"Sometimes you need to know your car's limitations," my co-worker said last week as he proceeded to look up trailer options for my 1976 911S.

It's only a couple weeks away until the 61st Annual Porsche Parade 2016 in Jay Peak, Vermont, and I've been planning to drive "Smoky" to the destination, just south of the Canadian border. It's only a five-hour drive from Connecticut, but my co-workers are skeptical that I can make it without breaking down. My boyfriend has suggested alternative vehicles to drive. I'm still hopeful.

Smoky turned 40 this year and is one of the "undesirable" models, as noted in a recent issue of Panorama, because he runs hot and in the (hopefully distant) future will likely require a costly head stud rebuild. Smoky is content to cruise in cooler weather, which poses a problem for this year's parade.

Temperatures in the Northeast are expected to be well above average this summer, according to NOAA. It's entirely possible that the weekend I'll be attending the event will involve 90-degree days. I don't drive Smoky when the mercury rises above 85. Five hours x 90 degrees = big, fat bad idea.

In order to prepare Smoky for the trip, I sent him to a mechanic to get an oil cooler installed, hoping the fix would enable me to drive for more extended periods of time in warmer weather. Instead of installing an oil cooler, they discovered and removed a giant rodent's nest from the engine.

The theory is that the detritus prevented air flow and contributed to the heat issue. Removal of the mouse's habitat should help, but I have yet to test the theory in real-world conditions.

With step one of Porsche Parade preparation complete, I drove Smoky to a shop for a friend to install an amp and new speakers. If I'm going to travel several hours without air conditioning, I must have a strong sound system so I can hear music with the windows open.

I warned my tech friend that the wiring was a bit messy. A few years ago smoke billowed out of the dashboard (that's how Smoky got his name), and my father, the previous owner, said he experienced some electrical problems in the past. I bought a fire extinguisher to keep under the passenger seat, but fortunately I haven't had to use it.

Well, apparently the wiring was more than just messy. The installer discovered a burnt circuit and several feet of wiring connected to an old CB radio. Luckily, Smoky hasn't self-destructed considering the damaged circuit was in close proximity to other wiring, which could have led to a serious fire.

The offending equipment was removed. So, at least for now, the fire danger has been significantly reduced.

The question is whether it's worth testing Smoky's mettle during a warm summer weekend (and following a few thousand dollars worth of repair work). Driving to Porsche Parade may elude me — this time. Hopefully, it won't be too long until a future parade occurs in the Northeast and Smoky's up for the trip.