6/4. Ready to get in line for the Route 66 run to Atlanta. Turned the key and NOTHING! Battery was dead as a road possum. Fortunately found a ride as jumping it didn't help. Great pop up car show with 40 British cars on the street downtown. Great historic tours and a friendly crowd. Now back to the parking lot and the dead battery. With the help of some great folks with a 120 (thanks Gregg and Susan Pedersen) I was able to get the battery out in about 2 hours and off to auto zone for a new one. (Of course it did require a phone call to the guru Mr. Kakuska as most of this is done by feel not vision). Installed the new battery and then realized it didn't have the holes in the top of the posts for the Lucas connectors. After much fiddling gave up and out the new battery came. I now have enough practice I think I could make flat rate :) And then a quick shower and off to the festivities which included a cover band and poker run awards.

The phone camera can see this but your eye can't!

6/5. Up and at the box store at 7:00AM to buy a drill and other tools. Back to the parking lot holes drilled, battery in, connecting delayed by my Harbor Freight ratchet falling apart. Off to buy more tools. Finally buttoned up and made the show! Too late to get enough votes to place but in plenty of time to enjoy the great crowd, the 160 British cars and their friendly owners. If you weren't there you missed a great weekend.

PS. On the way home I noticed my fuel gage wasn't working, or my brake lights, or my turn signals, and the overdrive. They're apparently on the same circuit and I bumped/shorted something in my work. Fortunately I live in farm country not Chicago so it wasn't an issue. One more thing on the shop list. These old Jags are always and adventure!

Return to Previous Page