ROAD TRIP REDUX

Two former staffers take a HOT ROD project car on its second cross-country adventure.

- JEFF SMITH, WILL HANDZEL

“You’re driving it back from LA to
Detroit?” I asked.

Will said, “Sure, why not?”

“Who is going with you?” I asked, although I already knew the answer.

“Just me right now … ” Will said, with a long pause at the end that he later admitted was fully intentional.

“I’ll go with you,” I said. I could tell he wanted me to come along but didn’t want to impose by asking.

Then I said, “You know, I’ve never spent any time in a roadster— let alone driving 1,700 miles!” Perhaps I was already subconsciously looking for a way out.

That’s when Will said, “What could go wrong?
It’ll be fun!” It was entertaining and a whole lot more. This now ranks among my most cherished road trips, tucked right next to my first longrange road adventure in my abused Chevelle, driving from Iowa to Los Angeles in the winter of 1979 with maybe a hundred dollars in my pocket, a cute blonde in the right seat, and the dream of landing a job at Car Craft magazine.