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Let's Use ActiveRain Points and Get the Toy Back on the Road

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Real Estate Agent with Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754

Let's Use ActiveRain Points and Get the Toy Back on the Road

Blogging has had its rewards especial when the title was the pointed message. The matrix has changed a bit, and blogging can still be rewarding but it needs to be set up slightly different than in the past. 

For those blogging here on ActiveRain,  we earned points for blogging, commenting and except for the rankings within regions there was little else the points meant.

However, the system does offer a chance to reap a benefit by utilizing the ActiveRain points store.

It's apparent from the degree of activity that there is great interest in the Challenge and already redemptions are taking place.

The rate of exchange seems to be predicated on the degree of largess and with the options, one struck my mind immediately.

If I use a 10 to 1 ratio as starting point, I'm going to exchange 50,000 points to get a toy back on the road.

Boys and their Toys

In 1981, I pulled a rusted English 1953 MG-TD from a barn in Thomaston, CT, which at the time was 20 miles from where I was living,

It was bought new and run by the original owner until he got sick and never more went out for a drive.

With 83,000 miles on the odometer, that was a lot of ice cream runs.

After 3 years and some assistance from friends, it was finished, and I drove that car all over the place. The mechanicals had been done with the exception of a quick rebuild on the twin SU carbs, always temperamental and needing a gentle touch. In retrospect, I should have bought new and bitten the bullet.

 It was a fun ride, and to allow for that sports car sound, I had gotten special mufflers with not all the sound deadening included so the gear change was heard.

The car looked so good that when I stopped, I was asked if it was a VW kit car, which to an owner of something this rare and special was hurtful.

 

An inquiry to the CT department of Motor Vehicles, got me the plate that hopefully would stop some of the questions.

So just maybe, after a few years of sitting protected, it will get back out on the road, and the credit will be awarded to the ActiveRain Points store.

When the carbs started acting up, the mechanic that I used back in 1983 had moved away and I didn't have someone reliable to help me.

Since then, I have found a helper, and this should be the year I get it done.

This is a post for the ActiveRain June Challenge .

Let's Use ActiveRain Points and Get the Toy Back on the Road

Posted by

 

Edward (Ed) Silva

 Broker Associate

Mapleridge Realty LLC

Serving Central Connecticut Sellers and Buyers

My Blog
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C:  203-206-0754
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Comments(22)

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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hello Ed - this challenge seems to be the right vehicle to drive home your point.  Ah, the price of the toys they want is what separates boys and men, right?  Or something like that.  Congratulations on the special license plate that should help remove confusion about the identity of this auto.  Road trip adventures await!  

Jun 11, 2025 04:29 AM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754

Michael Jacobs   It got a lot of attention when I last drove it and I'm sure it will again

Jun 12, 2025 04:58 AM
GilbertRealtor BillSalvatore
Arizona Elite Properties - Chandler, AZ
Realtor - 602-999-0952 / em: golfArizona@cox.net

Thank you for the great information in your blog today to share with us here on the Rain. Make it a terrific day! bill

 

Bill Salvatore, Realtor

Arizona Elite Properties

#AZVHV / Arizona Veterans Helping Veterans

Jun 11, 2025 04:35 AM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754

Thanks for stopping to comment Bill

Jun 12, 2025 04:59 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Real Estate Broker

Good morning, Ed... I had no idea about your interest in cars like this. Learn something new about my friends in the Rain every day.

Jun 11, 2025 04:52 AM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754

Nina Hollander, Broker It is 1 of 2 old cars that I still have and at one time was up to 6

Jun 12, 2025 05:00 AM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

Those toys are pretty sweet, but I thought you might use your points to put down a deposit on a membership at Augusta National, haha.

Jun 11, 2025 06:00 AM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754

Brian England   I am all done with exclusive as the game doesn't justify it any longer

Jun 12, 2025 05:00 AM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

That sounds like a great way to spend some points - nice ride!

Jun 11, 2025 06:10 AM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754

Kat Palmiotti   Thank you, I thought so as well.

Jun 12, 2025 05:01 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

The MGs were popular when I was at UVA in the late 50's and early 60's. And, I recall a test drive of a new one in the 60's. It was tempting but I did not purchase one.

Jun 11, 2025 06:23 AM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754

Roy, in the 60's English cars got a lot of attention. Must have been because of the invasion of British bands

Jun 12, 2025 05:02 AM
Lew Corcoran
Better Living Real Estate, LLC - East Bridgewater, MA
Expert guidance. Exceptional results.

Thanks so much for sharing this fun and heartfelt story, Ed Silva, 203-206-0754. I really appreciate the way you tie in the ActiveRain points with your nostalgic car journey. It's great to see how the system can bring a little extra motivation to reconnect with passions, and your storytelling makes it all the more relatable. 😊 Thanks again for the valuable insight and for sharing your experience!

Jun 11, 2025 07:46 AM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754

Lew Corcoran  I definitely don't need any system for my passions

Jun 12, 2025 05:03 AM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
Retired Broker/Owner - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Wow Ed you've had this car since 1981!  That must have been fun driving that around town.  So exciting that you're going to use your 'points' to get it up and running again!  I love old cars....so it's right up my alley!  Great entry to the challenge 😊

Jun 11, 2025 10:17 AM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754

Anna "Banana" Kruchten   This is the youngster. I still have the first car I ever bought, and it will be 100 yrs old in 6 years

Jun 12, 2025 05:04 AM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten

Now that is cool Ed!  What car is that?

Jun 12, 2025 08:33 AM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754

Anna "Banana" Kruchten   1931 Ford, Model A Sport Coupe, compete with rumble seat

I can still hear my father's voice when I had the car apart all over the garage, and my mother when I was working on the carburetor at the kitchen table

Jun 13, 2025 04:46 AM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten

Ed we had some car collector neighbors over last night and I told them about your car!  They loved it and would love to have one too!  Their garage was full of old cars.....pretty fun stuff!

Jun 13, 2025 10:13 AM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Ed I want to first ride when you get that beauty back on the road.

Jun 11, 2025 10:33 AM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754

George Souto  Raffle tickets go on sale shortly after I pay the mechanic

Jun 12, 2025 05:05 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Ed, OH MY what a gorgeous car, and would be so fun to tool around in!

Jun 11, 2025 04:34 PM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754

Joan Cox   Thank you, it is and was

Jun 12, 2025 05:05 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Retired Home Stager/Redesign

Ed- wow- I love that car!!!!  And I, too can't believe that you've had it that long!  I sincerely hope you can get that beautiful car back on the road. As a side story, Larry and I were in KC in the late 70s when he saw an '57 MGA coupe in red sitting on a lot. We ended up having a specila towbar made so we could tow it back to Houston.  It took Larry about 6 months before he could get the oil pan off...otherwise we could only go a few miles from home because it was burning oil.

Jun 11, 2025 06:49 PM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754

Kathy Streib   They were fun cars. I once had 2 58 MGA convertibles in the stable

Jun 12, 2025 05:07 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hi Ed:

Well I learned something new about you from your post. What a cool way to use those AR points. That's a great car!

Jeff

Jun 11, 2025 08:18 PM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754

Jeff Dowler, CRS  the inspiration was brought out by the post that offered a few suggestions, one of which was the car restoration, of which I had already done a couple

Jun 12, 2025 05:09 AM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

OH MY GOSH, what a GORGEOUS toy, Ed! I love that you're going to spend some of your ActiveRain points putting this beauty back on the road. I can't believe you've had it, coming up on 45 years! WOW!

Love your entry in this month's challenge and especially the story, Ed.

Jun 11, 2025 08:33 PM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754

Debe Maxwell, CRS   I have had a few adventures with the old cars that I have owned.

They have always been fun to own.

Jun 12, 2025 05:10 AM
Ginny Gorman
RI Real Estate Services ~ 401-529-7849~ RI Waterfront Real Estate - North Kingstown, RI
Homes for Sale in Southern RI and beyond

How cool Ed, I would covet that car it looks like a gem!  Enjoy life and it.  Ginny

Jun 12, 2025 03:34 AM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754

Ginny Gorman   Your red shoes would complement the car very well.

Jun 12, 2025 05:11 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

What a beautiful vehicle Ed Silva, 203-206-0754 . I really enjoy the car shows in Minot. I don't think I've seen anything more beautiful than yours.

Jun 12, 2025 08:08 AM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754

Bob "RealMan" Timm  We have a weekly car show here in Prospect and on weekends there is one at some town in the area. There are a lot of running older cars in the northeast.

Jun 26, 2025 05:39 AM
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

Hi Ed,
I can totally relate to your car story. My husband was a car guy and restored several. I had 2 of his classics to sell when he passed away, but they were sure fun to drive when we had them.  

Here’s to getting your toy back on the road—powered by point and passion. I hope that sweet engine purrs again soon.

Jun 12, 2025 04:10 PM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754

Carol Williams   anyone with a classic need to do as much to retain value as they would anything they have that is special. There are people that do vehicle appraisals for that reason.

Jun 26, 2025 05:41 AM
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
Southern Utah's Preferred Real Estate Agent.

You could paint it bright yellow and call it a back-up Banana mobile, Ed! Hope you get that beauty back on the road.

Jun 13, 2025 09:09 AM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754

Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!  that is blasphemy for the car's value

Jun 26, 2025 05:41 AM
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

That is one heck of a toy Ed Silva, 203-206-0754 - no doubt it attracted a lot of attention. May you get your toy back on the road again.  

Jun 15, 2025 01:50 PM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754

Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist  it is on the list of must dos soon

Jun 26, 2025 05:42 AM
Patricia Feager
Flower Mound, TX
Semi Retired Real Estate Agent

Ed Silva, 203-206-0754 - I remember you mentioning this car of yours in either a post you wrote or in a comment to something I wrote. Finding, riding, seeing, and sitting in an old classic car is a like being on a journey that becomes a true adventure. This is the PERFECT dream for you! It will turn back your pages of time!!!

You deserve to make your dream a reality. Come on now, you've been doing that for years for other people buying and investing in real estate. Ed, it is your turn to turn the key on the old classic car of yours into your new Life Chapter!

As the doctor always says, if you don't use it, you lose it. 

Jun 18, 2025 12:45 AM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754

Patricia Feager   I have been to so many cars shows that when I see someone put a photo up of something they saw, the memory and comments go into action.

Jun 26, 2025 05:43 AM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty
Front Gate Real Estate - Brandon, MS
601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell

What fun! You must have a large garage to house this treasure. I would never have room to store it in the south.

What does the license plate say? 

Jun 19, 2025 08:15 AM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754

Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty   when we bought our house, it was put up just to keep them protected.

The plate reads, GENU 1

Jun 26, 2025 05:44 AM