"f86sabre" (f86sabre)
06/16/2019 at 10:51 • Filed to: power tour | 14 | 2 |
Let’s start with the obvious. The Mini broke down just past Cincinnati on the way home to Atlanta from the Power Tour. It had performed very well up until then. Fuel pump let go. I had it towed to a local hotel and worked on wiring in an electric pump as a temp fix to the problem mechanical unit. Unfortunately, the local auto parts stores didn’t have all the bits I needed. This morning a friend who lives in CVG was able to tow me to his place and the car will rest there for the week and I will get it next weekend with a trailer.
The truth is I expected something to happen along the way. Each night I had serviced it by checking fluids and belts I tightened things here and there and the car ran really well. The climbs in Virginia were challenging, but the car made steady progress it ate up the flat roads of Indiana and Ohio.
People loved seeing the car. Loved it. Kids in particular were excited to see it. They were even more shocked when I said it was ok to sit in it and touch it. Amongst a sea of amazing cars, I think the Mini was the most accessible to them.
I waved to hundreds of people. Many were waving at me and some weren’t. People would find convenient spots along the tour route and pitch lawn chairs. I waved at every kid I saw. Some of the cars had bought cases of Matchbox cars and handed them out as we drove by. That was cool.
So, why do this in an little old car? Why not? Making the trip work was part of the challenge. Problem solving was part of the fun. I also don’t normally get to see much of the southeast even though I live here. We fly everywhere and this gave me a chance to drive some amazing roads. Even the breakdown was not entirely unexpected and was dealt with as it came.
I know many of you know what I’m talking about. You’ve done similar. I really enjoyed the quiet time in the Mini. I look forward to doing it again.
Svend
> f86sabre
06/16/2019 at 12:16 | 2 |
Sorry the breakdown wasn’t fixable straight away.
Though with these older cars, it’s part of the ownership, granted it’s not fantastic, but it’s not all that bad either. It’s letting us know it’s just like us. Just as we get older, we get little niggles like cramp in our limbs more often, experience fatigue more often or just generally feel under the weather. We bond with it more than if it worked perfectly day in and day out.
I'm glad you enjoyed your tour, sounds like an amazing experience.
f86sabre
> Svend
06/16/2019 at 12:29 | 0 |
I agree. We squeal and rattle sometimes, but we have fun.