Truckin on

Dedicated to the Men and Women

of
AF Vehicle Operations & Maintenance Past, Present, and Future

1 Jun 2015

Automakers Want to Outlaw Gearheads

From Working on Their Own Cars

Special Points of Interest:

Quest for Zero PG 1

Automakers PG 1-2

by Kit Daniels | Infowars.com on April 20, 2015

Car companies seek copyright restrictions to stop car enthusiasts,

home mechanics

Inside this issue:

Spotlight on Keesler

PG 3

2015 Fleet Master Award

PG 4

Best & Leading Fleets

Correction

PG 5

Drivers Wanted

PG 6

Government Fleet Top News

PG 7

Fleet Solutions

PG 8

Walmarts New Truck

PG 9

Yesterdays Dollars; Todays

Buying Power

PG 9

Driverless and Road Legal

PG 10

Roadside Assistance App

PG 11

Jay Lenos Garage

PG 11

The Sunday Drive

PG 12

Claiming that modern vehicles are too complex for home mechanics
to fix, automakers are seeking copyright restrictions to prevent
gearheads from working on their own cars.
The Association of Global Automakers, a lobbying firm for 12 manufacturers, is
asking the U.S. Copyright Office to prevent car owners from accessing computer
programs that control the functioning of a motorized land vehicle, including personal
automobiles, commercial motor vehicles, and agricultural machinery, for purposes of
lawful diagnosis and repair, or aftermarket personalization, modification, or other
improvement.
Editors Note: Quest for Zero
replaced 101 Critical Days of Summer
campaign.
See story and slides:
Quest for Zero puts year-round focus on
safety
Quest for Zero Air Force Ground Safety
Management

In order to modify automotive software for the purpose of diagnosis and repair, or
aftermarket personalization, modification, or other improvement, the modifier must
use a substantial amount of the copyrighted software copying the software is at
issue after all, not wholly replacing it, the AGA claimed. Because the heart, if not
the entirety, of the copyrighted work will remain in the modified copy, the amount and
substantiality of the portion copied strongly indicates that the proposed uses are not
fair.
Auto Alliance, which also represents 12 automobile manufacturers, is also asking the
agency to scrap exemptions to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act that allow car
enthusiasts to modify and tune their rides.
Continued on PG 2

Disclaimer: Truckin On is an unofficial newsletter published every month in the interest of serving Air Force active duty, civilian and retired vehicle operations
and maintenance personnel. Articles submitted by its contributors are not to be considered official statements by the U.S. Air Force.

Automakers Want to Outlaw Gearheads

From Working on Their Own Cars
Continued from PG 1

Allowing vehicle owners to add and remove [electronic control] And the first step to keep people from behind the steering wheel
programs at whim is highly likely to take vehicles out of is to keep them from opening the hood.
compliance with [federal] requirements, rendering the operation
or re-sale of the vehicle legally problematic, Auto Alliance
claimed in a statement. The decision to employ access controls
to hinder unauthorized tinkering with these vital computer
programs is necessary in order to protect the safety and
security of drivers and passengers and to reduce the level of
non-compliance with regulatory standards.

Related Article:

Automakers to gearheads:
Stop repairing cars

But people have been working on their own cars since cars by Pete Bigelow l autoblog
were invented.
Its not a new thing to be able to repair and modify cars, a staff
attorney with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Kit Walsh,
said. Its actually a new thing to keep people from doing it.
Interestingly, this attack on the do-it-yourself auto hobby
coincides with the current push towards self-driving cars, and
who do you think will resist autonomous cars the most? Auto
hobbyists, such as hot rodders, drag racers and home tuners.
The biggest threat to our hobby is those people in powerful
situations whos idea of a great day out in their car is to spend it
riding in the back seat while someone else handles the driving
chore for them, a hot rodder said on the subject. These are
the same people who will ban old junk from the roads, enforce
See website: http://www.autoblog.com/2015/04/20/
50 miles per gallon standards on new, and then older vehicles, automakers-gearheads-car-repairs/
and eventually force everyone to drive standardized cars that
will fit precisely in parking spaces, take up the minimum space
on public roads, and follow all the environmentally friendly
buzz words while boring real car drivers like us to death.
2

Spotlight on Keesler
81st vehicle maintenance keeps Keesler rolling
by Senior Airman Holly Mansfield
81st Training Wing Public Affairs
3/17/2015 - KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- The sound
of wrenches turning, engines rumbling and Airmen talking shop
are some of the things you might hear when you walk into the
81st Logistics Readiness Squadron's vehicle maintenance flight.
But what does it really take to be part of the crew of more than
40 people who keep Keesler's government vehicles rolling?
For Senior Airman Kenneth Carter, vehicle maintenance
technician, all you need is hard work, dedication and little
laughter to make each vehicle get back to its home quickly.
Airman Claude Milsap III and Senior Airman Kenneth Carter, 81st
Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle maintenance technicians, repair a
security forces truck March 11, 2015, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. The
more than 40 member vehicle maintenance flight repair and oversee more
than 420 government vehicles that belong to Keesler. (U.S. Air Force
photo by Senior Airman Holly Mansfield)

The vehicle maintenance flight manages the fleet of more than

420 vehicles by working together as a team. Utilizing each
other's skills helps each Airman learn the proper way of doing
any task, whether it's changing the oil in a police cruiser or
rebuilding an engine from a truck.
The emphasis on attention to detail required by Keesler vehicle
maintenance Airmen helps them become better Airmen, as well
as better mechanics.
Senior Airman Kenneth Carter, 81st Logistics Readiness Squadron
vehicle maintenance technician, repairs a security forces truck March 11,
2015, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. The more than 40 member vehicle
maintenance flight repair and oversee more than 420 government
vehicles that belong to Keesler. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman
Holly Mansfield)

With the recent Air Education and Training Command's Senior

Leader Conference, Carter was able to show his superiors how
he uses his work ethic to repair vehicles while mentoring other
Airmen in the shop.

"Carter's work ethic and willingness to step up and go above

"I was stationed in Korea before I came to Keesler and it was so and beyond are major factors on why he was recognized by the
much different there," said Carter. "Everything from simply 2nd Air Force command chief," said Timothy Gray, vehicle
driving the vehicles to the language barrier; it was all so maintenance fleet manager.
different."
"He worked all the inspections and repairs for the recalled
The vehicle maintenance Airmen have the opportunity to care vehicle operations fleet, helping to ensure they had the correct
for different types of vehicles each day. From generator trailers amount of vehicles for their customers."
to cranes, no matter the size, these vehicles need to be brought Using their training and expertise to provide a working, reliable
in, repaired and put back into the fleet in a timely and efficient fleet of vehicles, the members of the 81st LRS vehicle
manner.
maintenance flight make certain that Keesler can continue its
"We work on trucks, buses, vans, cranes, security forces cars, mission of training, fighting and winning.
generator trailers and other types of vehicles," said Carter. "It's Additional photos can be viewed at:
nice to have the variety because it helps me outside of work. I
http://www.keesler.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123441978
get to see the different car issues and put those problem-solving
skills toward fixing my own vehicle."
3

2015 Fleet Master Award

MANATEE COUNTY WINS 2015 FLEET MASTER AWARD
Manatee County (Fla.) Fleet Services has been awarded the 2015 Fleet Master Award by Construction Equipment and the
Association of Equipment Management Professionals (AEMP)
March 20, 2015

Mike Brennan, CEM, is flanked by AEMP chairman Thad Pirtle (left) and Construction Equipment editorial director Rod Sutton.

Manatee County (Fla.) Fleet Services has been awarded the 2015 Fleet Master Award

Editors Comments: CMSgt (Ret) Ron

Schulhofer (2T1) is the Manatee County by Construction Equipment and the Association of Equipment Management
Director of Public Works and oversees the Professionals (AEMP). Mike Brennan, CEM, accepted the award during AEMPs Annual
Fleet Services Division. Congratulations to
Conference in Orlando, Fla. This was Manatee's third Fleet Master Award. Read about
the Manatee County team!

Manatee County's previous awards, plus the other past winners.

Manatee County displayed impressive employee training and education. Its team has many ASE-certified crew members, along
with many other specialized training certifications from OEMs. In the past year, Manatee County exhibited superior management of
resources, which saved the county time and financial resources. Manatee also has a selection of electric, hybrid and alternative
fuel vehicles, and applies well-planned preventative maintenance and superior equipment management processes.
The Fleet Master award recognizes equipment professionals who demonstrate excellence in meeting the unique challenges
inherent to delivering cost-effective and cutting-edge management of mixed fleets of on-road and off-road equipment, said Rod
Sutton, Construction Equipments editorial director. Nominees are judged according to five major areas within their operation:
finance, information management, policies, controls, and customer service.
Construction Equipment and AEMP have been acknowledging outstanding fleets with the Fleet Master award since 2004. The two
organizations created the award to recognize the impacts professional fleet managers have on the heavy-equipment sector.
4

Editors Comments: Last month we featured the 100

Best Fleets for 2015 and recognized VEMSO for placing
# 31 in the final selection. We also acknowledged several
fleets that were selected for Government Fleets 50
Leading and Notable Fleets (separate award).
Unfortunately, we overlooked other public fleets managed
by fellow Air Force transporters that also placed among the
100 Best Fleets and 50 Leading Fleets. We sincerely
apologize for our oversight and offer this correction.

The table in the right column lists, in rank order, the 2015 100
Best Fleet winners whose fleets are represented by
former and/or current Air Force transporters who serve in
various management positions.

Government Fleet magazine has announced the Leading

Fleets for 2015. The awards program, sponsored by Ford
Motor Company, recognizes operations that are performing at
a high level, particularly in fleet leadership, competitiveness
and efficiency, planning for the future, and overcoming
challenges.
The 50 Leading Fleets represent the best in the industry.
Government Fleet will announce rankings for the top 20 fleets
as well as top fleets in size categories: No. 1 small fleet (499 or
fewer assets), No. 1 mid-size fleet (500-999 assets), and No. 1
large fleet (1,000 or more assets) at The Honors Celebration at
Government Fleet Expo (GFX) June 8-11, 2015 in Denver.
The Leading Fleets and Notable Fleets will be recognized at
GFX during the Honors Celebration, with certificates and
plaques, and with a group photo to be published in the
awards issue of Government Fleet magazine. Public Fleet Hall
of Fame inductees and the Fleet Manager of the Year will also
be honored at the awards ceremony.

Rank Agency

Name/Position

# 22

Manatee County, FL

CMSgt (Ret) Ron Schulhofer

Director of Public Works

# 31

VEMSO

CMSgt (Ret) Randy Livermore

Director, AFELM VEMSO

# 40

Sarasota County, FL

CMSgt (Ret) Greg Morris

CEM, Manager Fleet Services

# 42

City of Tampa, FL

SMSgt (Ret) Connie White-Arnold

Chief of Operations

# 45

Denver International
Airport (DIA)

CMSgt (Ret) Jeff Booton

Director of Fleet Management

The complete list can be viewed at: 100 Best Fleets

Agency

Name/Position

City of Long Beach

CMSgt (Ret) Dan Berlenbach

Fleet Services Manager

City of Tampa
Fleet Management

SMSgt (Ret) Connie White-Arnold

Chief of Operations

Hillsborough County, FL

Col (Ret) Robert L. Stine

Director Fleet Management/Logistics

Manatee County, FL
Government

CMSgt (Ret) Ron Schulhofer

Director of Public Works

Sarasota County, FL
Government

CMSgt (Ret) Greg Morris

CEM, Manager Fleet Services

Notable Fleets
Agency
Denver International
Airport (DIA)

Name/Position
CMSgt (Ret) Jeff Booton
Director of Fleet Management

The complete list can be viewed at: Leading Fleets

Editors Note: If weve missed listing anyone with an Air

Force connection for either of these awards, please let
me know.

Commentary on Commercial Driver Shortage

by Billy Dover, CMSgt (Ret/2T1)
In December 2014, the American Transportation Research
Institute (ATRI) published a white paper, Analysis of Truck
Driver Age Demographics Across Two Decades that clearly
analyzed the underlying factors, barriers and potential solutions
to the current and ever increasing commercial driver shortage.
For a free copy visit: http://atri-online.org/2014/12/03/analysis-of
-truck-driver-age-demographics-across-two-decades/.
Approximately 7 million people hold trucking related jobs in the
U.S. with 3.2 million being employed as truck drivers. The
American Trucking Association currently estimates the truck
driver shortage to be 30,000 to 35,000 with a potential shortage
of 240,000 drivers by 2022.

The American Trucking Association is actively lobbying

governmental decision makers to reduce the minimum age limit
to obtain a CDL to 18, this alone will not solve all the
contributing factors but it will open up the vocation to a major
The current shortage is tough to understand since pay for truck labor source that is not currently available.
operators is on par with the U.S. median and the industry There are a lot of potential problems associated with this age
generally offers what are deemed competitive benefits, such as reduction if stringent training and quality assurance standards
matching 401(k) contributions and paid holidays off. A wage are not part of the program. Many of the major insurance
recap by type of fleet follows:
companies are officially neutral on this subject but
behind-the-scene discussions indicate they are not supportive
due to the increased risk exposure associated with the 1820
year old age group.
Here at Leavitts Freight Service, weve obtained our insurance
providers support to establish an 8-week Driver Finishing
Program (DFP) for CDL school students provided they do not
exceed 10% of our workforce. The results are very promising,
those hired through our DFP are performing better from a safety
statistics perspective than our general workforce.
Im convinced programs of this nature would adequately prepare
those in the 18-20 year old age group for commercial driving.
Id rather train the inexperienced recruits to do it right rather than
try to break the bad habits of more experienced drivers. This
approach / position is controversial within the industry with
emotions often running high on both sides of the issue. The
train them the right way at the start approach is consistent with
my 24-years of active duty 2T1 experience.
I am actively lobbying my Congressman who happens to be the
ranking member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure
committee to support reducing the CDL age to 18. Not sure how
much I can influence the discussion but at some point Im
confident it will be done when freight isnt moving and our
Simply put, not enough younger drivers are entering the
economy suffers.
vocation to offset the losses of the older generations as they
reach retirement age. For example, the median age of private Id be interested in hearing the opinion of any 2T1s out there
sector carrier drivers is 52, as they approach retirement age, the regarding your thoughts on reducing the minimum age to obtain
shortage will increase significantly without sufficient younger a CDL to 18.
drivers entering the workforce.
I can be reached via email at bdover@leavitts.com.
While wages are always a factor, there are numerous
influencing factors contributing to the on-going driver shortage.
A major barrier is the 21 year old minimum age limit to obtain a
Commercial Drivers License (CDL) for interstate operations.

managing public sector

H e w l e t t - P a c ka r d Co
mp a&nequipment
y
vehicles

Editors Comments: All three of these stories from

Government Fleet are interesting; however, I want to
draw your attention to the last two in particular.
Its not often that four former Air Force vehicle managers
are featured in just two articles all Truckin On members
as well.
Congratulations to CMSgt (Ret) Dan Berlenbach, CMSgt
(Ret) Jeff Booton, CMSgt (Ret) Greg Morris, SMSgt (Ret)
Gary McLean, and their respective teams. Well done!

Fleets conducting utilization studies can generally expect one of

two outcomes: The results will either help them right-size their
fleet, or it will validate that the fleet already operates with an
optimal number of vehicles. But two fleets, Sarasota County,
Fla., and Denver International Airport in Colorado, discovered a
third outcome: a better understanding of their customers and
their fleet needs.

Although these fleets approached their utilization studies

differently one conducting an internally performed audit, the
other hiring a consulting firm they agree theyre both better
Maintenance Inefficiencies Costing USPS $21.8M as a result of their studies.

a Year

May 06, 2015

by Paul Clinton

Greg Morris, CEM, fleet services manager for Sarasota County, Fla.,
(center) is pictured here with administrations and acquisitions staffs.
The U.S. Postal Service could reduce its maintenance costs by Photo courtesy of Sarasota County Fla.

$21.8 million a year by improving oversight of its mechanics and

right-sizing staffing at vehicle garages, according to finding by See full story at: Utilization Studies
the U.S. Office of Inspector General.
See full story and audit report at: USPS.

Utilization Studies Do More Than Right-Size Fleets

8 Ways to Save Time in the Office

May 2015, Government Fleet - Feature
by Thi Dao

May 2015, Government Fleet - Feature

by Shelley Mika

The Denver International Airport recently conducted a utilization study of

its fleet, which consists of 1,700 units, including one of the largest snow
removal fleets in the nation. Photo by Ron Anderson for DIA.

Do you continually find yourself in the office long after everyone

else is gone? Or worrying about an unfinished project while
youre at home? See full story at: Time
7

Fleet Solutions
Companies supporting private and public fleets
Contributor: Dan Berlenbach, CMSgt (Ret/2T3)

Company intro: https://www.getlocalmotion.com/#Intro

Company websites:
https://www.munirent.co/
https://player.vimeo.com/video/121737334

Visit website at: http://visionfleet.us/

Click image to activate video

Editors Comments: This YouTube video (right column) was

produced over a year ago in Mar 2014; however, its still very
interesting and well worth watching, although I have yet to
see one of these trucks on the highway. More information on
this vehicle may be obtained at Walmarts website: Truck
Fleet.

The trailer is made almost exclusively with carbon fiber, saving

around 4,000 pounds which can then be used to carry more
freight.

Contributor: Larry tenBensel, GM-13 (Ret/ACC/LGTV)

The Walmart Advanced Vehicle Experience concept truck is
the latest in our fleet efficiency program. The one-of-a-kind
prototype offers a whole package of firsts. The tractor has very
advanced aerodynamics and is powered by a prototype
advanced turbine-powered, range-extending series hybrid
powertrain.

Yesterdays Dollars

Editors Comments: Chief (Ret) Carl Hunsinger sent this 1950s

Ford ad (posted below) to me. I thought it would be interesting
to see how these prices, based on each year, translate into
2015 dollars. I used a Consumer Price Index (CPI) calculator to
adjust for inflation.

Todays Buying Power

Year

Yesterdays Dollars

Todays Buying Power

1950

$1,395.00

$13,586.91

1949

$1,095.00

$10,799.18

1948

$895.00

$8,716.85

1947

$795.00

$8,367.89

1946

$695.00

$8,363.75

1942

$395.00

$5,688.05

1939

$175.00

$2,955.13

1938

$125.00

$2,080.87

Note: The ad on the left, as I said, is from the 1950s. The

prices listed are obviously for used cars at that time and at
that particular Ford dealer.
The chart above, however, compares those same dollars
from the year of the selected make/model in the ad with
todays (2015) buying power. So, $125 in 1938, for example,
is equal to $2,080.87 today. It DOES NOT mean that a new
Dodge sold for $125 in 1938.
9

Freightliner launches first-ever road-legal North But Martin Daum, CEO Daimler Trucks, said Nevadas bold
move prompted Freightliner to aggressively target North
American autonomous truck
by Jack Roberts / May 5, 2015

America as the new autonomous truck frontier.

Contributor: Billy Dover, CMSgt (Ret/2T1)

That decision ultimately led to this event in Las Vegas today

the single largest, and most expensive press launch in Daimlers
entire 100-plus year history.
Details on the Inspiration model are still scarce and more
information will be revealed over the next day or two as the
event unfolds. Follow CCJ and Overdrive, as well
as @JackRobertsCCJ and @TruckNewsJJ on Twitter for additional details.
Also, Freightliner communications manager David Giroux will
appear on ABCs Good Morning America, tomorrow (May 6)
with a live report from Las Vegas and additional Inspiration
details and news.
Editors Note: This article was published on May 5,
2015, so the reference to David Girouxs appearance on
ABCs Good Morning America is obviously outdated.

Freightliner unveiled the first U.S.-legal autonomous truck Tuesday

afternoon

Be sure to check out this cool website too: Freightliner

Freightliner did it.

If youre one of the many in trucking who scoffed at the idea of a
commercially-viable self-driving truck, or at best figured such
technology was years if not decades away, you need to
reset your expectations.
At a press event today at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway
outside Las Vegas, NV, Freightliner, in conjunction with the
State of Nevada and its governor, Brian Sandovall, launched the
Inspiration, a new, autonomous truck.
The truck is commercially viable. But more importantly, thanks to
legislative steps taken by Nevada, it is completely legal to
operate Nevada highways.
The Inspiration is not yet
available for purchase and is
still in its testing phase. But it
will no longer be relegated to
test-tracks and cordoned-off
test roads. This truck will run
in, mix with, cruise with public
traffic all throughout the state
of Nevada as Freightliner
engineers test its capabilities
parameters.

and

refine

its

operating

The conventional wisdom in trucking was that Europe would be

the proving ground for autonomous truck technology and
development.

Editorial
While driverless trucks may very well happen, I am not
optimistic that well see them anytime soon. I have a lot of
questions as to how we might integrate a driverless truck
into the traffic congestion of todays roadways.
We have speed management tools in place that report
every time we have a hard brake or roll stability event. As
Im sure you know, these events are triggered when we
have a sudden deceleration or G-force that exceeds ECM
parameters. The number of sudden stop/roll stability events
are scary and one of my main focuses relates to reducing
and/or eliminating these occurrences.
We follow up on every event and as a general rule sudden
stops are caused by other vehicles pulling out in front of us,
stopped traffic due to congestions, or cutting us off on the
roadways. The roll stability flags are normally associated
with going too fast in reduced speed zones associated with
road construction, curves, etc. Since so many of these
issues are created by the other vehicle or physical aspects
of the roads, this will present a unique challenge for
driverless technology.

Billy Dover, CMSgt (Ret/2T1)

Leavitts Freight Service

10

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Editors Note: Chief (Ret) George McElwain contributed

this video. Its long, over 18 minutes, but for car buffs its time
well spent. This Derelict 1948 Buick convertible is not what it
appears to be on the surface. Watch and see what I mean.

11

Remembering a family tradition

Then he would locate the hole, scuff it a little so the patch

would stick, apply the glue and the pre-cut patch, and then
By Roger Storman, SMSgt (Ret/2T3)
apply heat, either with a match or cigarette lighter. The final
It seems the older I get the more nostalgic I become. The steps were to inflate the tube with a hand-operated air pump
past, somehow, appears to have been better to me and, in and remount the wheel. This was fascinating stuff for a young
many ways, it really wasnt. But what is a fact is that we had boy, but not so much for my dad.
more time for each other; there simply wasnt as many
As I was preparing to write this article, I wondered if the
distractions as there are today.
Sunday drive was simply my own familys tradition or
Growing up in the 50s and 60s, we had two sources of something more deeply rooted in American society, so I did a
entertainment radio and TV. Radio had been the primary little research. I found a blog by Julie Campoli called, Bring
means of news and entertainment in the home for decades. Back the Sunday Drive.
Then in the early 1950s TV burst onto the mass market and
In her 2007 article she writes, Although it may not top your list
gradually replaced it.rabbit ears, three channels, black and
of leisure activities this summer, in mid-century America, the
white with a snowy picture. TV stations typically signed off
Sunday drive was as common as wearing hats and smoking in
around 11:00 P.M. after the national anthem.
public places.
My point is that TV was rudimentary, limited, and it wasnt the
The custom of riding out on a Sunday, long a privilege of the
center of our lives, although the quality of entertainment might
wealthy, became widespread in the 1920s, when mass
have been better than it is today.just my personal opinion.
production of automobiles put cars in the hands of the middle
I also remember that on Friday nights our parents played class. Between 1917 and 1923, 15 million Model Ts, rolled off
cards with relatives while we kids enjoyed board games. We Fords assembly line and became a common sight along
played outside a lot too, even after dark. Kick the can was a country roads, packed with families in their Sunday best.
favorite. So what does all of this have to do with cars?
Sunday driving remained popular for decades and faded out in
Well, Sunday afternoon was reserved for the weekly Sunday the 1970s. Conventional wisdom blames its demise on the
drive. My parents would load all of us into the car and off we gas shortages of that decade, but Im inclined to believe
would go somewhere.
leisure driving was the victim of a changing built environment.
I was young then, but in hindsight it seems to me that we
didnt have any particular destination in mind. We might drive
to a nearby lake for a picnic, go to the coast, an amusement
park, or just enjoy an ice cream at a Tastee Freez. We
definitely didnt spend time at the mall because they didnt
exist then, at least not where I grew up in rural Maine.
So, how did we keep ourselves entertained in the car during
these Sunday afternoon excursions? Remember, we didnt
have iPads, iPods, DVD players, or smart phones.
Two activities come to mind: Sometimes my dad would buy us
whirligigs or what some might call pinwheels (look it up). We
would hold them out of the car window and let the wind spin
them around. Another activity was counting out-of-state
license plates. Exciting stuff, right?
One thing I remember is that cars, particularly tires, were not
as reliable then. Tires were bias ply with a liner and inner
tube. Many times my dad would have to pull over to fix a flat.
He would jack-up the car with a bumper jack, remove the
wheel, deflate the tube completely, remove it from the rim and
break out the patching kit, an essential item in those days.

Notice: Convertible, no seatbelts or headrests, and child in front seat

So, the Sunday drive was an American tradition after all.

Nowadays, however, gas prices, which she alludes to above,
and a much wider variety of entertainment choices have made
this long standing custom all but extinct. Perhaps weekend RV
camping, although not exactly a fuel efficient activity, has
replaced it. The important thing is that families still get away
and spend time together.
12