Our September VAE event was a very nice gathering of members with their cars on display at the Burnham Memorial Library in Colchester. I arrived in my ’29 Plymouth roadster. As soon as I got out of the car, a young boy came over immediately to examine it. I would guess his age to be 10 or 11 years old. He asked if my car was a Model A Ford. He explained that he had a book about old cars that he was studying and wanted to examine some real examples. I explained that mine was not a Ford but a Plymouth and acknowledged there was a resemblance.
He enthusiastically absorbed everything I told him about cars of that vintage and their similarities. I explained that Ford, Chevrolet, and Plymouth were competitors for the low-price-range market. He looked under the hood and identified the engine as a 4-cylinder flat head. We talked about the functions of engine components that were visible such as spark plugs, distributor, and carburetor.
Just then, Eric Osgood arrived with “Silver Annie,” his ’29 Buick. My new young friend immediately noticed and suggested that it too probably had a 4-cylinder engine. I pointed out that he would likely be surprised to find something larger under the hood. The young man then scrambled into the driver’s seat of my car and asked about all the pedals, levers, and dash gauges. The gear shift was of particular interest to him. He wanted to know how to shift and where each gear was. I happily explained all about shifting and asked if he knew about double clutching and why it was a necessary driving skill.
That was new to him, so I asked if he had heard of synchromesh. Much to my surprise, he had, and he proceeded to explain to me how it worked. With that, this kid made my day. His father was nearby and I commented to him, “This young man is going places.” I sincerely believe that. Whether or not he continues his interest in old cars, his curiosity is what matters. It will drive him to study and learn about the world around him.
I’m optimistic to think there are a lot more young folks like him out there. If so, there is wonderful hope for the future, not just for our old car hobby, but for the world in general. Is it egotistical of me to think that I’m seeing a bit of my younger self in him? If so, I happily plead guilty.
Leave a Reply