by Mike Gulett-
Tomorrow is the 15th anniversary of My Car Quest and this is the 2,653rd post according to my official counter. There have been many more but I have deleted a few that were obsolete or I just did not like anymore.
Thank you all for reading, contributing, donating, commenting and making My Car Quest an interesting journey for one more year!
I especially appreciate Wallace Wyss for his many interesting contributions.
Happy Thanksgiving to all American readers and happy Thursday to everyone else.
Thanksgiving Day, annual national holiday in the United States and Canada celebrating the harvest and other blessings of the past year. Americans generally believe that their Thanksgiving is modeled on a 1621 harvest feast shared by the English colonists (Pilgrims) of Plymouth and the Wampanoag people. The American holiday is particularly rich in legend and symbolism, and the traditional fare of the Thanksgiving meal typically includes turkey, bread stuffing, potatoes, cranberries, and pumpkin pie. With respect to vehicular travel, the holiday is often the busiest of the year, as family members gather with one another.
In the USA
Thanksgiving Day did not become an official holiday until Northerners dominated the federal government. While sectional tensions prevailed in the mid-19th century, the editor of the popular magazine Godey’s Lady’s Book, Sarah Josepha Hale, campaigned for a national Thanksgiving Day to promote unity. She finally won the support of President Abraham Lincoln. On October 3, 1863, during the Civil War, Lincoln proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving to be celebrated on Thursday, November 26.
In Canada
Days of thanksgiving in Canada also originated in the colonial period, arising from the same European traditions, in gratitude for safe journeys, peace, and bountiful harvests. The earliest celebration was held in 1578, when an expedition led by Martin Frobisher held a ceremony in present-day Nunavut to give thanks for the safety of its fleet. In 1879 Parliament established a national Thanksgiving Day on November 6; the date has varied over the years. Since 1957 Thanksgiving Day has been celebrated in Canada on the second Monday in October.
Let us know what you think in the Comments.
Peanuts by Charles Schulz. Aston Martin image by ChatGPT.
Hi Mike
The car community is thankful to you for your daily dose of automotive education, remembering and “if I only”.
May you and the entire Gulett family have a terrific Thanksgiving, Christmas and a healthy 2026 filled with tons of smiles.
Buddy Pepp
Mike, I wish you the best. I also hope you’re enjoying your yellow Aston-Martin convertible. I know I haven’t sent you any car stories lately about the cars I’ve had. So, here’s one. Many years ago I had a replica of a Bill Thomas Cheetah Gullwing coupe. I didn’t even have a garage for it then. I shared a waterfront apartment with my Army buddy Sal that was next to a lighthouse. One Friday evening Sal said his car broke down and he needed a vehicle for that evening for a date with a chick. Could he borrow my Cheetah? Yes, of course I answered. So he used it and must have come back very late, because I didn’t hear him when he came back. I had to work a half day on Saturday in my plumbing and heating business so I got up early and went downstairs. There was my Cheetah waiting for me to take it to my shop. So I went to work with no problems at all. When I got back from work I saw Sal in the apartment and he said he had something he just had to confess and tell me. Before he picked up his date he drove the Cheetah to a body shop where he worked and drove their tow truck. He just wanted to show off the car. Unfortunately as he pulled into the yard there, a piece of debris, a pipe of some sort went right thru the fiberglass nose of the car and made a 1 1/2” hole in it and just missed going thru the radiator too.Boy, Sal was at his wit’s end as to what to do. First, he called up his date and explained the situation to her and asked a few of the guys in the body shop if they could stay there longer to help him fix up the Cheetah and if they could match up the silver paint. We’ll, they all worked on it for a good 4-5 hours until they were finished and did an excellent job on the car. I certainly couldn’t be mad at Sal for he was my best friend and he gladly would take the shirt off his back for me if needed. I just told him I understood the situation and would have done the same if I did something to his car. Sadly, Sal passed away about 7 years ago of Cancer but I’ll always remember him. Mike, I can furnish you with photos of the Cheetah if you wish. You just might have a photo of it from a previous post of mine. Just give me an e-mail address to send you my photo and I’ll do it. You have my e-mail address I’m sure. Have a great Thanksgiving. Sincerely, Bob Wachtel.
Great story Bob!!!
Glenn in Brooklyn, NY
Hi Mike – My comments are sparse and infrequent. And if I’m really accurate, almost never. But I read each of your publications with great appreciation for what you and your guest-writers do. For all the silent appreciators you rarely hear from, big thank you from me. May you have the happiest of Thanksgivings, a Merry Christmas, and a prosperous New Year. All the best,
Buzz