So! Super excited because I just got my Warford transmission in and the car all back together and ready to drive. I jump out on the highway and after a little grinding (this clutchless shifting thing is weird) I manage to work my way into overdrive. It was weird because I could tell the transmission was sucking some power, but I was cruising comfortably at 50 mph. Before I could get up to 50 but felt like I was really winding it out to do so. Some power upgrades will make this thing fly.
About the subject . . . The sun has just dipped below the trees and its starting to get a little darker, still plenty of light out so I head back home, about 7-8 minutes away. NC state trooper passes me on a 55 mph road headed the opposite direction and he is FLYING, not sure why. But then I hear him screech his tires slamming on brakes, and he tears a huge swath through the grass median turning around and I already know he's coming after me.
I have electric headlights in my 14 speedster and a brake light, but no running tail light. He gets out of the car and practically races up beside me and says "Son you are gonna get killed!" I don't saying but look back at him and raise my eyebrows in confusion. "You got no taillight and blend in so perfectly with the road someone is gonna run all up on you and destroy this thing." He's oozing irritation and talking to me with a time that is not concern for my safety or anyone else's, I'm just a nuisance on his road. "Well sir, I'm not but 2 minutes from my house" I can actually see my road up ahead that I'm going to turn on "and these cars weren't originally equipped with any kind of taillight. I know it's starting to get dark so I'm almost home." He couldn't be more outraged "you're gonna have to get some tail lights because you just can't be riding around invisible."
Now, if you've looked at my profile or previous posts my car is bright yellow and has a polished brass strap around the body and across the back. I know for a fact that it will just about blind you with your own headlights reflecting back in your face. It's one of the reasons I haven't rushed out to get a taillight and I already have a nice brake light. To top it off its still plenty light outside and only the occasional car has its headlights on. "You're gonna get killed, I mean, there's no procreation back hear and then there's gas in your face. You're gonna get killed." He must have said it 6 times at least. So asks where exactly I'm headed and tells me he's gonna follow me home. So he does, to the point of pulling my driveway to turn around.
Thank you officer for your concern. Obviously I need a tail light but not because its hard to see me at 7:00 pm. Now go pull over someone who is speeding or actually doing something dangerous or illegal.
Lol sorry for the typos, I didn't catch them when my phone auto corrected me.
Seth, with all due respect my friend, It's a Speedster. There's no reason why it shouldn't have a tail light? In fact, a couple of those old tail lights with the word 'Stop' on the brake light side, would probably look pretty good on it.
Yes it's bright yellow and it does stand out but we're dealing with a generation of people who drive 80 mph, playing with their I-Phones. My 27 Tudor is maroon with black fenders it doesn't stand out at night and I'm really uneasy about driving it after dark even with it's one little tail light.
It sounds to me like he made his point...without giving you a ticket. He must be a pretty reasonable fellow.
There are some real nerds on the highway...what with talking and driving, texting and driving, eating and driving, drinking (hot coffee) and driving, there are a lot of people on the road who are not paying attention to steering the weapon of death they are sitting in.
You may be right Seth, but I do believe the officer has your life in mind....you may be right - dead right - if a less than properly attentive person doesn't see your little silhouette and smashes into you.
He has your well being in mind - listen to what he said.
Wasn't there a post just recently telling about a 17 or 18 year old texting teen that drove into a big yellow school bus and killed herself? She hit a BUS - your little speedster is but a gnat compared to that!
May you and your progeny live long happy lives and enjoy your handiwork.
Sent your way with nothing but good wishes for your future.
Dave
I'm glad he didn't try to ticket you. Being a speedster, it won't likely ruin it by installing a small tail light or is that not right for a speedster? My car is factory original and as such, it has a tailight. I don't run a brake light or turn signals because it wouldn't be correct. I look behind me as I'm slowing and plan accordingly. Hand signals work pretty well too.
I guess my whole point was I was going home and it wasn't even remotely dark yet. On top of that he was just very ugly in his tone. I never argue with those guys because it only ends one way, so, if I'm being polite and respectful is it too much to ask the same? I'd expect his attitude and reaction if I had started out back talking him.
I have one of those STOP brake lights, and I'm gonna get a taillight next.
He may seem harsh in his tone, but you get that way from seeing countless cases of poor souls smeared on the blacktop. He is making a reasonable request I figure.
Seth,
I electrified 2 T sidelights and hung under my yellow boat tail speedster. They are plentiful, easy to convert and look great on a T, because they are T.
Seth,
As others have said, you should heed the advice. Why would you install electric headlights and no tail light?
Seth. I've got nothing to say about it one way or the other. Mostly because I only drive in broad daylight and don't have a single working electric light on my car and don't plan putting one on. Wait a minute. Now that I think of it, maybe a little brow beating is what you need.
Sent from my IPhone while driving into town
Broad daylight. Three lane bridge plus a full emergency lane. Two vehicles. Me and the woman who sideswiped our T, while doing 70 in a 45 zone.
She never saw us.
Hopefully folks in your area have better vision at twilight than they do here at 10 AM.
As an aside, if you plan on regularly driving a T at 50 MPH, you might consider buying a cheap tail light and use the savings for some extra life insurance.
I use 3 small led lights used for bicycles. they're about 7 bucks a piece. can blink, pulse, or flash. yellow and red. clip on the license plate. replaceable batteries and can be seen from a decent distance. was told by an officer, "that's a good idea". get em at walmart.
Get some Elights. I got mine yesterday and they work great. Just put them on flasher and have some BRIGHT led's to keep people off your tail.
As an aside, I personally don't think any of the reasons WE have to drive defensively make it alright for the general public to run rampant and kill with their unguided missles. Driving and texting, eating, socializing with friends,or just being distracted should be a license revoking offense, accident or not.
Ted, car came to me the way it is now, it has a kit that lets the gas headlamps hold some sealed beams. I added the brake light, but hadn't decided what kind of taillight/brakelight setup would look good. Plus I don't want to get any more complicated that necessary.
I haven't driven this car at night and have no plans to. I will however, at the very least get a tail light. That plus a magnetic blinky light and maybe an orange slow vehicle triangle should have me pretty visible in the evenings if I get caught out later than I planned.
You are forgiven for the typos. It is hard enough to text while driving a modern car, let alone a T.
I lol'ed Ed.
It's harder to text accurately with the left hand while the right hand works the throttle.
....and to period correct, you should be using a typewriter
Scott;
When did that happen, lately?
Actually Seth, they all had a tail light, they didn't all have stop lights.
I would say he had every right to pull you over. Too bad you don't appreciate his concern for your safety and that of others.
I know this might tick you off but I'll endure it rather than read about you getting hurt some day.
Be safe my friend.
I'm with most of the guys Seth. While I think the cop probably doesn't know how a T or Speedster for that matter is out fitted light-wise he was taken by the fact that there was nothing where he expected to see lights. That's the reason, every time tail lights/turn signals come up on the Forum, I chime in with: add them and brake lights too but be sure their where the chimp that talks whose driving behind you expects them to be.
Richard.
about 2 years ago on the way from our house to Milt's.
She went under our left rear fender, her right front wheel rim chopped off the hubcap (folded her rim back and she lost her tire). Our axle rode up her fender...across her door handle...and back off her rear fender. Her car was essentially destroyed. We lost (and found) the hubcap, slightly bent a demountable rim and cracked 1 spoke and loosened 2 more. We finished our trip and she was towed away.
That little shunt launched us in the air (literally) and scared the life out of us. I absolutely could not believe we weren't killed or the car destroyed. She hit us and shot past us, shedding parts the entire way.
I had taken my eyes off the rearview mirror for about 5 sec. to watch for the exit... wasn't in my mirror when last looked and never saw her coming. Probably glad I didn't.
We have 4 bright lights on the back of that car...2 tail lights and 2 brake lights. There's no safety equipment to deal with stupid or inattention, but you can prepare for dusk (though in our case it was 10AM on a bright morning, traveling north...no sun in anyone's eyes).
Well, regardless of the trooper's attitude or delivery I don't have any problem with WHAT he was actually saying, just his lack of professionalism in reprimanding me.
And in case I'm not making it clear to everyone: before I consider driving some time that I could possibly be caught with the sun going down, the car will have at the very least a running tail light to match my brake light. Ultimately I'd like to have some tail light/brake light/blinker combos that look nice on the car.
What bothers me here in NJ is the number of people that pull out in front of you in bright daylight. For God's sake, I'm driving a 7ft tall car!
William:
Seven foot tall ???? Take some air out of the tires ! LOL
I'm in agreement with you , New Jersey drivers do everything behind the wheel, except seeing what's in front of them.
You need a taillight because (a) it's the law, and, more importantly, (b) because it may save your life. Get a period-correct oil taillight and put in a battery-powered LED insert that you only switch on when it gets dark.
If you get hit from behind in the dust by another car and they find that you had NO taillight at all, you will be found at least partially at fault.
And let me tell you one thing I will never forget as long as I live: sitting like an injured duck stalled on the race track in the fog and being hit from behind by another race car approaching at high speed. When all was over, we had over 12 cars totaled and a big fire. You can't imagine what that's like and I hope you will never have to experience anything like it.
Be smart.
I think that the trooper was very good to you in that he warned you but did not cite you. Also that he was kind enough to follow you home so that the cars could see his lights.
I have been stopped two times for driving without lights. One time was just after my first son was born and I was on the way home. I stopped at the gas station to get some gas. The area was well lit and I just forgot to turn the lights on. Then I got to a darker area and noticed the lights were off. So immediately I turned on the lights. The officer was right in back of me and asked, "why was I driving without lights?" I explained and he said, "congratulations on the birth of your son".
The other time I got stopped was when my battery was low and I was driving home a baby sitter and every time I stopped for a signal, I turned off the lights until it got green, to save the battery. A cop pulled me over and asked why? I told him, and he said,"you better get a new battery".
Norm
I was also almost hit one night also and after that, I do not drive at night without some bright tail light. I prefer the LED type as they are very bright.
Those flashing LED lights from TSC are great and if you have a metal car, they are magnetic so they can be removed for show or whatever reason.
Get "Amber" as a flashing "Red" to the rear indicates an emergency vehicle and is illegal.
While a single tail light may be legal, it is not smart. Even most motocycles have dual tail lights. The lights should be out at the corners.
Anybody else raise an eyebrow over "after a little grinding (this clutchless shifting thing is wierd)" and its juxtaposition with the title, 'You Are Going To Get Killed'
I did George. I had a Warford in a 27 roadster. I didn't think that they were designed to be shifted like a standard transmission, maybe at low speed. When your shifting while moving it's possible to find a neutral and down the hill you go forward or backward unable to get it back in gear. Best to have some auxiliary type of brakes with any Warford, Ruxstell, Jumbo Planator, etc., especially if your shifting on the move. After saying that I have another T with a auxiliary gearbox and no auxiliary brakes but I don't shift it when moving. I'm working on a set of small drum brakes for it. I guess do as I say, not as I do! "You going to killed" but it is just as likely to be free wheeling down some hill or through an intersection.
Just saw in another post where Walt Berdan shift his Chicago transmission on the run, but I would definitely want extra brakes of some type if I was doing that.
I drive my T's stock and every once in a while I swear I can catch a glimpse of this guy sitting in the passengers seat out of the corner of my right eye.
Been really busy with family c&@* the past two weeks. So much here to comment upon, and still little time.
But one thing. The auxiliary transmissions were intended to be shifted on the move. Good constant mesh or syncros had not been developed yet and people were expected to learn how to do so without grinding away the gears. Then, as now, some people have a knack for it, and do well. Others, then and now, destroyed transmissions.
Other comments about visibility and shifting at another time.
Do drive carefully, and enjoy, W2
you should have asked em, sir have you been eating donuts? your eyes looks glazed
Well, might as well throw in my two-cents for what it's worth.... first, if I were driving a Speedster, or any T for that matter at 50 MPH, I think I'd put in seat belts too! I still have a vivid recollection of that guy's wife laying on the pavement from the post a few days back. Secondly, and this is where I know I'll get slammed...I will always maintain the posture that these machines weren't designed to be driven that fast, and therefore, should NOT be!
Like Wayne Sheldon always signs off..."Drive carefully"....I think that also means within the design parameters of this car.
As some may remember, Oliver from France was hit full speed from behind in his freshly restored T...in broad daylight.
I had a similar experience on our way to Bonneville, UT last summer. Keep in mind, I have a trouble truck running behind me watching my back, I have stop and running lights, it's the broad daylight and it's a black car.
We were rollin' down I-84 heading for Pendleton, OR at 60 mph.
And then this happened...
Apparently the Arlington Co. Oregon Sheriff was none to happy with the roadster being licensed as a regular passenger vehicle and having none of the required lighting for safe night driving......in the middle of the day. He told me that the car was not safe and should be on a trailer, to which I replied "she doesn't like trailers...she is a driver and I built her that way". I also told him that when I licensed the car (nearly 6 years ago) I had asked the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles if I would have a problem with that...To which their reply was "no, the car is exempt".
According to the Sheriff....it was not and he proceeded to read my the Oregon State Vehicle Code Book page by page (the same info he told me twice before)....wasting nearly an hour of valuable road time on the side of the road in 90+ degree heat. After issuing me a $160 dollar ticket, he told me to head back to the nearest town and get it on a trailer....Like hell I will.
I ran back to The Dalles (100 miles in the wrong direction) waited in the DMV for nearly 3 hours (the DMV employees were VERY helpful) before hitting the road again with the roadster licensed as an "Antique Auto" and a temp permit in my window.
The incident with Oliver is very unfortunate and the threat of being hit by someone how is not paying attention or is driving too damn fast is real.....and terrifies me every time I take the roadster out. I do however think some officers are very unprofessional in regards to how they treat us.
A couple of years ago, I decided to get proactive about my car's relationship with the local constabulary and state police. I visited both institutions (with my modern car), showed them my paperwork and a printout of the laws that grandfather in my '15 Touring and its lack of seat-belts, windshield-wipers, etc. They agreed the car was legal, equipped as it was. While there, I also asked about the allowable minimum age of passengers and it turns out that in the State of New York, anyone above baby-seat age (8) is okay in a Model T—at least legally speaking. It happened that one of the officers was a car guy and he invited me to his favorite cruise-in. I showed up with the T and gave him and his kid a ride.
I made a point of noting his name and that of the other officer with whom I spoke, with the intention of dropping their names in the event of a hostile pull-over (Well gee, sir, Sergeant Kraus at the 25th Precinct and Trooper Walton at the Crooked Hill Road Station both said my car was okay when I went to visit them and ask about it. In fact, I met Trooper Walton at a car show and gave him and his daughter a ride in the car and they really enjoyed it. I'm sure he would remember me).
Okay, maybe I'm a little paranoid, but I'd rather err on the conservative side and stack the deck in my favor.
Bob,
Good idea to make friends with the local police. But, you forgot to bring donuts! Better keep some in the T just in case. :-)
after reading some of thease posts, I sure am glad I have never driven any of my T's over the conpletely insane speed of 25 mph. much less even think of 50 mph. is that even posible?? The Madness! and I drive with at least 5-6 florsesnt triangles strapped to the back of my T and I never ever leave the block becouse it's a big bad scary world out there. Once I went to a parade with my T. took there on a trailer of course. it was fun but the thought of a collision was always on my mind and I don't think I will ever do that again. Ohh yeah and the grim reaper he rides with me also. he's a very bad person thanks for the reminder.