In my experience, those of us who have driven long enough invariably have at least one "car story" we've recounted to others more than a few times. The story might involve breaking down somewhere far away from help, or perhaps an accident or almost accident we once had, a long distance driven in one stretch, or something else. I don't recall ever meeting anyone who doesn't have at least one story of this type. What is yours?
Because my most recounted car story happened long ago - and stretches the bounds of plausibility - I recently decided it's time to publicly get it out there while a few witnesses who were with me that night are still alive. Soon after publishing this post, I plan to contact two of those witnesses so either or both can provide corroboration for my car story, if need be. Both are high school friends; one I still speak to occasionally. The other is a Facebook friend who reads my blog on those infrequent occasions when I put a post on my Facebook wall. I'm not sure if the third passenger in my Father's Dodge from that night is still alive, although I did see him at my 50th high school reunion several years ago and we talked about our long-ago misadventure that night. Ready?
Heading home to New Jersey after a night in Staten Island, my Father's Dodge - which had a push-button gear shift on the dash - stalled, either while we crossed the Goethals Bridge or very soon after. I'll depend on one of my witnesses to help me recall that detail. After getting the car started, I tried to put it in drive. No luck. I think I recall one of my not-real-sober passengers asking me to try reverse. Being under twenty years old at the time, this seemed like a logical suggestion. Reverse worked. What to do? Yes, yours truly drove backwards, perhaps over the last part of the Goethals Bridge but definitely through the streets of Elizabeth, N.J. until spotted by an incredulous policeman near a traffic circle. Because this car story would make most people question my honesty and my sanity, I'll stop there without claiming to remember approximately how far I drove backwards in a car containing four people. Why push my luck? I'm reasonably confident not many people can top this car story, at least with respect to sheer stupidity.
I was one of those passengers. Paid the Goethals toll from back seat in reverse!
ReplyDeleteHey Ed; Glad you weighed in here with corroboration even before I had a chance to contact you as I said I would in the post. For any reader who doubted my car story, there you have it. Proof of life as they say.
DeleteThat is definitely a good one. Can't top it. My husband and I were driving North on the GSP on a hot June day headed to Connecticut. Someone passed us on the left and yelled that there was smoke coming out of the car. Luckily we pulled over and sure enough there was not only smoke but flames. We got most of our stuff out of the car quickly before it exploded. Quite scary. Yes, everyone has a car story.
ReplyDeleteInes; Thanks for the comment. Your car story is indeed a scary one. Fortunate that other driver alerted you to the smoke.
DeleteGood morning, Pat. So many driving stories come to mind ... 1) The way my dad, who was left-handed, would speed up when going through a toll booth just so he could show his accuracy in tossing a quarter into the toll basket, 2) not making it fully up the hill at Holmdel Park in my friends car - 3 speed transmission on the column with obvious problems) - and rolling all the way back down while trying to avoid the cars behind us ... But the one I have to go with is driving home with some friends, being pulled over and being told, rather forcefully, to 'Show Our Hands' and to 'Slowly Exit The Vehicle'. Making what was an eventful story as short as possible, my car, a Black Mercury Comet 4 door sedan, was similar to a car that was used in a robbery, not far from where we were pulled over, earlier that evening. Thankfully my friends and I did not match the suspected robbers in any way and, after checking our ID's, we were let go. If I remember correctly, it lasted about 15-20 minutes. I think our heart rates went back to normal about 2 hours after that - lol.
ReplyDeleteBe well,
Bob
Hey Bob; That third story is one for the books. Glad it had a happy (or at least a neutral) ending.
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