Lesson learned the HARD way!

[Jackie Berg]

I bought my "Golden Oldie" George just a little over a year ago and caught a bad case of wanderlust. Did a lot of nothing but drove it like I stole it until the tires fell off. Now a person would think that after being a mechanic in the Army for 13 years and a long haul trucker, school bus driver and city transit driver that I would know (and practice) the importance of good maintenance. NOT!!!

My trip from CA to ID turned into a living nightmare in less than 10 miles. Tires started blowing out, discovered my bottle jack and lug wrench were gone, charging system failed, weather in the triple digits yadda, yadda, yadda! 24 hours later help arrived and I limped George with the car and tow dolly back to Charlie's Auto Repair in Hesperia. Decided to leave George there so loaded the car and headed out. Made it to Ridgecrest a mere 100 miles and blew the timing belt and it melted all in the cams. 112 degrees, no cell service and not a person would stop. Finally a CHP came and unfortunately I was very "gritchy" and so was my dog, Jasmine. While I was getting some things out of the car, the nice, kind CHP Officer decided to stick his hand in the car window and you can figure out what happened then. He promptly told me if she bit him again, he would have to shoot her.

Anyway, to make a horribly long story less painful, suffice it to say that George, Jasmine and I did make it to Boise ok even though it took 11 days.

I promised George if he would just please hang in there for 781 miles that I would never treat him so bad again and would take such good care of him, he would think there was a tiger in his tank.

I have already started keeping my word and George has new tires and a new rebuilt carb. The old one fell apart as soon as the carb cleaner started working. :(  Charging system is working also.

I want to thank GORV's and all you great people that share your knowledge and time. I read the forums all the time (should have absorbed them and used them) at least once and some two, three and four times. So far everything except mounting the tires, I have done myself simply from the forums and the little details (Murphy) you add.   Thanx