Driving a 75 VW Rabbit, chrome yellow, headlights on, mid summer, about 0700 in a Sunday morning, coming into a town, four lanes plus two parking lanes with no cars ( and no people.)
As I approached a light at the speed limit of about 25 mph, I noted that an 18 wheeler was gaining on me at a much higher rate of speed. (Hmmm, driving all night, hypnotized by the road?) Looking ahead, I note that on the far left lane there is a big 4 wheel drive pickup with two people in it looking in my direction.
The light turns green soon enough so I don't have to slow down, but I note the pickup has not moved. Just as I get up to the intersection, the pickup, in the far left lane from me, suddenly makes a left turn to come right in front of me with the obvious intention of having me lock it up to miss him.
I go into an instant fury (low blood sugar?) and instead of locking my wheels, make a sharp turn right, and then a sharp left at the cross walk where I find myself staring right into our hero's windshield as I pass by in front of him.
If he had been thinking, he'd realized that I was going to get by before he got to the cross walk, but on 18yr old lightening reflex, locked her up. His Dollie, no seatbelts naturally, slammed up against the windshield, with a very pained expression. I got considerable satisfaction out of that. The came the Coup de Grace.
The 18 wheeler, coming alert finally, suddenly realized that two cars were playing chicken right in front of him and one had the lanes blocked so he has no place to go. So he locks it up and with the tires howling and the air horn screaming, sounded like the Midnight Express coming through River City. The sound bouncing of the tall buildings on each side just added to the ambience.
Our Hero, hearing Death coming down on him at a fast pace, (they had been so entranced watching me approach the intersection that I don't think they ever saw the truck) hit the accelerator and left snapped connecting rods and bent crankshafts all over the street. (Metaphor there)
The truck went by just ahowling while I was trying to figure out how to get off the sidewalk. The city had providentially provided wheelchair access off the street so I had no trouble getting onto the side walk, I was going too fast to make another turn. Luckily, the street had been paved so many times there was barely a curb so I could drive off.
I went my merry way, well satisfied with the outcome. But I can assure you I never pulled another stunt like that again.
As I approached a light at the speed limit of about 25 mph, I noted that an 18 wheeler was gaining on me at a much higher rate of speed. (Hmmm, driving all night, hypnotized by the road?) Looking ahead, I note that on the far left lane there is a big 4 wheel drive pickup with two people in it looking in my direction.
The light turns green soon enough so I don't have to slow down, but I note the pickup has not moved. Just as I get up to the intersection, the pickup, in the far left lane from me, suddenly makes a left turn to come right in front of me with the obvious intention of having me lock it up to miss him.
I go into an instant fury (low blood sugar?) and instead of locking my wheels, make a sharp turn right, and then a sharp left at the cross walk where I find myself staring right into our hero's windshield as I pass by in front of him.
If he had been thinking, he'd realized that I was going to get by before he got to the cross walk, but on 18yr old lightening reflex, locked her up. His Dollie, no seatbelts naturally, slammed up against the windshield, with a very pained expression. I got considerable satisfaction out of that. The came the Coup de Grace.
The 18 wheeler, coming alert finally, suddenly realized that two cars were playing chicken right in front of him and one had the lanes blocked so he has no place to go. So he locks it up and with the tires howling and the air horn screaming, sounded like the Midnight Express coming through River City. The sound bouncing of the tall buildings on each side just added to the ambience.
Our Hero, hearing Death coming down on him at a fast pace, (they had been so entranced watching me approach the intersection that I don't think they ever saw the truck) hit the accelerator and left snapped connecting rods and bent crankshafts all over the street. (Metaphor there)
The truck went by just ahowling while I was trying to figure out how to get off the sidewalk. The city had providentially provided wheelchair access off the street so I had no trouble getting onto the side walk, I was going too fast to make another turn. Luckily, the street had been paved so many times there was barely a curb so I could drive off.
I went my merry way, well satisfied with the outcome. But I can assure you I never pulled another stunt like that again.
