Bench-racing, a bit long, a bit OT, very amusing

[jmohn]

I haven't seen this posted for a very long time and came across it while doing some hard-drive house-keeping. Enjoy.

Jerry M
'78 SC

I borrowed my wife's Geo Metro last night. One liter of raw power, three cylinders of asphalt-tearing terror on thirteen-inch rims. It's stock, alright, nothing done to it, but it pushes the barely 2000 pounds of metro around with AUTHORITY. I'm always catching mopeds and 18-wheelers by surprise...

I was headed back from Baskin Robbins with my manly triple-latte cappuccino blast ("No Cinnamon, ma'am, I take it BLACK"), when I stopped at a streetlight. As the Metro throbbed its throaty idle around me, I sipped my bold beverage and wiped the white froth my stiff upper lip. I was minding my own business, but then I heard a rev from the next lane. I turned, made eye contact, then let my eyes trace over the competition. Ford Festiva-a late model, could be trouble. Low profile tires, curb feelers, and schoolbus-yellow paint. Yep, a hot rod, for sure. The howl of his motor snapped my reverie, and I looked back into the driver's eyes, nodded, then blipped my own throttle. As I tugged on my driving gloves and slipped on my sunglasses (gotta look cool to be fast, and I am *damn* cool, hence...), the night was split with the sound of seven screaming cylinders...

Then the light turned... I almost had him out of the hole, my three pounding cylinders thrusting me at least a millimeter back into my seat, as smoke pouring from my front right tire... my unlimited slip differential was letting me down! I saw in the corner of my eyes, a yellow snout gaining, and I heard the roar of his four cylinders. He slung by me, right front wheel juddering against the pavement, and he flashed me a smile as his .7 extra liters of motor stretched its legs. I kept my foot gamely in it, though, waiting for the CHECK ENGINE light to blink on in the one-gauge (no tachometer here!) instrument panel. I saw a glimpse of chrome under his bumper, and knew the ugly truth... He was running a custom exhaust-probably a 2-into-1 dual exhaust...maybe event cutouts! Damn his hot-rod soul! The old lady passing us on the crosswalk cast a dirty look in our boy-racer direction... Yet still I persisted, with my three pumping pistons singing a heady high-pitched song, wound fully out.

Though only a few handfuls of seconds had passed, we were nearing the crosswalk at the other side of the intersection, and I heard the note of his engine change as he made his shift to second, and I saw his grin in his rearview mirror fade as he missed the shift! I rocketed by, shifting, and nursed the clutch gently in to keep from bogging, keeping my motor spinning hot and pulling me ahead, now trailing a cloud of stinking clutch smoke. Not ready to give up so easily, he left his foot in it, revving, and I heard one wheel *almost* chirp as he finally found second and dropped the clutch. We careened over the crosswalk, now going at least 15 miles per hour. A bicyclist passed us, but intent on the race as we were, neither of us batted an eye.

He pulled slowly abreast of me, and neck and neck, we made the shift to third, the scream of motors deafening all pedestrians within a five foot circle. He nosed ahead as we passed 30 miles an hour, then eased in front of me, taunting, as we shifted into fourth. I was staring up the dual 6" chrome tips of his exhaust, snarling, my cappuccino forgotten, as he lifted a little to take the next corner.

I saw my opportunity, and counting on the innate agility of my trusty steed, I pulled wide into the number two lane and kept my foot buried in carpet. Slowly, I inched around him, feeling my Metro roll slowly to the left as I came abreast in the midst of this gradual sweeping turn. I felt the Geo ease onto its suspension stops, and felt the right rear wheel slowly leave the ground - no matter, though, because my drive wheels, up front, were pulling me through the corner, and around the Festiva ...

The Ford driver beat his wheel in rage as my wife's car eased past him on the outside, my P165/55R13's screaming in protest, as we raced to the next light. We coasted down, neck-and neck, to the red light. I tightened my driving gloves, ready for another round, when this WIMP in the next car meekly flipped his turn signal and made a right. Chevy (Suzuki) superiority reigns!!! I drove off sipping my masculine drink, awash in my sheer virility, looking for other unwitting targets.... Perhaps a Yugo, or maybe even a Volkswagen Van!

[jpnovak]

LOL. That made my morning. Keep the stories coming.

[masraum]

Hmm, sounds like some of my old conquests. Just watch out for the '76 Chevette with 52hp.

[layzee]

lmao, very funny.

[Paul Thomas]

I just spit coffee all over my monitor.

Paul

[Dave Ploss]

Made my day...now back to Lawyers and OSHA.

Dave

[trader220]

Anytime you wanna go a few rounds with my VW Bus you let me know.... I'll meet you anytime anyplace, just no hills.

[724doorE]

At 9:56 PM and after 5 Jack and DP's, that rules as nothing else can!!!!

It reminds me of racing sugar cane trucks in south Florida in my old then stock Triumph Spitfire and sometimes winning!!!!!

[MotoSook]

I loved the story so much I forwarded it to a friend who had a Metro...here's what he sent to me:

http://www.geometro.republika.pl/indexus.htm

That is not him, but that kid sure loves his Metro.

[david c.]

The closest drag race I was ever in was between close friends back in high school. I was riding shotgun in the 84 Buick "Skylard" (four door, four-cylinder, FWD P.O.S.) and my buddies were running a completely unmodified 1989 Volvo 240 station wagon. Each car had well over 150k on their clocks.

From the greenlight the cars were absolutely neck and neck. There was no noticeable difference in power, speed or acceleration for about a mile or so. It was hysterical. Both cars were automatics and neither driver lifted off the gas. I don't recall going over 75mph.

[dtfastbear]

Next time you borrow that car, I want to hear the full story of your NEXT challenge!

Excellent writing. Reading this made my day...

Dean

[724doorE]

How about a 9 year bump. I as looking through some of my old posts and this popped up. it was funny to me then, and somebody might get a kick out of it now.

[724doorE]

I'll bump this again as it is one of the funniest stories I have ever seen...

[Porsche 2]

great imagination and writing skills, and very funny, thanks.

[gptom]

my 68 beetle vs hemi roadrunner...I had him through 1st gear

[ChrisHoover]

No doubt ‘68 bug is quickest for the first 50’ or so.