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+<?php
+$title = "How to Start and Drive a Hudson Hornet";
+if (isset($early) && $early) {
+	return;
+}
+include($_SERVER['DOCUMENT_ROOT'] . '/includes/head.php');
+?>
+
+<p class="description">
+	My understanding is there are a lot of people out there for whom driving
+	a car from the mid-20th century is an oddity, a curiosity, or a life
+	experience they can't relate to. This is for the non-experts, and
+	non-Hudsonites to get an idea of what it's like.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+	There are some significant differences between driving the Hornet and
+	most other cars you come across today. Some of them are just because
+	there are sixty-six years between the Hudson and the 2019 model year.
+	Others are Hudson-specific. Many people who I've talked to have said
+	that they would feel intimidated driving my car (whether that's because
+	of its perceived complexity or obvious value to me). So, for those who
+	just want to know how it's done: here is how you start and drive a
+	Hudson Hornet.
+</p>
+
+<h2>The Gauge Cluster, Switches, and Controls</h2>
+
+<p>
+	Open the door, slide onto the bench seat, and sit behind the [massive]
+	steering wheel. For those who haven't experienced it before, it feels
+	like you have a whole lot of room at your disposal, almost like there
+	<em>should</em> be more matter occupying the space around you. In front
+	of you is probably the shiniest dashboard you've ever seen. It's simple,
+	and probably slightly familiar.
+</p>
+<p>From left to right above the steering wheel you have:</p>
+<ul>
+	<li>
+		A speedometer that tops out at 120 mph (with 99K odometer inside)
+	</li>
+	<li>
+		Fuel and coolant temperature gauges (and two dummy lights; more on
+		those later)
+	</li>
+	<li>A clock</li>
+	<li>An AM radio</li>
+	<li>A glove compartment</li>
+</ul>
+
+<p>From left to right under the steering wheel you have:</p>
+<ul>
+	<li>A 2-speed wiper control knob</li>
+	<li>A weather control (heater) temperature slider</li>
+	<li>A 2-speed weather control fan knob</li>
+	<li>The ignition barrel</li>
+	<li>A headlight switch</li>
+	<li>
+		A cigarette-lighter (the owner's manual calls it a cigar lighter!)
+	</li>
+</ul>
+
+<p>
+	Also, underneath the dashboard on the left there is a parking brake
+	handle and hood latch release and on the right there is an arm which
+	raises and lowers the fresh air cowl vent. Think of it as "recirculate"
+	in more modern vehicles. If you're looking for the turn signal lever
+	it's the tiny stick to the left of the steering wheel. The indicator is
+	the little yellow light on the far left of the dash. There's only one so
+	it flashes when you're signalling left or right. We also added our own
+	air conditioning system, something Hudsons never came with from the
+	factory.
+</p>
+
+<h2>Dual-Range Hydramatic</h2>
+
+<p>
+	The first thing that might confuse some folks when they first see the
+	car running is the shift lever. Many Hornets came with three-speed
+	manual transmissions that were shifted from the column (overdrive was an
+	option). However, lots of owners paid extra for the optional "Dual-range
+	Hydramatic", a fully automatic transmission from General Motors. Truly,
+	this car has a 4-speed automatic that requires no manual shifting during
+	normal use, making it that much easier to take a boatload of people to
+	get milkshakes.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+	Behind the steering wheel is a shift indicator that deviates from the
+	"PRNDL" pattern most folks are familiar with. From left to right (shift
+	arm fully at the top to arm fully towards the bottom), the 'gears' are:
+</p>
+<ul>
+	<li>N (Neutral)</li>
+	<li>4-Dr (Drive, all four speeds)</li>
+	<li>3-Dr (Drive, three speeds only)</li>
+	<li>Lo (Low gear)</li>
+	<li>R (Reverse)</li>
+</ul>
+
+<p>
+	Neutral isn't just a mid-way point between reverse and drive in this
+	car. It's a necessity. With automatic Hornets (and Hydramatics in
+	general), neutral is used to start the car. There is an electric lockout
+	preventing the car from being started in any gear but neutral, so you do
+	have to put the car in neutral before you turn the key (if you're on a
+	hill put your foot on the brake or engage the parking brake).
+</p>
+
+<p>
+	Drive is split into 4-Dr and 3-Dr, which basically decides whether the
+	transmission utilizes high gear. In the owner's manual, Hudson
+	recommends using 3-Dr for driving around town (as the low RPMs delivered
+	by high gear means unnecessary shifting in and out of 4th gear) and 4-Dr
+	for highway driving. It really depends on what speed you're going to be
+	driving at but there isn't anything wrong with driving around in 4 all
+	the time. I typically leave it in 4th at sustained speeds above 45MPH.
+	You can switch between these gears any time while moving.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+	Low gear basically locks the transmission in 2nd gear so you don't spin
+	the wheels. The owner's manual says this is for pulling out of sand or
+	dirt if you get stuck.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+	Reverse works just about how you might expect but with an added catch:
+	if the engine is off it acts as park. That's right. When you turn the
+	car off you can put it in reverse and the transmission will engage a
+	lock pin to prevent the car from rolling. You can't start the car in
+	this gear because of the lockout however so you have to shift into
+	neutral to start the car. So for starting, put it in neutral, for
+	stopping, put it in reverse.
+</p>
+
+<h2>Choke and Gas</h2>
+
+<p>
+	For cold starts, our Hornet (and I believe this was common for other
+	Hudsons of the time) is equipped with an automatic 2-stage choke. Push
+	the pedal all the way to the floor once to set the choke. After the car
+	has started and has warmed up, kick the gas quickly to the floor and
+	release to cancel the choke.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+	For warm starts the engine doesn't need the choke but likes to be given
+	just a little bit of gas while cranking.
+</p>
+
+<h2>The Keys, Ignition, and Warning Lights</h2>
+
+<p>
+	Hudsons like mine come with two keys. The octagonal one is for starting
+	the car, it's used in the ignition. The round one is used for the door
+	and trunk locks (and I believe in my case the glove box). My
+	understanding is this is actually reversed from the majority of Hudsons
+	and is due to a locksmith error at one point or another.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+	The ignition switch sits so that the teeth of the key enter vertically.
+	Turning the key left powers accessories like the radio. Turning the key
+	right once switches the car to "ON" which will allow the engine to be
+	started and remain running.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+	Here's where some things may vary depending on the year of the car. For
+	'51 Hornets, there's a separate starter button located all the way on
+	the left control pod. For these cars, you put the key in and turn it to
+	"ON", and then press and hold the button until the car has started up.
+	For '52 Hornets onwards, the ignition switch also activates the starter
+	if you turn the key past "ON" (like in most modern vehicles).
+</p>
+
+<p>
+	If you turn the key to "ON" you'll see two red warning lights appear on
+	the dash next to the indicators marked "AMP" and "OIL". These are
+	[alternator] charging status and oil pressure status lights. Our car is
+	equipped with a 12-V alternator system so the AMP light really comes on
+	if there is low voltage while the oil pressure light comes on when
+	there's low oil pressure. These lights will only appear with engine off,
+	key "ON" or if something has gone very wrong.
+</p>
+
+<h2>Starting and Driving</h2>
+
+<p>
+	So now that I've gone over the basics of all the components, here is the
+	normal starting procedure. It actually varies depending on whether the
+	engine has been warmed up. That's life with carburetors.
+</p>
+
+<h3>From cold:</h3>
+
+<ul>
+	<li>
+		Put your foot on the brake, and shift the lever into neutral. Just
+		push it vertically, pulling towards you slightly if you need to.
+	</li>
+	<li>
+		Push the gas pedal all the way to the floor once and let your foot
+		back up again to set the choke.
+	</li>
+	<li>
+		Put the key in the ignition and start the car (the "AMP" and "OIL"
+		lights should switch off.
+	</li>
+	<li>
+		Wait for the engine to smooth out so you know that it's warm enough to
+		cancel the choke, and kick the gas pedal once to cancel it. (If the
+		RPMs are still higher than idle then it's not quite at operating
+		temperature yet)
+	</li>
+	<li>
+		Pull the shifter down into 4-Dr or 3-Dr (or R), and release the
+		parking brake by twisting the handle towards the steering wheel
+	</li>
+	<li>Let off the brake and you're off!</li>
+</ul>
+
+<h3>From warm:</h3>
+
+<ul>
+	<li>Put your foot on the brake and shift into neutral.</li>
+	<li>
+		While giving just a little bit of gas, start the car. Both warning
+		lights should disappear. When the engine fires up you can let off the
+		gas and let it idle.
+	</li>
+	<li>
+		Pull the shifter into 4-Dr or 3-Dr (or R), and release the parking
+		brake by twisting the handle towards the steering wheel.
+	</li>
+	<li>Done.</li>
+</ul>
+
+<h2>Stopping and Parking</h2>
+
+<ul>
+	<li>
+		Hold your foot on the brake and twist the parking brake handle towards
+		the door of the car, and pull it towards you
+	</li>
+	<li>
+		When you're ready to shut off the engine, you can shift it into either
+		neutral or reverse and turn the key off. Shift it into reverse if you
+		haven't already to lock the transmission.
+	</li>
+</ul>
+
+<p>
+	Note: I usually engage the parking brake AND put the car in reverse,
+	just to be safe. If you had to pick one however I would use the
+	transmission in case you're on a steep hill and your brakes fail for
+	whatever reason.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+	And there you have it! Not much is different from most cars around today
+	but there are one or two quirks (more about old cars than about Hudsons
+	in particular). The only major thing to keep track of while driving is
+	that you have no power steering, so get ready to anticipate turns sooner
+	and use more of the wheel with every turn.
+</p>