Travels of the Fury

My drivers ed teacher always had it out for me because I parallel parked correctly first time every time. I always took the 3 rd turn and learned from the others mistakes.

 

Our School district doesn't offer Driver's Ed. anymore. Lots of great memories from my Driver's Ed. class. Wish they still offered it. I passed the class with flying colors.
I actually failed the written test for my license on the first try. My Dad told me to study the booklet front to back until I had it memorized. He said he wasn't going to pay for the test if I didn't pass it.
I waited a month, read that pamphlet every night. Retook the written test and got 100%
I took the driving test in a snow storm with one arm in a sling because I had hyperextended my elbow in a wrestling match the night before. Passed with a 96%. I think the instructor dinged me for not checking over my shoulder during a lane change.

 

I, quite literally, couldn't wait until I was of legal age, 17, in New Jersey, so I started stealing my parents' and older brothers' cars when I was about 14 1/2. I would go pick up my friends, who couldn't believe what a good driver I was, and we'd go cruising through all of Union County! Fortunately, I never got pulled over, had an accident or got caught by the family. (I was quite the devious auto thief). My favorite one to take was my brother's 59 black 4dr Bel Air with no power steering, no power brakes and a "3 on the tree". I could shift those gears, up and down, much more smoothly than John could. I have no idea how it was that I knew how to do it, but somehow I even mastered the art of double clutching.
Ah, the foolishness of youth.

Oh, yes, btw, my other brother had the hand me down '63 Country Sedan from my parents, so I guess I was a long roof driver way back then!

Orthmann, I give you about one more year before you're going to have to start keeping track as to where the keys are for your Plym!!

 

That's a great story Snoot. I think that the Plymouth is a bit conspicuous to be tooling around in without someone finding out though. We live in a small community and the car is kind of well known. If he took off with it before he came of age I'm pretty confident I would find out about it.

 

I have been on the search for a family heirloom recently and I have turned to our old family albums for clues. While I haven't found what I am looking for yet, I have been blown away by all of the pictures I am coming across that I never even knew existed. Of course there have been a large number that include both the Fury and F-100, as well as the Aristocrat and the 8N tractor we restored.
It's been very enjoyable.

 

One particular album I came across was from when my Great Grandpa Orthmann came to visit from New Jersey in the summer of 1967. He, along with my Grandpa, Dad and Uncle drove across the state. stopping at a number of interesting places, like the Space Needle in Seattle.
However the bulk of the photos are from their visit to Paradise, at the foot of Mt. Rainier.

This photos was taken against the snow bank in the parking lot for the Paradise Inn and Visitor's Center.
From Left to right, my Grandfather, my Dad and Great Grandfather.

 

I love this one. My Dad standing next to the Fury parked in front of the Iconic Jetson's-esque Paradise Visitor's Center. I just did the math and in this photo my Dad is the same age as Nathaniel is now.
Looks like my Great Grandfather is sitting in the front seat.

 

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OrthmannJ .... that picture you should also put in the "more snow" thread ... love it , thanks.

Talk about cold and snow ... right now we are at -30c which is about -22f ... and snowbanks in my yard up to 5 feet high
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Are you sledding off the roof yet?

 

Here's one of My Great Grandpa and Grandpa in the famous Paradise Inn snow tunnel.

 

I really like this picture of the three generations next to the wagon.

 

I don't miss it, having grown up in St Andrews just off of McPhillips rd then spending time posted to Cold Lake, at least where I am in Ontario now it rarely gets below -18* C.

 

Small world ... I trained to fly helicopters at St Andrews Airport around 1980-81 .... school was called Vega Helicopters and owned by Gerry McArthur .

Were you ever posted to CFB Portage (Southport Aerospace) ... I have lived here (retired) for 10 years now .... spent most of my life in the autobody business in Portage.

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Never posted to Portage but spent a lot of time after chores and Saturdays at St Andrews, at the Winnipeg flying club, got my first air time there in a Mooney. Pretty similar time frame, finished high school in June 80 and was in basic by mid July.
Been in the Automotive OE going on 27 years now myself but still some what involved with aircraft, except the last couple (thanks gov Can). A teaser,



Doing instrument checks in a Spitfire mk XVI low back
This with the Mike Potter collection at Vintage Wings of Canada.
Apologies for going off topic.

 

very cool pics