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Alex Burr - hester_nec

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Posts posted by Alex Burr - hester_nec

  1. Us 50 - Seymour To Shoals

    in Lincoln Highway / U.S. 30 / U.S. 50

    Posted

    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

  2. National Parks Highway - Lewis & Clark, Olsons And Red Trail

    in Yellowstone Trail / National Parks Highway

    Posted

    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

  3. Camping?

    in RV & Camping

    Posted · Edited by Alex Burr - hester_nec

    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!!!! :D 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

  4. 701&02 National Parks Highway - Missoula To Three Forks

    in Yellowstone Trail / National Parks Highway

    Posted

    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

  5. Adventure Touring Vehicles - What Do You Drive?

    in General

    Posted

    Hi All: I drive a car that was on these roads when they were new. A 1919 Hudson 4 passenger Super Six Model "O" touring. Cruises well at 60-65MPH and will top 100mph. Has a flat head inline 288 cid 6 cyl that develops 80 Hp.(A lot for 1919) She cost $2,200 new. (A Ford was $400). This car is all original including paint. The old byways just seem better in a vintage auto. ( This is the same car in my photos posted by Alex Burr in members gallery) We also have a 64' Rambler Classic 660, a 57' Nash Metropolitan, a 65' Jeep Wagoneer and last but not least a 1960 BMW R60 motorcycle. (we are on a limited income and can't afford newer cars) I forgot the 84' VW camper that dosn't run. Mike...

     

    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

  6. Road Trips The Hard (but Fun) Way

    in General Discussion

    Posted · Edited by Alex Burr - hester_nec

    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. :D

    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

  7. Road Trips The Hard (but Fun) Way

    in General Discussion

    Posted · Edited by Alex Burr - hester_nec

    Thank you Alex for introducing me to this site. I can see the pics now!! Mike...

     

    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

  8. Yesterday's Camp Today

    in RV & Camping

    Posted

    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

  10. Road Trips The Hard (but Fun) Way

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    I thought they might be in the gallery but I can't find them. Not a problem for me (since I'm now part of the in crowd :) ) but could be for others. Got a pointer?

     

     

    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

  11. Road Trips The Hard (but Fun) Way

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    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

     

    (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.

  12. Road Trips The Hard (but Fun) Way

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Sometime after applying to the egroup, I received a message asking for a short "Why I wanna join" essay but before I got around to responding I started getting messages and was able to reach the pictures. I guess I'm in. Seeing the car in recognizable spots like Seligman and Oatman is pretty neat and the retro camping pictures in Sepia (I didn't even know Sepia was on Route 66 :D ) are very cool.

     

    Did you put those pictures some where others can see? If so, did you clear it with the owner?

     

    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

  15. Road Trips The Hard (but Fun) Way

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Accessing the pictures requires group membership which, of course, requires Yahoo membership. Yahoo membership I got. Group membership I've applied for. (I knocked three times and said Alex sent me.)

     

    I was afraid that was going to happen. I can download the pictures and post them in the Gallery.

     

    Hudsonly,

    Alex Burr

  16. Road Trips The Hard (but Fun) Way

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Morning one and all,

     

    Some of our Hudson-Essex-Terraplane Club members have been traveling lately - you want to talk about doing it "back-in-the-day"!!!!! For those of you who like the wind in your hair this is the way to travel:

     

    Hi all: Last Thursday I took the 1919 On a 350Mi. round trip on Az. Route 66. (See pics in my "1919 Hudson" photo file folder) I averaged 60 MPH on the I-40 and varied from 45 to 65MPH on Route 66 due to 65MPH head winds and blinding rain and snow. Over all it was a great trip. The Hudson never faltered including the two hours of night driving, the lights worked very well. (The car is 100% stock) Mike...

     

    Pictures here (hope this link works):

     

    http://groups.yahoo....758273/pic/list

     

    Yes, this road trip was done in a 1919 Hudson!!!! I love the "45 to 65 mph on Route 66 due to head winds" bit. LOL

     

    And if you think road tripping in a 91 year old car is a fluke, here's another one, route and area not given.

     

    Recently took my original '17 7 pass. J on a 250 mile loop, shreaded the touring car top for the 2nd time in as many years, but still managed to dodge the lighting bolts. These cars go and go and go, yeah now for the truth - ignition got wet in a torential down pour at full trottle due to a hood hold down on the passenger side not being connected I knew I was running on an odd number of cylinders across a high ridge when the ridge ended it was down a hill into a hole and then dead silence on the incline out. Finally had a reason to get the umbrella out. . . the weather passed the ignition dried quickly and back to full throttle. I was accused at a fuel stop by some harley riders of having exceeding the 65 mile per hour speed limit considerably. Iron pistons all the way.

     

    So when you're tooling down old 66, or 40, or 30 or wherever give a thought to this current day travelers doing it the fun way!!!

     

    Hudsonly,

    Alex Burr

    Memphis, TN

  20. National Parks Highway - Red Trail - A Little History.

    in Yellowstone Trail / National Parks Highway

    Posted · Edited by Alex Burr - hester_nec

    Regarding the methods used in making maps. Strip maps, especially those produced to be published in books - such at the AAA tour books, Automobile Blue Books, etc - were aimed at getting the traveler from A to B. Most strip maps are really to small to show every deviation in the road bed. For that you need larger scale maps such as produced by topographical maps.

     

    That said, some of todays map programs, such as Delorme in their state by state books and Streets and Trips, do a pretty fair job of telling it like it was. Of course the problem with trying to decipher an 80 year old map today is the fact that over the years the old highways have been straightened, moved and widened in the interests of safety.

     

    A good example of this is U S 51 here in the Memphis area. I have traced out much of the 1926 era R-O-W - and, baby, going north it ain't even close to where it is today - both in reality and on the strip map from a 1926 Automobile Blue Book. In those area's where yesterday and today do overlap there are things to look for that will tell you what you are looking at. One of the ways, if they haven't replaced the bridge railings, is to look for an old style bridge railing. There are a couple of these between Memphis and Millington, 20 miles to the north. Today's alignment is 4-lane divided - there are a couple places were one side features the old 1930's style bridge railings; the other lanes going in the other direction don't. Another indicator is, and this has been mentioned before, is a lonely, mostly overgrown, alignment that veers off from the current roadway complete with telephone poles and wires. That's a pretty good indicator of where the old road went before.

     

    Hope this clears some of the fog away.

     

    Alex Burr

    Memphis, TN

    http://www.freewebs....ankeetraveller/

  22. National Parks Highway - Red Trail - A Little History.

    in Yellowstone Trail / National Parks Highway

    Posted

    This site is amazing. Back in 2001 I drove thru Aberdeen, Mobridge and west on into Miles City on my way to a Hudson club national meet in Seattle - and I thought I was just driving on old U S 12!!!! Didn't realize the history of the road back then.

     

    I suspect it was about as well populated back in the teens, 20's etc as it was in 2001.

     

    Hudsonly,

    Alex Burr

    Memphis, TN

  24. Grand Coulee Dam Overflowing!

    in State Highways & Other Roads

    Posted

    Great shots - I'd like to point out the gentleman in the suit and tie. I don't know if he was on a business trip, but I doubt it. Different time, different dress code. People dressed when they went out, be it business or travel. I can remember my dad, on our trips from Maine to Ohio wearing a suit and tie - in the middle of the summer. Yes, he might take off the jacket and loosen the tie, but if we stopped somewhere, be it a diner for a meal or to check into a cabin for the night, but tie was fixed and the jacket back on.

     

    Hudsonly,

    Alex Burr

    Memphis, TN

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