<VV> "trailer queens" vs. drivers

Fri Jan 1 15:15:42 EST 2010

I agree Hank, I want cars that I can use. Last year, I drove my '69 Monza Convert. #2891 from the west coast of Calif. (about 3 miles from the Pacific) to Jax (about 3 miles from the Atlantic) with a stop in Colorado along the way and then back to Colorado. I drove my '63 Rampside to Witchita,Kansas and then back to Durango along with a couple of trips to Arizona, Taos NM, and Denver. I drove my '62 Monza Wagon to Covina,California where it is now in the hands of Jeff Williams of California Corvairs doing some restoration work. I hope to have it back in time to drive it to Iowa in June. My '69 (#2891) is all original unrestored. My Rampside is a "driveable restoration" which is how my Monza Wagon will be. I enjoy driving my Corvairs and will not have cars that must be trailored (except the ones sitting on my acreage to keep from going to the crusher).
Timothy Shortle in Durango Colorado 

-----Original Message-----
>From: henry kaczmarek <kaczmarek at charter.net>
>Sent: Jan 1, 2010 1:41 PM
>To: Mark Durham <62vair at gmail.com>, wrsssatty at aol.com
>Cc: virtualvairs at corvair.org
>Subject: Re: <VV> "trailer queens" vs. drivers
>
>I have a problem with "Trailer Queens".  But not ALL trailer queens are 
>alike.
>
>Some owners will trailer their car to a convention or a race, and once there 
>will drive autocross with insane abandon in order to win a "Dust Catcher". 
>Others drive with the same abandon to judge their skill against other 
>drivers usine the same basic car platform.    I won't say there's anything 
>wrong with either approach,  at least they DRIVE them.
>
>My friend Bill Hubbell sometimes drives his car, sometimes trailers 
>it--Depending on where it's going and what he plans to use the car for on 
>that trip. But you can bet as sure as your butt points south, that when he 
>turns the key, all systems are functioning properly.  The restoration on his 
>64 was meticulous, and certainly got my respect for a very well done job.
>
>And I also totally understand the trailering of a car to compete in 
>Concours.  Also not my glass of tea, but I've watched many people prepare 
>for Concours----many are list members, and if you want to take the deduction 
>for trailering, you probably saved yourself a butt-load of work re-cleaning 
>the car.
>
>The first show I went to after buying my first Corvair where there was a 
>Corvair class was on the front lawn at Chevrolet Tonawanda Engine Plant in 
>Buffalo, in June of 1988.  One of the cars was from Rochester, I believe. 
>Perfect Factory stock car, a 67or 69 Monza 2dr.  Never restored from what I 
>was told, and had only about 9K on it.
>
>What gave me the red ass is when they were leaving they pushed it into the 
>trailer. When I inquired "Why not start it and drive it in ?"  I was told 
>that if it was started, oil would puke from every seal on the car.  THEY 
>NEVER DROVE IT----EVER.  Just roll it off the trailer to sit in the grass 
>and be looked at, then push it back in the trailer, park the trailer at the 
>house, and the car doesn't see the light of day until the next show. I also 
>surmised that the exhaust system was probably rotten on the inside, manifold 
>gaskets were missing, and the brake system was probably siezed.   I wanted 
>to, but didn't suggest they just park it lenghways on their lawn, cut off 
>the top, fill the thing with dirt and plant flowers in it, for all the 
>usefulness as originally designed  it was in its present condition.
>
>It's just my opinion of course, and everyone's mileage may vary. But what I 
>CAN tell you is that If I had a Corvair and couldn't drive it,  I wouldn't 
>want it.
>
>Driving the Corvair (to me)  is the most fun part of owning one.
>
>Restoring them can be a labor of love, as mine has been with the Ultra 
>Monza----Which is juuuust about ready for primer.   But it is LABOR 
>nonetheless.  I'd prefer to be driving rather than restoring.
>
>And not for the horn beeps, the waves and high fives and the stories people 
>want to tell you in the parking lot or the gas station.   But because it's a 
>FUN CAR TO DRIVE.
>
>So let's not be TOO tough on cars that get trailered.  Except for the ones 
>that can't be driven, there's usually a good reason why it's on a trailer 
>and not on the road.
>
>BTW, As my CORSA membership expired yesterday, Thanks for the free ride on 
>VV!!   If it makes ya mad, let me know--I've a LONG list of Directors and 
>other sympathizers of the "Free Ride" you can express your derisions to.
>
>Hank
>
>
>----- Original Message ----- 
>From: "Mark Durham" <62vair at gmail.com>
>To: <wrsssatty at aol.com>
>Cc: <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
>Sent: Friday, January 01, 2010 12:59 PM
>Subject: Re: <VV> "trailer queens" vs. drivers
>
>
>> Bill, I understand. It really comes down to what your purpose is. I plan 
>> to
>> restore my car over time. Mechanicals first. But I still plan to put up to
>> about 4-6K miles a year on it having fun. It will be put away for the 
>> winter
>> and driven when the roads are dry. I also plan to restore it to original,
>> accept I plan to upgrade the engine compartment to make things more
>> reliable. I've alreadyreplaced the generator with a alternator, for 
>> example.
>> I will also enter the car in local shows only to show it off. EFI is on 
>> the
>> horizon but I plan to do the mod in such a way it will maintain the basic
>> stock look of the engine compartment. Mark Durham
>>
>> On Fri, Jan 1, 2010 at 9:26 AM, <wrsssatty at aol.com> wrote:
>>
>>> I have never understood the reverse snobbery against so-called "trailer
>>> queens".  I, for one, appreciate the work, money and time that goes  into 
>>> a
>>> proper restoration that respects what is stock, original and  correct. 
>>> And
>>> I
>>> salute the people who, once they've accomplished such a  restoration,
>>> endeavor to preserve it.  In the end, the car belongs to the  owner and 
>>> he
>>> or she
>>> is free to do with the car whatever he or she wishes (within  the law). 
>>> I
>>> do know, however, that if your great-grandchildren ever see a  Corvair, 
>>> it
>>> will most likely be today's "trailer queens" and not today's  drivers!
>>>
>>> ~Bill Stanley
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