Driving a car was once a celebrated adventure. Families piled into their car for a ride on Sunday, venturing out on roads unexplored and for sights not before seen. Sunday drives were a family affair that brought joy, built memories, and was a bonding experience.
It took knowledge of the car and how it functioned to be able to complete a drive somewhere and successfully return home. Roads were primitive. Some cars carried two spare tires as having one was not often enough. Tires were not the only spare parts carried. One had to anticipate what might fail and be prepared to accomplish the needed repair along the roadside. Roads were two lane, often winding as they were laid out on the easiest route requiring the least earth moving. Paving a bend around a large tree was easier and quicker than removing the tree. Traffic was light. Forests were left close to the roads. Small towns along the back roads were quaint and rarely visited by outsiders. Driving was fun and adventurous.
Longer, multi-day trips required detailed planning to determine the route. The American Automobile Club featured custom-made, thick, spiral-bound books of maps to assist the navigator in finding those tricky turns and poorly-signed roads leading to their destination. There were no chain motels providing overnight accommodations. Days were spent working on the car in preparation for the long trip.
Fast forward to today. Roads are straight, multi-lane, and packed with cars. Traffic comes to a halt with the slightest hiccup, causing drivers with schedules to fume and become profane. Driving in the 21st century just requires knowing where the fuel fill is and turning the key. A computer in the car will tell the driver where to turn and what road to take. Part failures are rare and maintenance is handled by a dealer's shop. Cars are designed to isolate the driver and passengers from the road. Driving has become a chore required for daily life, one dreaded by many.
Sunday drives and the enjoyment they once provided is still there for classic car owners. Some of those back roads still exist but are becoming rarer as large earth moving equipment levels and straightens every roadway in preparation for paving. All feedback from the road and the environment are experienced by the people in the car. Sunday drives can still be an adventure and bring great joy.
Oh, there are classic cars that sit in garages, are on display at museums. reside in collections, rarely, if ever, driven. The detailed, expensive restorations are too valuable to risk a rock chipping the paint or having a part break that is irreplaceable keep them from even being started. On the other hand, there are those in the classic car community who want to experience the thrill of being on the road and the challenge of finding the enjoyable roads to experience the journey rather than the quickest and easiest route to a destination. Some go to great extremes to create an ultimate adventure - The Great Race, for example: Great Race Link .
April, 2017, Tangerine, FL
One Sunday Drive for us was a bit longer, an overnighter, to the small Central Florida community of Tangerine. The Cinnamon Inn Bread & Breakfast provided the comfortable, quaint, and quality accommodations, and a number of backroads and roadside experiences provided the adventure. Who would have thought a large, popular German bakery would be located on a back road? A stop at the bakery rewarded one not only with beautiful and delicious baked goods - a wide selection of German beers was available. Yahala Bakery Link Unexpected joys are waiting on the back roads.
One Sunday Drive included the curviest road, known as The Tail of the Gator, with the road ending at the Crystal River. Literally, at the river. Someone even thought a sign was necessary to point out that the road ends at the waterline.
It is appropriate that a post on cars concludes with the rear end of a car.
