Ruined the top on a tour

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2013: Ruined the top on a tour
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Norman T. Kling on Sunday, October 06, 2013 - 11:36 am:

Saturday October 4 we had a tour from Descanso Junction to Campo and an interesting ride on a 1930 train. We went from Campo to the Mexican border and back to Campo on the train.

We live 10 miles from Descanso Junction, but it is about 19 miles via back roads, so I trailered the T on an open trailer. I was going to leave the top up for just the short run on the trailer, but decided to put it down because we had strong Santa Ana winds. We would be driving into the wind and I figured 45 mph + 50 mph winds would be 95 mph winds. Well I made another mistake. I didn't put on the top boot, but just put it down.

When we got to our destination 10 miles up the highway, the top was flopping in the breeze. The entire front leading edge had ripped out of the tacks. Interesting how a 50 year old top can look good, but the material is quite rotten!
Norm


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Richard Eagle Ida Fls on Sunday, October 06, 2013 - 12:24 pm:

It's no fun loosing a top. I overheard two fellows discussing driving their cars into enclosed trailers after forgetting to put the tops down. I guess the enclosed trailer isn't always the answer.

Happy new top Norman.

Rich


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tony Bowker on Sunday, October 06, 2013 - 12:41 pm:

The winds were VERY strong during the tour especially in the morning driving south on Buckman Springs Road, nearly blew me off the road at least once. The weather people said the winds were gusting to 70 mph, so unusual for normally placid Southern California. But it was a good tour and as always great company.

The San Diego back country is quite hilly, with elevations over 4000 feet, with lots of challenging hills for the Model Ts. I must admit I tend to use the Ruckstell to avoid making the motor strain at low speed. The Pepe's car, Karen shot this picture of my 14 climbing one of the many hills, seems to have a little more poop on the hills, but a little slower on the flat and downhill stretches. As Norm says, a good day out.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Norman T. Kling on Sunday, October 06, 2013 - 03:32 pm:

That's why we had to slow down! Tony was leading the tour and when we got to a hill, I had to slow down. My car doesn't like to go slow up hills because it has 3-1 gearing. If I can keep it going fast uphill it goes right up, but when we slow down I have to use Ruckstell! Now I know why I had to use it. I thought Tony's car was having engine trouble, but it was just that he was using Ruckstell!

That's OK Tony, We all got there with plenty time to spare.
Norm


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