Random Acts of Automotive Kindness...What's Your Story?

The many simple acts of kindness, especially from strangers, makes this hobby better than we could have hoped. My Grandmother always said, "a friend in need is a friend indeed."

 

Touch wood

When I have had trouble in the passed I have been close enough that hubby was able to come and changer the tire or what ever. Although there was one time my little Blazer broken down on the way back from N.B. I think it was the water pump??? Something with a lot of ball bearings and the belt had broken...never mind.

I had all three of the kids with me, this was before most people had personal cell phones. The boys were in there early teens so I sent them to hitchhike to the toll booth a few miles ahead. A truck driver stopped and picked them up, I was really worried, had I done the right thing sending them instead of leaving them in the Blazer with my daughter and me going ahead.

Anyway the truck pulls away with the boys and I started thinking about how long it should take them to get to the toll booth and call dad. They were gone a few minutes when I look up and the tractor trailer is BACKING UP THE HIGHWAY towards me. One of the boys jumps out and runs back and says the driver thought we all should go to the toll booth. First I thought how nice, he backed that big truck back here to rescue us. But then I thought about my brand new tires and chrome rims on the Blazer and told them I'd stay when my daughter in the truck until hubby came for us.

My daughter and I sat on the side of the highway with the hood up for about an hour and a half before hubby came with the boys, I was so relieved to see them, they were my heroes too that day. Only one other person stopped to see if we needed help(a woman). A few cars actually honked as they went by.

We got a cell phone shortly after that.

 

Two amazing stories Norm.

How difficult that had to have been for your dad to keep that story to himself for four years before sharing it with you. Perhaps he felt you were to young to hear it at the time.
There are all types of people in this world having your dad be the one to be following that truck was definitely fate. Not everyone could have done what you dad was able to do that night.

 

Dad was a big man, physically and in heart. I had a lot of respect for him, for a lot of events he handled including that one. Thanks fannie.

 

A while back after shopping with my wife we returned to see a note tucked under her wiper.
Someone had dinged the car with their door and left a small dent on the wheel arch then actually left a note with an offer to pay for the damage.
The damage was such that paint work would have been required and being a silver car we decided to live with the ding as it didn't break the paint. We called the lady and thanked her for her honesty.
There are still some good folks out there willing to take responsibility.

 

I decided to take my wagon to a local company I'd never heard about previously, I found it in the Yellow Pages. One rear tire had a small slice and a slow leak I'd nursed along for quite a while, the other rear was beginning to leak. They found two blackwalls at $90 for the pair. They had the car in the back for a half an hour before they called me into the back to show me their tires compared to mine. They would not sell me their tires because mine were in better shape. I said I had that little slow leak in the sidewall, and I knew no one ever patched sidewalls. They said true, but we'll do it anyway, no guarantee it would work. After a short while, they had the car back to me, re mounted, balanced, and new valve stems, apparently. "How much do I owe you?" "Nothing" was the reply. I'm planning to take the Xterra there for an alignment and have the tires rotated, when I feel a little richer. The wagon tires haven't had any issues since they did it up, but the useless hub cap lock fitting on one wheel no longer accepts the wheel cover for some reason. I couldn't get the wheel back off myself, so I need a handy friend to get it off for me.

 

Possibly they didn't charge you because theoretically it's illegal to repair that type damage. :confused: Just my guess.
Long ago my 1941 Ford with radials kept leaking air from one rear tire. I asked the tire shop about getting a tube put in. According to most I talked to a radial with a tube runs hot and will blow.
The tire shop did add a tube but there was no gaurantee it wouldn't blow out or go flat. Here in Florida it gets warm in summers as you know. Never made long trips with the Ford. But many short rides to Daytona and Kissimmee. Both of those trips are right at 150 miles one way. Plus many 50 to 100 mile trips one direction. Used that tire until it wore out.
Tire rules and laws have changed so much it's hard to get tires even one size larger some places.

 

Thank you both for the input, those observations make sense. I'd love to get a whole new set but the little driving I do and the cost at the moment doesn't make it possible.

 

Re-Tired

I had my son take my 55 Chevy wagon in to the local tire shop for new narrow white walls last fall. Rather have wider but lucky they had those. I wanted another set of white lettered tires. Again not in stock.
Anyway, the wagon was driven about 8 miles home and here it sits. Hoping to move to Illinois so let the license and insurance drop.
At this rate I'll need to replace the tires before I get any miles on them!

 

Are you out of your mind? Didn't you previously live here?
Come for the weather, stay for the taxes???
The only state in the union where the ex-governor personally makes your license plates.

 

Right now it's 58 here with summer in the next few days. 18 there with below zero ahead. Yes I've lost my mind, my legs, my back, my energy, and more. That's why we are moving closer to family and friends. Besides I love my Illinois politicians and the cost of living there.
Look at my wagon right on Daytona Beach. I have to drive 140 miles to get there. I can drive one mile and park along the muddy banks of the Illinois river. Might need a wrecker to get me out.

I've already got Illinois license plates. Maybe I should renew them someday.

 

I hope you have a successful return to Illinois, I'd love to go back to Virginia. I've got two cousins and a brother in Florida, my sister is in North Carolina. It's really not economically feasible to leave anyhow.

 

This is a slow process. We bought a house there back in October 2014, I think! By the time we get packed, clean out this place, and list it I should be in my 90's!
It's 80 and sunny here and son back there said snow plow passed his street plowing at least three times.
My license is no longer good for driving in winter weather. I forgot where the defrosters are.

 

Your welcome.