In the blue 1953 Skylark, leading the Futurliner and parade
of antique cars, is Don and Carol Mayton. Don is the Restoration
Director for the Futurliner project. It looks like they also have a
passenger in the back seat with them taking pictures of the
crossing.
While the first trip north across the bridge for the
Futurliner was uneventful, the trip back across saw the Futurliner
quit about halfway up the long ramp to the top of the arch. We
discovered later that the voltage regulator was faulty and had
completely drained the battery. A quick check around the area for a
tow truck revealed there that there wasn't one large enough that
could tow the Futurliner. The Futurliner might be stuck on the
bridge for hours but northbound cars were stopping and people were
getting out to take pictures. The Bridge Authority hooked up a Dodge
Pickup with a Hemi and towed it across. |
Fifty years ago
(1957) the Mackinac Bridge, spanning the Straits of Mackinac, was
completed. At the time of its opening it was the longest suspension
bridge in the USA. It still has the world's longest total suspension
span between cable anchorages. The bridge spans over 5 miles of
water. This year, in celebration of this bridge's 50th anniversary
several events took place, one involving the crossing of antique
cars, led by the Futurliner.
Don and Carol Mayton pose for a picture in their Buick
Skylark with the Mackinac Bride as a backdrop.
In Saint Ignace (on the north shore of the bridge) the
Futurliner took part in the Antiques on the Bay car show. The annual
car show of antique vehicles is held in a very picturesque setting.
Large numbers of people came to see the Futurliner which was
featured in the local newspapers. |
