It’s getting harder to drive my A
 

Wife and I took a picnic drive to the country today, about 40 miles RT. In my younger days this would have presented no adverse effects. Now, however, as I approach 76, those forty miles were seriously uncomfortable. We came home pooped! It gave credence to the old joke that the passengers in a Model A are the shock absorbers! I’ve got almost new Stipe shocks on the coupe, but Portland’s streets and byways are so neglected that driving them in a Model A is like riding in an out of balance washing machine. A Harley would be more comfortable!

I used to think nothing of a 120 mile tour, but now? Those days are over. This old age business ain’t for sissies! “Shake, rattle, and roll” doesn’t mean what it used to.

Re: It’s getting harder to drive my A
 

Ive get a well kept coupe and often drive an RPU. the pickup has seized shocks and the shock links are no longer connected. The RPU is amazingly comfortable ride wise, the tubs a little small for me though.

Re: It’s getting harder to drive my A
 

Ray, I sympathize with you. I just turned 76, and have arthritis in my hips and lower back, and just getting in my Town Sedan is an effort, but I still take it out for short drives 3-4 times a week. But I haven’t driven on a longer trip in quite awhile now.

Re: It’s getting harder to drive my A
 

Ray,

I feel your pain except it is in my hands for now just holding on to the steering wheel.

But I really hate to say this...But there is going to come a time...Need I say more?

Pluck

Re: It’s getting harder to drive my A
 

well said Ray. I am only 60 and roofed 2 1/2 square of shingle on Thursday.


could hardly move yesterday. I used to put on 15 sq in a day. sucks.........

Re: It’s getting harder to drive my A
 

I must have Rays and Plucks DNA in me. Because I have and know exactly what you mean and what you are talking about.

At least we are still doing what we love, pain or not. In about 30 minutes I am going out to mount 4 new radial tires. Then I will come in and bitch to my wife how much my hands and back hurt. The following day, I will be back at it.

Re: It’s getting harder to drive my A
 

" This old age business ain’t for sissies! "

Boy, thats the truth.

At least with the top down its a lot easier to get in and out of today.

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I'm still able to drive my "A", but have a less and less desire to.:( The main road (Highway 50) here is being widened and is one big mess!:mad: Plus, the last half a dozen times I've taken the roadster out for a cruise around the neighborhood. It has quit on me for some obscure electrical problem or another.:eek: I have been able to limp home and I think I know what the problem is and maybe corrected it. But, with the crappy roads and lousy drivers I just do not have the desire to go out anymore.:eek: I'll be 70 next month and I have been toying with the idea of selling my last old car.:o


Bob-A:D

Re: It’s getting harder to drive my A
 

Bob, I'm sure that will be heartbreaking. Our thoughts are with you.
GENE

Re: It’s getting harder to drive my A
 

I'm just about to turn 80, and am reluctant to drive my A any more because I'm no longer confident that if something went wrong on the road I'd be able to repair it.

Re: It’s getting harder to drive my A
 

At 76 I can still fit under the Model T without using Jack stands but can only squeeze under the A behind the front wheel.

I have warned my wife that if I don’t come in the house for lunch or 4PM wine I am most likely stuck under the car and need help. OR I might have gotten comfortable and be taking a nap.

Re: It’s getting harder to drive my A
 

Well, I'm a late 73 and my passion is riding dirt bikes...I crashed my brains out a couple of weeks ago and can barely get around. Add to that some horrible prescription drugs (statin and blood thinner) that made my hands barely usable...my right thumb still can't bend even after I dropped the drugs four months ago. Modern medicine has been a joke to me - always seems to do more harm than good. My Model A has kept me busy throughout this covid mess, and will no doubt help replace dirt biking as a primary interest soon, I'm thinking about a hot rod too. Dirt biking was great because it forces one to stay in shape and will keep you limber, but man, hitting that dirt seems to be getting much more painful than it used to be. Just gotta keep moving...:)


I'm gonna miss these guys!


Attachment 458280

Re: It’s getting harder to drive my A
 

Re: It’s getting harder to drive my A
 

Old age ain't what is used to be. Who said that!

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Old age isn't for sissies but who said you can't feel it. My "Vicky" keeps me young at 75. Yet harder to drive it here on the island with all the traffic.

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Re: It’s getting harder to drive my A
 

I can empathize with all of you. I'm not quite yet 70 yo (holding that milestone at bay as long as I can!) and have had touring motorcycles off and on for over 40 years. I love getting out and riding, but I'm at the point I'm about ready to sell my last remaining one (a big BMW). Reason - I think that a rider should be able to pick up his bike if it tips over onto the side, like when mounting onto the center stand. I can now just barely do it, when before it used to be a non-issue. Besides, I'm not sure my reactions are quite what they used to be, and certainly riding a road bike requires quick reactions, especially with all the cell-phone using morons here in the SF Bay Area. (And, my daughter won't let the grandkids ride with me.) I may have one last road trip ahead of me this summer when I retire, then goodby to that part of my life and concentrate on driving the As. With the grandkids.

JayJay

Re: It’s getting harder to drive my A
 

YES!


This is my new mantra. :D

Re: It’s getting harder to drive my A
 

I'm not that creaky yet, but I can tell you it's hard to drive for more than an hour in my Tudor. Something about the springs and positioning I just get achy/crampy from pressure or reduced blood flow or something. (6-2, original seat springs, seat set back 3 inches on custom mounts)

Re: It’s getting harder to drive my A
 

Wait until you get my age, 83.9!

Re: It’s getting harder to drive my A
 

Swap those stock seats out for some Honda, ect small 21” wide buckets. It’s SOooo much more comfortable.

Re: It’s getting harder to drive my A
 

I feel your pain regarding Tudor seats. Ditto with our 28 Tudor. The bride and i are just finishing reupholstering a S/W fordor for some summer driving. We padded those bench seats to be a soft and comfy as possible. I'm 73 and the wife is 69, so comfort is becoming more important as we age.
And yes, my big Harley is becoming too much to hang on to any more.

Re: It’s getting harder to drive my A
 

At 79 I have a really tough time getting on and off my creeper anymore. Once on I generally roll under the vehicle and take a nap prior to finishing the task at hand.

Re: It’s getting harder to drive my A
 

Last year got under our 29 and couldn’t get out. My wife was going to call the EMT’s.

After about 30 minutes, I was able to slide out. Never again.

Re: It’s getting harder to drive my A
 

I'm 4 1/2 weeks out from joint replacement (L/Hip), and still going to PT sessions. If she (PT) had seen me lug the battery up from the basement and put it in the coupe she wouldn't have been happy.. I did have my cane in the garage.!
First shake-out run for 2021, nice weather in DE and couldn't wait. Getting in and out was a bit of a challenge also.. more exercises and ice I suppose.!

Glad I got out and did it anyway..! As Bob said.. "Don't let the old man in"..!


kb

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Re: It’s getting harder to drive my A
 

The neat thing about Model A hot rods is that you can put in any kind of seating. I had a built in lumbar support in the roadster and JEEP buckets in the CCPU. Same goes for shocks. Looking forward to the Speedster Reunion in June. At 80, I might bring down the average age of participants!

Re: It’s getting harder to drive my A
 

One thing I can say about my Town Sedan, it does have overstuffed comfortable seats.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...f09a02aa_z.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/4795/3...070b94cb_z.jpg

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Those seats look beautiful and PLUSH!

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At a bit the top side of 72, I do not consider myself old but I'm getting there. I can relate to all of the comments about idiot drivers, rough roads and joints that don't move like they used to. All that said, my wife and I are setting off again in June for another trip north in our A Tourer and camper. We will be one of 5 cars (the oldest driver is 78) and we are looking forward to it greatly. We will do about 8-9,000 miles.
The most miles we have done in a day is a bit north of 600. These days, I would break a day like that and bush camp for the night. Age and smarts will always triumph over youth and skill, they say but I'd take youth any day.

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I'm at 75,but still able to do stuff. My son-in-law who has an aftermarket car business (Auto Sunroofs & Leather) is helping me re-do the interior in our Tudor. Took apart the door parts & glass today to rebuild & insulate the doors. Rear compartment & quarters cleaned & insulated. Got to get her done by the nice weather! Hopefully the grand kids will get to visit. Going to try to teach my oldest grand daughter how to start & drive her (she's 15), I want 'Tinker' to go somewhere I know when I'm done with her. Oldman

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I'm 86 and still drive both of my A's and both T's. The hardest one drive and to get in and out of is my March, 1928 open cab pickup. the people who drove these pickups must have had really short legs.

Re: It’s getting harder to drive my A
 

Really good looking. It looks like artwork.

Enjoy.

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Bob I met a guy last fall that had moved BACK to NW Illinois, who had been living near Tampa for almost 20 years. I said 'why' did you move back HERE? Have you forgotten what the winters are like?

He said 'no', it's just that Florida keeps getting more and more crowded as each year goes by and I was sick of it. People keep moving in. Two main highways running north and south and they are always crammed with traffic. And the summers are awful. From March to October!

Ray when we had the '29 Tudor, the biggest trip I ever took was over to Geneseo and back about 80 miles round trip. When I was 18 years old. And it about killed me, back then. No way I could do that today nor would I want to anymore. But I still have the love of the cars. I just limit my trips today to no more than 8 miles from home tops:) And yes a Roadster is a snap getting in and out with the top down.......

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I’m 6’3” and weigh 185#, and to get in and out of my ‘28 rpu i had to practicallly get horizonal across the seat. I sold that truck, and 25 yr’s later I bought a ‘30 closed cab pickup. I had to do the same thing with that.

People were smaller 90 years ago.:rolleyes:

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I am doing pretty good for almost 75. This last couple weeks, I have been slowly tearing down an A motor that has been unused since 1964. And I spent much of one day moving around a pretty big batch of Model A parts I am giving away to help clean up my garage space. It has been 3 years since i took a 500 mile trip by myself on the cabriolet. I am slowing down a lot but plan to keep going for as long as I can.

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I think you are right. I have my great-grandfather's top hat, and it is sooooo small it looks like a 12 year old today might be a bale to wear it. (he was born in the early 1890s)

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The tudor sets are not nearly as comfy as the fourdor seats.

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Ray, a small group of us did a 120 mile deal today and it can be a killer. Both my wife and I complain about the seats in the 29 Tudor. They're horrible! I am just coming on 70 and I can tell you that I really noticed that both my wife and I have slowed down in the last few years. Damn!

Re: It’s getting harder to drive my A