Well I'm continuing with my theory that nothing works better to shake out the bugs (or build confidence) than driving the piss out of the 45. So after cruiserbrett sorted out some serious dizzy and carb issues and the rig was running like an absolute champ, I decided to load up my snowboard and gear and set off for another 45 adventure 700 miles round trip.
I have a buddy in town from South Africa and was supposed to go on an annual boarding trip (this time to Mammoth) but decided against it, until.... a-ha!
I could drive the 45 up and surprise these fockers!
Well I finished a couple of projects the previous two days at work (added second wiper motor/added heater/added coolant overflow bottle) and I was on my way...
Left Santa Monica at 815am...
Drove up with a little cloud cover but otherwise perfect...
Stopped to check out the local 45 in the mountains that has 100 notes left on it about wanting to buy it. Spoke to the kids who's dad owns the place and they said it's not his. This thing has been discussed at length but I was hoping I could park next to it for a pic but there's no space. It's pinned between a fence and a trailer...
Sadly pushed off without a pic of the 45's together and headed the rest of the way up...
The 45 ran like a champ, never got hot and got about 14 MPG (although I haven't done a speedo correction to see how many miles I REALLY went with the 33's). The only tough spot was the last grade on 395 heading into Mammoth Lakes. It's about an 8 mile stretch and the truck was struggling up the hill at 40 MPH (otherwise the 55-60 range with an occasional 50 MPH hill). For those of you with a 135 and 3 speed you know that is no mans land, too slow for 3rd gear and absolutely screaming in 2nd but we made it, arriving about 2pm, 310 miles later.
Pulled up to the Westin and had to explain how to drive truck to the Valet...
After knocking on the door to my buddies room and shocking the hell out of them they were floored when I told them what I drove up. They think I'm crazy.
Got a few good days of boarding in with good weather and nicely groomed snow but no powder as there hasn't been a storm in quite some time. After packing up and heading downstairs the obvious call that I was waiting for came...
The valet can't figure out your car. Ha Ha. So I went down to the heated garage, and pulled it around front again. Just then one of the girls (an Aussie) from the front desk came out and was amazed to see it. She went on to say that her grandfather had one on each of his gold mines in Queensland and that she hadn't seen one since! Nice.
Posed for a quick pic with all my buds and started back home at 3pm...
Pretty smooth trip home as well...
Stopped in Independence for a pic with an old steam engine...
Another wave at the 45 with the original KOITO headlights...
...and I was home after driving 370 miles by 1030.
Hmmmm..... where should we go next?
I have a buddy in town from South Africa and was supposed to go on an annual boarding trip (this time to Mammoth) but decided against it, until.... a-ha!
I could drive the 45 up and surprise these fockers!Well I finished a couple of projects the previous two days at work (added second wiper motor/added heater/added coolant overflow bottle) and I was on my way...
Left Santa Monica at 815am...
Drove up with a little cloud cover but otherwise perfect...
Stopped to check out the local 45 in the mountains that has 100 notes left on it about wanting to buy it. Spoke to the kids who's dad owns the place and they said it's not his. This thing has been discussed at length but I was hoping I could park next to it for a pic but there's no space. It's pinned between a fence and a trailer...
Sadly pushed off without a pic of the 45's together and headed the rest of the way up...
The 45 ran like a champ, never got hot and got about 14 MPG (although I haven't done a speedo correction to see how many miles I REALLY went with the 33's). The only tough spot was the last grade on 395 heading into Mammoth Lakes. It's about an 8 mile stretch and the truck was struggling up the hill at 40 MPH (otherwise the 55-60 range with an occasional 50 MPH hill). For those of you with a 135 and 3 speed you know that is no mans land, too slow for 3rd gear and absolutely screaming in 2nd but we made it, arriving about 2pm, 310 miles later.
Pulled up to the Westin and had to explain how to drive truck to the Valet...
After knocking on the door to my buddies room and shocking the hell out of them they were floored when I told them what I drove up. They think I'm crazy.
Got a few good days of boarding in with good weather and nicely groomed snow but no powder as there hasn't been a storm in quite some time. After packing up and heading downstairs the obvious call that I was waiting for came...
The valet can't figure out your car. Ha Ha. So I went down to the heated garage, and pulled it around front again. Just then one of the girls (an Aussie) from the front desk came out and was amazed to see it. She went on to say that her grandfather had one on each of his gold mines in Queensland and that she hadn't seen one since! Nice.
Posed for a quick pic with all my buds and started back home at 3pm...
Pretty smooth trip home as well...
Stopped in Independence for a pic with an old steam engine...
Another wave at the 45 with the original KOITO headlights...
...and I was home after driving 370 miles by 1030.
Hmmmm..... where should we go next?
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