I believe this was about 1957 I had a date with my girlfriend Mary on this Saturday night, in fact it was going to be a double date with another couple.
I went to my girlfriend’s home to get her, the other girl was already there, so we went and pickup her date.
We then went to Tom and Sara’s Restaurant for a sandwich and a drink before going to the drive in theater on the Airport Road here in Rockingham, the drive in was named The Rock – Ham Drive inn. to see a movie. It was going to be a double feature, which meant it would last for about (2) two and (1/2) half to (3) three and (1/2) hours. I had to have Mary home before 11:30 O’clock PM. The movie was over around 10:30 PM so that gave me enough time to get her home on time.
I had a 1949 Ford and the transmission was all the time giving trouble. I say this to be able to say what happen at the theater.
We were ready to leave I put the car in reverse to back up and the transmission locked up and would move, I had to get under the car and try to get the linkages in the right place so I could get it to change gears. I removed my shirt and got under the car and finally got the gears to move then I had to get under the hood and get the linkages on the steering column in the right place I got it right and got back in the car and was ready to leave when what happen next was that the same thing happened again. I had to do it all over again, which took more time, but this time it worked and we were able to leave I took the other boy home and then took Mary and her friend back to her house.
But the worse was yet to come because we were about an hour late, I had to go in and explain to her mother and father what happen to make us late getting home. It was some easer because they knew I knew how to work on cars and they also knew me well enough to know I would not tell them a lie. I apologized and the told them what happen and that I would try to make sure it did not happen again. They were very understanding and said they would forgive that time, and I could continue to come see Mary.
But that was not the last time I had trouble with that car, on (1) other time I was getting ready to leave Mary’s house and the battery was dead I had to ask her dad to give me a battery jump to get the car started.
Back to the transmission in the Ford I would drive it on the weekend and have to work on it on Monday, I removed it so many times that I could remove, repair, and replace it in lest than (4) four hours and be driving it. I would most times have to replace the cluster gear and low and reverse sliding gear and the bearings that went with them.
After some time I was able to get another car and quit having so much car trouble.
After this I didn’t have any car trouble when I took Mary out and have to go in with her and explain what happen anymore.
Then in January of 1959 I joined the Army and was gone for three years. Since then I have been able to keep a car running and not having trouble with them.
Richmond County native Howard Richardson is author of “My Life Retold,” available on Amazon.com.