9/8/18 E-town Cruise In

only cycle till about 12:00

My stand

This is Barry's car, like my 400 horse racecar

Barry's car again

 Barry and his 1962 Pontiac. I worked with him at Philips surveillance cameras. 

Barry bought this new in 1962

 My stand

Barry's 1962 Pontiac again

I will take pic of the pics of my race car and send to you for story on my 1962 Pontiac I had

Not Me, MOM!!

Bob the mechanic's Mom, before she died told me she always worried about Bob when he was with me. She said you would try most anything with a motorcycle, and I knew darn well Bob would follow you.

Bob and I liked to ride hard and fast.18, or 19 years old, nothing can happen to you. Whenever we stopped to shoot the bull that is what we said. Another saying was, did you see so and so was on the front page, (local youth fails to negotiate curve). Again. We rode around the loop route, a favorite stopping place was at the edge of the Merit Gas Station at the alley that was the loop route's bottom connector.

The loop was one block wide. We would run fast and hit the back brake and slide up to the curve. Unfortunately when I locked up my back wheel, it was on the smashed coke can that some car flattened. My bike spun wildly, I don't know why I did not dump, my heart was pumping about 300 beats per minute. When I hit the curb with my wheel sideways, my heart stopped for 2 seconds. I managed to hold the bike upright for some reason.

The guys all yelled, and slapped me on the back yelling, Hoss, some guys drive car as good as you, but no one on a bike comes close. Thank you GOD! The side road had an alley splitting the block in half. A stop sign was there, the cops watched for us not stopping, so we all waited 10 seconds when we stopped. Make the MAN mad!

One night Kathy was with me on the bike. I had a 4 foot sissy bar, a bar behind the seat so the passenger does not fall off backward. I tell everyone lean back on the bar so they are leaning with the bike. New people will lean opposite the bike leaning. That can dump you.

I met Kathy one Sunday afternoon walking the loop with her sister Jane. I told them both to jump on my bike, we rode to the outside of town, I told them I be back with my car. I knew where Lancaster meets Manheim Township the cops hang out. Three on a bike is illegal! The three of us rode rest of the day in my car.

Sometime later that night Jane went home. I went home and got  the bike again. Later that summer Kathy was on my bike again. She always leaned on the sissy bar. I stopped at the stop sign at the alley, waited my 10 seconds, and popped a 3' wheelie taking off. I heard a snap, the tubing of the sissy bar broke, but hung on like a hinge. Kathy slid down the sissy bar like a ramp. Luckily the guy behind us saw her fall and did not run over her. That was 50 years ago. TIME FLIES!

Bob and I ran the loop one more time and decided to run up route 501 for a ride. Bob followed me on his bike. We go through Lititz, and the road is straight for about 4 miles. There is a long sweeping curve to the right. There was a tractor trailer in front of us. I swung wide to pass, yes over the yellow line, a car was approaching in the oncoming lane. I thought we could make it. Wrong, there was enough room as the trucker saw us in his mirror and pulled over to give us room.

The driver looked familiar. It was my Mom and Dad. What are  the chances of that? When  we got home my Dad was at the kitchen table drinking a coffee. When he saw me and Bob coming in he got up and went in the room. Mom said, some young punks on motorcycles ran us off the road, you and Bob don't drive like that do you. We both said, NO MOM!!

Dad knew it was us, he did not want Mom to see him laugh at us! Mom always said I get my daredevil ways from "Dadz". That was her name for Lloyd Caldwell!

Kathy and Barb tell me to take my pants off!

NO it was not what you think! Kathy waited outside her parents house near one of the main cross roads of the Loop Route, for me to stop and pick her up on my bike most nights.  Across the street was Speed's sub shop, a main hangout for Looper's! Kathy liked the excitement of riding with me. I did a lot of wheelies.

One time I was in my car and saw a buddy wheeling like I did. Wheelies are all balance. On my Honda 90, I could wheelie for a whole block. My buddy was beside me, and stood the front wheel about three feet off the road. He looked over at me for the thumbs up. I gave it to him, we both laughed. I looked front, the light changed to red. I hit the brakes.

He kept watching Kathy and me. Yes, his front wheel hit the trunk lid of the stopped car. I was pointing front, but he did not stop. He fell off the bike, he stood up, I yelled, "You OK?" He put the thumbs up this time. Kathy and I had a good laugh.

 Another night I picked Kathy up on my bike. We made about 12 runs of the loop. Out to McDonalds several times to ride thru the Golden Arches, then back to town. We were headed on the northbound leg of the loop. Turned left in the alley. Stopped at stop sign 10 seconds where sissy bar broke and Kathy slid down to road.

Turning left at south bound leg of loop there was a left hand road coming up with a car stopped at the stop sign. In 1966, no turn signals on bikes yet. I was in left lane, with my left arm giving my signal and started my turn. The driver was not looking at us. He started pulling out.

Someone in the car yelled. All I could do while leaning over for my turn was to hit the rear brake hard enough to slide the back wheel out of the path of the turning car. We went down. I told Kathy when she started riding with me, when we go down, on the ground side put your foot down, and on the side that's in the air, jerk your leg up high so it does not get hung up on the bike. With the back wheel sliding Kathy listened, good girl, she just stepped off standing up.

Me on the other hand, because I saved us hitting the car bumper by holding my right foot on the rear brake I was caught in the parts of the bike that were sticking out. My left leg was caught between the bike and the road. My left knee and ankle were bleeding a lot. We got up and hopped on my bike.

The idiot took off. Kathy said, "My sister lives close, we will go there and patch you up".

Barb was in the kitchen, Kathy ran in first to get the first aid kit and tell Barb what happened. This was first time I met her sister Barb and husband Butch. Kathy told them I was an intense biker! The girls directed me into the living room. Barb and Kathy yelled to me, "Take your pants off!"

Butch laughed, "ALL RIGHT!!" It took a lot of patching, but finally the bleeding stopped. Yes, it was my left knee, the one I would damage bad in another bout with the road, again not my fault, and Titanium knee installed. So much for meeting Kathy's family. When I met Kathy's mom and sister Jane, things were very calm!!

Bi-Polar Biker

Yes, I am Bi-Polar, I discovered I was after my surprise 50th birthday party. Yes, Mary got me good. I had no inkling she planned my party. People kept appearing, I was happily surprised! Mary is terrific at keeping a secret, I am not. After I picked my lower jaw off the floor and put it back on my face we had a really great day.

After everyone left, I went on my computer to unwind. I love hearse's, I always wanted to get one. No I am not fascinated by death. Just like the looks of a death coach. I look at hearse cars a lot. I was looking at death coach clubs. When up popped a site that asked, are you fascinated with Death. I answered no, I just like the vehicles. It said, take this questionnaire. I did. When finished it said you are Bi-Polar, see a professional for diagnosis. I talked it over with Mary. She made an appointment for me.

The shrink said after tests, yes I am. He gave me pills. The horror started. I saw him every 2 weeks. Some pills did nothing. Some made me so sleepy I could hardly stay awake even at work. Finally after several times he found the right mixture that started to help my moods. He said Bi-Polar means you swing from very great highs to terrible lows! Most people swing from high to low every couple minutes. I swing from second to second. I am checked about every 6 to ten years now. If Mary feels my medicine is working I stay at this level. In twenty years I am on my second batch of pills. So far so good.

When high I can do anything, I am smarter than anyone. When low, I am nothing, everyone is better than I am! When I'm down is when thoughts of suicide happened in me. I grew up a risk taker. I am an adrenaline junkie. The dose of adrenaline makes me higher that anything else I tried. Booze, caffeine, pain pills or diet pills I got from Doctors. The diet pills made sleep unnecessary, I could stay awake 3 or 4 24 hour periods. The Doc would not give me any more pills when I used 3 months worth in 4 weeks.

Working all day, working on the race bike, and race car was great when I did not waste time sleeping. Bob my mechanic spent a lot of nights by my side too. He was putting the bike transmission together one morning about 3 AM, he was so tired he forgot to put the needle bearings in third gear. When I raced the next day, when I hit third gear about 60 MPH the trans locked up and threw me off.

He & his wife stop in every summer, he mentions it and we both laugh. Luckily we got over that terrible time. Bob worked at the local cycle shop. The head mechanic raced too. Bob picked his brain about how to get more horsepower. Then he would put the improvements in my bike. A Barnett racing clutch, washers in the screws holding the pressure plate against the clutch disk, less slippage. Changing the activate clips on the needle valves richer. More Fuel=More Horsepower!

I was getting about 20% more power. About 80% less clutch slippage. We adjusted the valves every 500 miles, and change the oil every 500 miles too. No filter, keeps oil clean, no deposits of gunk. Castrol oil, better lubrication, better performance.

I weighed 200 pounds, Kathy rode with me a lot. I raced with her on back, outside town. Other bikes the same size engine, single rider, we would pull away from them. At the bike shop the manager Lyle asked, "How is your bike so fast?"

I learned to keep secrets! I kept winning.

Maingy Mutssss !

We lived in a double wide trailer on a cement block basement for 10 years. It had alunium siding, and a shingle roof. But still built cheap. The daughter across the street,  in her early twenties never said anything when I said hi. I figured she though she was better than we were. Our dog barked a lot when anyone across the street was outside. One night she yelled, shut up you Maingy Mutt, I just stared at her.  This was dog number one we had. We were cruel to him, we found out later. We kept him outside in a doghouse I built and insulated. I even put on a clear plastic flap so he was out of the wind. We had him about 2 years. The boy other side house next door was a little retarded. At birth water on the brain. He would let our dog loose, then catch it and bring it back. I would give him a couple dollars, till I saw him letting the dog loose. I went out front just in time to see a cars tire wack the dog's head. He died instantly. So much for dog number one.

We build our dream house with a 10 acre woods 60 feet from our back door. The farmer sold cornfield acerage for houses, and put an incasement on the woods so it cannot be developed. We love it here, going on 33 years. Mary wanted another dog after Jeffrey was born. I hesitated. She says don't you want your son to have a dog. Of course I gave in. Happy Wife, Happy Life!!

Another insulated dog house with a flap to keep the wind out. Like the other dog, when we let it run it went wild. We had trouble with the dog biting anyone who came over to it. We told everyone stay away from dog. That just made the dog madder. Finally we had to put the dog down, we could not control it. In its third year was its last.

Now I realize it was my fault. If you have a pet, it must be played with, not chained away from the house and people. The two Mutts we have now are lucky, they are in the house, sleep with me, and are spoiled rotten. Like me they eat too much. Us three are over weight. A sign of easy living.

Yes, I love these dogs, even though the Shitzu has a lot of accidents. He bit Mary's finger when she was trying to get aluminum foil out of  his mouth. This week he bit me too. Both really just a nip. I have a hassock beside the couch and a book shelf. We cannot see in, it is his man cave. When not sleeping on my legs. I have restless leg syndrome, they like the movement.

I told Mary, tomorrow we must move his man cave and find his stash of aluminum foil. Mary & I both eat Klondike bars, me Reese's Peanut Butter cup, and Mary Klondike Heath ice cream bars. I always make a ball from my foil backed paper. Mary puts hers in the trash flat. Of course Mary's not at fault for not rolling her wrapper in a ball, it is my FAULT. See line above again, Happy Wife, Happy Life.

It is close to 47 years since we said I DO! It took a long time, but I learned the lesson well! SEE above a for 3rd time!! HW, HL

Poisoning Sophie!

Yes, I did that to the second love of my life. Mary got me Sophie in July. She was 10 months old when we got her. Mary put a bow on Sophie, with a note that read, For Bunny, a young female to sleep with! Yes, after 45 years, Mary absorbed my weird sense of humor.

When we first got married, Mary was delivering babies at the hospital. The older Nurses with no small children worked so the mothers with young children could be home to open the presents from Santa. Once our kids were in their teens it was Mary's turn to work. For 46 years she worked every other weekend.

Every morning I take the medicines that have kept me alive. Both sides of my families have a lot of bad things passed onto us. High blood pressure, hardening of the arteries and colon cancer, just to name a few. I think that is why I married a nurse, I did not do a good job of taking care of my health, I needed a good woman to keep me in line. Yes, Mary is really good at keeping me healthy; and in line!!

Mary gets home about 6 am. I got up at 5 am when Mary worked nights. I wanted to be sure she got home safe. There are several hills in the 4 mile drive home, and their are no guardrails. If someone slides off the road from ice, the vehicle will roll. Yes, I am an OLD Knight in RUSTY Armor.

Sophie got used to going out at 5 am every morning, whether Mary was working or not. When Sophie heard the garage door going up, she would go nuts. She still does, to this day. She knows MOM is home. She waits at the door to the garage till I get there and open it. She shoots down the 5 steps, and around to Mary's open door for her head rub, now knowing Mom is home safe.

So, it's Christmas morning. Mary and Sophie come in the kitchen. I am having coffee, and something for breakfast. I grab my pillbox, with day and AM or PM stamped on the flap. Just what us old fogies need. I pour the pills into my right hand and get ready to pop them in my mouth. Well, when the kids were little, she had me put my pills in my mouth one at a time. When our youngest child was in high school, I started popping the whole amount at once.

This time, guess what? Three pills missed my open mouth and I heard them hit the wood floor. Sophie was right there and scooped them up. The others went down my throat, so we had no way of knowing what Sophie had ingested. Was I killing my best friend? (Best friend after Mary, of course.)

I panicked, told Mary I would call the animal hospital near the train station. I got on the computer quickly, got the number and punched it in. Mary said, "Settle down, even if she got your blood pressure or Bi-Polar pills, it takes time for them to dissolve".

The hospital answered, I told them how  I stupidly took my pills. I told her what the pills were. She paused, saw the Doctor, he said give her 2 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide, spread some newspaper for her to vomit on so you can see what went down.

I put Sophie on the enclosed porch on newspapers. I held her mouth open and Mary poured the hydrogen peroxide down her throat. About 30 seconds later she started to heave. She threw up twice, bringing up her complete bowl of dog food that she'd had about 10 minutes before Mom got home.

I called the hospital saying, "Thanks, how much do I owe you?" She said no charge, and the Doc said to tell you hydrogen peroxide is OK for making young kids vomit, too. Then she asked if I found the pills. I said no, because she had a bowl full of dog food in her belly, I did not feel like running my fingers through it.

YES, now I put one pill in my mouth at a time again. Mary said take your pills over the sink and put  the stopper in, then you will find ones that miss your BIG mouth! I still find it hard to believe Mary was quiet and shy before she met me. Couldn't be that she changed because of ME????

Christmas morning was Happy after all.

Corvette Nomad Wagon!

Read about the Corvette Nomad, a combination sports car and station wagon that never made it into production. The prototype has been lost to the dust and rust of time, but this custom reproduction is nearly identical.

They Torture our Puppies.

I told Mary I wanted a dog to be my service dog so we can visit the Lebanon VA Hospital for my new charity. Our son Jeff has a Beagle, JuneBug. I said I wanted a female Beagle. I heard females listened better than the male dogs. Like humans, female animals cause less trouble? RIGHT??

Mary told Kyra our first grandchild. She scanned several sites for rescue digs. Kyra gave Mary the dog's info and phone number. $150.00 for 8 month old boarder collie-beagle. Mary arranged a pickup, they lived about 150 miles away. Then told me.

We met them half way, and left that coming saturday. We got a cage, one months worth of food, and pest treatments, stainless dog dish, and her favorite blanket in the cage with removable water tight bottom. We made the spot they said, found them, they had a 1 year old and 3 year old boys. Just said they cannot keep the dog. The little guys hugged their dog goodbye.

We left. I said in blog before I wanted to name my dog Bossie after dog I grew up with. Mary said it will confuse the dog. Keep her name, getting used to new home hard enough. Now Sophie was ours. We would stop at burger joint to get lunch. About 1 miles from trade off spot, Sophie started crying. Mary said stop, and got in middle seat, Sophie in cage where 3rd seats folded down. Mary put her hand on the cage.Sophie stopped crying.

Mary grew up on farm, used to animals. We made it home. I took Sophie out on leash to relieve herself. She was fixed, and all shots done. Mary said how about getting underground fence. I called, most a little over $1,000.

We have a half acre yard. Joe the dog guy said he would stop out. 2 days later he was there. I asked him about dog trainers, he gave me the named of a few. He asked how much training? I said my Charity is to stop PTSD Suicide in Veterans and First Responders. He said he was a Veteran, and gave us a Great big discount. He liked the idea that Sophie would visit the Lebanon VA Hospital.

Mary got me a training book at a yard sale. I tried, not much progress. Mary and I both 70 years young, fixed income. We will get the money for Sophie to be my Service dog YET!

One year later, a friend of Jeff has a friend with a Shitzu dog, cannot keep it. She has 4 kids, and taking her sisters kids, trouble getting help. Gabby asked if we want another dog. Mary said tell them to stop in, we see how they get along. Buddy came for a visit.

He can stand under Sophie and not touch her stomach. We said yes, she gave 2 bags of food, toys, stainless food bowl, and favorite blanket. They stayed about 2 hours. She kept calling him Buddy! When they were walking out the door, Jen says, oh by the way, his name is Buddy Holly! I am a 50's and 60's Rock and Roll guy. Mary a country Gal.

Just like Donnie and Marie. Did you know Marie not her real name. I don't remember what her first name is, but they said it would not sound as good as Donny and Marie. Yes, worthless things I remember. Kids names, birthdays, anything important I get wrong.

When I was single on my sun visor above the dash of my car I fastened a tablet and pencil. When I was on a date I wrote the girls name so I would get it right. My friend's girlfriend gave me the idea. She got me a blind date with her friend, the girl said I kept getting her name wrong.

Now the TORTURE! We live on a cul-de-sac. Five houses. We are at the circle. straight ahead of the road coming in. Everyone spins around the circle to go out, or in. Mary and I are sitting at the breakfast bar, every morning coffee, Mary cereal, me PB&J or Mary makes omlettes. Mary says we have Sophie  24 hours, and she did not make a peep yet. YES 20 seconds later it started, and has not stopped yet. BARK!!BARK!!

After Joe installed the dog fence, we started letting her out the front door. Joe followed the border of our yard, about 2 feet before the line. Sophie was outside the second day of learning how far she can go. The Fed-Ex driver stopped out front at our driveway. Sophie ran over. As he came up our driveway, he reached in his pocket, gave Sophie a dog bone. He always rubbed her head. She was ecstatic.

The recycle truck guys asked why she carries on when they stop. I told them, now they give biscuits too. so do trash guys. Trash guy, long hair, full beard, every day rubs Sophie's head! The UPS guy was next, gave Sophie a biscuit when they deliver to us. Now any sound from out front, Sophie and Buddy Holly go nuts.

We build a Cape Cod house 34 years ago. Low, big windows in front. Sophie can stand and see out the front windows. As you come in the door, Mary has a lazy boy chair right by the door jam, with a 3' by 3' coffee table right at the window. She likes to set at night and read  paperback books. The first night after getting the table, she has a green cover for the table, and a table light on the table for reading at night.

Of course, Buddy Holly uses the table so he can watch with Sophie for the Biscuit Guys! The first night Mary left a stack of paperback books and a candle in a glass jar, on the middle of the table, Buddy Holly's table, how could you do that Mom?? When Mary came down the steps, her books, and candle were on the floor. Now Mary is careful not to let anything but the table light on HIS lookout stand.

The final nail in my coffin to stop both dogs from going nuts every time a noise is out front!! The Fed-EX guy went past our road to the other circle. The hounds were outside going crazy. The driver saw them in the front yard, I waited by the door to let them in. Both dogs we don't leave out long in the cold or hot. This was July, very hot. I watched as the driver came back, turned down out road, something for us? He stopped at our driveway, stood up, threw Sophie a biscuit, then the same for Buddy. Sat down and drove off. One biscuit thrower told me they always throw the female a biscuit first. Her DNA set up to get food for babies. First time they throw, female always fights for food.

Yes, Sophie and Buddy sleep with me on a lazy-boy couch, I can push the button and recline. I cannot sleep unless my shoulders higher than my body. 

I will try to find my pics of our two dog night. In old West, if cold you sleep with one dog. If very cold night, you sleep with two dogs. If really frigid, you sleep, with a Three Dog Night. Yes, that is how the rock group got its name. Yes, I remember everything unimportant!!

KISSES

It is 9 am Friday morning. two days before we leave for Ocean City, Maryland. Our daughter, son-in-law and their 3 kids, Mary & me. Laura has a time share we use every year. I would not have joined, but now I realize it is a good deal. Yes, I burn easily. That is another story. And yes, Bob was involved. And yes it was terrible.

I took a break to greet Mary, she sleeps upstairs because before she retired 8 months ago she worked 9 pm to 7 am, sleeping days. I sleep downstairs.

We have a cape cod. When we built 35 years ago I wanted a bi-level. Mary in her wisdom said cape cod. We both have arthritis then, she said with age it gets worse. She has worked every other weekend all her life. 

We make sure we kiss on the lips every day. We read years ago, couples that kiss on the lips everyday live longer. And we want to upset the undertaker by just not dying!! Mary visits her sister 4 days at a time. every 4 or 5 weeks.That is the only time we don't kiss everyday. Her husband died 4 years ago, Mary started staying over because her sister really missed her husband. Helping people gives you credit for that life extending kiss.

When you are young, you hurry home to make love. At 70, you hurry home, but now it is to take a nap first, then make love!! So kiss every day!!

When I lost my license for six months, the girl that rode bike with me a lot was Kathy, she was going with Mike. His dad's office cleaning company was where he and his brother worked second shift weeknights. When I finally met Mike he said to Kathy, "What do you do nights while I work?" She told him, "I ride around with Randy". People though she and I were hooked up. NO, I respected another man's lady. 

Mike lost his license, and his full size 1964 Ford convertible sat. When I lost my license, Mike let Kathy drive his car. She would pick me up. When she rode with me on the bike, she would hug me and lay her head on my shoulder. I figured she  did not get attention from a man and needed it. 

Because I started getting served at bars and beer distributors when I was 18, I was the beer man to everyone underage.  Saturdays Mike was off, so Kathy picked me up as usual, with Mike. We would get a case of cold beer and a few more friends. This time we stopped across from the sub shop, Speeds. I was drunk, so I stayed in the car. Everyone else went in to eat. 

When they came out I was hugging a telephone pole. I could not stand up without support. Mike and the other guys said to me, "Let's go, we are all under age for beer". I put my arms around the pole and I said until Kathy kissed me I would stay here. The guys grabbed my legs and tried to pull my arms off the pole. It was like in the movies, I was just about horizontal, three guys pulling my legs. Mike says, "Kathy for Pete's sake kiss him so we can leave before the cops came". I finally got that kiss from Kathy I dreamed about. Too bad I was too drunk to remember how it felt.

We kissed and hugged our kids when they were young. Our parents never did that. We kissed and hugged our grand kids too. We hug kids and grand kids holidays now. The 7 year old grandson for years wiped off any kisses. His mom just rolls her eyes.

When Jeff calls from California, when we both say goodbye we say, "Love you". Our  parents were not taught to hug and kiss. That is a shame! 

We hug friends, too. Bob and his new wife Paula hug us every summer when they stop in. Dave my cycle buddy since 1964, we hug. Linda our waitress at The Udder Choice near Ephrata, we hug. Dave and I meet every couple weeks for breakfast. Yes, Linda, the same Linda that told me to be careful who I call Gorgeous in a previous page.  LOL Linda's picture hundreds of pages back. Yes this blog is now close to 1,000 pages. 

Yes, Mary and Marcy, my Computer Queen, both say I talk too much! Both glad I have this blog. I am not bothering them as much now that I write what I feel. 

Mary is at the store. When she comes back I must give her my dog voice, "Mom! Dad's pulling my tail! Mom dad's pulling my ears! Mom dad's getting my snooter!" Mary never tires hearing that! 

If you do not hear from me in one or two days check and make sure Mary did not choke me, or if I am too stiff to climb down from the kids play house because Mary  made me sleep in there again. Yes, Pics of playhouse on this blog.

Send Mary a sympathy card, she going on 47 years putting with me. She was timid and shy when we got married. NOT NOW!!!!

Cook

Cook was one of the girls that I helped. She was 5'4", about 110 lbs. She was hurt by a lot of guys. Sometimes I had 5 or 6 girls riding around with me. I fed them, gave them money when they needed it. Cook would turn out to be my favorite when I was looking to race!

There were 3 girls beside me, and 4 in back. The front seat was wide, but with the shifter I had room beside me for one leg. Cook was beside me, and I said "Straddle the shifter". My Hearst shifter was a short throw spring loaded shifter. Under the dash I installed a small light to light up the pedals on the floor. Different people drove for me, and some who were not used to stick liked the light at night. I had a tachometer on the steering column that lit up your face like in the movies.

Cook had just turned 16 and did not have a driver's permit yet. She asked me to teach her how to drive stick, I said yes. I told her, "Put your hand on the T handle". It had finger ridges on the knob so your hand would not slip off. I went out in the country, a dark straight road.

I had my slicks on, extra wide, soft gummy compound for traction. I stopped. and said, "You shift, I'll help you". I told the girls in the back, "Sit back! You cannot believe the thrust." The special tires grab like they are coated with glue. The racing shocks, 50/50 out back instead of going down, extend up to push the axle down when you first move, and give the tires traction. The front  shocks 90/10 push the front end up when you start, so the weight of the whole car puts pressure on the rear tires.

I had practiced a lot to find the best way to launch. I pushed the gas pedal, watched the tach, keeping engine RPMs between 3,000 and 3500 RPM. The 2 carbs front and back are the big thirsty ones. You set the linkage when they kick in. You run on the middle carb, and as you push the linkage you hit a spot where you must push harder. The front carb kicks in next. Then the back carb kicks in. The back carb has a hole to the intake that you can pass silver dollars thru, I was told. I adjusted it so at 3500 RPMs all three kick in.

If you see a muscle car driving slow, he probably has 3-2's or 2-4's When I let out the clutch the front end jumped up, the three two barrel over-sized carburetors were spitting fuel and air as fast as they could. In about 2 seconds the tach was at 6,000, I just pushed the clutch pedal about 2 inches in and yanked the shifter straight back. About 4 seconds later we were at 6,ooo RPMs again. I was in second gear. two more to go. It took about 4 seconds to hit 6,000 RPMs and touched the clutch again we pushed forward and to the right we were in third. This the longest gear to wind out. At 6,000 RPMs again we pulled straight back, my foot touching the clutch again.4th gear, pedal to the medal. Less than 13 seconds, 1/4 mile. Zero to 120 mph goes quick.

The girls in the back were screaming. There were only 3 seat belts out back, so none of them strapped in. And all four hung on the back of the front seat. Guess where they were?

The only thing that comes close to that feeling, for me was a twin prop 8 passenger plane. I worked 8 years for a guy that flew me around to fix things at his 13 companies. We sat on the strip, brakes on full. When he released the brakes, that feeling returned.

I know Cook was impressed, she was breathing hard. She and I practiced about 4 evenings till she was confident shifting. Everyone on the loop knew my Pontiac was 4 on the floor. Cook would wait for me at the sub shop near her parents apartment. We would cruise the loop. She would scrunch down so you could not see her head. I painted the side of the small light bulb in my tach so no light went toward Cook. She rode around with me for 4 or 5 months. She got real good at shifting.

I would drop Cook off at the sub shop with money to eat from me. Then I would stop at the places we could park and talk. The guys came over to my Pontiac. They looked under the hood, under the body, shift the trans and ask, how are you shifting with both hands on top of the steering wheel??

Cook and I never, ever told! After a couple months Cook stopped showing up. I asked several girls, they said they didn't know where she was.

I saw her one more time. I was working at the gas station across from the Golden Arches of McDonalds. Her husband asked to use the lift. This was about 4 years since she had stopped waiting for me. I remembered him from years before, so I said, "Sure". Cook was standing outside  the garage door. I walked up to her, she put her finger to her lips and whispered, "He's very jealous!!" She was very pregnant. I hope she had a good life.