mm wrote:

On Fri, 24 Oct 2008 06:22:25 -0500, "HeyBub"
wrote:


mm wrote:

My last 3 cars haven't been able to use a bumper jack, but I still
saved the one from my Buick for who knows what I''ll need it for?

Heh! Don't use it on a bumper!

Modern bumpers are designed to come off. Or crumple. Or just die of shame.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClQPs5QcxQs


And a Jeep, no less. Doubly humiliating.

I guess if they attached the chain to the axle, they might have ripped
off the axle. Probably have to attach it to both axles, or both ends
of both axles.

I got stuck in the sand once at Breezy Point, or whatever is west of
Riis Park on a barrier island at the end of Flatbush Avenue in
Brooklyn. Everything was fine until I slowed down. (from 20 or 25mph
to 10)

I looked around and saw 2 or 3 rusted hulks of cars, from when the
tide came in and covered the cars with salt-water. Or at least a foot
deep.

After I tried for a while, I saw a guy on the sand with a Jeep or
pickup and asked him to tow me out. He refused.

I tried more of the same. I tried rocking the car. No good. I let
air out of my rear tires, but it didn't help. This was before cell
phones. I thought of walking back to the last gas station. It was 2
or 3 miles and I didn't know if the tide was going out or coming in.
I had a girl with me at the time, and I'm sure she was impressed,
although that was the least of my worries.

30 or 45 minutes after I asked him, the guy came over and towed me to
a place where the sand was shallow and there was firm dirt under the
sand. I think he just wanted me to sweat a bit so I wouldn't do it
again. I think he said that. He wouldn't take money.

This was back when cars were cars. It was probably a '67 Pontiac
Catalina. convertible.


I remember the first time I visited Daytona Beach, maybe 40 years ago,
and just HAD to try driving my rental car down the beach.

Of course I got it stuck in the sand. And, along came a guy with a Jeep
and a tow line who got me free and off the beach for IIRC just $5.

The thing I never forgot about it was his tow line which was a giant
piece of elastic (bungee?) cord maybe 20 feet long unstretched. After
attaching it to my car he roared off ahead of me and that damn line
looked like it stretched three times its length before my car started
moving.

I never really understood what principle was involved in the use of an
elastic tow line, but I'd be happy to find out here.

Jeff

--
Jeffry Wisnia
(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)
The speed of light is 1.98*10^14 fathoms per fortnight.