When I first joined the Station Wagon Forums, one of the most active members was 81X11 (also known as Mike). Mike had (and still has) a beautiful white Buick Roadmaster wagon. He hasn't posted here on the forum for a while, but, we connected on Facebook as well. This week, Mike, his daughter, and two of his sons, have been on an epic journey from Texas to New Jersey to pick up a GTO for Mike, and another Buick Roadmaster wagon for a friend of his. On their way back to Texas, they stopped by my place in Virginia for a brief visit. It was great to finally meet someone I feel I've known for decades, but never actually met face to face.
That's great Jim68cuda, it's fun putting a face to a name. Also glad to hear Mike is still very active with his cars and growing he's collection.
Where abouts in Virginia? DM me if you don't want it public. Curious because I am in northeast Tennessee myself.
I'm in northern Virginia. I was way too far away from them when the Roadmaster broke down 40 miles from the Tennessee state line. They had to get a U-haul box truck and auto hauler trailer in Bristol, TN to tow the wagon the rest of the way home to Austin, Texas. The Roadmaster lost 4th (overdrive) and was slipping in third. they finally made it home Sunday night. But they had a breakdown on the Buick Enclave towing the box trailer in Waco. The compressor for the air ride suspension failed and they had to replace it in 38 degree cold weather in a parking lot, after dark.
Mike's an excellent FB poster. I've been following the whole trip on there. Mike and family crew finally got home yesterday. There were issues along the way with the RMW's transmission; and the compressor on the Buick Rainier's air suspension gave up. (Son Tucker's vehicle, and he BROUGHT A SPARE COMPRESSOR ALONG. It was sort of a pain to install though....) They had to rent a U-haul truck and trailer to get the big Buick wagon home.
Wonder if the the tow load threw out that compressor? Feel like those Buicks weren’t really built for cross country hauling. No matter how cool the trailer is
Maybe he was too and that’s why he just so happened to conveniently have an extra one on board? But if that’s the case you have to imagine that the compressor wouldn’t be the only thing under stress either
Man, I miss Mike. I do not follow him on the book of face, but I'm glad to hear that he is still in contact with some of the folks from here and that he is still doing car stuff. But I'm really glad to hear that his whole family is still engaged in all of the car adventures.
I'm sure he would love more buddies from the Wagon Forum in his FB feed. Send him a request..... https://www.facebook.com/mike.massey.543
