The NOVAMOG Convoy to Carlisle launched from Burke, VA on Friday morning with Rich and RIchie Franco driving their XRs to the Winchester, VA Shoney's located at I-81/US-7. Here we met up with NOVAMOGGERs Dave Lockhart, Jason and Tom Yancy, Greg Larson, of Winchester, Peter Denbigh of Harrisonburg, VA (towing his race ready XR) and Dennis and Roberta Edwards driving their XRs from South Carolina. Our humble convoy of 9 XRs headed north on I-81 for the approximate 90 minute drive to the showifield. We barely crossed the Maryland State line when the first hint of trouble occurred. We quickly realized that something serious happened on the road ahead with traffic coming to a complete standstill. Before long, everyone was out of their cars asking if anyone knew what had happened. A trucker stopped alongside of us let us know that a tractor trailer about 1 mile ahead had caught fire and was blocking the road. Not much longer after that, Dave Lockhart's car began leaking oil from its turbo oil feed line. NO PROBLEM! We quickly call THE DOCTOR - Dave Planakis for a quick phone consultation. Dave recommends a few tips and Peter Denbigh breaks out the tools and begins "the procedure" all while out there on the Interstate. He quickly wrap things up but the verdict was that there was more wrong than met the eye. Once traffic began moving again (total stopped time: 1 hour), we exited the Interstate at the next exit, and Peter dismounted his street legal race car from its trailer, put Dave's XR in its place and offered Dave the keys to the race car. Now that's Merkur Spirit! Everyone was proud to see Peter receive an award from the MCA for Friendship... totally deserved. BTW, Dr. Planakis repaired Dave Lockhart's car at the hotel parking lot the next day.
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