Kristina_Cook

You guys are an *amazing* resource! Wow!! I'm definitely going to look for some issues of Country Life. I've got my DVD copy of Genevieve--going to watch it tonight--and I've also got my handy-dandy copy of Moncrieff's VETERAN AND EDWARDIAN MOTOR CARS, which is chock-full of information. And I'm definitely going to catch a couple of upcoming local antique car shows. Can't thank you all enough! ~Kristina www.kristinacook.com

You guys are an *amazing* resource! Wow!! I'm definitely going to look for some issues of Country Life. I've got my DVD copy of Genevieve--going to watch it tonight--and I've also got my handy-dandy copy of Moncrieff's VETERAN AND EDWARDIAN MOTOR CARS, which is chock-full of information. And I'm definitely going to catch a couple of upcoming local antique car shows. Can't thank you all enough! ~Kristina www.kristinacook.com

Oooh, I think I might have found *the* car! Thanks to whomever suggested the Darracq manufacturer, I found this link, and the 1903 Darracq type JJ pictured on the lower left side of the page is pretty much *exactly* what I was envisioning (though I hadn't imagined a back seat, but why not?!). Now to find more information... http://www.brighton-early.com/darracq.html

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: oldcarfudd</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> And he wouldn't have had to rip her bodice - the wind would have done it for him! </div></div> LOL--now *that's* funny!!! Okay, going to research Darracq speedsters... ~Kristina www.kristinacook.com

Actually, he's more 'new money'--the situation you describe is more fitting to the landed gentry of the era. He's not a landowner, and not a member of high society. He likes his car because he likes to drive it himself! Imagine a young, wealthy, noveau-riche (i.e. not socially acceptable) man who likes fast cars.... ~Kristina www.kristinacook.com

Oh, I am LOVING that Mercedes!! Whoa! Okay, so my heroine could steer it--it's the clutch that I'm worried about her being able to master! I imagine it would be like today--she might pop the clutch a time or two, but wouldn't that stall the car, requiring a long and tortuous restart?? I really do thank you all for your enthusiasm and advice--this IS fun! ~Kristina www.kristinacook.com

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Steve_Mack_CT</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Also, without giving too much away can you share anything about your character? He/She - for example, if it is a she, and she is a city girl, she may have had an electric - many of which were designed for women to drive "in town", etc. </div></div> Actually, the character with the car is a man--wealthy from the cotton mills in the north of England, near Manchester. The car is mostly for him to take 'pleasure jaunts' around the countryside, not really for driving in town. I'd like him to take the 'heroine' on a ride through the countryside, and had toyed with the idea of her asking him to teach her to drive--but it sounds so complicated, maybe I'll skip that. I always drive myself nuts researching things for my books--trying to get the details right, even though 98% of my readers won't know the difference. Still, there's that 2% who *will*. Even if I don't include the details, I feel like I can write 'richer' fiction if I understand the details myself, if that makes any sense! And I'll definitely be thanking this forum on my acknowledgment page, if no one objects! ~Kristina www.kristinacook.com

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jscheib</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I suggest you also consider then Greenwich Concours, also close to NYC, as they have American Cars Saturday, June 7 and Imported on Sunday, June 8. </div></div> This looks wonderful,and is SO close by! Will definitely put this on my calendar. I spent my childhood being dragged around to classic car shows--these shows will bring back such memories, LOL! Too bad my dad isn't a brass-era car enthusiast--his cars are all 50's-60's sports cars. ~Kristina www.kristinacook.com

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Rusty_OToole</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If you want a small car the DeDion Bouton was about the most popular "voiturette" of the day. </div></div> I need the car to be big enough for two people, and hopefully kind of 'sporty.' I was looking up Renault models last night, which looked sort of promising. Maybe I'll wait till I get the book I ordered yesterday--the Edwardian and Veteran Motorcar book--and see if anything looks good. The character is pretty wealthy, so I might just give him a Mercedes! ~Kristina www.kristinacook.com

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: oldcarfudd</div><div class="ubbcode-body">On Sunday, May 18, at the airport in Quakertown, PA, there will be a car show and swap meet run by the Olde Tyme Car Club, a Regional Group of the Horseless Carriage Club of America. </div></div> I will definitely try to be there! Thanks so much for letting me know. ~Kristina www.kristinacook.com

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mrpushbutton</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Kristina--do you write Bodice rippers? </div></div> Ummmm....if I say yes, will you still answer my questions, LOL?! Okay, yes. But I'm fairly certain that no bodice has ever actually been harmed in the writing of my books. ~Kristina www.kristinacook.com

Thank you all for the *incredibly* helpful advice! I really appreciate it. Rhinebeck is a daytrip from here--I will definitely plan to go. Will also look for the books suggested at Alibris--and will also check out some British antique car clubs. And Ivan Saxton, I'm very grateful for your detailed description--that definitely helps immensely! My father races vintage cars and is a member of the AACA, and he suggested I try this forum--very glad he did! A very grateful....Kristina www.kristinacook.com

Oh, and I should add that if anyone has a better car suggestion--perhaps something sportier than the Opel coupe--I'd love to hear it! Has to be a European model, however. I really wanted to give my character a Morgan Runabout, but my book is set just a bit too early for that. I'd love to find something comparable. Thanks again, ~Kristina Cook www.kristinacook.com

Hi--I'm a novelist working on book set in 1907 England, and I was hoping someone here could help me with an automobile question. I've been researching Edwardian-era ("brass era") motor cars, and have found quite a bit of technical information--specs, diagrams, history, photographs, etc. What I *haven't* been able to find is more 'layman' type information concerning exactly how a car from this era would be driven. For instance, I've given a character in my book a 1906 Opel coupe. From what I've gleaned, it seems the car would have multiple gears, and that reverse would be accomplished with a hand control rather than a foot pedal. Would the car be driven with a clutch similar to today's manual transmission cars? In other words, let out the clutch pedal as you depress the gas pedal? Secondly, how would the car have been started? Did most brass era cars have electric starters? Was it like a two-stroke car, where gas and oil had to be mixed? Any information--particularly put in layman's terms!--would be much appreciated!!! ~Kristina Cook www.kristinacook.com