Rumbleseat's East Coast Run 2003 Part Eight

PART EIGHT. I tried to reach Bob Carlson in Dresher, PA on Saturday. No luck. Tried again Sunday morning, but didn't get an answer to any of my calls. He didn't have a recorder and I couldn't leave a message I was going on. Probably out of town for the weekend. Too bad I couldn't have arranged meeting the flathead forum guys before I had left home. Just too many miles and uncertain roads and weather to do it.
I had called Buddy Dridge (in Blue Point, NY) Thursday evening. This is located on the south edge of Long Island. I sure wasn't looking forward to clutching through NY City on Friday traffic. I'd seen enough heavy traffic to last me. And my beefed up clutch isn't fun in stop and go traffic. Anyway, Buddy said he had to work all day Friday, but would come and meet me west of NY City on Saturday. Told him I'd call back Friday. I called him Friday morning and left a message I was going on. I didn't want to spend a whole day and night waiting. I am sorry I didn't get to see his 8BA powered '37 coupe.

Turned and headed to West Chester, PA to hook up with Dan Rappucci. This required some back tracking to the west side of Philadelphia, but back tracking is necessary at times during a run like this. Great weather. Sun was out all day. Called it quits early in the day and had some much needed rest. Called Dan to arrange a meeting on Sunday. Seems he had to take his son and several friends to the beach on Sunday, but would be home later in the day. This is a yearly thing for the group.

On the road mid morning. Rain.... again. Put the top up just before it turned into a heavy downpour. Rain finally stopped and I pulled into West Chester about noon. As usual, I had no idea where I was. Took the second exit and found a large shopping center right off the exit. Amazing! I was really early, but it was lunch time. Found a pizza place in the shopping center and ate lunch. Still way too early. Cruised around the shopping center. Found a barber shop. I was looking scruffier than usual, so burned some time and had a much needed haircut. On the edge of the shopping center was a car wash! I couldn't believe the string of luck in finding everything in one place. Usually, I have to drive 10 miles to find a single place or phone. Washed the roadster and put the top down. The rumble seat was under water from the heavy downpour, so I emptied it and vacuumed out Big Lake (maybe I should stock it?) . It had about 2-1/2" of water. Found a pay phone. This always takes some doing since these are quickly becoming relics of the past. Everyone has cell phones now. I called Dan's home. Denise, his wife answered. Don would be home soon and she said I was to come to their home and wait for him. Works for me. She said she'd drive to the shopping center and lead me to their place. Good thing, since I don't think I'd have ever found it.

Denise soon arrived and I followed her to their home. She insisted I park inside the garage in her space. At this rate, the roadster would become spoiled! We sat and drank coffee and talked. Bob Rappucci, Dan's brother, came by. He's an ex-body man and went over the roadster with a fine tooth comb. Soon Dan pulled in. They insisted I spend the night and keep the roadster in the garage next to his street rod. His red '40 tudor is running an 8BA with heads and carbs (94's). It has a 5 speed trans which has a super sano installation. The car is very clean and cherry. He's done many innovative things to his street rod. We spent the evening in the garage talking flatheads. Friendly people... which is typical flatheaders in my book. My rumble seat carpet was soaked and we emptied the compartment and put a box fan it to dry it out. It ran all night. Next morning, it was still soaking wet! Seems the humidity was too high to dry anything using straight air (maybe I should have torched it!). One thing about the humidity.... the old flathead felt like it was getting water vapor injection all the time I was in the NE! Stowed everything back in the roadster and followed him to get breakfast. If I hadn't followed him, I'd still be driving around the woods looking for a way out. He wanted to drive his street rod a ways with me, but had a meeting he couldn't miss. More talk during breakfast. Then I hit the road. This was Monday morning, June 7.......... rumble seat