Shows

First visit to Main Line Cars and Coffee since it moved, and the best spot in the lot was beside a white 1967 Datsun 1600. That 1600 was the first roadster Mason ever saw in person, a few months before the blue car came home, so getting the two nose to nose and spending the morning comparing notes with its owner was worth the early alarm. We came away with a few good recommendations and a new friend in the roadster world. The 55 drew its usual crowd: plenty of smiles, a few kids in the driver's seat, and a couple more Hot Wheels roadsters off to new homes. Forty degrees at rollout. Hardtop on, no regrets.

Second show of the day and close to home: a street show raising money for the Wyndmoor fire company and the local police, run by the husband of one of Mason's former teachers. Small-town feel, everyone knows somebody. We parked between an MGB and a '68 Camaro SS. Kids were in and out of the car all afternoon, pictures and smiles and a lot of small hands on the wheel. When the awards came around the 55 picked up a Top 20 trophy, a piston on a block, which Mason accepted on the car's behalf. Rain was due the next day, so we were glad to have squeezed both shows in.

A Saturday morning show with a purpose behind it and a turnout to match. We lined up between a British racing green Daimler SP250 and a white C5 Corvette, with an orange C10 and a Willys across the aisle. Spent the morning talking with a lot of car people and sharing the 55. Kids climbed in and out of the driver's seat, and Mason sent a few of them home with a roadster Hot Wheels of their own. The show handed us a photo print of the car rolling in, which is going on the wall.

Second stop of the day. Retro Autoworks opened a few months ago and this was the first time they'd put on an event. It started with us and a handful of cars and filled in fast: Corvettes, Mustangs, an NSX, a Fiat Abarth, and a split-window Beetle in the spot next to ours with a Firebird past that. Easy, friendly crowd and a lot of good conversation. It's also good to know there's a shop this close to home that's happy to work on a Datsun roadster if it ever needs it. We'd planned to move on to another show a little farther out and never left.

Top off and back out after a rainy weekend kept the car in the garage. The October Buxmont cars and coffee doubled as a trunk or treat, so the lot was full of kids. Plenty of them climbed into the driver's seat for a photo, the candy bucket by the front bumper emptied steadily, and a few went home with a Hot Wheels roadster of their own. Smiles all around. Behind us sat a pair of Lamborghinis, an Aventador and a Huracan STO, and their owners were good company for the morning. On the way out all three of us landed at the same stoplight. Nobody could help it. The U20 held its own for about half a second.

From cars and coffee we ran home, put the hardtop on, and drove to Wings Field for Wings n' Wheels, the annual fundraiser for Angel Flight East, which flies kids and families to medical care they couldn't otherwise reach. Little kids were in and out of the driver's seat all afternoon for pictures, and we made some new fans. Then Mason took his first ride in a private plane over the area, and the pilot let him take the controls for a bit. A good day for the kid and the blue car.

A favorite of ours, and one we've been going to since long before the Datsun. Parked next to an R33 Skyline this time. Two classic Nissans from very different eras sharing the same patch of asphalt, and the usual good conversation with that crew.

Last cruise night of the year. Got there early, parked next to a yellow Chevy SSR, and talked roadsters until dark. Top off, cool September air, wind in our hair on the drive home.

Rain cleared just in time and we parked on the main street between a black Nova and a lineup that kept us walking and talking all afternoon. Mason ran his favorite side quest: any kid who lights up at the Hot Wheels gets a Fairlady 2000 casting to take home, or gets to hop in the driver's seat for a picture. We handed out a few and filled the seat more than once. Watching a kid grip that wheel and grin is the whole reason we keep showing up. Thanks to the Rockledge Fire Company for a great festival. Postscript: the next evening the organizer called to say the Datsun had been picked as one of the top 50 cars at the show, and a plaque was waiting for us. A nice surprise.

Our most local event, and the first one since the roadster came home. We landed in a row of Japanese metal: a right-hand-drive Toyota Sprinter Carib still wearing its Japanese plate, a pair of FD RX-7s, and a WRX. The 55 fit right in. The guy parked next to us was selling Hot Wheels, which you couldn't have set up better on purpose. Also Mason's birthday, so a good way to start it.

Labor Day Monday, fourth event in four days. A yellow Corolla beside us and an El Camino behind.

A friend texted about the show a couple of hours before registration closed, and it was on our route to New Hope anyway. Kids came through all day from Giggleberry Fair, pointing at the 55 and posing with the Hot Wheels. Then the awards, and Best Import. Thanks to the Street Lords car club for scored judging.

Cars and coffee in the morning, then 35 miles out to Boyertown. Longest run on the car yet. It didn't complain.

The warm-up for a four-show weekend.

Only Datsun roadster in the lot, parked between a Cadillac Allanté and a mint green Jeep TJ. Good conversations all day.

Our first show, and a red 1967.5 Datsun 1600 parked right next to us. Two 1967.5 roadsters nose to nose at a small-town Friday show. Maybe the sixth real roadster I've seen in person, and the first to show up and park beside us. Proceeds went to the Perseverance Volunteer Fire Company's 125th anniversary; thanks to East Penn Modifiers.

Back roads out and back, deliberately, while we were still getting to know the car.

First time out in a crowd. Parked near a friend's very orange Unimog, which is about as far from a Datsun roadster as you can get and still be on four wheels.

First outing. Hardtop off, hood up, a lot of questions about what it was.