We had a couple of COALers off to a good start, but they appear to have gone AWOL. COAL-fatigue, apparently contagious. So we sure could use some able-bodied replacements. Here’s your chance to share your automotive experiences with an eager audience.
If you’re ready, able and willing, make a list of what you’d like to write up and email us at curbsideclassic(at)gmail.com.
Anybody ever driven a giant coal truck?
If any of you are hesitant to give it a try, JUST DO IT. I did, and I’d hardly call myself a writer. Paul and the rest of the editorial staff are extremely good at offering gentle guidance to help you along the way!
I have two new COALs coming your way. I’ll email you when those are done.
I got about half way through my automotive ownership history when COAL fatigue set in with a vengeance. If I can muster up the energy I will try to go back and finish the series. Essentially I ran out of interesting things to say about the cars; when I stopped writing I was to the point in my life where I could afford to buy new (or lightly used) cars on a regular basis and didn’t have to deal with cars dying on me. If/when I can overcome my inertia I will see if I can resume my COAL series.
I’ve written about 8 COAL stories, all ready to go, and can do more. I love the format and wrote them mostly for my own enjoyment, and to keep a clear record of my automotive experiences, before creeping middle-age sets in and I forget details. I can share them if anyone is interested, as soon as I figure out how to add pictures.
Imho the best COAL stories are those written on older, worn, dilapidated cars where the struggles to keep the car up and running are epic journeys interwoven with riveting life experiences. I got some stories.
I’m sorry but COALs on new cars where the most interesting thing is ruminating on which option -package to buy don’t do it for me, so I don’t have stories about new vehicles.
But stories on old, smoking ruins fixed weekly to get to work? Got that. Cars getting stolen by gangsters then impounded by police? Check. Jeeps getting stuck and then flooded by rising rivers? Yep. Ancient hot-rod Cadillacs on top-speed runs in Montana? Uh-huh. Home-porting the heads on a Mustang to beat my friends Camaro ? Sure. Getting busted by the cops for cutting donuts in parking lots? Yeah…. that too.
Is anyone interested?
……..Every Car Has A Story………………. (C)
And it sounds like yours have a few to tell. 😉
“Is anyone interested?”
Yes. No-brainer.
I’m sending you an email.
Not sure if anyone would be interested in the rather ordinary daily drivers I’ve owned, but a few have some interesting back stories.
A 1981 Mazda GLC with serious carburetor problems (serious enough that we could barely climb up the some of the mountain highways where we lived). It was a “great little car” until we tried to drive up the Greensprings highway between Ashland and Klamath Falls.
A 1979 Celica that stranded us on the Oregon coast and proved that Toyota hasn’t always made cars with bullet-proof reliability.
A 1991 Tercel that proved that Toyota did make some other cars with bullet-proof reliability. Took a bus to Portland to buy that car during the Greyhound strike…that’s an interesting story in itself.
A 1994 Saturn SL…yep we jumped on the Saturn bandwagon. It was like a cult, but not as evil.
And several more…
If you’d like, send me a text draft to curbsideclassic(at)gmail.com
Well, I could write up something for the first one (the Mazda) and you can see if you like it. I drive “regular” cars…I often feel we regular car-owners aren’t often represented on car websites (Curbside Classics being an exception, which is why I like the site!). So I don’t mind telling my stories, which are as much about the experience of owning a car as they about the cars themselves.
Dang! That’s some dump truck…….
I’ve driven a Cat 769 quarry truck, but it would not typically be used for coal mining. I spent a few days at the Ft. McMurray, Alberta tar sands where they run Cat 797 mining trucks 24/7. Didn’t get to drive one tho. The 797 can haul ~400 tons per load.
I have sometimes joked here about today’s full sized pickups looking like a building coming at you in traffic. The featured coal truck actually IS a rolling building, complete with a set of stairs in the front!
That’s so cool you got to drive one, Ed.
I’d LOVE to become a COAL/TOAL/etc. contributor, and I’ve got PLENTY of material to write about (though it may be hard to find all the right pictures), but every time I’ve tried to register on CC’s website, nothing happens & I never get any response in my Gmail account. Does anyone else have this problem or is it finally fixed?