[BOUNCE triumphs@Autox.Team.Net: Non-member submission from [Peter Mchugh
<"/c=US/admd=ATTMAIL/prmd=gov+dot/o=FAA/ou=FAAgw/dd.ccMail=Peter Mchugh 'at'
AWAASY1PO/"@dotms1-gw.dot.gov>]]
Date: 01 Oct 1997 12:00:46 -0400
From: Peter Mchugh
<"/c=US/admd=ATTMAIL/prmd=gov+dot/o=FAA/ou=FAAgw/dd.ccMail=Peter Mchugh 'at'
AWAASY1PO/"@dotms1-gw.dot.gov>
Subject: Re[2]: younger generation
Huge congratulations and kudos!!!!!
Single handedly you may have been responsible for planting a seed that
will grow into the resurrection of some hapless LBC years in the future!
What a great gift you made to the young man whose first memories of
stick shift will be LBC/TR-250/British roadster...and not the least of
which will be of the adult (?) owner who was willing to risk so famous
a car in the hands of so young and inexperienced a driver...you will
be remembered long after your time!!!!
And thanks from all of us who will benefit from the positive attitude
and perceptions you created...
Cheers!!
Pete McHugh
(I too have a "real English roadster"!)
______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re: younger generation
Author: ak627@dayton.wright.edu at Internet
Date: 9/25/97 4:21 AM
Hello Tom Carney and you other young'uns, I'm just reporting here
that I did my part not too long ago, as follows :
My then-15-year-old daughter was being driven to school by a `friendly'
neighbor boy, who for a while was driving his dad's Chevy pickup with
auto trans. Soon, though, this kid bought 2 ratty Escorts, and was
successful in combining enough good parts to have himself a passable
driver, so he wouldn't have to borrow Dad's truck any more. Minor
problem, though - he did not know how to drive a stick shift. I like
the kid, and he is obviously resourceful and motivated enough to make
two junkers into one decent car, which is exactly what I try to do
with my own commuter cars (Renault Encores these days, was Pintos..)
so when he asked me if he could drive my TRusty Red TR-250 around the
big church parking lot, at night, I said OK.
After a few stalls on start-out from stop, he got the hang of the
hydraulic clutch's engagement spot, and learned to give a little gas
at the right time, and was soon doing long figure 8's from the front
lot into the back, with a large grin plastered on his face, though
he never got above 3rd gear.
Now, a year later, he has a part-time job at a local auto parts
store, and is getting to be a decent Mr. Fix-it, for his age. When
the question comes up, as it often seems to when you're 17, `What's
the first stick-shift car you drove?' he gets that same large grin
and answers, `A '68 Triumph TR-250 !' and then watches the other
guy's reaction, which is almost always, `HUH ???' Whazzat ? ...and
he explains, `A real English Roadster'. `HUH ??? Whazzat ? again,
so he usually has to say, `Sort of like a Miata, only 20 yrs older..'
and then it clicks with the listener (sigh) but at least they like
the idea, and universally agree that it must have been a really
cool car, even if it didn't have thumping bass speakers and silly
O-ring tires...convertible top and 2 seats are a great start.
Just thought you might like to know...
Tom Tweed
SW Ohio
'72 TRident 750cc (basket case)
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