R. Button

For a while I thought that I might kind of hang at the 450,000+ miles mark as I was just driving to and from work - about 50 miles total, with my studies over - for now - at St Gregory's University in Shawnee, Oklahoma, I just was not traveling as much. Then as I began to consider retiring I had a job offer that intrigued me so off I go to El Paso, Texas. Ya know they have upped the speed limits on I30/I20/I10 so that by the time you connect to I10 you’re cruising at 80+ on smooth, open road. Just have to watch out for them "Texas Gaters" or what is commonly known as parts of truck tires left in the middle of the road! After a number of trips out to El Paso from outside of Little Rock the mileage on the ol'Mark I started to climb once more. Add in a trip to NY State, and one to Colorado and I’m right at about 500,000. It’s not so much the miles rather it’s been the journey. Meeting people along the way at every gas stop. They all seem to have heard of a neighbor, parent, or some other close friend who had one of these cars. You have all heard the stories! For me the best part is the kids! The parents want to have a picture of their kid taken beside the car and when I offer them an open door I know I just helped another kid enjoy a car as they climb in and we buckle them up with the full harness for their picture. Of course the parents, both the guy’s and ladies, have a look of can I climb in the car too for a picture! But they often seem to be afraid to ask so an offer to take their picture seals the deal for them to climb in!

I rarely do car shows as I find it hard to sit still for that long in one place. BUT when I do go a car show the people you meet make it all worth the time spent. As you look over the work that others have done to their cars you get ideas for what you might do. Also appreciate all the hours of labor that they have put into the car they have on display.
I do so enjoy the open road. We have such a diverse country and the people that come up to us all as we’re out driving the highways adds to the enjoyment of the trip. To me it IS the people. People that never would have said a word to you will now follow you to a rest area so they can have a look and ask you the same questions we all have heard many times before. We answer the same questions as though this is the first time we were ever asked. These same people that ignore you at the stop light will now stare at the car and often yell over to ask what is it and how nice it looks.
In order to accumulate this many miles on any car you have to accept that chips in the paint, carpet holes, chrome trim having rust lines, windscreens pitted from sand and road dust, all as part of the journey. I understand those that choose to put a show quality paint job on their cars whatever kind of car it is. Their car is a reflection, of what they were looking for in their car. Others build their car for racing as they are looking for something different. As mention, mine was to see if I could build a complete car – my Henry Ford syndrome. Then to my amazement I actually enjoyed driving it. I found excuses to drive the car, to the store to pick up milk, a pizza, whatever was needed. The ol’Mark I has proven to be reliable, holding up for long road trips. On the forums to hear about others who are now taking their cars out on extended road trips!
However you built your car – the pleasure you get from polishing it, the thrill you get from racing it, or in my case the enjoyment I get driving it on the open road, keep the tires on the road and be safe!