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"A Joyful Encounter"

© Bruce MacCormack 2001

Classic British cars have that infuriating way of reminding you, just when you think everything is properly sorted, that calamity can strike when you least expect! This is what happened to us as we were returning on Sunday morning after the Heritage Classic Concours in Canada and still some way from the border. The fuel pump on our silver blue '66 E-Type modified FHC decided to depart this universe with no hope of return.

Having just determined this was indeed the case, after a highly technical and sophisticated review of the situation, (tapping aggressively on the body casing of the pump with a blunt instrument!), you can imagine our relief when who should pull over behind us were our friends, Don and Joyce Joy. They were also on their way home, trailering their gorgeous red E-Type OTS.

Don immediately made the generous suggestion that I drive his car to Sudden Valley, while he followed with our car on the trailer. By dint of first gear and the starter motor, (thank goodness we had a new battery), we were able to get the coupe aboard the trailer and off we went! It was a beautiful sunny morning and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to drive the Joy's OTS through quiet country back roads to Sudden Valley, where we all arrived without further incident. Patricia and I were deeply grateful to Don and Joyce for helping us out and being at the right place at the right time.

The Joys and the MacCormacks have been friends for a lot of years and more often than not, Don and I have found ourselves placed next to each other on the field at the same event, although never competing directly in the same class at a sanctioned concours meet. We have shared those last feverish moments of vehicle preparation prior to 'rags down', helping each other out as necessary, while engaging in light-hearted banter. I often tease Don with that well worn chestnut: "Don, if you ever see MY car on a trailer, you'll know its' been stolen!"

So there was one moment during this whole fuel pump experience that will always bring a smile to my face when I recall it. Don had just cinched down the last strap with my E-Type settled safely on his trailer prior to starting the journey back to Sudden Valley. He looked up with that special Don Joy twinkle of humor in his eye and said: " Well Bruce, who's got the Trailer Queen now?"

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