MAA Stories: 1996 Vegas to Atlanta Drive - On the Right Side

By Sam Haymart

Kerry and Carol McDonaugh had finally brought their concours restored right-hand drive '69 Mach 1 to the states from New South Wales, Australia for the 1996 drive. They had attempted shipping it over in the two previous years, but ran into snags. When they arrived with it, the car drew a crowd everywhere it went. The RHD conversion that Kerry did in OZ was so good, so well executed that you would never know it wasn't factory - really.

On the Vegas to Atlanta run they openly shared their car with others to try out for a while and get the thrill of driving from the passenger seat. Many stories and anecdotes were made in those weeks. My chance to drive the car came after we left Atlanta and began our return trip. On the day we headed for Roanoke, VA I rode with Kerry and Carol most of that day. Halfway, Kerry threw me the keys and we were off.

Driving down the freeway it was a hoot to see people glance over and double take when they saw the "passenger" with a steering wheel in his hands. The funniest time was when Kerry nodded off to take a nap while in the left (our driver's side) seat. Out like a light, his head rolled back and his mouth was agape. His head so somberly laid against the window as we cruised the open road.

I was so hard to keep my laughter contained as driver after driver passed along side us with looks of horror on their faces to see this "driver" out like a light going down the turnpike at 65 mph. A few even honked and waved. I waved back with a reassuring smile.