Drink plenty of water and take your cool car for a spin

I let my Miata sit too long and paid the price–a totally dead battery. My penance arrived in the form of a bill from the local auto parts store.

The redemption? A day out. Just me, the Miata and a packed camera bag containing some black-and-white film.

The goal: Take some photos while burning through the gas that had been sitting in the tank since the fall. I know, I should know better.

Distance covered for the day was about a hundred miles–started in Ormond Beach, Florida, before stopping at an old sugar plantation and then heading up to the metropolis of downtown Bunnell.

Then I bypassed DeLand while heading down to DeBary to see an Air Force fighter on display and, finally, drove back home. (Other than the return on I-4, I mostly stuck to back roads.)

The big take-home lesson here? A friend of mine regularly reminds her followers to drink plenty of water. I’d add something to that: If we have all of this blood, sweat and tears invested in our cars, then we should periodically take them out for some fresh air.

And, I’ll add, that day with the car can be as simple as you’d like. It doesn’t always have to be a race or a major event. There’s something to be said for a relaxing drive through the countryside.

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Comments

David S. Wallens Editorial Director
6/9/25 3:37 p.m.

Also, looking back, I think I did more driving than photography that day.

Not that I’m complaining, of course.

Colin Wood Associate Editor
6/9/25 3:47 p.m.

What camera and film did you use? Just curious for future reference.

David S. Wallens Editorial Director
6/9/25 3:56 p.m.

In reply to Colin Wood :

The bail bonds sign and the old chimneys: Minolta CLE w/Kodak Tri-X.

The rest: Canon A-1 w/Ilford XP2.

David S. Wallens Editorial Director
6/9/25 4:02 p.m.

And that XP2 film is pretty sharp. I have been happy with the results. Nothing beats Tri-X, of course. :)

Jerry PowerDork
6/10/25 8:26 a.m.

Thanks for the reminder of the roll of film I shot a few months ago, for the first time in decades, that's sitting on my desk waiting to be developed. And a roll of IR film I want to experiment with.

David S. Wallens Editorial Director
6/10/25 9:08 a.m.

Jerry said:
Thanks for the reminder of the roll of film I shot a few months ago, for the first time in decades, that's sitting on my desk waiting to be developed. And a roll of IR film I want to experiment with.

That reminds me that I have a roll from this weekend that I need to drop off. Maybe during lunch.