GOOD GRANDPA
A classic multi-generational road trip
Jamie Cox loves the fabulous Oldsmobile Starfire cars of the early ’60s.
These were the fastest and most stylish cars of their era, featuring a high performance V-8 engine, console mounted automatic transmission shifter and luxury options including power bucket seats, windows, aerial and trunk along with leather interiors.
Cox has owned a hardtop and two convertibles — all 1963 Starfire models — and is the Pacific Northwest Zone director of the Oldsmobile Club of America. With wife Sherrill, he has driven his low mileage “saddle mist” convertible to national meets as far away as Prescott, Ariz.
While planning to attend this year’s national Olds convention in Albuquerque, N.M., Cox decided to include his granddaughter on an epic road trip. Two years before, Jamie and Sherrill had taken Serena for a tour through Istanbul, Turkey and on an 11-day safari in Tanzania.
But the 16-year-old honour student — who is learning French, Italian and Portuguese — had never been to the United States.
“Our whole focus is on education for Serena. Passing on our knowledge and learning through adventure trips,” granddad Cox says. “This trip was to be a whole new adventure introducing her to classic cars, the Oldsmobile Club and driving through the United States. She is an excellent traveller and interested in whatever is going on.”
They arranged for Serena to fly from Toronto to Victoria to begin the journey south in the vintage Oldsmobile Starfire convertible. Travelling by ferry to the Lower Mainland, their route took them through Washington, Oregon and California with the first major stop in Los Angeles. While staying with Cox’s longtime friend and Starfire convertible owner Mike Izzo, Serena toured the Griffith Observatory, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Nethercutt Automotive Collection and several famous Los Angeles restaurants, including the legendary Mel’s Drive-In from the film American Graffiti.
Mid-July, they set out from L.A. in a caravan of vintage Oldsmobiles for New Mexico. Izzo drove his 1963 Starfire convertible, Al and Darlene Allande piloted their 2003 Olds Aurora and a friend from Santa Clarita, Calif., Jim Lentini, drove his 1952 Oldsmobile with his 17-year-old grandson Domenic as co-pilot. The convoy was met by blistering heat in the desert with temperatures exceeding the century mark. The 1952 Olds and 2003 Aurora were air-conditioned. The two Starfire convertibles were not.
While Serena acted as navigator and co-pilot in Izzo’s Starfire, the Coxes anxiously watched their temperature gauge rise and used the heater to lower engine temperature. In Needles, Calif., the temperature hit 47 C.
The cars were all equipped with CB radios so participants could talk to each other. Serena’s handle was Starfish.
“Our intended short fuel stops quickly morphed into dust bowlera campsites with all the hoods lifted releasing as much radiant heat as possible and all the participants milling about cooling their bodies,” Cox says.
“Each hotel had cold water or lemon water stations, so we all drank like camels during checkin.”
The local Oldsmobile Club sponsored the meet headquartered at the Albuquerque Marriott Pyramid North hotel. The parking lot was filled with 210 Oldsmobile classics with 525 people in attendance for the sixday event.
“Serena loved the cars. This was her first intro to collectible cars, a national meet with judging and a swap meet,” the proud grandfather says. “One of the owners took Serena for a ride in his 1917 Oldsmobile roadster.”
High on Sherrill and Serena’s list was a trip to Santa Fe. But a mix-up involving an outdated train schedule almost derailed the trip. The Marriott’s assistant manager stepped in to personally drive the ladies to Santa Fe, where he gave them a first-hand guided tour and history lesson along the way. Jamie and Sherrill also took Serena on tours organized by the New Mexico Oldsmobile Club such as the National Museum of Nuclear Science, the Indian Pueblo Cultural Centre and Old Town Albuquerque.
Jamie took his granddaughter to the judges’ meeting. They were assigned as part of a fourperson team judging vintage 1960s Oldsmobiles. Serena handled scribe duties and got an up-close look at what judging is all about.
Jamie and Sherrill’s 1963 Oldsmobile Starfire won first place and best in class awards. The party of three Canadians also won the long-distance award for driving 3,560 kilometres one way to attend the meet.
Arriving back in Los Angeles to stay once again with Izzo, a retired high school shop teacher, Serena was suited up in a pair of technician’s coveralls to learn about servicing automobiles.
With some granddaughter/ grandfathering bonding, she was put through the routine of safely lifting the Oldsmobile Starfire, the use of jack stands, laying on cardboard and selecting the proper oil drain plug and filter removal tools. Serena also helped with cleaning several grease fittings and adding a pump or two of grease to each one.
Before heading for the Los Angeles airport for a direct flight home to Toronto to prepare for entry into Grade 11, Serena visited Venice Beach, Muscle Beach, the Santa Monica Pier that is the end of Route 66 and the San Fernando Mission.
Reflecting on the trip with his granddaughter, Jamie Cox says: “We see membership declining in a lot of the clubs and we are trying to create interest in young people. Their parents have no time for this type of thing and often don’t have the money. We, as retired grandparents, can focus on trips like this involving young people.”
He hopes Serena will someday be interested in taking over ownership of the 1963 Oldsmobile Starfire convertible that has brought the family such joy and adventure.
The Oldsmobile Club of America 2018 national meet is in Gettysburg, Pa., and the following year in Wichita, Kansas. Possibly another road trip is in offing.