Driving my Hornet Across Canada

51hornet · Posted: Fri May 13, 2005 9:05 pm Post subject: Driving my Hornet Across Canada

In retrospect jumping on a plane flying into Toronto then taking a train to Montreal and picking up a Hudson Hornet I had only seen in pictures seems quite insane. I arrived in Montreal with my brother and friend in September of 2004. It was a warm and clear day. The owner of the Hornet met us at the train station he was standing with a Hudson hat in his hand so I picked him out right away. We drove out to his house which was 35 mins outside of Montreal. As we were driving up the lane to the house there she was gleaming in the sunlight.

She was long and low and looked beautiful. I got out and started to give her the once over. She was in beautiful shape. Totally complete no missing parts. The interior was mint original and she had 84,000 miles on her. I had never driven a Hudson before. He threw me the keys I put them in the ignition turned them then hit the starter button. She roared to life first touch. She had a throaty sound. He said take her for a spin. We piled in and down the road we went. I was in love. She was so low and handled so well, not at all like the size she was. We drove back to the house and I paid for her. The owner was a little shocked I was young and would buy a car this way. He was a very nice man and I trusted him, plus I really loved this car. We loaded our luggage in and that was luggage for three plus the trunk was 3/4 full of extra parts. And down the road we went. He gave us a nice route that took us around Montreal and straight onto Ottawa.

As I started to drive I thought to myself how long can it take and am I completely crazy. When you drive a 50+ year old car you worry is anything going to happen. That worry stayed with me the whole way home. I did not know what to expect and it took me a while to separate out the noises she made what was good and what might be bad.

The funny thing is I spent my time worrying my brother and friend had a hoot as we zoomed home to Alberta. The Hudson ate up mile after mile. I averaged 8 hrs driving per day sometimes more. The more we drove the better she performed. Blowing the carbon out did her good. It took us 6 days to get her back home and now that I look back I feel very priviledged to have seen this great country of ours from the drivers seat of a 1951 Hudson Hornet and not many people can say they have driven across the country in one.

The beauty of driving one is you make friends where ever you go. I couldn't stop without someone coming to talk. It makes you more social. Its as if people feel its something special to be near one. The Hudsons represent the very best in automotive design. When she was built the world was coming out of a world war and anything was possible. The design of the Hornet embodies this striving to be better so completely its a piece of rolling art.

Now I baby her and make sure everything is just right. She pays me back by starting everytime and allowing me to really enjoy driving again. I hope she is the first of many more.