I was out of the country (India, then UK) so I haven't seen the list for
a month. Nothing apppears to have chnaged!
While in England, I was listening to the live commentary from the
England vs. West Indies Test Match (International Cricket, for those of
us who are not fans of the game). It was a slow period and the
commentator was describing the selling methods of the peanut vendor.
Acoording to the commentator, the vendor would walk around the edge of
the cricket pitch while his assistant would take orders in the stands.
Then, and I quote, "the vendor grabs his nuts and hurls them into the
stands!" Ouch!!!
Reminds me of a famous baseball announcer quote. The guy was talking to
his co-announcer during a quiet spot in the game, and pointed out an
amorous couple in the stands. The announcer said to his buddy "You
know, those people down there have a system. He kisses her on the
strikes, and she kisses him on the balls..."
Anyway, India was great and I saw a couple of Standard 8s, built by the
Standard Motor Company of Madras, and a Triumph Herald (known as a
Standard Herald there, I guess). The Herald was very brightly painted
and fitted with a spoiler. I have a picture and will be glad to e-mail
it to anyone interested in seeing it. I also saw a couple of Rover
2000s, looking very forlorn in someone's backyard, and a Triumph 1800 or
2000 roadster being driven by an elderly gentleman on the streets of
Bombay. There was a vintage car rally taking place and his was one of
the entries. Bombay is CRAZY from a driving point of view. I think
NASCAR teams could recruit winning drivers from that city.
Of course I saw lots of Hindustan Amabassadors, which is the official
government car and which appears to have been based on a pre-Farina
Morris Oxford. These are still made, albeit with diesel engines and
A/C! You can also buy a brand new Royal Enfield motorcycle for about
$1000. This is a 500 cc single, also dating from the early fifties. I
even saw one with a diesel engine (I kid you not!)
I'm glad to be back.
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