Driving a Model A

The best answer to "How do you drive a Model A?" Is, "It's tricky".

Last night I dreamt  I was driving my Model "A", and when I awoke, I knew it was time to get her out and give her some exercise, so I decided to drive her to church.  There are a number of steps to get ready: turn on the gas, check the water, gas and oil, make sure the Advance Handle (that balances the spark plugs, I think) is on "off", the gas handle is at "off", the hand brake is off, etc.  When I remember everything, she works.  When I forget something, she doesn't .

I was successful in getting  there, but in leaving Church, with now a lot of bystanders, I forgot to choke it, and I couldn't get it started.  After a lot of "advice" about what could be wrong, I finally remembered to pull the choke one time, and she started right up. 

Driving into Stater's to get some groceries, I was aware of different people watching this old car.  As I was entering the store, a young boy, about 10, came up and shook my hand, saying, "I like your car."  When I offered to give him a ride in the rumble seat around the parking lot, his eyes got wide and he nodded enthusiastically. With his Mom's grateful permission, we all walked back out to the car, opened the rumble seat (to his wide eyed amazement) and off we went.  I'm not sure I completed the whole check list, but we drove around the Stater's parking lot just fine, with several people cheering us on.  After the ride, the boy's mother, in tears,  told me that his dad was on his 5th deployment, and that I had made their day.  She took pictures to send  to Dad, and heartfelt hugs went all around.

Like I said, driving a Model A is tricky...you never know what to expect. 

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