Alex Burr - hester_nec

Yep - unfortunately the AMC Hornet, while a decent car, sure wasn't your Daddy's Hornet!!!! Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

That is a 1951 Hornet Sedan. Not sure who it belongs to as there are several '51 Hornets in Indiana. Powered by a 308 cubic inch flat head six cylinder, these babies, in coupe form mostly, tore up the competition on the early NASCAR and AAA stock car tracks due to the low center of gravity - the floor pans are welded to the bottom of the frame, which gave rise to the name "step-down" as you "stepped down into the car." These cars were designed to run on the roads we love to talk about and were very good at it. At one time, in the southeast, they competed very well against Ford coupes running moon-shine over southern roads. Now you know more about Hudson's than you probably ever wanted to know. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

Welcome aboard folks. This is a great place to share stories and get info on places you'd like to go - I've been agitating people on here pretty much from the beginning. Due to having a military career stretching from the mid-50's into the mid-70's I drove a lot of the old 2-lane highways on the way from one duty station to another. I've probably covered all states east of the Mississippi River and most of the western states, except Wisconsin - might be another. I've driven on U S 2, 12, 20, 40, 50, 66, 1, for example and a bunch of others. Unfortunately that was 50 years ago and they have changed. I wind up on one of those highways and I can't remember a damn thing!!! Of course that might be because I'm 72 and the old memory ain't the same as it used to be. I've been working on documenting some of the old roads here in the Memphis, TN, area, like U S 51 and the blues highway 61. Made a trip with a friend of mine, Denny, back in 2007 from Jackson to Clarksdale, MS, on 49 (and 49E). Had a great time too. So y'all keep us up-to-date on what you're doing and we'll be riding along with you on your trips. Take care and safe travels. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

Check out this site for a history of the springs and the mermaid show. http://weekiwachee.com/main/ Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

Love these "before and after" photos. Looks like about the only thing that hasn't changed are the guard rails. Somehow the road in the newer photo seems wider than the original. Or maybe it's the double lines making it appear larger. Thanks for the pics. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

Dave, You can keep the manatee's - I want one of them mermaids in my bathtub!!!!!!! LOL I think maybe the lack of comment on your 3D photo's is not many of us have the equipment to view this format. Not really a lack of interest. That's what happens with new technology. Takes everybody a while to get comfortable with it. Keep on trucking - safe journey. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

I've found streets and trips works quite well. And Mapquest, among others, will give you great satellite shots. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

I was looking at the route on your way back to the west. On Day 3 your plan is from Murphy, NC to Paducah, KY. Being a little familiar with the area I'm wonder why the dip south from Russsellville to I-24, then back up picking up U S 68 west off I-24, west of Hopkinsville. Why not just take 68 west out of Russellville thru Henderson?? Unless you want to say you went thru TN. Sounds like a great trip - be looking fwd to trip reports. Safe journey Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

I was surprised to spot the back of my Cadillac, mostly under the carport, but the back end sticking out into the driveway a little, on Google Earth. Clicked on one of the little cameras in the middle of my street in front of my house and there's my car - could tell by the license plate number. I've lived here since July 2007, so they must update periodically. I also took a look at where I used to live in Maine - my ex told me she'd had the house painted - GE showed it clearly. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

Congratulations!!! Ain't ebay just the greatest place. I've managed to find a number of guide books, like AAA and ALA etc, from the 1920's for decent prices (meaning under $30). Most pretty well worn, but a couple of 1942 AAA (Northeast and Western editions) are in near mint condition. The best score?? Probably has to be the General Index Map that fits the 1926 Automobile Blue Book (Volume 2 - Southeast) that I have that didn't have a map with it. Neat thing about this map is it shows the "key to organized highways", ie, (B ) Bankhead Highway, (H) Horseshoe Trail, (LS) Lakes to Sea Highway that was in effect prior to numbers. Neat. I picked the map off ebay for under $10. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

I'm not really up on current diners - some of my favorite diners from back in the 1950' would include (in Maine) the Palace diner in Biddeford, the Miss Portland in Portland, (in Massachusetts there was the Miss Ann in Salisbury and the Agawam in Agawam (both right on old Route 1). Of course we would be remiss if we didn't mention the famous diners - the Maine Diner in Wells and the even more famous Moody's diner in Waldoboro, again both on U S 1. A trip down east wasn't complete without a stop at Moody's. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

Delelted by poster.Sorry bout that.

The difference between the old brick roads and the cement type is - on a brick road you go rumble, rumble, rumble. On cement highway you go ka-thunk, ka-thunk, ka-thunk. Great video - drop a 1930's car in there and it would be instant time travel for sure. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

Neat cards Jim - have to say one of them looks familiar to me. Dave, in a lot of the old photos of automobiles moving the stretched effect was due to the slower film speeds used back in those days. They also gave, in some cases, an impression that the radiators were leaning fwd with the top out further than the bottom. That may be the case in these photos. Hudsonly, Alex Burr

Ok, that sounds good. Just one more question - HOW does one accomplish this resetting??? Hmmm - just found a button at the top right that says "View New Content" - guess that's the new speak for "View New Posts." Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

Looks nice - only thing I haven't found, if it still exists, is the "new posts" button. I haven't figured out how to find the new posts!! Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

I visited the Lemay collection back in 2001 in conjunction with the Hudson-Essex-Terraplane Club's national meet in Seattle. We toured out in an H-E-T caravan from the hotel to the collection at Lemay's home, I think it was. I was rather shocked at what we found - all those beautiful cars stored in rickety, wooden sheds, open wiring, no fire protection. The sheds were jammed - and the house (which some of us got a chance to tour) was full of odds and ends and parts. It's a wonder there was never a fire there to destroy some beautiful examples of Americas cars. One story I heard about Lemay was that he had an old English double-decker bus and was driven around neighborhoods - from the top deck he could see into peoples back yards and that's how he accumulated some of his collection. I'd like to go back and see the new museum that was built not to long ago. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

Old Orchard Beach had a great amusement park in the 1930's, 40's and into the 50's. There were rides - an old wooden roller coaster, dogem cars and other fun things to do. In the 1930's, maybe back into the 20's, the old pier that stood over the Atlantic Ocean, featured a dance hall that catered to the big bands, such as the Dorsey Brothers, Red Nichols and the Five Pennys and other well known name bands. Many of these big band names played at smaller dance halls along the Maine coast and some inland, even. Eventually, as time moved on the old amusement park began to deteriorate - people stayed home and watched the new medium, TV and found other amusements. Things got pretty run down. As I remember part of the pier was destroyed in a storm. The old place got pretty seedy. I was just looking on-line and found that maybe there's life in the old place yet - they have a web site @ http://www.palaceplayland.com/ - so maybe it's still up and running. There is strong competition not 5 miles away on U S 1 - called Funtown Splashtown. They opened a roller coaster a while back that brought coaster riders from around the world to celebrate the inaguaral run. Reading it's history @ http://tinyurl.com/yc28gz5 (click on "About the park", then click on "history") I see it's been in the area since 1960, when it started as the Marvel Drive In, a drive in restaurant. And it grew from there to what it is today. I remember spending many hours at the old Palace Playland by the ocean when I was a young 'un with my folks and my sisters. It was always a great event and eagerly anticipated. It was sad to see how it went downhill in the 60's and 70's, but it has been brought back in recent years, I think. Haven't been over there, tho I only lived 15 miles away, in years. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

When I was stationed at the NAAS in Kingsville, TX, back in 1958, 1959, there was a fellow from California that had a beautiful 1946 or 1947 Lincoln coupe rigged up with spinners and lights in the wheel wells. Was a beautiful sight to see at night. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

Thanks for the heads up and link, Dave. Surprisingly, came down to brass tacks I'd just as soon have the Pontiac station wagon. I had a Star Chief, two-door hard-top of that era at one time. That thing would go like the hammers of hell. Solid, dependable - the '55 thru '57 Pony's would be on my "like to have" list, right along with a few dozen Hudsons. The Italia is a good little car - to little to late is all. I've heard at least one person refer to it as Hudsons Edsel. Would be fun to run around in, but not hi on my want list of things I'll probably never get my hands on. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

Absolutely fantastic Steve. One of my projects (non-road oriented) is scanning Hudson manuals, bulletins and other material and putting them on-line on my web site ( hetclub.org/burr - right now it's a list, but our club VP is making it into a web site). So, I have a pretty good idea of the work you put into your site. Labor intensive it is - at the moment I'm working on a 1939 Hudson parts book - if I can get 5 pages a day done I feel it's an accomplishment. Keep up the great work. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

Speaking of Mohawk-Hobbs road guides --- just for the fun of it I went to ask.com and typed in Mohawk-Hobbs tour guides and came up with this link - http://usm.maine.edu/maps/exhibition/9/4/s...howing-the-road Interesting stuff on there, and ironic, for me, that it's from the University of Maine. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN (formerly from Maine)

Another road trip in the file. You do such a great job writting these reports up, Denny - makes one feel he's in the passenger seat. Y'all have a safe trip home - and watch out for the snow. Weather up Cincinnati way looks nasty. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

Just read your latest "snowy" road report from the Oklahoma City/Altus area. Let me get this straight - you were happy to get away from Cincinnati because of what??????????????? You were headed for the southwest to get some sun and good weather???? By the way - from the weather reports it looks like more is on the way, tho hopefully more to the north. They're even mentioning possible snow flurries for Memphis. Off to open my Chrimmas package from my youngest daughter - snow bound in Maine. Love it. Really!!! Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN