wheels - Southside Sentinel

WHEELS
Fall & Winter Care • 2011
WHEELS
Dunn-Rite Auto Sales, Inc.
and
Randy’s Dunn-Rite Automotive
Fall & Winter Care • 2011
with two NAPA AutoCare
Service Center Locations
More than a machine ................... 3
Keep motors running smoothly .... 8
Burgess - 804-453-4444
Kilmarnock - 804-435-0911
Tips to prevent over-correcting .... 9
Call now to schedule your service work
Distracted driving ....................... 9
Come by our Kilmarnock Location and check
out our full range of pre-owned vehicles.
Start Saving NOW for Your Next Car
from Dunn-Rite Auto Sales, Inc.
The ‘five o’clock surprise’ ........... 10
Steps to cut gas costs .................. 11
Ken Houtz Chevrolet Buick
Your authorized GM Service Center - Open Saturdays for your convenience
cover photo by Tom Chillemi
WHEELS is a supplement published by the Rappahannock Record, P.O. Box
Make your service appointments online 24/7
400, Kilmarnock, Va. 22482, (804) 435-1701 and the Southside Sentinel, P.O. Box
549, Urbanna, Va. 23175, (804) 758-2328.
www.kenhoutzchevrolet.com
1982 - 2012
Callao Auto Repair Service
C.A.R.S.
Specializing in all Import & Domestic Cars
804-529-9360
Oil change $19.99 reg $34.95
PLUS Environmental Disposal Fees
Some filters extra • MOST CARS & LIGHT TRUCKS
• Change Oil Up To 5 Qts. 10W30 motor oil • Synthetics Extra
• Replace Oil Filter • Check & Top Off Fluid Levels
• Check Tire Pressure
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8-5
255 Northumberland Hwy. • Callao, VA
2 • WHEELS • October 13, 2011
30
YEARS OF EXCELLENCE
✁
Sales: 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. Mon. – Fri. & 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sat.
Service: 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Mon. – Fri.
Parts & Service: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Sat.
(804) 693-2300
6404 George Washington Memorial Highway, Gloucester, Va.
Bring in this Coupon for
Bring in this Coupon for
10% OFF TIRES
PLUS $60
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$29.95 after mail-in rebate
$115
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on select sets of 4 tires
Bring in this Coupon for
Free Multi-Point Inspection
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Expires 11/30/2011
Expires 11/30/2011
Expires 11/30/2011
More than machines
by Tom Chillemi
I
f there is one invention that has changed
mankind, it’s the automobile.
The automobile has defined our world for
just over a century. And in that short time, it
has become something we rely on to get us
where we want to go.
But some motor vehicles are much more
than a necessity—they get into our psyche.
They hold memories, like going for ice cream
on a summer night, riding to grandma’s house
for Christmas, going on dates, vacations and
adventures . . . the list goes on.
These memories wait as a faithful servant
until we need them. And come to life with
a turn of a key. It’s no wonder we’ve grown
attached to these shiny metal cars.
If you ever need to jump start a dinner conversation, ask someone about their car. We
did just that, and readers responded with stories about their favorite cars—vehicles that
are much more than machines.
Cross-country
adventure
by Mat Williams, Middlesex
M
y favorite vehicle wasn’t really
mine, it was a company box
truck that I got to drive all across
the country. In a short span of three
years I was able to drive though, and
experience, all 48 mainland states,
and work in almost every major
city in the U.S.. Thank you to Ken
Rogers and all the people at Atlantic
Express for making the adventure of
those memories possible!
,
Buyer’s remorse?
by Luci York, Kilmarnock
M
“Independence”
by Jon E. Baer, Kilmarnock
A
s a high school junior in 1956, I
worked after school at a frozen food
plant in western Pennsylvania. My first
car was a 1941 Chevrolet that I bought
with some of the money I’d earned. I
don’t remember the odometer reading,
but I bought it for $100.
It was a dumpy-looking thing that
provided me with independence. It had a
simple straight 6-cylinder engine and, of
course, no air conditioning. Back then, I
could fill up the tank for about $5.
Before leaving for college, I sold it to
a high school buddy for $75. Ultimately,
my friend’s brother borrowed the old
Chevy and wrecked it.
,
635,000
miles
by Craig Donor, Middlesex
I
had a 1984 Toyota Van with a 22Y engine that I had bought for $500
from a courier company in Southern California. It had 300,000 miles
on it when I bought it, but I drove it for years and finally sold the van
with 635,000 miles on, and it was still running perfectly.
y favorite car is a 1970 MGB GT Coupe.
It rolled out of the showroom in Arlington
in April 1970 and was born at British Leyland
Motors in England in December 1969.
First, the seat rails need to be adjusted for
my 5’2” frame. (Was that a “sign?”)
Early on, my husband, Tom, had a “buyer’s
remorse.” As soon as he started complaining
about how much he disliked the car, I suggested he go back to our VW. He has never
become enamored with the MG and over time
his most printable nickname for the car has
become “The Antichrist.”
I like driving a somewhat unique classic
car. I feel it fits me and my personality, and as
long as I have Dennis and Jimmy at Bay Auto
to keep it finely tuned and Carlos at Moss
Motors in California sending parts (at a price)
we’ll never part.
Tom maintains that when the time comes,
he will have a hole dug in the front yard and
bury me and my car in it together.
Wish I had it now
by Bob Ramsey, Urbanna
A
fter learning how to drive in Korea, I returned to
Baltimore and needed a car for my college days in
Philadelphia. No first car could have been better than a
‘31 Ford Model A, which I bought in 1948 for $350.
After replacing the engine from Sears, I was ready to
roll and make all kinds of friends. Had it for three years
and sold it for $175. Wish I had it now.
October 13, 2011 • WHEELS • 3
Not a care
in the world
by Leslie Garland,
Reedville
I
remember being 17 and hearing about the new VW beetle
coming out and how in love I
was with the convertible version.
I waited patiently for the
convertible VW “New Beetle”
to makes its grand appearance
in 2003, and then I made my
first grown-up purchase.
I loved that car—top down
and not a care in the world.
100 MPH and counting
$
$400
worth of fun
by Tom Chillemi
E
very generation has customized their cars.
Jimmy Pitts’ first car was a 2-door hardtop
Victoria—the crown jewel of Ford lineup for
1953.
Pitts, of Urbanna, bought the car in 1959 and
started customizing it. Pitts had it “nosed and
decked,” which took all chrome off the hood and
trunk and filled the holes with lead. He then had
the car painted solid black.
The rear of the car was lowered 2 inches. He
added 1955 Oldsmobile tail lights, and full-flared
fender skirts with drip mounding at the bottom.
Jimmy and his dad, the late John Pitts Jr.,
souped up the Ford V-8 flathead engine. They
added an “Isky” performance camshaft to get
more fuel into the cylinders. Eldebrock finned
racing heads gave it more compression and the
finns dissipated the heat better.
An electric fuel pump was need to deliver more
gas to the 3 Stomberg 97 carburetors that were
mounted on an Eledebrock intake manifold.
“Glass pack” mufflers made the dual exhaust
thunder. “It really sounded good,” said Pitts. “In
fact, they sounded so good, I got a ticket for
having them.”
The seats were upholstered with black and
white pleated and rolled naugahide leather.
It had full racing “baby moons” wheel covers,
and wide white-wall tires.
As the 1960s dawned, Urbanna had a car club
called the Rappa-Creepers (creepers refers to
the wheeled creepers they laid on to work under
the car). Members worked on their cars together
and a good friend and club member, Clarence
Gresham, put a 3-speed floor shifter in the Ford
for Pitts.
“It ran so good I got my first speeding ticket,”
said Pitts, who didn’t know how fast he was going
because the speedometer only went to 100 MPH
and the needle was buried.
Although that Ford Victoria has been gone
for more almost 40 years, Pitts hasn’t forgotten
4 • WHEELS • October 13, 2011
the way it made him feel for the three years he
owned it. “I’d love to find that car or one like it to
restore,” said Pitts. “I have many good memories.
I had more fun in that car than any car I’ve owned
since.”
by Bev Norris, Deltaville
to spend my hard-earned money
and buy my first car, a white 1968
was 16 and had finally con- Volkswagen Bug for $400. I loved
vinced my parents to allow me that car.
The heat and air did not work
and sometimes it took a few tries
to get it started. I was only allowed
to drive within a certain radius,
since the car was not reliable.
Terry Walton Harrow and I
decided to go to Yorktown beach.
After leaving home, we thought
Virginia Beach would be more
fun. On our way home from Virginia Beach, the VW broke down,
fortunately on this side of Yorktown! Our parents never knew
Virginia Beach had been our destination that day.
I later went to college and took
the VW. One day after microbiology at VCU, the VW would not
start. A nice man offered to help
by Rev. Warren Palmer Jr., Deltaville
me jump the car. He handed me
y first car was a 1954 Chevrolet Bel Air, white over would be road-worthy and reliable, I drove it from our
the cables to connect to my batblack, which I purchased upon returning home
Long Island home to New Hampshire, where I had
tery, which was under the back
from my freshman year in college (in those days the
taken a summer job. The car went back to college with
seat. He said, “Ground these.”
college I attended did not permit freshmen to bring
me in the fall and provided me with transportation until
I sat them on the ground in the
vehicles to school). It cost me the grand sum of $125 in
graduation.
snow!
that summer of 1965.
My wife and I went on our first date in this vehicle
That weekend my parents
The Chevy’s odometer read that it had traveled
that I had come to call “Betsy,” and by the time we were
decided the VW must go. For
around 60,000 miles, but my father opined that it probmarried, my Chevy had traveled roads from Maine to
years, I wanted another Bug.
ably was on the second time around, and he likely was
Maryland and from New York to Illinois.
When the new Bug came out in
correct. The engine was a straight six, the transmission
After our wedding, with my wife teaching in a
1998, I was hooked. But with
was automatic, and my dad—so much more mechaniparochial school and me in graduate school, it became
three boys, a Bug was not the car
cally inclined than I would ever be—taught me how to
clear we couldn’t afford to keep two cars. My wife’s car
for our family. The years went by
do all the things that the average car owner no longer
was a full decade younger than Betsy, and the decision
and I continued to have a soft spot
can do today because modern automobiles are so
was clear. With some reluctance I sold my Chevy to a
for the Bug. In November, 2010,
complex. I could change the oil and filter, replace the
young man who attended our church. Within two weeks
I came home from work and
air filter and adjust the carburetor, gap spark plugs, and
he had totaled it.
opened my garage to find a new
do a host of other maintenance tasks.
All these many years later, I still feel a little pang of
VW Bug.
As soon as my dad was satisfied that the Chevy
loss when I see a lovely 1954 Chevrolet Bel Air.
I’m 16 again!
,
Good ol’ Betsy
M
I
That old
green truck
White land
yacht
by Jesse Bowman,
Miskimon
by
Jack
Lancaster
I
The Jag owned me
by Randy Coulson, Urbanna
M
y favorite car was a 1967 4.2-liter dual overhead cam XKE.
These Jaguars with their racing heritage were built more for the
track than the highway. The adrenaline rush from throwing an XKE
into a series of mountain curves is like cornering in no other car. My
car always seemed to say, “Let’s take that turn faster.” Vettes were no
competition in the curves.
The silver blue Jag was purchased used with 15,000 miles when I
graduated from college. My first job was as a public school teacher
in Carroll County, Virginia. My take-home pay after taxes and dues
was $379 per month. The Jag payments were $326 per month. I
drove a school bus and worked nights and weekends at the Mount
Airy Airport to afford the car. You could say the Jaguar owned me!
When my wife and I married, she had never driven a stick, and this
was our only car. After many tears and much non-repeatable language from me, she mastered the stiff clutch, short shift, and quick
steering ratio. However, early on, the clutch and throw-out bearing
died. This is a simple repair in American cars, but not so for a Jag—
almost two months of my teacher’s pay.
And least we forget—Jags were truly ticket magnets! This XKE
managed to accumulate five assorted tickets from 1969 to 1971
when it was traded in for a 220 Mercedes diesel that “could not get
out of its own way.” But there were no more tickets!
was raised by grandparents in
rural Pennsylvania. When I was
around 14 years old Pop taught
me to drive a faded green 1952
Chevrolet pickup. It had a metal
dash, no radio, two pull switches
for headlights and choke, a threespeed shifter on the column.
He taught me to turn wrenches
and work on it. I stood under the
hood between the fenders and
engine following instructions.
Traveling country roads, he
would use his hat to swat me
for riding the clutch or grinding
gears. The day he let me drive
into town by myself, I thought I
was king of the road.
Home on leave I discovered
he sold the truck to another farm
kid. I don’t have any pictures of
that old truck, except ones I see
in my head when I think about
Pop.
Some 30 years later I taught
my son to drive an old Chevy
pickup. One day I sent him to
town and watched him drive
down the lane. I closed my eyes
and saw that old green truck and
Pop. I looked skyward and said,
“Thanks.”
Chamberlain,
M
y favorite car was a 1965
white Cadillac I bought
on the eve of my 35th birthday,
mainly because my two teenage boys were outgrowing the
back seat of our Volkswagen.
It was 1972 when gas was
cheap and high-compression,
premium-guzzling V-8s getting
less than 10 miles per gallon
were the American way of life.
No problem. Seven bucks filled
the tank for another 250 miles.
I never expected to own a
Cadillac, but the price was
right—$945. I loved that car.
It was big and beautiful. It had
long, sleek, classic lines. It
floated over the asphalt like an
ocean liner. You didn’t park it.
You berthed it.
It had luxuries VW owners
only dreamed of—air condi-
Jack Chamberlain’s 1965 Cadillac on the sands of Daytona
Beach in 1976. Hood ornament is his wife, Jo.
tioning, cruise control, power
steering and power everything
else. Even electric door locks,
windows, seats, and a radio that
found stations at the push of a
button on the floor. That magic
radio really mystified the boys
in the back seat.
After five years of dependable service, including a trip
to Florida and a drive on the
hard-packed sands of Daytona
Beach, she still got less than 10
miles per gallon, but the cost
of filling her up had more than
tripled. So I reluctantly traded
her for a used Toyota.
We still drive an old Toyota.
I fondly recall that luxurious
feeling of driving that great
white land yacht when a Cadillac was a Cadillac—but filling
that tank today would be flirting
with $100.
A lifelong love
I
A chick magnet
by Chris Mills, Reedville
M
y first car was a 1959 Austin Healey Sprite.
I was single, in college, and small enough
then to fit in this small roadster. It was baby blue,
had a soft top, plastic side curtains and was a
chick magnet. I paid $750 for it and sold it for
$500 a few years later when my pregnant wife
could not fit behind the wheel. We then switched
to a not-so-cool ‘56 Pontiac wagon.
n 1976 at the age of 15, Michael Taylor of Topping purchased his first car—a 1971 Chevrolet
Chevelle. He purchased his car from his next
door neighbor, the original and only owner, for
$1,200. Michael had worked all summer cutting grass to save money for the car, and he still
owns it today.
Over the years, Michael has re-built the
motor, lowered the car, restored the interior, and
replaced disc brakes on the front (had previously
been drum brakes).
Michael’s brother-in-law Jay Duke and
nephew Jamie Duke operate Duke and Son customized dual exhaust in Saluda.
With the assistance of his nephew Eric Duke
of Mirror Image, Michael was able for the Chevelle to have a full-body restoration and new paint
job. Michael’s Chevrolet Chevelle has obviously
been loved and cherished over the last 35 years.
Michael currently lives in Saluda and goes to
approximately 25 car shows a year and always
brings home a trophy.
October 13, 2011 • WHEELS • 5
Learning
to drive
by Dr. Edward H.
“Rip” Radcliffe, Hartfield
M
,
I wouldn’t trade
it for anything
by Tom Chillemi
J
ames Pitts of Urbanna still has his first car, which his grandmother gave to him when he was 15 years old and getting
ready to drive.
Although Pitts has made a lot of changes to the 1967 white
Ford Fairlane 500, it still holds that special sentimental connection to past and especially to his grandmother.
Pitts had no sooner gotten the Fairlane in 1983 when he began
customizing it. He removed the smaller carburetor and replaced
it with a 4-barrel carburetor and dual exhaust.
He drove it back and forth to school every day. “It took me
everywhere when I was a kid,” he said. “I wasn’t afraid to drive
it anywhere.”
He got his first speeding ticket in the Fairlane on Route I-81
on his way to Radford College to see his girlfriend Cynthia, who
later became his wife.
Pitts parked the Fairlane from 1986 to 1998. It sat in a garage
until Pitts got an opportunity in 1998 for an engine builder, who
built NASCAR engines, to drop in a modified 289-cubic-inch
engine with 352 Windsor heads. “It was built from the bottom
up,” he said. It has been tested on a dynamometer and has more
than 350 horse power.
Van Parker of Glenns installed a racing automatic transmission coupled to a 3.90:1 rear end, which gives the car excellent
acceleration.
Walton’s Auto Body of Saluda painted it black and restored
much of the interior. The seats are still original.
In April 2011, with 69,000 original miles, he installed new
head gaskets, an intake manifold, and had custom head work
done. New tires and custom wheels set off this 44-year-old
muscle car. “I just drive it and have fun,” said Pitts.
But the best part, Pitts said, this Fairlane holds a lot of memories. You could say it’s more than just a car. “I wouldn’t trade it
for anything.”
6 • WHEELS • October 13, 2011
y first car was a 1952
MG-TD. I was 23 years old,
a first lieutenant in the Army, in
Frederick, Md., when I decided
it was time to learn to drive. So,
I bought a 1952 MG-TD English sports car and learned to
drive in the Army post parking
lot.
I drove it to the courthouse
in Frederick, took the written exam, and went out with
the state trooper to take the
practical exam. He looked at
the car, then my uniform and,
I guess, couldn’t believe an
officer would not know how to
drive. He remarked that he had
“never driven one of these,” so I
offered the car to him. He drove
it all over the area, stopped in
front of the place I was to park
Doris Smith, before she married Rip Radcliffe, takes the wheel
of his 1952 MG TD.
it, and asked me to park it. Cars
the size of a 1952 MG can be
parked in half the space of a
normal car, so I parked with
flying colors and received a
Maryland driving license.
There were several cars of
foreign origin on the post.
Andrews Air Force Base was a
favorite place to have such cars
because General Curtis LeMay
was a sports car owner. We all
gathered to service the cars and
tell lies about performance and
exploits in various events, such
as sports car races on military
nearby bases. This fun ended
when Congressional rats without sports cars passed an edict
to “cease and desist.”
I drove my MG to Vermont
in a snowstorm with the top
down just to prove that this was
a delightful car under any circumstances.
While I had the MG, I courted
my wife, who has endured me
for the past 56 years. I used this
car to transport myself while in
dental school, from Richmond
to her home in Philadelphia.
When we married, I sold the
car. We needed a proper American Chevy sedan for practical
reasons. During this time we
were rewarded with two sons,
making this decision even more
reasonable.
Shortly after graduation and
moving to larger circumstances,
I bought a 1949 TC-MG that I
drove in gymkhanas (competitions), sports car club rallies
and autocross events.
First love
by Lawrence M. Taylor, Kilmarnock
Best car I ever owned
by Frank Schaff, Merry Point
T
he 1969 Chevelle Convertible is the best car I
ever owned.
For $3,800 in 1968, you
could order a Chevrolet with
almost any drive train option.
This car had a Corvette
engine, 327 cubic inches,
325 horsepower, 11:1 compression ratio (special cam),
4-speed close ratio transmission, 3.73 positraction
rear end, and free flow dual
exhaust system.
M
y favorite car has to be my 1952 MG “TD.”
In 1953, I bought a brand new Chevy. I soon decided that
wasn’t the car for me and traded it in for the MG. The MG cost
$2,145 and I got $1,300 for the Chevy.
The summer of 1953 found me and the MG out touring the
western states of Colorado and Wyoming. I even drove the car to
the top of Pikes Peak.
In 1954, I camped in Baxter State Park in Maine on my way to
Ottawa, Canada, for the Canadian Service Rifle Matches.
That fall I thought I would trade up to an Austin Healey. I met
Betty Balinger and that changed my plans. I courted Betty in the
MG and we were married on February 12, 1955.
For 53 years we enjoyed the MG on car club overnights, car
shows and weekend getaways. Four years ago we downsized and
moved into town, sold the MG and the boat. I still have my first
love, Betty, after 56 years.
Speed rush
NORTHERN
NECK
by Scotty Schafer, Irvington
TRANSMISSION
T
he 1958 Corvette was my
first car, in 1960.
Prior to that I had the 1955
Jeep Willys CJ3 in the picture’s
background.
The Corvette was purchased from Jim McKay Chevrolet in Fairfax for $1,500. We
later went back and bought the
hardtop that was sitting up in
the shop rafters, for $25. We
sold it for $2,500 in 1961.
It had been drag raced by
the previous owner, and had
Lakes plugs, solid lifters, 2x4
bbl carbs and traction bars. I
burnt up a new set of recaps
in 2,800 miles, also put the fan
through the radiator one night
when I was late for my 1 a.m.
curfew (I was 16).
The trip from my girlfriend’s house in Culpeper to
my house in Orange was 22
miles, including going through
SINCE 1976
Leasure’s Wrecker Service Inc.
1-800-DOTOWIN
13793 Tidewater Trail
Saluda, VA 23149
(804) 758-2961 phone
Local & Long Distance
Collateral Recovery
both towns. I could make it in
20 minutes usually, but only
allowed 15 that night. So I was
in trouble for being late and
for breaking the car.
I learned to drive a stick
shift when we replaced Maude
and Judy, our plow horses,
with a Ford 8N tractor, then
the Jeep. The 4-speed Corvette
was much easier to shift than
the 3-speed on the columns of
that era.
I loved the speed rush when
the gas pedal was on the floor,
the marks and smoke the tires
made and the sounds!
FOREIGN & DOMESTIC
Nobody gave anybody gas
FRONT WHEEL DRIVE
money that I was aware of, in
the ‘50s. You earned your own
4 WHEEL DRIVE
money.
The Corvette never let me
down, but would occasionally lock up its shift linkage.
P.O. BOX 456
My friend George Ben wanted
to replace his Kaiser Darrin,
179 MAIN ST.
and took it for a test drive. He
WARSAW
shifted gears while crossing the
railroad tracks, and it stopped
right there. Fortunately, he got
Thanks to all of our
it unstuck before the next train
readers who sent in
came.
photos and stories hon-
333-4435
oring their favorite cars!
Light & Heavy Duty
Licensed & Insured
VA BTRO
Operator’s License
#CAO - 00019
Kilmarnock Auto Clinic
18746 Mary Ball Road
White Stone, Virginia 22578
Air Conditioning Service & Repairs
Alignments • Brakes & Mufflers
Computer diagnostics
Custom Exhaust
Maintenance
Engine & Transmission Replacement
s(IGHWAY'LOUCESTER
introduces
Brand New State-of-the-Art…
Front-End
Alignment Check
$30
Front-end
Alignment
$89.95*
*See dealer for details
Alignment Machine
Tire Changing Machine
Able to align any vehicle on
the road, all makes and
models including Corvettes.
Able to change all tires from
run flats to normal light
truck tires.
Road Force Balancing
We will match any written offer on tires.
Tire & Rim Balancing
Machine
Not only balances tires
but the rims, too. For the
smoothest ride available.
We’d be glad to take care of all your maintenance
and repairs for most makes & models.
Oil Change,
Tire Rotation and
27 Point vehicle
inspection**
**Semi synthetic &
synthetic extra.
Up to 6 qts. of oil.
Diesels not included.
Most GM cars &
light trucks.
$39.95
Expires 12/31/11
October 13, 2011 • WHEELS • 7
EXPRESS AUTO & FLEET SERVICE
Tips to keep
your motor
running smoothly
If your car has been feeling
a little sluggish lately, there are
some things you can do to get
your motor running right again.
First, change your oil and filter.
Make sure to use the grade of oil
that is recommended by the car.
Using the wrong grade of oil can
reduce the performance of your
car and its gas mileage.
And, do not rely on the oil
light in your car. By the time
that light goes on, some damage
to your engine may already have
been done. So, check your oil
often. Also check the brake fluid
and transmission fluid levels.
You should flush the brake fluid,
transmission fluid and coolant
system every two years or 30,000
miles. Keeping fresh, clean fluids
in your car will keep your motor
running smoothly.
Two other things needed are
replacing your air filter and fuel
filter frequently. Clean filters will
help keep dirt out of your fuel
injectors, fuel pump and engine.
If too much dirt accumulates, it
will lead to expensive repairs.
You should also change your
spark plugs every other year.
Worn plugs will cause your
engine to misfire and waste a lot
of gas. Also, check all the belts
and hoses in your car for signs of
wear, especially the timing belt or
timing chain. If that breaks, it can
destroy your engine. When you
do replace it, replace the water
pump too since the procedure for
each is the same.
You can do many of these
things yourself. You do not have
to be an ace mechanic. You just
need the desire, a how to manual
and a few tools.
If your car will no longer run
please consider donating your
car to charity. If you do, it will
be picked up fast and free and
you will get a tax deduction of at
least $500 if you itemize on your
federal tax return. The process is
easy and there are many charities that can benefit from your car
donation. For complete details
on how to donate car, visit www.
cars4charities.org or call 866448-3487.
8 • WHEELS • October 13, 2011
-Ase Certified -Va State Inspections
-Tune Up
-Oil Change
-Heat & A/C
-Brakes
-Electrical Repair
-Tires
-Maintenance -Factory Service
-And Much More...
office:
804s493s9881
804-580-6190
6291 Northumberland Hwy
Owner Phil White
Heathsville, Va 22473
Located Across From The New Northumberland YMCA
fax:
804s493s9918
+INGS(IGHWAYs-ONTROSS6!
-Competitive Pricing
-Convenient Service Hours
-Local Shuttle Service Available
To Area Businesses Upon Request
www.xprsauto.com
[email protected]
A&M
AUTO AND TRUCK REPAIR
State Inspections • Oil Changes
Tire Rotations • Computer Diagnostics
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am. to 5:30 p.m.
538 North Main Street, Kilmarnock, VA 22482 • 804-435-9147
DAVIS
Auto
Sales, Inc.
24 Hour Rollback & Wrecker Service
We service all makes & Models
State Inspections
Lat-Model Pre-Owned Cars & Trucks
Rental Cars & Vans Available
382 N. Main St., Kilmarnock, VA (804) 435-1818
VA Dealer 7915
Tips to prevent
over-correcting
by Tom Chillemi
M
any head-on crashes are the result of the wheels of a car
dropping off the right side of a road, explained First Sergeant Kevin Barrick of the Virginia State Police’s Gloucester
office.
Some drivers who drop their right side wheels off the road
will over-correct and turn sharply to get the car back on the
pavement, Sgt. Barrack said. This can result in the vehicle traveling into the oncoming lane or running off the other side of
the road. These types of crashes occur frequently on two-lane
roads.
Sgt. Barrick shared the following driving tips that are part of
troopers’ driver training.
Don’t panic
“If a wheel happens to
drop off the paved surface of
a roadway, keep a firm grip
on the steering wheel. This is
necessary to keep the vehicle
traveling straight ahead while
straddling the pavement edge,”
Barrick emphasized. “You will
need to fight the tendency of the
wheels to pull to the right if the
shoulder is soft. You must also
resist any immediate urge to
whip the vehicle back onto the
pavement.”
Ease off
The next step, he said, is to
ease off the accelerator, causing
the vehicle to slow down gradually. “Avoid braking if possible,
but if necessary use a gradual
braking method, which will
enable you to maintain control.
“Slow down until you can
safely return to the road, by
firmly turning the steering
wheel as little as needed to get
your vehicle back on the pave-
ment; or, stay off the pavement
until a driveway or other surface
allows a gradual return.”
Medlin Ford
Get your car ready for winter!
Diesel Injection Service $149.95
Transmission Service
$194.95
Radiator Flush
$139.95
Deltaville Auto Sales, Inc.
Quality Auto Service & Parts
Complete Auto Care Service
P.O. Box 821, Deltaville, VA 23043
17899 General Puller Highway
804-776-0550
Look for the Big Blue Building.
$100 rebate on selected
tires for all cars and trucks
through 11/30/11
Call for details
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Be smooth
The idea is to be smooth,
both when braking or turning.
A vehicle’s weight and momentum must be kept under control.
If wheels drop off the pavement
in a curve, the driver has to
counteract centrifugal force that
pushes the vehicle toward the
outside of a turn.
Watch out
Places were drivers commonly run off the road may be
identified by the gravel that has
been put in the off-road ruts that
wheels have dug. Be alert when
traveling these sections. As an
old safety slogan put it, “Watch
out for the other guy.”
Of course, it is best to pay
attention and not run off the
road, said Sgt. Barrick, but if
you do, these safety techniques
could save you from a crash.
Distracted driving is a concern
The United States Department of Transportation defines three
main types of distracted driving: Visual, manual and cognitive. Texting is considered one of the more dangerous forms of distracted driving because it involves all three main types. To text, drivers must take
their eyes off the road, their hands off the wheel and their mind off
of driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration notes
that distracted driving is a significant concern, as 20 percent of injury
crashes in 2009 involved reports of distracted driving. Eighteen percent of fatalities in distraction-related crashes involved reports of a cell
phone as the distraction. Metro
Let us take care of your vehicle
So it can take care of you.
$20 OFF Brake Installation
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758-2901
October 13, 2011 • WHEELS • 9
FREE TOWING
When we repair your vehicle
EADES AUTO BODY
How to prevent
‘the five o’clock surprise’
by Bob Cerullo
Hwy. 17, Saluda
s We work with ALL Insurance Companies
s Can arrange Car Rentals
s Windshield/Glass Replacement
s Repair both Foreign and Domestic
s ICAR Certified
ALL WORK GUARANTEED
758-5959 or 824-4851
A
side from oil changes
and state inspections,
most people don’t plan
for auto repairs. Generally they
are surprised when their brakes
squeak because the brake pads
have worn thin or the engine
won’t start because of an ignition or fuel failure.
Suddenly the car owner is
faced with an expense he or
she did not anticipate. And,
because they need their cars
and know little about how cars
work, they often become confused and a little desperate.
When purchasing automotive
repairs it pays to have a clear
head. Ask around among your
friends and relatives for an
automotive repair shop they
have used and trust.
Unfortunately there are
some auto technicians who are
less than completely honest
in the assessment of what is
needed to repair a problem.
With many others it is more of
a failure to communicate with
the car owners and explain
fully what is involved before
the work is completed. Often
the problem is related to the
car owner not really listening to what the technician is
saying.
In the business they call it
the “five o’clock surprise.”
Fall Into
The five o’clock surprise
occurs when a car owner has
not asked for, or been given,
an estimate for the cost of
repairs. Often a car owner who
is, for example, getting the
brake pads replaced does not
bother to ask what it will cost.
Nor does the car owner ask
to be called if anything more
than the worn brake pads are
needed. They make the mistake of saying to the technician
something like, “I need my car
so fix it up and please have it
by this afternoon.”
If in the middle of replacing the brake pads, the technician finds a worn brake rotor
804-529-6380
Specialists in Rebuilding Front Suspension from Worn Parts
œÀÊ
œˆÃˆœ˜Êœ˜Ê˜Þʈ˜`ʜvÊ
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*°"°ÊœÝÊ£{ÇÊUÊ
>>œ]6ÊÓÓ{În
Oil Changes starting @ $29.95
with free tire rotation
GENERAL INSURANCE
Fuel Injection Service $99.99
every day low price
CRALLE INSURANCE AGENCY
“FOR ALL YOUR INSURANCE NEEDS”
Transmission Flush starting @ $119.99
'/,&#!24350%234/2%s")'+)$34/934/2%
Stock, Mild or Wild, and Everything In-between
Unique One of a Kind Golf Carts
Sales, Service, and Storage Available
280 Virginia Street, Urbanna
540-903-6773
10 • WHEELS • October 13, 2011
Donnie Davis
Callao Wheel Service
for all your service needs
800-883-8901 or 804-493-8901
www.nncp.com
continued on the following page
7…iiÊˆ}˜“i˜ÌÃÊUÊ>>˜Vˆ˜}ÊUÊÀ>ŽiÃ
Northern Neck
Chevrolet
Cooling System Flush starting @ $99.99
or cracked brake hose, he may
not be inclined to call to get
permission for the additional
work. The car owner may have
assumed the brake job would
cost what it did three years
ago and has a certain figure
in mind. If the car owner has
not instructed the technician
to the contrary, the technician
would repair the car and have
it ready that day. When the car
is picked up, the car owner is
surprised when presented with
a bill much higher than he or
she expected.
Here then is how to prevent
the five o’ clock surprise.
[email protected]
www.uniquecarts.net
Callao, VA 22435
(804) 529-6226
8JDPNJDP"VUP#PEZ*OD
5345 Jessie Dupont Mem. Hwy.
Heathsville, VA 22473
(Located in Wicomico Church)
(804) 580-8419
Toll Free 866-580-8419
[email protected]
continued from the previous page
will be: agree on a price should blowing white steam vapor
who have a great deal of faith
(1) When you bring your you decide to not proceed with out of the tail pipe and the in their technician will give
car in for repairs, ask for an
estimate before any work is
performed. Discuss the diagnostic charge and make sure
that price will leave your car in
the same condition it was when
you brought it into the shop.
(2) Provide telephone numbers to the technician and
make yourself available should
the tech need to discuss any
additional work with you.
(3) If the work involves
major repairs and will cost
several hundred dollars, ask
for a written estimate before
any work is authorized. If, for
example, the engine has to
be partially disassembled to
determine what the final cost
the repairs.
(4) Ask that the old parts
be returned to you when you
pick up the car. Understand
that remanufactured parts like
alternator or starters carry
a core charge and must be
returned to the remanufacturer,
so don’t insist they be returned
unless you are willing to pay
the core charge.
(5) Understand that the technician may not always know
precisely how much work is
involved and could easily find
an additional problem he may
not have anticipated. Ask for a
best-case scenario price and a
worst-case scenario price. For
example, let’s say your car is
Five simple steps to
cut down on gas costs
by John Felmy
Gas prices are rising across the
country—and the primary reason
is the cost of making fuel. While
both supply and demand for
gasoline have risen in the United
States, the worldwide demand for
crude oil is up and the supply of
crude oil is down. Middle East
turmoil and loss of supply have
further tightened markets. The
increased crude oil costs and
higher mandates for ethanol have
made gasoline more expensive to
make.
Fortunately, there are some
simple steps you can take to offset
higher gas prices and keep more
money in your wallet. Here are
five of them:
1. Drive slower.
2. Avoid abrupt stops and starts.
3. Don’t overuse your air conditioner.
4. Plan your trips in advance.
5. Maintain your car.
John Felmy is the chief economist at the American Petroleum
Institute.
A world of service
for your car & you.
mechanic diagnoses the problem as a blown head gasket.
He may be absolutely correct,
but there is a possibility he will
find a crack in the engine block
once he has removed the cylinder heads. This would change
the price drastically upward.
Make sure you discuss the possibilities with your technician
and agree that he will keep you
advised and will discuss with
you anything that will raise the
price of his original estimate.
Certainly there are dishonest
technicians around; however,
generally the problems that
occur are not dishonesty, but
a failure to thoroughly discuss
the work that is needed. There
will be times when it is impossible for a technician to determine the cost of a repair until
he has spent hours finding the
problem. Set a limit as to how
long he will spend and how
much it will cost per hour for
him to find that kind of problem. Make it clear you want to
be notified if finding the problem exceeds a dollar limit you
have set.
It has been my experience
that car owners who feel they
have been ripped off have
often failed to explain to the
technician how they feel about
knowing what it will cost to
repair their cars. Many people
him a carte blanche to repair
what ever is needed. Others
want to know exactly what
they are getting involved with
financially. They have a right
to know what to expect, but
they need to make that clear
before any work is performed.
Technicians sometimes fail to
understand exactly how their
customers feel about cost. It
is easy to assume the technician is being unfair when you
don’t understand much about
cars. Often the best way to
learn is to ask the technician
to explain what he proposes to
do and why. And, most importantly, how much will it cost.
Before you condemn a
technician because you think
he may have ripped you off,
ask for an explanation. If you
are convinced the technician
is being dishonest, take your
car elsewhere. There are lots
of honest, hard-working technicians eager for your business.
Bob Cerullo, a certified
master mechanic who lives
in Deltaville, hosted his own
auto show on ABC radio network, appeared on the David
Letterman Show and numerous other TV shows, authored
a book titled “What’s Wrong
With My Car,” and writes for
Motor Magazine and others.
Open Monday thru Friday 7:30-5:30 & Drop off Saturday 7:30-10:00
BAYSIDE %off
service
GARAGE any
with this
INC.
Located next to D&A Auto Parts
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Dennis
McNeal •• James
James M.
Robertson,
III III
Dennis
W.WMcNeal
M.(Jimmy)
(Jimmy)
Robertson,
1UALITY3ERVICEFOR!MERICAN)MPORT6EHICLESFOROVERYEARS
Courtesy Service Station
Automobile Repairs & Towing
Kevin H. Bray, Owner
7043 Northumberland Hwy.
Heathsville, VA
804-580-8888
Middlesex Body & Auto Glass
Body and Fender Repair
&RAME2EPAIRs4IRES
Front End Alignment
!UTO'LASS2EPLACEMENTS
3AVEONINSURANCEDEDUCTIBLE
Since 1965
758-2177
285 STORMONT ROAD NEAR COOK’S CORNER
D & A AUTO PARTS
It’s Time!
Auto/Marine machine
shop on premises
Follow Rt. 3 to Rt. 200 in White Stone
Call 804-435-6660
Bay Auto Service, Inc.
Winterize your ride…
Know what happens if you don’t have your Belts & Hoses checked?
Do it now or you’ll find out!
DALE DAVIS
Let us help you take the side of the road break downs
off your worry list. Come get your ride checked over & winterized.
10518 JESSE DUPONT MEMORIAL HWY
Eddie’s Auto Sales & Service Inc.
KILMARNOCK
804-435-6111
MON.-FRI. 8AM-5:30PM
SAT. 9AM-1PM
“NAPA Car Care Center”
& Saluda Auto Parts
“NAPA”
Saluda:
Urbanna:
Parts:
804-758-4824
804-758-4570
804-758-4881
October 13, 2011 • WHEELS • 11
Art Hudgins
President
Michael
Hudgins
ZERO “0” PERCENT FINANCING FOR 60 MOS. !!
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Plus $1000 Bonus Cash!
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Phil
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Clint Payne
Sales Associate
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David
Campbell
Phil Lorack
Sales Associate
Sales Associate
2009 Cadillac DTS- CD34141
Black Raven, Ebony Heated/
Cooled Seats, 4.6L V-8, Navigation, Sunroof, only 25,000 miles!
Certified Cadillac! $34,595
Chad
Bingman
Digital Sales Mgr.
2009 Chevrolet Silverado Ext
Z71- CT74801 Summit White, 5.3L
V-8, 4WD, LT, Spray In Bedliner,
Remote Start, 18 inch Wheels
$24,500
757-253-1960
2005 Mitsubishi Eclipse SpyderCD34541 UV Blue, 5 Speed,
Leather, Premium Sound, Remix
Edition! $9,950
2008 Cadillac CTS- CD34881
Black Cherry, Cashmere Heated/
Cooled Seats, 3.6L DI V-6, Navigation, Local Trade In! Certified
Cadillac! $26,995
2006 Nissan Sentra S- CT79451
Sapphire Blue, 1.8L 4cyl, Keyless
Entry, CD, 35MPG HWY! $8,999
2008 Cadillac CTS- U2125 Black
Raven, Ebony Heated Leather, All
Wheel Drive, UltraView Sunroof,
3.6L V-6! Certified Cadillac!
$27,895
Carrie
Tyndall
2005 Ford F-350 SuperCrew
XL- CT79811 White, 5.4L V-8,
Automatic, Trailer Tow, Bedliner,
only 66,000 miles! $14,585
1999 Honda Accord EX V-6CT80182 Dark Emerald, Leather,
Moonroof, Spoiler, Must See!
$9,995
2007 GMC Envoy SLE- CV54701
Graphite Metallic, 4.2L 6cyl, Running Boards, Trailer Tow, Local
Trade In! $13,995
2011 Cadillac DTS- U2184
Black Raven 4.6L V-8, Titanium
Heated/Cooled Seats, Navigation,
Sunroof, 9,000 miles! Certified
Cadillac! $43,800
2009 Chevrolet Cobalt XFEU21851 Victory Red, 2.2L Ecotec,
CD, A/C, XFE+ EXTRA FUEL
ECONOMY! $9,995
2009 Chevrolet Tahoe LTZ- U2175
Black, Heated/Cooled Leather,
20 inch wheels, DVD, 2nd Row
Captains Chairs, ONE OWNER!
$43,595
2011 Cadillac SRX- U2173 Black
Ice Tricoat, V-6, Premium Collection, UltraView Sunroof, Navigation, only 200 miles! Certified
Cadillac! $44,900
2011 Chevrolet Impala LS- U2188
Silverstone Metallic, 3.5L V-6
Keyless Entry, Lots of Warranty!
$17,995
2006 Chevrolet Uplander LTU21392 Summit White, V-6,
Leather, DVD, Dual Power Sliding
Doors, Remote Start! $13,985
1958 Chevrolet Step-Side- Automatic, 19 inch Wheels,
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Visit our “State of the Art” facility for all your service needs.
Saturday Hours til 2 pm. Complete Collision Center.
* 0% financing with approved credit through Ally.
Not all customers may qualify. Taxes, fees, processing fee not included.
Big City Selection – Hometown Hospitality
Business Mgr.
1994 S-10 Ext Cab CV53731 Silver
Metallic, 4.3L V-6, Automatic,
Spray In Bedliner, Leather, only
62,000 miles! One Owner! $6995
543 Second Street
Williamsburg