All choked up

Choke out. Clutch in. Foot on brake. Gear shift in neutral. Turn key.

It’s a lot to remember if you’re not mechanically inclined.  And, admittedly, I’m not.

I spent my summer vacation learning how to drive Willy, our ’62 Willys Jeep that Ron lovingly restored over the last five years.   Ron seems compelled to explain the mysteries behind all these foreign knobs and levers.  Bless his engineer’s heart for trying, but do I really need to know that the throttle controls engine speed? Or that pulling the choke OUT, enriches the gas mixture which means it puts more gas (less air) into the carburetor to keep the engine running smoothly until it warms up.  He even suggested I read the owner’s manual.  Right.  Like that’s going to happen.

Driving Willy is a lot of fun, but I sure do appreciate my little Acura Integra.  Cars have come a long way in 45 years. 

      

Oh yeah, one last thing…did I mention there’s NO power steering?