Backfire
After reading McNessor’s column in the August issue about his time sheltering in place, I figured I would share with Hemmings how our family is working through and enjoying our downtime.
During these trying times, our extended family — my wife Marilyn, my two married children, three grandchildren, and one son — has converted my man cave into a drive-in theatre.
The cars that are currently at the drive-in are a 1965 International Scout pickup, a 1961 Willys FC150, a 1957 Thunderbird and a 1961 Corvette. We will be rotating in some new vehicles occasionally, for a change in seating. Those include a 1969 MG MGC, a 2003 Chevrolet SSR, a 1959 Morris Minor convertible, and a 1966 Mustang.
The man-cave conversion to a drive-in includes central air conditioning/heating, cold drinks, a popcorn machine, and, of course, neon-sign lighting.
Long live our passion!
Harvey Gessin Via email
I loved McNessor’s Between the Lines in the August issue. Man, it was just like home and I had to share it with my wife. As far as the “happenings” in the shop, I thought I was the only one jinxed like that! It made me feel good that I have company. One McNessor missed though: the elusive nut or bolt that slips from your fingers and ALWAYS finds the smallest hole to fall through, or lodges in the most impossible spot to prevent any reasonable possibility of retrieving it. Sometimes it is never even seen again, at least until the job is long past. Eventually it turns up under the bench, 30 feet from where it launched. This hobby requires undue patience for sure. Thanks for the great column!
Kent Johnson Via email
I usually don’t read the columns in Hemmings but after reading McNessor’s in the August issue, I think I’ve been making a mistake.
My usual action with the latest issue is to first turn to the Buick sections to see what’s selling, what parts are being offered, and what’s being searched for. But I want to say that I really enjoyed his writing in this issue.
I guess I have to say that my “Chief” is as strict as your “Chief.” My wife had a lung removed in the mid 1960s because of tuberculosis, so she is untiringly aware of the risk of being exposed to this — or any other — virus, and she remains extremely cautious.
