Jim and Louise Feeney and their 1936 Ford Police Car. This car is a driver! How did Jim and Louise get from their home in Endicott New York to the start of the 2019 Great Race in Riverside California? They drove this car! And how did they get home after the race was over in Tacoma Washington? Same way they got to Riverside for the start of this race, they will drive this car. And...that is how they got to and from all of the previous Great Races.
I first met Jim and Louise about twenty years ago as they were driving back to New York from a car race in Texas. There generator quit charging someplace in Oklahoma. They called my store and wanted to know...."you are that guy who builds those alternators for the Great Race, do you have the parts on hand to convert our 36 Ford from generator to alternator?"
Yes indeed! "Well we are someplace down here in Oklahoma and our generator quit so we will buy another battery and our heading in your direction. See you later this afternoon. About 2:00pm they showed up tired and thirsty. I said I would work on their car and gave them directions, and my truck to go eat lunch and cool off. By the time they got back I had the alternator on and wired and was just about to test things out. I told Jim to get into his car and hit the starter the amp needle immediately went to charge and stayed there. There was a big smile on Jim's face.
All of this was more fun because I live in a small town of 4,500 people. I installed the alternator on the street in front of the store which drew a crowd of the locals who wanted to know what an old Ford police car was doing in town... and more important what was I doing to it, and finally where were the people at that drove it here?
The local newspaper even wandered down the street to take a picture of the action and get the straight scoop. The rumors were flying by the time the next edition hit the street..."they are filming a movie here, Fifth Avenue bought the car for advertising, its being used to film a commercial locally", it belongs to the Kansas Highway Patrol and they are giving a talk to the local grade school class.
The local paper set the record straight and even interviewed Jim and Louise. The rumor mill was much more exciting. Jim and Louise have been a customer every since and I see them often at old car rally events and we still have a laugh over the excitement they caused when they rolled into town that hot summer day.
Pretty Official looking...
Car 54 Where Are You...? yes they have heard them all...
Imagine seeing this in the Rear view mirror in 1936. Odds are... it would cost you some of your hard earned depression dollars to square things up!
Yes Jim is the navigator and Louise drives...any questions...?!
The end of nine days and 2600 miles, and they still like each other !
You know how all of this works, now you know how it works in a 1936 Ford!
Jim and Louise finished 3rd in their class and 6th place overall which is a good showing anybody would be proud of. The old Ford proved to be as reliable as ever and will no doubt be back for next year's race. Many people are afraid to drive an old car any distance for fear it might break down but you have to remember when these cars were new people often drove them cross country.
With the modern technology we have available today, modern engine oil being a good example (it does a much better job of lubricating than the oil available in the 1930's) cars can be made just as reliable as a modern vehicle as Jim and Louise have clearly proved!
With the modern technology we have available today, modern engine oil being a good example (it does a much better job of lubricating than the oil available in the 1930's) cars can be made just as reliable as a modern vehicle as Jim and Louise have clearly proved!
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