Day 7: The Long Drive to Nashville

A Drive Home III team cheer in the icy Charlotte hotel parking lot this morning and we were on our way for the longest daily drive yet: 400+ miles to Nashville. I drove the Camaro part way, and then my partner journalist Larry Nutson drove as well. We wound our way up into the Smoky Mountains, through fog that had settled in low spots along the way. We also took great care to steer clear of slick spots and the stretch west of Canton on I-40 that our friend Dale Wickell had warned us could be full of trucks and sharp curves.

 

 

We had separated from Dave, David, and Keith in the support truck and trailer as they went off to retrieve the ‘55 Chrysler at Hendricks Motorsports. The Hendricks team had diagnosed its trouble as a wristpin, but they weren’t able to get the part in time to fix it. No worries, Keith says we’ll trailer the car to Detroit, drive it down Woodward Avenue, and then send it back to Hendricks for repair.

About 160 miles outside of Nashville, I jumped back in my beloved El Camino to find it running like pretty much like a top – still wanting for power but not choking and gasping nearly as much as when I last drove it. Bill and I speculated it might be the temperature and/or altitude or perhaps the running we have given it the last few days has cleaned out the carburetor a bit.

About 4:45 our cars converged on the parking lot of the Casa De Monte Cristo Nashville, while the support truck, ’62 International, and David on the Triumph arrived about 20 minutes later. Our hosts at Casa gave us a warm welcome and we were joined by new participants auto journalists Steve Purdy and Bob Giles as well as Hagerty's Doug Clark and Eric Weiner. 

 

 

My highlight came when with a visit from some of my wife Alison’s and my dearest friends, Rob and Marta Eynatten. Rob and Marta were our close pals during our time at State Farm’s corporate office in Bloomington, and they have since retired to the Nashville area to be near family. The three of us slipped off to Peg Leg Porker, reportedly one of the best BBQ spots in Nashville that definitely lived up to its name.

 

 

While I was off having dinner, word is that the team had a little encounter with Nashville law enforcement folks when Derek was trying to fly the drone for photos downtown. I haven’t heard full details, but no one has called to post bail so that’s a good sign.    

Tomorrow we continue the trek west with a couple of fun stops that should bring with them great photos and a lot of fun.  

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