Saturday, January 20, 2024

Car(s) & Driver

Danimal thinks zman is an inspiration, and he's right! Zed's post about his stepdad's AMC Hornet got me all nostalgic about my earliest whips, of which I have fond(ish) memories. 

I learned to drive on a white 1979 VW Rabbit. My father was stationed in Japan for a year, so it fell to my Mom to teach me how to operate it, for the most part. That must've been awesome for her. Dad did start the process after I got my learner's permit at 15 years and six months of age. He drove us to my high school and parked the car at one end of a long, open lot. I got into the driver's seat, buckled up, and did all the standard safety checks: mirrors, seat belt, car in park, etc. 

And then Dad said, "floor it, and don't brake until I tell you to". Dude, what?

I didn't do anything at first, and then he reiterated his command and told me he was serious. This was the very first time I'd taken command of an automobile and I had about as much understanding of its operation as I did the female anatomy. Which is to say a very tenuous comprehension. I didn't know what I should touch, how hard I should press things, what all the noises meant. Completely clueless.

Eventually, though, I did what he told me to do and I punched it. We got up to about 40 mph and the far curb was coming up too fast for my taste when he told me to hit the brakes. I learned how seatbelts worked in that moment. And more importantly for Dad's lesson plan, I learned how well the brakes did their job.

Dad soon departed for his overseas assignment, and while I was in pretty good shape in terms of driving the car, he hadn't really told me very much about maintaining it. It was a great little car while it lasted. Which wasn't very long, unfortunately. I was driving home with my buddy from a tennis tournament a few months after I'd earned my license when the engine seized and belched up a bunch of black smoke. The mechanic asked me when I'd last had an oil change. "Oil change?", I said. And that was that for the little Rabbit.

My folks, probably too kindly, bought me a red 1986 Dodge Omni shortly thereafter. I'm pretty sure it was purchased new, though it had very few bells and whistles. It also weighed next to nothing, so while it didn't have a big engine, it was really quick off the line. My high school principal saw me driving it into the lot one morning and said, "that thing's a little pocket rocket", a phrase that tickled me at the time and has stuck with me ever since.

Mr. Gaul was a bit of a gearhead, and he told me more about my car than anyone else. One weekend afternoon, I found myself first in line at a stoplight and heard a honk from the next lane. I looked over, and he was smiling at me and revving his engine. That's how I came to have a race with my principal. I gave him a run for his money right off the line, but he had one of those big-block muscle cars and smoked me over the longer run. Later, he would do me an enormous solid when he really could've substantially and justifiably fucked up my educational future, for which I owe him dearly.

He finished his career at a couple of high schools in Texas, where he retired. I saw him at the school's 50th Anniversary back in the late 2010s, where he showed up with both arms fully sleeved with tattoos. He passed away from cancer shortly thereafter. Mr. Gaul was a righteous dude.

I had a number of other cars over the years. Learned to drive stick on a Ford Escort that I took to college. Drove my parents' Chevy Blazer for a few years before buying an S-10 pickup - a completely ridiculous purchase for someone living in suburbia and commuting to work. Bought a Ford Explorer after I got married and gave it to my wife after she got pregnant (figured out that whole female anatomy thing at least a little bit). So I drove her seafoam green Toyota Tercel for more years than I care to recall. Had a couple of Camrys, and then bought and still drive a 2014 MINI Cooper, the first car I've owned that I really desired

Seems I've come a long way in one sense, but in another, I guess I never really got away from driving really small, kinda quick little whips. At least I learned when and why to change the oil.

17 comments:

Mark said...

Morning Gheorghies. Up at 6 am to rouse the kid for a volleyball tournament (traded soccer for volleyball- basketball remains a staple). First of 4 matches today begins at 8:30. Gonna be a long day on those bleachers. I guess it beats sitting outside in 50 degree weather.

zman said...

It's under 20 degrees here today and it won't get above freezing until a balmy 39 degree high on Monday so Mark, you can stick your 50 degree day up your ass. A 50 degree day would bring a smile to my face.

zman said...

When I was a kid I knew you have to change the oil but I didn't know about timing belts. My 1983 Honda Accord had the decency to break its timing belt in the driveway as opposed to the highway. Pistons hit valves and the top half of the engine was ruined.

rob said...

tribe lost at north carolina a&t. starting to think we won’t get an at-large bid this year.

rob said...

in better tribe news, deandre houston-carson starting at safety for the texans today.

rob said...

the ravens have a 305-lb fullback!

Mark said...

Thanks, Z. Love you too. Gonna dip into the 40s tomorrow morning round here.

In other news, the kid’s team went 4-0 and won their mini tournament. Only dropped 1 game amongst all the matches. And her new Sabrina 1s fit like a glove.

Shlara said...

I had the TJ Maxx version of Rob's car: a 1980 Ford Fiesta hatchback in a light tan color. Manual transmission, no power anything, no A/C, only AM radio. I still loved that car.

rob said...

my sister's first car was a white ford fiesta, 86ish. my family lived in texas at the time, and it got pummeled in a hailstorm to the extent that the insurance company totaled it. engine was just fine, so my dad slapped 'golfball' license plates ('cause of all the dimples, dontchaknow) on it and drove it himself for a few years.

rob said...

warning signs flashing for the niners. warning. signs.

Mark said...

My first car was my Dad’s used 1984 Ford LTD. Met my wife (bad driver at the time) when she nearly ran me off the road (A1A) on our collective way home from school early in our sophomore year. Would be a very long time before we became romantically involved. Would not be a long time until my Dad sold the LTD and left me carless.

rootsminer said...

My college car was a 1976 VW Rabbit, manual four door model which felt like a go cart that might rattle apart on the highway. I still love little cars. And minivans.

rob said...

desantis, out. suck it, douchebag.

rob said...

today's tribe connections: you know all about the bills, but rookie offensive lineman colby sorsdal will see some time for the lions. prepare accordingly.

Squeaky said...

Zman, great pick for me. Alas, this year's budget does not seem to include a line item for an RS6 Avant. That car is a beauty, though.

First car was a '76 Mercury Marquis Colony wagon with fake wood panels. After 7 months in the Robinson HS auto shop, I only got to drive it for two months before it died. My second car was a Ford Granada, two door, bright green with fake leather top. That was a beast and very pimpy.

rob said...

nick dunlap won this week’s pga tour event. nick dunlap is a 20 year-old sophomore at the university of alabama and an amateur.

najaf said...

Congratulations to Nick Dunlap on winning this week’s PGA Tour event! It's incredible to see such talent and composure from a 20-year-old sophomore at the University of Alabama, especially as an amateur. Nick's achievement is truly inspiring and a testament to the bright future ahead in golf. Can't wait to see what comes next for this rising star!"