Thread: Proper roadster pilot etiquette

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Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

Everybody loves a roadster.
At least they do until they own one, but that's another story.


Yep, no denying it, there are roadster people and non-roadster people. I am the roadster type. I get rained on, big bugs hit me in the head at 70MPH, the top of my head was continually in a state of peeling from sunburn, I had to wear sunglasses even at night to keep the wind out of my eyes, and I have frozen when the temp dropped to 40 degrees while I was at a show and nightime came. But I wouldn't have it any other way.

I read in a magazine one time the advice "never build a top for your roadster because you will rarely take it off and then it is no longer a roadster." I have seen this so often........look at Brian, his RP looks so cool with the top on I bet it never comes off again. Not saying that is bad, just a fact.

When I moved to Cape Coral in 1985 I was building my roadster, and I was inspired by a local real estate agent, Phil Deems. Phil has a neat '27 roadster pickup that he built in 1958 or thereabouts, and he still owns it. It is turquise with white undercarriage, wide whites, chevy 283 with two 4 barrels, etc. Really oldtimey, but real, not a recreation. Anyway, I would see Phil driving his rod to work in the mornings with his necktie flying in the breeze, surrounded by all of these econoboxes and other mundane daily commuters, and he just looked like a real hot rodder to me. I swore that when mine was done I would do exactly that, and I did , for 7 years. (except I don't EVER wear a necktie, except funerals and weddings )

What I love about a roadster is that it is just like riding a Harley, but with 4 wheels. You get all the sights,sounds, smells that surround you and have an unobstructed view of everything. My favorite time is to go out for late night drives when it is cool, and just loaf along listening to the pipes and watching the chrome on the engine glisten under the street lights. D***, I've got to get the T done, I want to do all that again. I can't wait either for my Son to get his '29 done. He has no idea what a world this car is going to open up for him when he starts driving it around.


Don

All so true.
We got tired of getting burned all to heck and gone when running Central California's highways on 100 degree days.
You can get a pretty good sunburn up in the mountains as well.
We usually took the 32 up into Sequoia National Park several times a year.
We lived pretty close to it and it was fun to play tourist for the day.

Like you say, the top seldom comes off and it's a Godsend here in Sunny Arizona with it's many days in excess of 100 degrees.

Running in about 109 degrees is my personal best on the high end of the thermometer.
16 degrees last winter on a couple of short trips.

My 32 has a heater, it's black, up under the dash and virtually invisible.
Few have noticed it.
It helps even without a top.
The passenger does especially well.

Even so, an old quilt over your legs, T-shirt, sweatshirt and well insulated jacket with hood and a ball cap will do it.
Thermal gloves are a necessity on really cold days as well.

The pic in one of the other posts has the rear window unsnapped, folded up and snapped under the top.
It makes for excellent air flow and helps keep things cool in the summer.

In the winter, the back window is put down and snapped in place.

Lots of options with a top and running topless is only one of them.


Runnin' a California two laner late on a summer night when the orange blossoms are in bloom is a whole 'nother deal.

The view of the world through the windshield of a roadster is different from anything else you'll ever experience....

Last, but not least, the really traditional way to run the California coast.

Couldn't resist....

Both pictures really show great ways to enjoy life. Most people never know either one.

Talking about roadster experiences, two instances come to mind. The first is the one I mentioned where I went to a car show during the day, and it was nice weather, but all afternoon the temp started to drop, and by 8 Pm or so it was 40 degrees. All I had on was my leather motorcycle jacket and shorts. It was so cold that I was shaking like a leaf and couldn't keep my foot steady on the gas, as my leg was shaking so bad. The car kept doing little hops and chirping the tires when I pulled out from a light. At one light a car pulled up next to me, the guy rolled down the window and said "you poor dumb SOB." I couldn't argue with him.

And, the very last time I drove my roadster before I tore it down for the rebuild I took it to Daytona for the Turkey Rod Run, it is about 5 hours each way. It was nice going up, but the day we left it was raining cats and dogs, and didn't stop the whole time I was driving back. My Girlfriend was with me, but she was smart enough to follow me in her Honda, so she had heat and wipers and stereo, all that good stuff. She made me stop at a KMart and buy one of those yellow rain suits with pants and a jacket with a hood. So here I am, all bundled up, with my sunglasses on, and this big yellow suit. I looked like a big banana driving the car all the way back. It was so bad she said she couldn't even see me in front of her most of the time.

But that isn't the funny part. All the way back I kept feeling water dripping down my neck and chest because the suit was slightly open there. After about 4 hours of driving, I shifted my sitting position because my butt was getting tired, and found out there were about 5 gallons of water trapped in my pants. When I finally got out of the car all of this water dumped out of my pants legs.

I tore the car apart the next week for a rebuild and haven't driven it since.


Don

Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

I shifted my sitting position because my butt was getting tired, and found out there were about 5 gallons of water trapped in my pants. When I finally got out of the car all of this water dumped out of my pants legs Don

"something" must have gotten pretty wrinkled

yesterday was a VERY HOT day here, maybe 100 to 110? I drove the roadster to work cause my truck & boyfriend was on the way to ventura towing my travel trailer (we are camping out on the beach for 5 days to attend the Primer national car show).. Anywhoo, it was SO HOT, the only way I made it back home without passing out was pouring water on me every 4 minutes (out of a water bottle). I plan on keeping a spray bottle from now on. I use hat, sunscreen protection #45 and it prevents you from burning. The water will cool your body down.

In the trunk I have a laundry basket (will be upgraded to a vintage 50's suitcase soon, don't worry) in which I keep all the goodies:

1- gloves
2- fedora hat with brim (if the sun is low)
3- Aviator cap (for night ride or sun high up)
4- thermal long sleeve T-shirt
5- Leather jacket with wool lining (for night)
6- One thick wool blanket
7- sunscreen lotion
8- water bottle (filled)
9- CDs
10- sun shade device (I put that on the seat when I park in the sun - it keeps my butt from frying when I come back!)

I also keep in a seperate car bag:

1- flares
2- orange road cones (4 of them)
3- latex gloves (in case I need to perform a deep cavity search )
4- fuses, duct tape, tie wraps (and chewing gum LOL - whatever fill keep the roadster together )
5- small tool box
5- Flash light with flashers

IS MY TRUNK THAT BIG? YOP, I even have room for an entire non compact car cover and a small bag. (plus, I'm a woman, we know how to pack a lot in small space - we have LOTS of practice LOL)

"something" must have gotten pretty wrinkled


I'm still having problems with that one.


Don

Damn, all this talk about roadsters makes me want to take the sawsall to my sedan. Maybe the plasma cutter would be faster and neater.