Spring Liberation

68 Grande · Guru

Spring Liberation

MC · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Congrats! I was going to take my car out of storage tomorrow, but now they are calling for periods of snow... oh well, maybe next week.

68 customized · Veteran Member

Wow. Out here in Vancouver, we drive year round except maybe the two days a year we have a skiff of snow, The problem we have is we are not allowed to gather any more like we used to. Looks like no racing this year. What are we going to do with completed projects with no room for more projects. Cut lawn for fourth time at 17 degrees on Thursday. Life is a b.... out here on the wet coast.

MC · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Spring is usually slow to come out here on the Atlantic side, due to the ocean effect (no warming ocean currents here). Snow is almost completely done here by mid April, but it happens from time to time, only calling for a couple of cms. We consistently have very nice, warm Septembers and pleasant Octobers as a payback, though.

Canadian Poncho · A Poncho Legend!

Yes, the autumn is incredible here. Spring? Not so much however today was quite nice. I got quite a bit done outside and no mosquitoes---yet. I have about 2 weeks before they invade.

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

I've got the big block's battery charging and I rolled the Vette out of the garage today so I could sweep up and what not. Still getting flurries here in Toronto and its parka weather when walking the dog. I'm also thinking driving around in a classic car would be frowned on these days, I mean we are being asked to stay home and I wouldn't want to get in crash or need roadside help and put others in danger when we are asked to social distance. Its almost like a no go for me this season. I'll make sure they run and do maintenance but I can't see Ontario easing up until mid to late summer. Canada Day in Ottawa is cancelled, will be done virtual so that sets the tone imo.

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

Yeah, at this rate I don't see myself buying any insurance to drive either of our fun cars this summer. Can't drive my cars, can't go to the cabin. Gonna be an interesting year if this keeps up.

timbuk · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

yup staying home is staying home have not been to cabin since this all began have no hotrods insured yet non essential travel and interaction its time to get stuff done around house no work due to covid and i expect tighter controls as the weather gets nicer and its very easy to tell who isnt listening and complying i aint that guy

MC · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Honestly, taking the car out of storage for me just means taking it out when I am able so that I can stop paying the storage facility. Then it sits in the driveway until better times come along. There's a couple of inches of snow on the ground now, but it's wet so it won't last. Temp is going up to +8 and sunny tomorrow but won't be taking it out as there may be salt on the roads. It can sit another week or two... doesn't matter really.

silver steak · Addicted!

Yesterday I started the Beaumont, drove it out, took the rest of the cover off , cleaned up the storage area put winter stuff away and backed the Beaumont back into the garage and closed the door. The Silver Streak was accessible all winter in the front shop waxing, sprayed rust check into hidden tubular frame areas etc, so it was ready for spring. The GMC, is still resting and covered , no hurry now ?

Couple of interesting statements made here by others and also on facebook about casual or non essential drives. We have been told that our local authorities have stopped families out for a casual drive, asked where they were going , reply was a casual outing just going for a drive, Officer told them to go directly home. We understand the words Stay Home , but wowww , apparently , the officer emphasized that if they were to have a accident then they would be exposed to first responder's , tow truck operators etc. that was his justification I guess,
We don't know how to proceed with registrations either ?

Live as we knew it ?

-- Edited by silver steak on Sunday 19th of April 2020 06:58:20 AM

MC · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Not sure what New Brunswick has done, but in NS they have deferred all registration and license renewals to August.

silver steak · Addicted!

Interesting, I didn't know that , we normally do our registrations on line so the distancing thing is dealt with. However, there may be no one at the Service NB office to complete the transaction and send us our sticker and registration papers? Don't know, I'll check on that tomorrow.

What is your understanding of the non essential drives in Nova Scotia ?

-- Edited by silver steak on Sunday 19th of April 2020 08:24:14 AM

MC · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

In Nova Scotia, they announced that nobody should be going on drives for pleasure, but it's OK to drive to do essential things, like going to the pharmacy or grocery store, or going to work. The reasons they gave are (1) to not expose first responders to the risk of contacting coronavirus if you have an accident, (2) to minimize the strain on hospitals from potential crash victims, (3) to statistically reduce the chances of accidents occurring, since there will be less vehicles on the road, and (4) to reduce the necessity of people contacting the virus at service stations, washrooms etc.

To the best of my knowledge, they never made it a law, but the idea is that if you are out for a drive then you are statistically increasing the chances of spreading the virus, or contacting the virus - not through being in a car alone, but the outside contacts you will probably make. They never mentioned this in the news conference that I watched, but there's also the chance that you will break down and need a tow or roadside assistance, or that people will be tempted to pick up their friends and go for a drive (can't social distance with 4 people crammed into a car), or just be tempted to go somewhere to socialize. The government has to deal with trying to steer the public into minimizing exposures at a time when people want to get out from their long winter hibernation - it's a difficult task I'm sure.

For myself, I have my car stored at a facility that charges me by the month, so I just want to get it home so that I don't have to keep paying them for storage when it's not necessary. Even if I can't drive it I can still look at it in the driveway... lol

silver steak · Addicted!

Really can't debate or argue any of the statements, all very logical under the circumstances.

Pertaining to where our hobby car/s are you are spot on, I can certain sit in shop amongst my stuff enjoy the ambiance and catch up on reading materials or work on something else.

Be safe

MC · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Yeah, I think it's important that we keep it in perspective that what is happening now is only temporary, and look forward to the future once this is done. Our cars will still be there for us when we can enjoy them.

65 SD L79 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

the few nice days we have had I have to listen and watch the summer cars go by as I will not put full coverage on the toys till May 24. this has to be the third cold wet spring in a row for us. Lots of lawn to cut if it ever dries out. I have 2 cars on the go but a lot of parts trapped on the other side of the border. Chrome shop is closed too. Last week was a little on the slow side at work, only got 36 hrs in. This week will be back to busy again. I think I will really struggle with retirement

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

I got a call today from the owner of the place where my 67 spends it's winters. It has to come out to allow somebody else behind me out. Normally like to be last in, so first out every year, but this spring is different.

I said I could probably put the car back in, but my wife says just bring the car home. I'm torn as all the arguments against being out on the road kind of ring true with me.

But I surely know when I hear the BB fire up, it will be coming home to sit for a bit. Hopefully it won't piss too many off on the way back home..or maybe I'm too sensitive?

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

Ya do I ever take it for granted that my cars are here and I don't have to store them some place.

Mark, Just bring it home, plan a stop at the grocery store or pharmacy or do a curb side pick up. Then at least you can visit.

We were just talking today in the house and nobody could remember last time they drove their car.

Tomorrow is grocery day though so somebody's going in !

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

I suppose if you use the classic on "official business" that would at least be a way to do both!

jmont64 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

My oldie is my summer driver for everything, take my pickup when I'm going to work. I don't feel bad about it, obviously not going out like other years but when I have to that's the car of choice. Seeing lots of oldies out here and most aren't just cruising but doing the necessities I think. I mean some guys drive a Caddy or a Porsche which sound like pretty fancy cars, I just drive an old Beaumont.

66 Grande guy · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

That my plan too, except that for about another week the road (actually a trail though the bush) to my house is still a temporary creek so that keeps me here regardless.

MC · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

jmont64 wrote:
My oldie is my summer driver for everything, take my pickup when I'm going to work. I don't feel bad about it, obviously not going out like other years but when I have to that's the car of choice. Seeing lots of oldies out here and most aren't just cruising but doing the necessities I think. I mean some guys drive a Caddy or a Porsche which sound like pretty fancy cars, I just drive an old Beaumont.

Honestly, I don't think it matters what you drive really. The idea here is to stay at home and only drive when necessary. It shouldn't matter what you drive, though I can see that the perception of some people would be that if you own a nice classic you are probably just out for a joyride.

Pontiacanada · A Poncho Legend!

On a non-serious note;

When I think of the term "spring liberation" I think of living in Toronto and when the spring weather gets warm enough that people get to finally shed their layers of winter clothing. I especially enjoyed it when you got to see the female form again!

I remember, when I was in Toronto, and the topless law was fought and won by women one year ... I saw a few women "exercising their rights". smile

ABC123 · Uber Guru

I was out with the dog for my morning walk when 4 small classic bikes passed me in single file.

All looked like they were single cylinder machines from the 50s, 60s and maybe 70s.

I couldn't help smiling.

-2, sunny and empty paved country roads.

In a normal world these guys would get flattened.

For all we know they are coming out of storage too !

I understand all opinions here but I'm not judging anyone.

68 Grande · Guru

Well, I picked up the Grande yesterday. I had to remove the vehicle from the storage site as the owner sold the property in January and the Grande along with a few other older vehicles were still in storage there and the new owners wanted the Grande and the other classics there to depart. So, I had no choice but to remove the vehicle at this time during covid.

I will have to admit that I did enjoy the drive back to Wpg on a almost vacant highway and the Grande now resides on my driveway instead of an old horse barn!

Needless to say, the Speedo Stat cruise that Carl Stevenson installed for me works great but I am starting to think that my rebuilt engine is a glutton on fuel. I think I am getting in the 10 to 12 mpg range and I have to wonder if this is the result of the cam that was installed.

So, I guess I get to look at the old girl everyday now as it sits in my driveway.

-- Edited by 68 Grande on Monday 20th of April 2020 11:45:17 AM