I remember my first swim too, back in 1996. That was before the
Amphicar Lovers List Serve, and before all of the Amphi enthusiast were
posting here. I was quiet alone in South Carolina. All I had was my
shop manual and a childhood memory of a Pepsi ad featuring an Amphicar
going in the water full speed. I had seen an Amphicar in a shop once,
but never one in the water. On a Saturday in December my wife and I
drove the car 35 miles to a fresh water lake. I stood in the water in
my shorts, armed only with a flashlight. My truck was parked at the top
of the ramp with a long tow rope, just in case. My wife eased the car
down the ramp, riding the brakes the whole way. As the front tires
floated off the pavement, I realized that only one rear bake was
working. The car pivoted on the working rear brake and ended up
sideways on the ramp. In the process, the car dipped about 10 degrees
to port as the starboard wheels rested firmly on the ramp. My wife was
screaming thinking the car was going to roll over. I stood there
trying to make sense of what was happening.
In time, calmer heads prevailed. The car wasn't sinking, but it
was stuck. She was completely broadside on the narrow ramp. There
didn't appear to be enough room to put the steering wheel hard over left
and roll the car into the water. There was a large pile of riff-raft
boulders there protecting the bank. With a bit of effort, and with the
help of some amused fishermen, we were able to work the car back and
forth and finally get the car oriented, sort-of, down the ramp. This
time she rolled in fine. I let her sit in the water for about 10
minutes, checking for water with my flashlight. All was well so I
crawled in over the side and off we went. On the following Monday I
called Huge Gordon whose number was scrawlled inside the shop manuel.
Arnold Hite
Johns Island, SC
>Message: 4
> Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 22:06:58 -0500
> From: goob@twcny.rr.com
>Subject: Re: First swim -wow!!!
>
>Hi Brian! "Congrats" on your success. I remember my first time - it
>was Nov. 12, 1965! Seems like just last week! Good luck, Gary.
>
>
>
