[28HopUp]

Mike & Jim,

I think you both know me well enough to understand that I wasn't trying to stir the pot or looking to cause discontent among the membership. The story of my trip to the track does touch on the family aspect of taking my SSP out and enjoying it together, and that is an important aspect of the story that I wanted to get across.

I am saddened to hear about the demise of Greg's FHP. Crashes are scary, and I'm glad to hear that he didn't suffer any serious injuries from the incident.

My story can also be viewed as a survivor story, as it relates to my SSP. I bought it from a gentleman who didn't care who he sold it to - he just wanted the car gone so he could use the funds to pay for the new interior of his 56 Chevy. Had he sold it to the guy before me, this car would have permanently disappeared from the landscape within 1 year I'm sure.

Even though my intention was to build a weekend racer outa it, YOU GUYS changed my thoughts about the car. Rather than spend my time and money on speed parts, I decided that the car was worth returning to a version of its former glory while in-service. It now is an extra daily driver with authentic CHP parts (unmarked) that maintains the SSP aesthetic and honors its history as such - it's a rolling tribute to all police officers in general, and CHP officers in particular.

But my CHP Mustang has not been brought back to life to be a trailer queen. I had a show car once and never fully enjoyed the car in its restored form because of fear that it would be scratched/damaged. What a shame to restore a factory 390/4spd '67 Mustang convertible that you're arfaid to drive.

So here I am amoung a group of SSP enthusiasts whom I respect, as I too want to preserve my car while enjoying it on the road. Frankly, I am more scared to drive the car around on the streets than I am about putting it into a wall at the track. Have you seen how people drive??? Two weeks ago I nearly broadsided a sedan that turned in front of me and stopped as I entered the intersection at about 45mph. No airbags and no ABS in my 85 either. Somehow God helped me steer around the car (BTW, the other driver didn't stop after I pulled to the shoulder). Even yesterday, I had 3 drivers dart in front of me during the course of an hour. Is my car invisible? I know SSP's are small, but hello! - I'm driving an old cop car.

So the question comes - Can you preserve an SSP and still drive it? I like to think I can. Perhaps I'd feel differently if my SSP was from an agency with only a handful of cars ever in existance. If I had one of the 10 Delaware State Police SSP's, I don't think that I'd go the same route as I have with my 85 CHP (1 of 155, with a good handful of known, restored 85's floating around).

Sorry to be long winded. But I love this car. Its ownership/restoration has taken on a scope I never considered, and that's because I've learned to appreciate the car as most of you do yours. But I'm putting it out on the road so the general masses can view and appreciate it. Perhaps others will see it and decide that they want to restore or own an SSP themselves, thus benefiting the hobby further. I'd like to think so.

Cheers!

Bill