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A Diary from the Road: “Giddy” is the word of the day

The gang at the No Name Restaurant

“Giddy” is the word of the day. It’s the feeling you get when you slide behind the giant wheel of a 50s classic made the year you were born and lock your fingers around the shifter’s silver machined Hurst T-handle. Giddy.

More about that T-handle later, but what a great start to the adventure last night. Met up with The Heritage Run Gang — David Madeira, Ashley Bice, Valerie O’Shea, Bill Hall, Dale Wickell and Derek Klein– in the lobby of the Boston Long Warf Marriott and donned our new America’s Car Museum stadium jackets, courtesy of State Farm (Thanks Tamara and Ed!).

Then it was into the parking garage for the drive to the No Name Restaurant down by the water. As a newbie to the team, I was immediately tested with driving the 57 Chevy Nomad that sports a 327, 4-speed and what felt like a fairly high gear ratio that challenged my long forgotten clutching skills. Besides not being able to find reverse (“Push down and to the left,” chirps Valerie!) I managed, and I have to say the drive was a rush like I haven’t felt since the 70’s.

Click here to read more on  the blog “A Diary From The Road by Rock Jenkins.”

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The Drive Home II: Day 1 – Boston, MA

By ACM CEO David Madeira

David riding around Boston in J.D. Rockefeller’s 1917 Crane Simplex.

It was a beautiful sunny day in Boston as our team gathered to prepare for the launch of The Drive Home II at the Marriott on Long Wharf in the historic center of the city. Given the holidays the historic Quincy Market was filled with visitors enjoying the shops and great food vendors. At the same time, the typically crazy auto traffic was light so the stage was set to bring the cars out.

Derek Klein, our photographer, Bill Hall author of our daily blogs and writing for Hemmings, and I strolled through the cobblestone streets to one of my favorite restaurants Ye Olde Union Oyster House – the oldest continuously operating restaurant in America since 1826. We were fortunate to grab seats at the small horseshoe shaped oyster bar where we ordered a beer, a dozen Harwich oysters, bowls of ‘chowdah’, etc. I also slurped down my favorite – steamers dipped in drawn butter.

Continue reading “The Drive Home II: Day 1 – Boston, MA”

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The Drive Home II: The Heritage Run begins snowy trek in Boston

Photo: Bill Hall

LeMay – America’s Car Museum, in conjunction with the North American International Auto Show in Detroit,  put three vintage cars on the harsh winter roads of New England today to start a 2,100 mile, classic car road rally to the Motor City.

“The Drive Home II: The Heritage Run” fleet consists of a 1961 Chrysler 300G, a 1957 Chevrolet Nomad and a 1966 Ford Mustang coupe. The bright-red classics were chosen for their representation of Detroit’s Big Three manufacturers, and the moving tribute to America’s automotive heritage is meant to remind us of the personality, ingenuity and dependability of Detroit Iron. Wannabe automakers Google and Apple should take note.

Continue reading “The Drive Home II: The Heritage Run begins snowy trek in Boston”

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After 100 years, J.D. Rockefeller’s 1917 Crane-Simplex takes a ‘Drive Home’

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By William Hall

The 1917 Crane-Simplex Model 5 formerly owned by John D. Rockefeller Sr. returns after nearly a century to its city of birth as part of the LeMay-America’s Car Museum and the North American International Auto Show’s “The Drive Home: The Heritage Run.”

One of America’s earliest luxury automakers, the Simplex Automobile Company was founded in New York City in 1907. In 1915, it was absorbed by the Crane Motor Car Company. Continue reading “After 100 years, J.D. Rockefeller’s 1917 Crane-Simplex takes a ‘Drive Home’”

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“The Drive Home II” set to tackle icy East Coast route to Detroit

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Story and photo by William Hall.

The LeMay – America’s Car Museum’s “The Drive Home II,” a mid-winter road trip to the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, is once again revving-up the engines of the museum’s classic 1961 Chrysler 300G, 1966 Ford Mustang and 1957 Chevy Nomad, and Hemmings is going along for the ride. Hemmings contributor William Hall will once again be behind the wheel of the big Chrysler with daily posts as the team navigates the snowy Eastern Seaboard for a Motor City homecoming on Saturday, January 7. Continue reading ““The Drive Home II” set to tackle icy East Coast route to Detroit”

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