Re: August 31...This day in history...

Posted by John Harley On 2010/8/31 20:18:36

Friends

There is an excellent full length article about the Fetch trip about a year ago in the The Packard Cormorant.

I was rather involved in the Packards Across America Centenntial Transcontinental run in 2003. I have story which I wrote about in the Packard Cormorant News Bulletin, which will elaborate on here


I met Charles Wake, Alexander Winton's great grandson, during the Magnum Opus at the Packard Centennial in Warren. :He bears a striking resemblance to Winton.
You will remember that a 1898 Winton was the only non Packard at the Magnum Opus, parked back to back to Packard #1. I spent a very pleasant 20 minutes or so with him crawling over both cars noting the similarities and differences-they were both designed by Charles Hatch, who Ward Packard hired away from Winton. We had a great time together, but he did mention that he parked the Winton facing AWAY from the Packard, otherwise he would find a rope tied between them.....


In 2003 I was with the Packards Across America group that came from the East Coast to Warren. I was the only driver that drove the complete eastern route as many people only did a partial trip. At the end of the first day we had about 5 or 6 Packards all together, driving into the inn at Skenatales (sp?). We were going to have dinner together and the local drivers were going home after.

When we got to the inn, there were three WINTONS in the parking lot a; 1903, 1904 and 1916 coming from San Francisco. Terry Martin knew about this but had forgotten to warn me....

I asked around for Charles Wake, and was very pleased to find that he remembered me.

JH " The Packard owners would like to ask the Winton owners to dinner'

CW "We've made plans"

JH " I'll buy you a drink"

CW "I don't drink"

One of the other Packard owners had the exact same conversation.

I tried, after 104 years. The Ford and Chevy people have nothing on this,,,


Regards

John Harley