everyone else. Maybe because I posted them??? Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

(Later that same day) - permission granted from the owner of the pictures. I just got sort of carried away by the idea of driving the old roads in a (really, really) old car. I usually ask before hand.

Gallery, and no - didn't think to clear with owner, but probably not a problem, as I did have permission to turn a couple into black & white and post on my web site. Will do so. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

Great report Dave - always leave 'em wanting more and this will do it!!!!! Safe travels. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

All right - I down-loaded (up-loaded??? whatever) the fellows 1919 Hudson pics on Route 66 - I think. Sure wish I could have been with him on that trip. What a way to go. Alex Burr Memphis, TN