krysh
Guildarist in the mod squad
Our backyard this morning.
Yeah, 9" snowpocolypse on Monday. I have a stick shift Subaru and a five minute commute, so I don't expect any problems getting there.
Exactly 50 years ago--about 6 months before we were married.
Big Bear, my first experience driving in snow and ice. Coming around a bend, I saw cars off the side of the road, and people frantically waving.
As I hit the patch of black ice and felt my Rambler go into the skid: the standard TIME SLOWS DOWN EFFECT...
"Hmm...now let's see...what did they say in Driver's Ed...? Turn into the skid? What the hell does that mean? Brakes? No brakes?"
My friends in the back seat were screaming, which really helped a lot--I resisted the temptation to brake, took my foot off the accelerator, and steered
in the direction of my sliding back wheels--all this while I was still trying to remember what I'd been told. We breezed around all the vehicles
who weren't so lucky. Later, my friend in the back seat who'd grown up in the Ozarks complemented me on my driving.
I told him it was merely instinct that had cut in. Later that day when we went back down the mountain the ice had melted, so I had no need of a
repeat performance...
Worst car I ever had. That's why I've driven only Studebakers for 35 years. The thing would crap out in the worst possible situations--back in 1970 at 5:00 P.M. rush hour traffic it died on the on ramp on the 405 in Westwood...finally a CHP officer helped me push to the side on the ramp and said:Extra points for that story because... Rambler!
Most young drivers today will never know the sheer joy of doing donuts and skid tests in an empty snow covered parking lot with rear wheel drive. And having the local cops watch and just shake their heads while laughing and yelling “just don’t hit the pole...”
Please, if you know any teens just starting to drive, check out Tire Rack Street Survival courses. Awesome day of training that is fun, informative and real world practical. Two of my daughters have taken it and it has probably saved their lives. Cannot say enough good things about this day long course.Good points. The local Sheriff's office once a year offers a 2-day training for teen drivers, teaching them some of the things the deputies themselves have to learn. I wish I was a teenager so I could go. The driving course would be fun as well as educational. The kids who were interviewed after the course said it had improved their driving - they had to go in the vehicle they generally drive - as well as heightened their awareness of driving safety in general. Maybe they can go home and teach their folks so there will be fewer sirens on rainy days.
Worst car I ever had. That's why I've driven only Studebakers for 35 years. The thing would crap out in the worst possible situations--back in 1970 at 5:00 P.M. rush hour traffic it died on the on ramp on the 405 in Westwood...finally a CHP officer helped me push to the side on the ramp and said:
"You know what your problem is?"
"Yeah, it's a Rambler..."
"That's what I was going to say!"
"That's what I KNEW you were going to say...".
Back in '72 my father bought an AMC Hornet which was a good car. My wife and I drove it to Austin that winter to visit a friend. On the way back after spending the night in Roswell N.M. it wouldn't start. Vicki asked me why I was looking for a big screwdriver: "In it's heart it's still a Rambler!"Family and I got about 14 years out of ours. Would have gotten more except a dishonest mechanic decided to disconnect a sensor instead of diagnosing and/or fixing the problem.