62 It Happened in Iona

part of the Iona scene for so long, was for us the last word in power, style and finish, the disk wheels and rich fabric interior being particularly noteworthy. We youngsters had many rides in it, being gently warned not to scratch or soil it in any way.

At church on summer Sundays the parking lot would con- tain a number of the older cars from around the parish. Most common among these were some Model A Fords with their familiar clickety-click motor sound and quick get away. In July and August there would be a few American cars which always stood out, not only by their number plates but also from their tidier and generally updated condition. Eyeing these, some locals often wondered out loud if these were paid for!

A number of the older cars at times failed to turn over fast enough on the starter and hand cranking was a frequent standby for getting the engine going. This was a bit of an embarrassment, of course, and somewhat awkward as well, especially when the cranker was dressed in Sunday attire, hat included. When cranking failed, it was common to start the motor by having a number of men push the car along. It was never much of a problem to find a small army anxious to perform this chore. An easier way was to have the stalled vehicle pushed by another car, except that frequently the bumpers of the two rigs would lock and another small crew was needed to shake them apart. But surely one of the lesser joys of motoring came when a lame auto had to be towed home or to a garage by another vehicle. At times even the supreme defeat came when a car had to be towed thither by a team of horses.

A frequent occurrence while driving was a flat tire. If no spare were available, the flat was dismantled on the side of the road and the damaged tube repaired on the spot, for any driver worth his salt would carry a patch kit of adhesive rubber, glue and buffer. Cars were laid away in winter months with few exceptions. When outings were ventured in conditions of mud or snow, rear wheel chains were installed since the narrow tires provided little traction in such slippery conditions. Driving with the clittery clack of chains was a kind of status symbol that seemed to put the driver a notch ahead of other humanity. A few well remembered features of the older cars that endured until the end of the 40s included the twin engine bonnets opening on both sides. Another was the rear doors opening backwards, a characteristic that seemed to add a bit of elegance to the back seat and more room for entering there. Yet another was the running board that added a touch of grace to the side of the car.