Dear Folks,

We just returned from The National Drive and would like to report that once again this unlikely extravaganza was a roaring success with close to 300 turnouts showing up at the Kentucky Horse Park providing a wide base for the camaraderie which seems to make this event distinctly different from other driving outings in America. It is also likely to be the largest driving event—in terms of numbers—in North America outside one or two of the breed association national championship shows.

Lasting nearly a full week, The National Drive, now in its fourth year, has become the vacation destination for many families looking for a less formal, more relaxed atmosphere than is available at most driving functions.

The Digest will contain a full report in the next issue but we did manage to squeeze in a cover photo taken one foggy morning by Bob Branam and a thorough explanation of the Carriage Association of America’s Driving Proficiency Achievement Program by Andy Marcoux, one of the four designated evaluators currently in America. Under the rules of the program persons successfully completing Level 2 of the program are eligible to serve as evaluators for the entry level test which is mostly a recapitulation of driving fundamentals which every driver should know for reasons of safety. However, despite the seeming simplicity of the program, the evaluators and those being evaluated are handling this in a serious and responsible manner which we believe will contribute to the overall credibility of the program as an honest appraisal of accomplishment. And that is a major step in the establishment of a meaningful program.

Sure, this is a knock off of the British Driving Society Proficiency Program. But that’s OK. We have no other measure of the sense of accomplishment of American Drivers unless you count the high performance CDE stars who compete at global levels. This program is designed (not just dumbed down) for the avocational driver who feels it is important to know as much about the techniques of our sport as possible while still acting in a safe and sane manner.

Whew! Suffice it to say this is a great program and we encourage every driver in America to participate at least in the Level 1 phase. You do not have to be a CAA member to participate at this level but you do for the higher achievement levels if you choose to go there. There is a cost, however, which is paid directly to the evaluator by the CAA for taking the time to conduct the test which can take between one and two hours of the evaluator’s time.

The way you start this process is by calling the CAA office and determining when and where they are running the test. The first one was at The National Drive. Another is (right now) designated for the CAA Learning Weekend in Florida in January. We’re sure the evaluation process will be on tap at the National Drive next October, etc. You’ve gotta ask the CAA office. We’re sure there will be other dates. In fact they even offer to conduct the evaluation one-on-one at the evaluator’s home turf if you jump through the scheduling hoops such cooperation requires.

This thing’s not daunting. Go for it. To get a better feel for what this is, talk to someone who has started the process. You’ll agree that it is something you want and need to do.

We all lost a friend in September with the passing of Dinwiddie Lampton, Jr. Most of us knew this guy as a result of his huge carriage collection. What most of us missed was his over-the-top friendly smile, impish charm and disdain for those who would suck up to his unpretentious attitude.

He and his wife, Elizabeth (nee Brown) were fixtures at many driving events and worked hard to ensure that everyone around them was included in the conversation, activity, etc. Mr. Lampton enjoyed those things only wealth provides and did so without ostentation. On several occasions he invited this writer to breakfast which, to him, was an outlandish pile of doughnut “holes” and coffee and good times.

He also insisted on referring to this writer as “young man” a term not often used to describe a 70-year-old carriage enthusiast. It was the one thing we had in common even if the scope of our avocation differed by several hundred vehicles. I always wondered how he would handle this “young man” stuff as we both aged. As shallow as it may seem, I guess I won.

Mr. Lampton (somehow I could not bring myself to call him Dinwiddie to his face) was one of those truly iconic people who did just what they damn well pleased, thank you. And mostly it was for the best of mankind even if the legendary stories will likely stray further from the truth now that he’s no longer here to maintain their veracity.

We’ll miss him as we do Elizabeth. We suspect that his missing her contributed to his death a few months later.

Dinwiddie, wherever you are, we know you’re going to “whip and kick” without giving up. Now that you’ve got eternity, you can rest.

Y’r obt. ser.,

Thom Mezick
Publisher