[VAC] Re: 1950 speed in a 2000 world

[Agrijeep@xxxxxxx]

Jim:

   People pulled the old Airstreams with straight 6 (and occasional straight 
8) powered cars and trucks back in the early 1950s.  But the world was a 
slower place back then, so they did keep up with traffic at your expected 
45-50 mph.  As one example, speed limits in New York were often 50/55 mph for 
cars and 40/45 mph for trucks on all two lane state highways.  Limited access 
highway (Interstate system) construction had barely began.  Many four lane 
divided highways had numerous same grade crossroads.  One of my favorites is 
the Taconic Parkway.  It follows the land up and down and around bends and 
curves over hill and dale.  It was sympathetic to it's surroundings, unlike 
today's limited access Interstates that bulldoze their way on a straight line 
at a constant grade through hill and dale.  
It's still a beautiful drive but for cars only, as trucks are (or recently 
were) prohibited from using it.  
 
    Out west, crossing the Rocky Mountains was done in the 1950's over two 
lane twisty blue ribbons where nearly everyone crawled along uphill and down. 
 Today most people scream up and down the mountain ranges in Colorado on 
relatively straight Interstate highways.  The world is a much faster place, 
even on the old 2 lane highways now traversed by modern V-6, V-8 and turbo 
diesel powered vehicles.  

    Your 1951 3100 Chevy can still do the job, but it's work environment has 
changed in the last 50 years, making it more "out of pace" today that when it 
was when new.   Approach velocities have increased, bringing safety concerns 
with them.  You may be able to best recapture the past in your 1951 Chevy 
3100 and 1954 Safari if you pick your routes carefully and stick to the older 
roads, the often forgotten two lane state highways that have been bypassed by 
today's quest for speed.   Your 1951 truck and 1954 trailer have not changed, 
they just became "less capable" as the performance of today's vehicles has 
improved, raising the bar even faster.  

Fred in Denver, also
caught in the '50's.