"Flat Six" (flat-six)
03/12/2015 at 09:00 • Filed to: Silk Lined Hacks, 100, Smoking, Drinking
5
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"Flat Six" (flat-six)
03/12/2015 at 09:00 • Filed to: Silk Lined Hacks, 100, Smoking, Drinking | 5
| 21 |
Here is something to think about next time you see a snide remark about senior citizens or their driving abilities. William Henry Downing (my 3rd great grandfather) was born in 1821 and died in 1922. He would be almost 200 years old if he was alive. Below is an article that was written about him shortly after turning 100. I hope we all end up as 100 year old Jalop's!
'YOUTH' OF 100 STILL A ROMEO
Three quarters of a century ago W. H. (Daddy) Downing took the girls riding in silk-lined hacks.
Today, more than 100 years young, he scares 'em to death when he just naturally insists on speeding when he takes 'em joyriding.
Not the same girls, though. Ah, no. Most of the girls of "Daddy's" youth have faded out of his ken. But the girls he "sparks" today are just as young and just as beautiful as were those hoop-skirted maidens of the '40's.
TINKERS WITH CAR
"Daddy" Downing was tinkering with the insides of his favorite car at Arbor Rest, Glendale, when an Examiner reporter and photographer found him yesterday.
"Work is my play", he argued. "I always did work and I always will. And I worked hard, too, let me tell you. I don't know of any harder work than trimming sail up aloft when a gale is tossing the spars like vertical matches. I did that for six years under my father as a skipper on a West Indies trader.
"But then, shucks! I never denied myself a good time, either. I used to ride 20 miles to dances. In my day they held 'em out in the country, you know.
"Say, the silk-lined hacks we took the girls riding in when I was your age were great. But somehow I've got a little mite of hankerin' for these auto-mobiles too."
HE SMOKED AND DRANK
Prohibition doesn't worry "Daddy" Downing. "I never did get out o' hand," said he, "but I never denied myself a drink, either. I've been known to tip myself over a few fizzes and highballs, and a little 'shot' now and then, but I never went too far. Smoking too. Why, say, I've smoked for years."
"Daddy" Downing is not one of these efficiency sharps. But he's managed to live and pass the century mark of his years and he's still going strong. Would you emulate him? His rules are easy:
"Work hard while you work
"Play hard when you play
"Smoke moderately if you have a hankering.
"Take a drink if you feel like it, but watch your step.
Will you still like speed at 100? What will you drive - will it be a classic from when you were young, futuristic supercar, or self driving Google-Uber-iCar?
Copy of article below. Anybody know what kind of car it is?
Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
> Flat Six
03/12/2015 at 09:03 |
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No. Based on the current elders of the family, I'll be a hazard at 65.
Mattbob
> Flat Six
03/12/2015 at 09:10 |
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tl;dr.. I am just assuming that this man is addicted to amphetamines at 100 years old.
KnowsAboutCars
> Flat Six
03/12/2015 at 09:15 |
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Your 3rd great grandfather was awesome. I hope I'll live and be able to drive that long. If I manage to do that I imagine myself owning few older summer toys/projects and some newer (but still not new) possibly 4wd DD.
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Flat Six
> Mattbob
03/12/2015 at 09:16 |
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Haha it was legal back then. It was the main ingrediant in Gatorade.
505Turbeaux
> Flat Six
03/12/2015 at 09:17 |
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this is one of the coolest things I will see all day
E. Julius
> Flat Six
03/12/2015 at 09:17 |
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I'll still drive if I can! Awesome story. It would be impressive now, let alone in an age before antibiotics!
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Flat Six
> E. Julius
03/12/2015 at 09:26 |
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Yeah we have many advantages today where a lot more people can live longer. However I think 100 years from now people will look back at our generation's diets and wonder how anybody made it to 50!
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Flat Six
> 505Turbeaux
03/12/2015 at 09:27 |
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Thanks!
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E. Julius
> Flat Six
03/12/2015 at 09:29 |
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God I hope so.
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Flat Six
> Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
03/12/2015 at 09:29 |
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Oh come on it doesnt have to be that way! Cars are pretty much going to be autonomous by then anyway ;)
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Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
> Flat Six
03/12/2015 at 09:33 |
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That's not driving, that's being driven. But yeah, under those circumstances I guess I could "command a motor vehicle at 100"
Rainbow
> Flat Six
03/12/2015 at 09:35 |
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When I get pulled over for driving on the sidewalk with three flat tires, I'll shred my license. As depressing as it will be, I do expect to outlive my ability to drive.
Bandit
> Flat Six
03/12/2015 at 09:36 |
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Such a badass. I need to start working on cars while wearing a vest.
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Flat Six
> KnowsAboutCars
03/12/2015 at 09:42 |
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That would make a good garage. I'll (probably) be retired and on fixed income, so while a fun car would be nice, might have to go the Stirling Moss route....
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Flat Six
> Bandit
03/12/2015 at 09:44 |
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"Say, I've been wearing a vest for years!" (just kidding)
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Flat Six
> Rainbow
03/12/2015 at 09:45 |
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That would be the noble route. Many happy years of driving still lie ahead.
Hoccy
> Flat Six
03/12/2015 at 10:16 |
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I doubt that I'll get that old (oldest person in my closest family barely passed 90), but if I do I'll probably drive. Not sure if I still have my car license, but I will drive something.
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Flat Six
> Hoccy
03/12/2015 at 10:26 |
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I think advances in technology (both in car and body) will keep people driving longer. Making it to 100 is probably more luck than anything else. I don't think anybody in my family has lived that long in the last few generations.
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Hoccy
> Flat Six
03/12/2015 at 10:39 |
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Of course, there will be some healthcare improvements, but not as much as we've seen the past century. Key to making it to 100 is good genes, lifestyle (active but not athlete) and a bit of luck. Cancer, dementia and heart diseases is what might keep me from getting to 100. At least that's the most common causes among my relatives, and there's no good cures yet..
Scary__goongala!
> Flat Six
03/12/2015 at 10:40 |
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If I live to 100 than my life wasnt exciting enough.
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Flat Six
> Scary__goongala!
03/12/2015 at 11:18 |
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Good point, but this guy had a fairly exciting life. He was 49er during the California goldrush and literally walked across the US a few times.