Michael Bellamy's Memory Lane Series on Automoblog

When torrential rain happens during the trophy presentation at a car show, it makes for a good laugh afterwards. When on a road trip, stopping at those unique eateries is a must; when heading to a music festival, it’s always necessary to take your closest friends, and when visiting Haida Gwaii, don’t mind the cattle on the beach.

Michael Bellamy’s Memory Lane take us on these journeys and more, recalling the people and places that inspire us when we jump behind the wheel of our favorite automobile.

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Michael Bellamy·

Memory Lane Originals

Memory Lane: “Stinks Like Cheese In Here” & Other Stories As A Private Chauffeur

Allow me to carry your suitcase, sir! I’m getting hot under the collar. I have to pick up the Director...

Michael Bellamy·

Memory Lane Originals

Memory Lane: Love At First Flight

I became fascinated with helicopters when I did my military service. Like Radar of M*A*S*H* I was a company clerk,...

Michael Bellamy·

Memory Lane Originals

Memory Lane: Life Behind The Gasoline Pump

Selling is an art, but I never mastered it. Yet, in the late seventies, I worked as a sales rep for a major oil company. I had a territory of about 40 gas and service stations, gas bars, and a relatively small number of convenience stores. At that time, convenience...

Michael Bellamy·

Memory Lane Originals

Memory Lane: The Milkman Mentor

I always had an independent streak. From an early age, I wanted to blaze my way into the world. First,...

Michael Bellamy·

Memory Lane Originals

Memory Lane: Batting A Thousand

On Labor Day weekend, I attended the Hawkesbury (Ontario) Car Club show which is in its 19th year. Thanks to...

Michael Bellamy·

Memory Lane Originals

Memory Lane: A Car Show Trophy 20 Years In The Making

In order to celebrate my Lincoln Mark VIII LSC being born in 1997, I thought I would enter it in a car show and hopefully win a trophy. So, the previous day was spent cleaning, waxing, and polishing – and that was just the wife. Badda bing! It’s the kind of joke...

Michael Bellamy·

Memory Lane Originals

Memory Lane: Remembering Gilles Villeneuve

Back in 1978, on a rainy and cold October day, I was in attendance when Gilles Villeneuve won his first...

Michael Bellamy·

Memory Lane Originals

Memory Lane: Bumbershoot Festivals & Defensive Driving

Part one of this series here. It’s been a few weeks since the anger over losing my beloved F-150 has...

Michael Bellamy·

Memory Lane Originals

Memory Lane: The Moment of Impact

I’m switching gears, as it were, and devote this column to an accident I suffered right after New Year’s Day. Although most of us have been involved in accidents, if only minor ones, we are reluctant to use the word “accident.” The collision lasted mere seconds. I was driving home...