Sandmans omnipresence in defence of classics

[gofastsandman]

The Limo Bus.

That`s what we called the 1961 IH Travelall.

It was white with windows all around.
Three on the tree and Papa used to put us on his lap to steer going up the driveway.
The first time I would drive a car in person.

We would sled behind the limo bus in 4wd.
We slept in it as young squids on long look at that beautiful house tours around
the northeast. It was a mobile timeshare that we owned. It was very dependable.



The forerunner of picnic tables

[uncleboo]

A relative of mine owned an International tractor business. I remember the Travelall and thought they were great. Then I saw the scout. His son still has his last one.

[flyingfrizzle]

Originally Posted by gofastsandman

The Limo Bus.

That`s what we called the 1961 IH Travelall.

We would sled behind the limo bus in 4wd.

I can see you now sledding behind like we did as kids. We used the trunk lid off a second gen Camaro with a fan belt pulled threw the latch for a handle to hold onto.

Originally Posted by uncleboo

Then I saw the scout.

I have a little 71 IH scout, they are such cool little trucks. I need to get back on mine or let it go to someone who has the time fix it up. You really don't see many of them around any longer.

[gofastsandman]

The BVM.

Bill Jones ran the local Gulf filling station.
A full service garage as was common in the late sixties.
He also ran a trade school of sorts outta that same shop in such a great way.

Bill taught me how to hot patch the inner tube on my hand me down
Schwinn 20 inch. He showed me why tire spoons were a better tool
than a screwdriver for removing a tire from a rim.
He taught me how to hot patch an inner tube the right way.

Bill`s garage was busier after hours than when it was open.
Many of the older kids and adults had worked for Bill at one time or another.
They all helped each other build their cars.
Al Nydam built a black Nomad.

It was amazing. No other car in town sounded that good.
Scratch in third gear.

There were more than a few really fast cars in town back then.

I heard they raced on Mary Dunn Rd.

MDR had a great long straight that went directly into suicide corner, which was
really two corners if you made the first. Many young kids had a bad night there.

[uncleboo]

we raced on Paradise Rd...

[erebus]

Originally Posted by gofastsandman

I heard they raced on Mary Dunn Rd.

Watch out for the RR tracks!

FYI: Mary Dunn is still pretty sketchy...

[gofastsandman]

Originally Posted by erebus

Watch out for the RR tracks!

FYI: Mary Dunn is still pretty sketchy...

Is the junkyard still there?

[gofastsandman]

The BVM.

The Barnstable Village Mafia was a loosely guarded secret society of law
enforcement vigilantes.

Most dismissed them as townies or neer do wells from less than fortunate back rounds.
Small town New England will always be Peyton Place and all will know everything
about everyone else.

I can not call myself a native of the Cape because I was not born on Cape.
I remember a salty retort.

Just because there`s batter in the oven doesn't make em muffins.
Never mind the fact that Mom`s family came over on the Arbella in 1630.

My parents had lost a child between myself and my brother.
If mom had been in Cape Cod Hospital, I would not be typing here today.
People died there from strep throat.

Before we had moved to Barnstable, Mr. Clarke had done something.
We never learned what he had done, but his hardware store paid the price.
The store front was all glass and frequently in shards. Sometimes just one
or two panels. Sometimes many. Once it was every one.

The elders heard Mr. Clarke had dropped a dime on someone.

Mr. Clarke had decided to sell the Vista Cruiser.
A late model grey station wagon appeared. It was a former
flower wagon. I thought that a bit strange, but who am I to
define strange.

The Clarkes always parked their cars behind the house.
The older girls who were driving knew this.

Mr. and Mrs. Clarke went to the ski house in N.H.
At late o`clock, I awoke to the sound of the BVM.

Glass. Metal. Swearing. Laughing. Screaming.

I heard the exhaust behind it all and then bang.
The engine lit up. First. Second, and whoa.

We all went outside. The girls were frantic. We squids were told to go back
to bed. Who saw what was being asked as we went inside.

I knew. I had not seen a thing.

The next morning mom asked if I had seen anything.
I said no, but there is only one car around that sounds like that.

She said nothing more.

Mom and I pulled into Jones` gas station to fill up.
Bill rarely came out to fill up any cars or trucks.

Hello Mrs. GFS.

Hi Bill.

Did you see anything funny this weekend Mrs. GFS?

Why, no Bill, we always have our shades down behind the curtains.

Nothing was said, but all had a conversation.

[gofastsandman]

The BVM hung out on the wall in front of the old courthouse. I always thought that
funny. The rules change after dark. Great cars. It was conveniently across the street
from Bill`s garage.

[gofastsandman]

Papa had won a sailfish or sunfish in a raffle.

I was a tot.