Mike Armstrong
Bronze Level Sponsor
After several years in the garage and a ton of help from fellow members, my Alpine hit the road today for the first time in some 30 years for a 4th of July innagural drive, USA flags and all. Drove it along the beach following the Holiday crowds along Hwy 101 thru Carlsbad and back again several times, stopping for a cold Gellatto and then back home. Lots of waves and admirers, one couple even took pictures of my wife and I setting a stoplight.
For a very first road drive the car did remarkedly well. No overheating, accelerated, shifted and handled fine. The dual 13" mufflers exhausting out both sides forward of the rear wheels sounded no less than a V8. I had the Lucas Tri Bar Headlights on for a great British roadster look and occasionally honked the old horns to acknowledge the wavers. Overall, a great and memorable first ride!
Thanks to all who helped me along!
EDIT: I'll post some pics tomorrow, beer and barbecue are getting in the way right now
EDIT #2: Might as well mention what was added to the inevidable first drive to do list: 1) the overhauled brakes were very mushy, not enough grab, 2) My guess at centering the steering wheel was wrong, gotta straighten it out by about 15 degrees. Not a bad list.
Next test drive, the freeway!
For a very first road drive the car did remarkedly well. No overheating, accelerated, shifted and handled fine. The dual 13" mufflers exhausting out both sides forward of the rear wheels sounded no less than a V8. I had the Lucas Tri Bar Headlights on for a great British roadster look and occasionally honked the old horns to acknowledge the wavers. Overall, a great and memorable first ride!
Thanks to all who helped me along!
EDIT: I'll post some pics tomorrow, beer and barbecue are getting in the way right now
EDIT #2: Might as well mention what was added to the inevidable first drive to do list: 1) the overhauled brakes were very mushy, not enough grab, 2) My guess at centering the steering wheel was wrong, gotta straighten it out by about 15 degrees. Not a bad list.
Next test drive, the freeway!
Last edited: