South Texas winter drive in my M38A1...with video...

linx310 · Post by **linx310** » Mon Feb 15, 2010 12:23 am

The weather here in South Texas has been crappy all winter. I am used to 60-80 degree weather this time of the year; instead we have been getting a ton of rain and cold weather.

I have yet to take my 1952 M38A1 out for a drive of any significant length so I have been waiting for a weekend that had some decent weather.

Well this Sunday they weather looked really good to go for a drive…or so I thought. The weather report mentioned a front would be coming in but no rain expected. They were wrong, very wrong!

I left around 2:00 pm to go pick up my brother and we left his house around 3:00 pm. The jeep was running great and we went through some back rounds in south hays county. About an hour or so while exploring some dirt roads we noticed some thunder heads incoming from the west.

We turned around and headed for home hoping to beat the storm.

That did not happen…the temp went from about 65 degrees to 45 degrees in a matter of minutes and the winds picked up to about 45 mph. My windshield wipers were barely working already, but they seem to have completely failed so I had to manually work them through the heavy rain.

This is from NOAA right about the time we were out driving:

AS OF 545 PM WINDS HAVE GUSTED TO 51 MPH AT HONDO... 46 MPH AT AUSTIN BERGSTROM... 43 MPH AT SAN ANTONIO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT... 43 MPH AT NEW BRAUNFELS MUNICIPAL AIRPORT... AND 41 MPH AT SAN ANTONIO STINSON FIELD. THE COLD FRONT HAS CAUSED TEMPERATURES TO FALL AROUND 20 TO 25 DEGREES IN THE PAST HOUR.

I have posted a video below of some of the trip below, we only got a little bit of the storm due to the memory card running out for some reason. I think some thing is wrong with it because it had plenty of space.

Here is a never before posted pic of what my jeep first looked like:

Video of my trip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nh3wE_m07EE

skyjeep50 · Post by **skyjeep50** » Mon Feb 15, 2010 9:15 am

Great video! Winter weather and snowy-icy-salty roads have kept me out of my M38A1 for months. It was fun to take a ride in your Jeep, even with the storm! Do you have an overdrive? Seemed like you downshifted one more time than I can.

Post by **wesk** » Mon Feb 15, 2010 9:48 am

I kinda liked the Civil Defense orange. I bought one in 1986 and drove it to work everyday when I was stationed in Rapid City SD.

BullRun · Post by **BullRun** » Mon Feb 15, 2010 4:17 pm

Fun Video!

The crazy weather is here too. As the snow continues to fall again outside in our record breaking year of deep snow... over 5 feet total approaching 6, the sudden downturn in the weather in the video made me think what I wanted to say earlier about having reliable 4x4 vehicles to use during inclement weather or disasters. Even antique jeeps could of saved the day here during our back to back blizzards.

With downed trees, 20 degrees outside, no electricity, 50 mph winds and nearly impassable roads a M38A1 would be a welcome sight along with the National Guard trucks which were deployed to rescue people. A drivable jeep can save your life or your neighbor.

Orange M38A1 here too.

GIJOE290 · Post by **GIJOE290** » Mon Feb 15, 2010 4:59 pm

Ah....the the sound of a Willy's "singing" as it motor's down the road. SWEET!

53a1 · Post by **53a1** » Tue Feb 16, 2010 8:54 pm

WIth my luck I'd be buzzing down the road in the rain and find myself in a death wobble.

weasel · Post by **weasel** » Wed Feb 17, 2010 11:42 am

Thanks for the video great to see and hear , I finally have my garage insulated and heat is in picked up engine hoist and will now be able to start with my 52 M38 CDN

linx310 · Post by **linx310** » Wed Feb 17, 2010 12:38 pm

Wow I am really surprised out how good my video is compared to some of the other m38a1 videos on youtube.

I am gonna have to make another one this spring in the hill country on some really cool back roads...