| woossh |
| You opened the gate. Now lets hear your best racin' stories. |
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| woossh |
'71, Dallas, Northwest Highway: Had just installed a funny car trany in the Cuda (440+6 Drop top down) and wanted to take a drive. Went down NW hwy and pulled up beside a 442 with a hippie at the wheel.
I reved a couple of times and he would not even look over. Just before the light changed we heard a really bad rumpty-rump and a crack of the throtle from behind us.
Looking back there was a T-bucket with a man (Driving), woman, and small boy about 4 in it. The 442 turned right and the t-bucket pulled alongside. We were ready for the light to change.
Yellow for the cross traffic then GREEN!! Were off. I jump him off the line and just as quick he passes. I see it is an old 348 tri power and 4 speed. While he shifts we pass. Again, he passes in second and runs the tach up. When he goes for 3rd we again take the lead. This time he takes longer to come around, but finally does.
As he comes around for the final time the kid is literally hanging out of the right side of the car and the lady has him around the neck and is beating on the guy, I assume to slow down. He stays in it and puts us away.
At the next light he is stopped and she is still beating him and he turns right. WOW! What a race!!! He's not much of a parent, but hell of a racer. Do you think there was a divorce? |
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| Nuf.Evah |
| This was years ago below Atlanta before rt 85 ran completely south and stopped north of Pine Mountain and rt 27. The Cuda stopped ahead of me and made a left onto rt 27S and gunned it. I took off after him in my Super 7 and he had me until he backed off for the first curve and I kept the pedal down and passed him on the curve. Pine mountain is a series of up and down straights and curves and it was cat and mouse until I finally lost his head lights. Minutes later as I came down the other side of the mountain doing 95 mph and passing several cars ( 1:00 a.m. ) all together on a very long downhill straight I saw an officer sitting on the side of the road. As I went by still passing he turned on his lights and I got into the right lane and just drifted down and pulled over waiting for him. He told me that I out ran a buddy of his ( Oh ****!!! ) I told him that I know you can't out run a radio and that the other officer didn't turn on his lights if he was chasing me! He took my license and told me to follow him into a little town and his station. He was on one side of the counter and I on the other. It was as tall as my chest. He told me that the fine was $125.00 and I peeled the money out of my pocket and put it on the counter. He opened a drawer and slid the money in and said good night and I was kind of dumb founded for all of two seconds and turned around and walked out without a ticket! I guess he was collecting towards his retirement fund that night!!! |
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| woossh |
Great story. I never was lucky enough to run into an officer with a sense of humor.
On I-20 once I ran into apack of cars doing the speed limit. As I started working my way through them an officer was coming up the service road to our right. I thought how lucky I was to havebeen slowed by the pack.
As I made my way through darting from lane to lane I caught a glimpse of the officer doing the same behind me in one of the new Camero's. Soon I cleared all and kept an eye out for the Man. Sure enough he emerged and pulled in behind me. I switched lanes and he did likewise.
Finally he turned on his lights so I pulled over. He came up to the car (91 TT Zx) and asked me to step back to his car. When inside he said "That's a fast car." I didn't know what to say, then he said "I can't catch you, but you can't outrun me either." Still I did not know what to say. " I drove one at the Texas track during training." The track was at College Station at that time, an old closed NASCAR track. "Really fast." You don't have a front license plate so I am writing you a warning." I think he had already given me the warning. |
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| Nuf.Evah |
I had jsut bought my 71 Lotus Super 7 and was kind of testing it out in town on a 4 lane and in and out of traffic. I was coming towards a light and I signaled a left turn down shifted into 2nd and throttled it. Around the corner around 50 mph and it was right at th corner of a mall complex that had an officer sitting there. He came after me and of course asked me what the heck I thought I was doing driving like that onto a 25mph road. I showed him the papers that I just got the car and I said I just couldn't resist temptation and he laughed and shook his head and told me not to do it again and I thanked him and left!
Years ago again in the 7 I was going down the highway and there wasn't another car on the road except an officer was just getting on the on ramp and I went by doing 80mph. Ahead of me was the nicest double banked S curve I have ever driven. I went through it at around 115 mph and got off the expressway into two lane traffic congestion. Several miles down the road the officer pulls me over and asks me how fast I was driving on the highway and I said the limit! He spit on the ground and wrote me up. I went to court on this and he had me down for doing 90 mph so I know he didn't have a clue and wasn't set up with radar. The Judge was amazing! He started to ask me about the car with interest. Is this a Japanese car he asked and I told him it was from England and a kit car and the basic history of it. He asked the officer if the car was out of control in any way, he was defending me!?! The officer said it hugged the road and went through the curves with ease. The judge fined me a bare minimum and told me to take it easy!!! Dang, if I had a picture to give him he might have let me off!!!
I just decided that I want a new Super 7. Caterham is making them since the mid-70s and a guy in British Columbia, Canada is making them with a Suzuki motorcycle engine in them which saves several hundred pounds and it has the cycle tranny also. 2.9-3.1 secs 0-60, they only weigh 1000 lbs. I want to get one next year! I started an account at my brokerage for it. Check out the site www.super7cars.com go to gallery, video, and check out the first three videos!!! Turn your speakers up for an 11,000 rpm thrill!!! |
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| Nuf.Evah |
| Anyone remember the movie " Two Lane Blacktop" ??? James Taylor the recording artist was relatively young and driving a 55 chevy with a 454cu in flip glass front end. In the movie they had him race the Barhdahl Vette ( not sure how to spell that? ) and he came off the line at high rpm's but had it in reverse and blew the entire drive train!!! Wish they showed that in the movie!!! LLLOOOLLL!!! :2: |
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| Kris |
WOW!
You guys are something!
;) |
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| Nuf.Evah |
Kris it's only a matter of time and money! The entire world revolves around the two. I've been fairly lucky with both. I live much more conservatively then I did prior to wife and family but still have that need for speed! I love my MO and have taken it as far as I can unless I can find a blower for it. Like I posted earlier I made the offer to ProCharger in Kansas, I'm in Pa. to truck my car to them for them to have a car to build one on and market them. They made them for some of the wrong cars IMO.
I need another exotic to keep me happy!
Back in my motorhead days I also raced a Superstock '68 Camaro NHRA that turned low 11s. Nothing great but nice on the street!!!
Kris, honestly some of my experiences you would not want!!! LLLOOOLLL!!! |
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| woossh |
Great stories! One of the best street stories I ever read was a guy in Ca. (Pre fires) that was driving his Mini and some guy he followed passing a long line of cars on a two lane hung him out to dry in oncoming traffic.
He barely survived and sped off to catch the guy. As he pulled up beside him to "Wave" to him, Steve McQueen flashed him a smile.
May be someone else can fill in the gaps.
Then there are the early NASCAR stories when they towed race cars on open trailers. Those guys were my idols.
Ahhh, a different world. The other day I was talking to a college student football player. I was expounding the virtues of the old days when qb's called their own plays. He thought a minute and said "Hummm... a qb calling his own plays, what a novel idea." |
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| woossh |
O.K. I'm in high school one night with a car full of friends. We had just left a basketball game in my '51 Ford coupe. Total custom and nice black lacquer paint. Flathead. This guy comes alongside and we get it on. I am in the right lane of a divided four lane hwy.
As we are duking it out to beat each other I am playing it cool with my arm wrapped over the top of the wheel, my chest close to the wheel, and watching him intently out the side window. We are door handle to door handle.
Suddenly I notice his car is bucking along like a bronco. I can't figure out what is going on. Then I look forward and I am in the left lane of a right hand slow curve. He is in the median plowing dirt with his front bumper trying to avoid hitting me.
We were all so glued on the other car no one noticed the curve coming. Am I glad he did not have a fast car. May be I could have flashed him a McQueen smile. Don't think it would have worked. |
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| Kris |
You guys are fantastic! Just keep coming with these stories.....
Did I say I miss speed...:( Murano just does not cut it for me....:(
But is is a great highway hauler though.. |
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| Nuf.Evah |
McQueen must have been having a flash back from the movie " Bullet ".... was he driving a fastback 67/8 Mustang??? LOL!!!
If he did that to me I'd tell my kids to take care of him!!! He's long gone of cancer unfortunately, he was Kewl! |
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| Nuf.Evah |
| Thank G-d we had a drag strip local and I did very little street racing. The times I did race on the street you can be sure I knew the road I was racing on and it was straight for further than I was going to keep the pedal to the floor. You are lucky to be alive !!! |
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| woossh |
You are absolutely right. But it sure makes for fun memories. Today you can't do many of thr things we did due to cell phones, radar, and they can take your car for street racing.
I guess my Dad did the same kind of things in his Model t's, may be even with his horse. |
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| Nuf.Evah |
Had a friend when I was in High School whose older brother had a 440 something and dropped his brother off on the interstate so he could show him what it was like to see him drive by at 120mph. He got off and got back on and came around the curve to the straight where his brother was standing not knowing that an unmarked State Trooper had stopped to ask my friend what he was doing on the highway as hitch hikers are not allowed. His brother roars by and the cop says what the h@ll and this friend of mine says, " That's my brother!!! " The cop tells him to get in the back seat and takes off after him and they both end up walking home!! The cop pulled his license on the spot!
What idiots!!! Send these two to Mexico!!! |
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| jaak |
Wow, makes me wish I had a fast car... Must be a lot of fun!
My car so far, has only done a 12.8 second 1/4 mile, but I need to learn how to launch it properly...
Is 174 mph fast as well? ;) |
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| Nuf.Evah |
| What's in it and is that the car you are talking about? What's in it and what problem are you having with launching it? Stick or automatic and if automatic is it a racing high speed one with stahl speed converter? What rear gears? I'm so far gone on this stuff that I don't know how accurate a info I can give you! Were you burning on bleach in this animation? |
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| woossh |
Jaak, why don't you dump that station wagon and get a really fast car, like an Smart with a Hemi? Didn't they quit making that station wagon?
When did you put a "stahl" coverter in that? May I suggest starting in second. What, can't do that? Put a manual valve body in the tranny. It worked in my 'cuda. |
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| Nuf.Evah |
| ...he has a 2.2 second jet corvette for $60K for sale!!! He has over $150K in it and used to take it track to track and get paid to run it. Problem is, know a jet mechanic if something happens??? LOL!!! |
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| Lightninrod |
I use to own this 1991 Z281LE which was a limited edition GM brought out for Trans Am racing. It was modified more than moderately; 6 point roll cage, window net, Recaro driver's seat, 5-point seat harness, Optima battery in the rt. rear 1/4 panel, rear seat removed, balanced and blue-printed 305 ci(max. ci for the TA but bored out to 310 ci) small block, cammed, hogged-out intake plenum/throttle body, Crane Gold roller rockers, MSD ignition, 'cold' plugs, KN dual air filters, etc.
From GM it came with no power windows, door locks, radio, and A/C. They also installed Corvette brakes, 5-speed trans, stainless steel exhaust system(headers, pipes, muffler(I removed the cats), and tips, Corvette oil cooler, aluminum driveshaft, Bilstein shocks, wide wheels and tires. I changed over to BFG R1s at the track.
I both drove it daily to work(35 miles one way with no A/C in the summer in middle GA) and at driver's schools on some weekends.
I was on the track(Roebling Road near Savannah, GA) and approaching turn no. 5 There were about 20 cars in my group and I was 4-5 car lengths behind a Porsche when he swapped ends in the middle of that 100 degree turn. He slid off and slammed into a dirt berm, causing an immediate dust storm just ahead of me. I saw him go off but I couldn't see where he went after the dust blocked my view. What to do???
There were three cars right behind me so I drove right on through the dust 'curtain' hoping the Porsche wasn't stalled on the track. Luckily, he wasn't and we swept on through to turn no. 6 of the 9 turn track.
After our session(about 20 laps of the track at full speed), I had just got out of my Camaro when three guys came up and thanked me for leading them through that potential wreck. They didn't know what to do either but the one immediately behind me said, "I figured I'd stick to your tail and that big, heavy(compared to their Porsches, BMWs, etc.) Chevy would take the brunt of any smash-up!"
Ah, those were the days! I got tired of carrying all the necessary equipment to the tracks, all(including a floor jack and four tires/wheels) stuffed into my Z281LE so I quit driver's schooling after a few years and luckily sold it to another driver's school afficianado.
Dan |
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| Nuf.Evah |
| That's why I loved my Super 7... drove it from Columbus right to Road Atlanta and right onto the track!!! All those poor Porsche B-stards that trailered their cars in and got to look at my tail lights all day!!! I never had troubles with accidents but it always occurred to me that those guys that I was lapping might do something stupid in front of me!!! I rarely wasn't head of the pack. I even had to race against my mechanic in some of the races!!!! Really nice man and his daughter was a knock out but too young for me at the time!!! |
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| jaak |
quote:
Originally posted by Nuf.Evah
What's in it and is that the car you are talking about? What's in it and what problem are you having with launching it? Stick or automatic and if automatic is it a racing high speed one with stahl speed converter? What rear gears? I'm so far gone on this stuff that I don't know how accurate a info I can give you! Were you burning on bleach in this animation?
Yeah, that's the car, it's got a 6.1L in it, and puts out 420 hp at the rear wheels.
That's why I have problems launching it. It just wants to smoke the tires off!
It's an auto and no I haven't changed the TC to a high stall speed. But that, with drag slicks an inch smaller in diameter would likely put it in the 12.3's or better.
I don't recall the rear gears, I'd have to look it up. Bleach? only on whites, not on tires!
I even love how it sounds at idle...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZ6PVYZoIRU |
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| jaak |
quote:
Originally posted by woossh
Jaak, why don't you dump that station wagon and get a really fast car, like an Smart with a Hemi? Didn't they quit making that station wagon?
When did you put a "stahl" coverter in that? May I suggest starting in second. What, can't do that? Put a manual valve body in the tranny. It worked in my 'cuda.
Yeah, the Magnum's toast, no more... The Challenger's coming and there's some serious new 'Cuda rumours floating around.
No one expects to get their rear handed to them by a big heavy station wagon. So it's a lot of fun.
I haven't touched the torque converter... Or the trannie. Yeah, starting in second may work, but I think the gearing might be a bit high for that. Unless I go to a smaller diameter tire.
Your 'Cuda? (I am so insanely jealous, that's my all time favourite muscle car!) Your 'Cuda isn't computer controlled. Can't make changes so easy on this thing! |
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| Lightninrod |
Thanks NE. You surely had a 'different' sports car;)
I never "raced" but driver's schooling is the closest thing to it you can do with a street car. I never owned a trailer. And since you mentioned Road Atlanta, here she sits at the old RA track when the pits were on the outside of the front straight.
Remember the short straight leading up to turn 6 at RA? I'm at WOT in third gear as I rush up the slight incline and there right in front of me is a new, Porsche Turbo Carrera...just stopped, pointing towards the turn... I hit the brake with my left foot and flashed my lights. I went around him, cursing him out. He finally moves out.
Have all my runs on film but nobody but me ever looked at them.:1:
Dan |
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| Stu |
One of the "hobby" cars in my garage is a 1963 Pontiac Grand Prix, dubbed "Land Shark" by a buddy of mine. She has a 421 CID HO engine, tripower, a 4 speed transmission (Muncie M-21 replaced the stock T-10) and the Pontiac 8 lug wheels.
A few years ago I brought the GP out of winter storage, cleaned her up and took her for a spin. I was living in Monroe WA at the time. I ended up on a 2 lane highway heading south, cruising along, enjoying a sunny spring day. Suddenly, a late 60's Mustang (1968 or so, dark olive green with gold stripes) roared past me, honking as he passed. I admit, my mind was wandering, I should have been paying more attention to my mirrors.
Well, I dropped the old gal down to third gear and stomped the loud pedal. If you've never heard a tripower intake system (any make) at WOT, you're missing some sweet music. Between the loud moan of all 6 barrels gulping air and the glass packs out back, Land Shark gets loud in a hurry.
I saw the Mustang driver looking in his mirror as the dark blue full size Pontiac started growing in size. A puff of smoke out of his exhaust told me he had opened his 4 bbl secondary, but it was way too late at that point. I shifted into 4th gear and blew his doors off. I still remember the look on his face as I passed him, mouth open and a constipated expression. It was classic!
We both slowed as we approached the next town (known for heavy handed law enforcement). I turned off to cross the river and follow the western river bank back towards town, the Mustang followed. I didn't want to race him on this road as the road was very narrow and curvy, so I pulled over at a wide spot to allow the Mustang to pass. He pulled over with me, got out and ran up to my car asking, "What the hell do you have under that hood?" He glanced at the crossed flag 421 emblem on the fender and sighed "F'ing Pontiacs. Full size cars aren't supposed to be that fast."
We looked over both cars for a while, then retreated to a local tavern for a few cold ones. It was a very enjoyable afternoon. |
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| Nuf.Evah |
| Guys that play well together in the sandbox and have a couple cold ones and talk it over and have a good time!!! LLLOOOLLL!!! |
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| woossh |
Stu, I remember Motor Trend, back in the day, Had a comparisom once on the fastest cars they tested. This was in the height of the muscle car era so there were some impressive numbers.
Of course the 427 cobra won overall, but the strange thing was the fastest car to 30mph was a '63 Pontiac2+2. The article went on to say when they picked the car up from the factory it had a very different sound than any pontiac they had ever driven.
They ran the test several times to verify their results. It, too, was a 4 speed car.
My brother (Older) bought a new '63 GP w/ 421 quad. We were going to Houston and passed a line of cars on the then two lane road. When we slowed at the next town it was making a terrible clattering noise. Main bearings were gone.
Repaired by the local dealer and a new motor a year later under warranty. That's when he found out his car wasn't new when he bought it. It had been returned as bad, before the lemon law. It was rebuilt and sold again to him as new by the stealer.
We have a local that runs a 2+2 at the drags now. I haven't seen the times, but it has a strange lope at idle at a red light. HUMM! |
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| Nuf.Evah |
| Did the 2+2 have solids??? |
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| woossh |
| Probably. Probably had a lot of stuff. Probably was a nascar motor. Probably went back in the race car right after Motor Trend returned it. Probably none of the execs knew about it. |
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| mgthe3 |
quote:
Originally posted by jaak
Yeah, that's the car, it's got a 6.1L in it, and puts out 420 hp at the rear wheels.
That's why I have problems launching it. It just wants to smoke the tires off!
It's an auto and no I haven't changed the TC to a high stall speed. But that, with drag slicks an inch smaller in diameter would likely put it in the 12.3's or better.
I don't recall the rear gears, I'd have to look it up. Bleach? only on whites, not on tires!
I even love how it sounds at idle...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZ6PVYZoIRU
I was snickering there with ya jaak.
hehehehehe |
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| Kris |
And we were wondering why TBH jaak got rid of the Murano...
:2: :2: :2: :2: :2: |
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| Stu |
The 2+2 started in 1964. It was an option on the Catalina, then morphed into it's own model in 1965-1967.
Many guys put aftermarket dual quads on the 421, trying to emulate the look of the very rare 1962 and 1963 421 Super Duty engines. The 1963-1964 421 HO was a "street" version of the 1962 421 SD but with hydraulic lifters, an exhaust crossover in the intake manifold and tripower or a single Carter 4 bbl instead of the dual quads.
The stock McKellar cam and the 9770716 heads (sane heads as the best 1964 GTO 389) would give you a healthy lope at idle, but do not try to open all 6 barrels when she's cold. The Land Shark will just laugh at you and show you the union contract about warm up periods.
quote:
Originally posted by woossh
Stu, I remember Motor Trend, back in the day, Had a comparisom once on the fastest cars they tested. This was in the height of the muscle car era so there were some impressive numbers.
Of course the 427 cobra won overall, but the strange thing was the fastest car to 30mph was a '63 Pontiac2+2. The article went on to say when they picked the car up from the factory it had a very different sound than any pontiac they had ever driven.
They ran the test several times to verify their results. It, too, was a 4 speed car.
My brother (Older) bought a new '63 GP w/ 421 quad. We were going to Houston and passed a line of cars on the then two lane road. When we slowed at the next town it was making a terrible clattering noise. Main bearings were gone.
Repaired by the local dealer and a new motor a year later under warranty. That's when he found out his car wasn't new when he bought it. It had been returned as bad, before the lemon law. It was rebuilt and sold again to him as new by the stealer.
We have a local that runs a 2+2 at the drags now. I haven't seen the times, but it has a strange lope at idle at a red light. HUMM!
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| woossh |
Stu, NIIIIICCCCEEE!!! and BIg, too. I love those 8 lug wheels.
Right on the 65 2+2's. A friend had one after we got out of high school. It was a '65 now that you mentioned it. He had a new '63 Impala as seniors. |
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| jaak |
Stu, great story!!!
I can hear them now.... Just awesome... Gotta love your ride!
LOL, thanks mgthe3!
Yeah, Kris, I didn't choose it, it chose me... I drove it and had to have it. Two years later, and I still love it! I'm currently considering long tube headers for it, as that should put it up around 450 rwhp from what I'm seeing on others.
Ah the things I'd do if money wasn't a question. Like put an 800 hp engine in a Murano and take it drag racing. Yeah, I think the CVT would have to go. |
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| woossh |
Gimmick Rally story:
In a state far away, in a time past, it was the best of days.......
The SAAC club would have a rally about once a month. This particular time it was a Lime Run. A Lime Run is where a lead car goes out 20 minutes ahead of the other entrants and sets a route by going through an intersection and within 1/4 mile throws out a baggie filled with lime. Entrants are started in two minute intervals.
When the lime bag hits the road it bursts spreading lime on the tarmac. When car lights hit the lime it shines and the chase vehicle knows he is on the right route. If you do not see the lime you go back to the intersection and take another route until you find the right way.
This particular night was, as usual on County roads and in the swamps. The rally usually ends in a restaurant, park, or parking lot.
We finished, not first, at a Pizza Hut. There were about 20 vehicles participating and only five or six had made it to the Hut. There usually is a car every few minutes finishing, sometimes two hitting the parking lot like pit stops at NASCAR. This night there was a long, like an hour, break before any more cars finished.
When asked where they had been and where was everyone else they said, "We were on this narrow road and just crossed a one lane bridge and there were these guys looking like aliens in white suits and bee keeper type hoods. They had the road totally closed and we had to go back a different way and pick up the trail much later."
Turns out it was the HAZ-MAT team scraping up lime and treating it like it was radio-active. Which is what they thought. Someone had called in and said a truck had spilled radio active material on the road. How did we know? It was on the 10:00 news advising persons to be on the look out for a truck leaking a hazardous material.
Next time, the Shelby stopped by police and surrounded by 7 police cars in Dallas. |
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