A Taste of Life in Four Point One Seconds
PREFACE
I’ve always wanted to write a preface to an article. Now I’ve accomplished that task.
I was almost twenty years old when I purchased my first new car. It was a 1968 Chevrolet Camaro, canary yellow with a black racing stripe, and loaded with extras. My uncle, in Torrance, California, was a car salesman, and I told him what I wanted and he began his search. Two weeks later I got the call; he had found the car of my dreams, and I needed to fly down to California from my home in Tacoma, Washington, to complete the sale.
Fly down I did, make the purchase I did, and then I drove that beauty up the coast and the love affair had commenced.
And that is what this story is about….a love affair, forty-six years ago, between a young man, his first car, and some complicated, and simpler, times.
Enjoy!
Come with Me on a Ride
Buckle up, now, because this ain’t no VW Bug. This is four-hundred and twenty-seven cubic inches of gonad-shrinking power, a widow-maker and test-of-manhood all crammed under an aluminum hood. There’s a barf bag in the back if you need it, so get comfortable and let’s find out what this baby will do.
Do you hear that growl? This pussycat was meant to prowl, meant to pillage, and meant to enrapture. This pussycat hunts the savannah, chases down any prey, and gives your sphincter muscles a workout in the process, and man alive, she be sweet. Let’s take her down Main Street and see what’s happening in this old town.
Down on Main Street
Turn on the radio, KJR from Seattle, Pat O’Day playing the tunes, Honky Tonk Women and Hot Fun in the Summertime blasting as we roll past Ace Hardware and pull into the A&W for a root beer in a frosted mug. Look at those hot chicks in the mini-skirts. I wonder if they’d be willing to give us some good, good lovin’ in this motel on wheels? Can’t hurt to ask, right, just as long as we can duck fast if they get offended by the offer? Damn, ladies, you are looking good in the neighborhood, all groovy in your tie-dye, beads, and sandals on this hot summer’s day. How about you fine ladies climbing in the back, and we’ll go for a magic carpet ride? That’s it, all comfy, ready to fly with no alibis.
Stopping for the red light, Mr. Copper watching us closely, twitching at the thought of giving the young punks a ticket for muscling up the rpm’s, but what do you expect when that clown in the Mustang, Mr. Low-Rider, is revving next to us, just begging to get embarrassed in front of his buddies. Tell him we’ll meet him along River Road, Denny, down by the sawmill, and we’ll settle it all then and there. Don’t need to go home with a ticket from Mr. Policeman; my mom would tan my hide and use it for a wallet.
What do you say, ladies, should we go dragging and kick some mustang ass? Then we’ll take you to the drive-in and watch the latest. I do believe Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is playing, and we can take the top down and watch it in style. Sounds like a plan, Stan, so off we go.
River Road Racin’
The dust and the noise, noise and the dust, one-quarter mile of moonlight and bullfrogs, coyotes and girly shrieks, tossing down the gauntlet and either you pick that bad boy up, and take the challenge, or you head home to mommy and daddy and hide underneath the covers. We won’t be hiding tonight, guys and gals, cuz this Chevy was built for moments such as this, with your best buddy, two fine young ladies, the open road and straddling the chasm between safety and death.
Inch up to the line, now, let that engine howl, and wait….wait….the arm drops down and a combined eight-hundred horses are galloping towards immortality, or at least bragging rights for one Saturday night. Steady now, into second, wait, wait, the perfect revolutions and then third, and we’re inching in front, inching, rolling, stream-rolling that bad boy, and he glances over and you can see it, see the defeat, and any inkling of hope is gone when you hit fourth gear and suddenly he’s in the rearview mirror eating dust and choking on his empty boasting, and then we’re coasting under a perfect sky, Orion smiling down upon us, our hearts leave our throats as we whoop and holler our way to the drive-in theater, the conquering heroes looking for a little entertainment after busting the zero to sixty in four-point-one.
The Auto View Drive-in
Pay the man at the gate, two bucks for the four of us, then cruise to the back row, unwind those windows, attach speaker, then turn to the pretty ones and ask them if they would like refreshments. Truth be told, popcorn and soft drinks are the last thing on our minds, but you go through the motions, you dance the ritual dance, and you hope for the best. Getting to first base is easy; stretching it to a double is the stuff of dreams, but this is a night for dreaming as the four of us inch our way from childhood to adulthood and all the wonders that entails.
We’re holding hands by the time Butch and Sundance rob their first bank, and we sneak in a kiss by the time all hope is lost for the cinematic heroes, then we leave in reverse order and thank the ladies for a fine evening. Promises are made, few of which will be realities, for life is calling and there is no time for seriousness when you are twenty-one and feeling your oats.
Country Road Take Me Home
Drop off the girls, then weigh our options: go home and be in bed by midnight, or see what kind of shit we can get into for another hour or so. Easy decision as I shift through the gears and steer for the country, letting the engine and transmission do their thing, driver, car, and road, becoming one as the trees rush by, the fields come into view, and the smell of honeysuckle and lavender caress us on a perfect summer night. Old-age, vulnerability, financial difficulties, self-doubts, none of that seems possible as the road of unlimited possibilities stretches before us, and we attack life with the gleefulness that can only exist when one has not been tested yet.
There would be more than enough weeping and hand-wringing to come, for adulthood was rearing its ugly head and peering over our shoulders, but on that night, at that time, we only knew that life was a blast, and we had our hands on the blasting plunger. We knew nothing of war, of poverty, of divorce and heartache. We were just two young guys listening to the tunes, seduced by life, viewing our futures through rose-colored glasses in the ’68 Chevy doing sixty in a thirty-five. Reality would soon slap us alongside the head, but until then, I was just working the gears and letting that Camaro do her thing, racing through life, chasing our tails, and oblivious to what was around the next bend.
2014 William D. Holland (aka billybuc)
Comments
Ah, to be carefree in a car. You've captured it well.
I do remember how simple life was. My first car 1953 Pontiac convertible. The top didn't go up so I needed an umbrella. I bought it from my sister and this old car creaked along for a long time. I loved it as it represented freedom to fly. Your car sounds wonderful and I am sure you enjoyed every minute in what was once a very simple life. DId we know that?
You totally made me fee like I was right there with you. Beautiful Bill and hope you are enjoying your Thursday so far!
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Thank you Michelle. I had fun with this one.
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Carol, I love it...an umbrella? Laughing out loud. Too funny.
Did we know it was a simple life? I doubt any teenager ever thinks life is simple. :) Hindsight always changes the picture a bit, doesn't it?
Thank you for always stopping by.
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Janine, so far I've had breakfast and fed the chickens. Now we'll see how good Thursday can be. I'm glad you enjoyed the ride. Thank you dear friend.
What a great ride through time.
Funny how a guy's first car is his first love. You have your picture taken standing alongside it and proud does not begin to describe the joy.
A girl can hardly remember her first car, but we can tell you what color it was. Ha, ha
Bill, you can bring a scene to life so effortlessly. You can resurrect a
memory, long thought dead.
Thanks for the ride!!
DJ.
Billy
This one really made me smile. It also reminded me of my first car which was an old Green Alfa Romeo Giulia. It turned on a ticky and I loved it. I wonder why my Alfa never attracted the same attention from the guys!
I loved going to the drive-in - we had the best of times. Thank you for sharing this one - I loved it.
Sally
I wish I would have made this trip. It's an epic ride. Epic writing. Thank you billy for the peek.
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DJ, I have that picture somewhere but I can't find it. LOL You called that one my friend.
Hope in the passenger seat and we'll go for a ride. You are always welcome.
bill
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Sally...."turned on a ticky"....purely British term....and I love it.
I'm not sure I can answer why the Alfa didn't attract the attention of guys. LOL
I'm glad you enjoyed this. Thank you!
bill
This brings back memories! Those were the good ole days when we didn't have a care in the world but having fun and hooking up.
I used to have a Cougar with a 351 Cleveland in it. I don't recall what year the car was (1970-something), but it was very cool. Red with a white half-vinyl roof and white leather interior. I used to race that car all the time and leave the haughty boys who thought they were so cool in the dust.
Drive-ins were the best. I can still feel the butterflies knowing I was going to play some kissy-face in between scenes and cheeseburgers.
Thanx for this wonderful trip down Memory Lane, Bill!
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W1total, it was an epic trip. By the way, six months later the car was stolen and stripped. I was crushed. :)
Thanks for the visit my friend.
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Sha, great recollections...kissy-face? Now you are aging us my dear. LOL I loved it all...I want a time machine so I can go back and do the things I missed the first time. :)
This is a rather sad story because the kids today will never know what it was like to own one of these muscle cars. This is something nobody can even begin to understand unless you have been there.
Thanks for the memories Bill, job well done.
You've unearthed the memories of many a young man and his first hot rod! Whether it was a hot rod in truth doesn't matter, it was to him. In NYC we called it submarine watching (at the drive in), always exciting and interesting. Thanks for the memories.
Voted up, useful, awesome, interesting and pinned.
Thanks for the great ride, billy. It brought me back to the days when I was the passenger in a corvette, feeling the road and the thrill of being young and free. Voted up, beautiful and awesome in every way.
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Mike, those were real cars, weren't they? Totally self-serving joy rides and I loved every minute of those rides. I knew you'd understand my friend. Thank you!
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Mary, I never head that term before...submarine watching. LOL I love it! Thanks for a great laugh.
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Good memories to keep us warm at night, breakfastpop....if you rode in a corvette you understand this article quite well. Thank you!
My parents gave me my first car after I passed my driving test but he drove it from London to Glasgow for me. As grateful as I have always been to them your story is way cooler.
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John, as a writer, I take that as quite a compliment. Thank you!
Mine was more Dukes of Hazard on dirt roads and just as often trucks. But I got my Camaro in '78. Great story in the Deja Vu land of milk and honey!
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Eric, I can see you in a '55 Chevy pickup kicking up dust....fun times my friend. Thank you!
Bill,
I think I developed my love of cars from my dad. And while I was much older when I purchased my first car all on my own, I can say she will always be my first love. Sounds like you are Chevy man so you may not have thought much of Molly, but let me tell you that 2000 Red Mustang convertible was one cool ride. Love this hub and sharing so others can love it, too. How I miss that car...
Kim
My 1st was a 1968 Ford Torino GT, Canary Yellow with a black racing stripe. Only had a little 302 in it, but I loved it, and loaded it with my 8 track and speakers. Thanks for the ride :)
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Kim, I love Ford trucks, but the Camaro was always my first love. Sounds like your Mustang was sweet, too. :) Thanks for sharing your memory.
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esmonaco, a '68 Torino was a sweet ride for sure. Same color as my Camaro. :) Thanks for sharing your memories.
Billybuc
Great story, and story writing.
When I was a teenage and driving, I thought that the E on the gas gauge, meant Enough.
Thanks
A buoyant and vibrant early life, and you remember it so well! I'm past it, Bro. Memory ain't so good anymore. Any, that was a brilliant preface and a great Camaro!
Another great hub. Very beautiful story. But no pranks and mischievous enjoyments like plucking a fruit from a vendor on roadside or some ice candy and dash off.
But still, a good journey and enjoyed it along with you.
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bradmaster, I'm laughing. Great line! OC forever my friend.
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Manatita, thank you my friend. That car was a pure joy to drive, but those days are gone now, and the Prius rules the highways. :)
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Venkatachari, we indeed had our mischievous enjoyments. I'll save them for another article. :) Thank you my friend.
Wow! What a ride. I let the Bob Seger song play in the background and that made it even more fun.
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Marlene, I knew you'd enjoy the ride. Next time you're driving. :)
Thank you as always!
What a car and what a great ride! This is one of my favourite cars, along with the Ford Mustang. You've captured it all here and it's one big fun time. Love the music references and the 'Grease' - like race!
I was out in my Dad's car as soon as I was old enough to learn to drive and I've driven nearly every day since. I love it. I've done rallying and off-road and I love it all! I'm just a rebel I guess!
This is great fun and the perfect end to a Thursday evening's read. Thanks for the smiles, bill.
Ann
Bill, that's what youth ought to be--the time to make good memories. When adulthood comes, we can always go back in our imagination to better times. Happy for you that you and your car had such a happy spree.
Aaauuww, those were the days....
Thanks for a most entertaining true story, Billy :)
What fun! It is easy to tell you enjoyed writing that piece. Loved it! Thanks for sharing. Made me smile, as well. California dreamin'...
I like the concept of going for a ride! Felt like I was in there.
Thanks for the ride. I never got to experience anything like that, but it's always interesting to hear other people reliving their past.
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Ann, like you, I love to drive. I often go for drives to relax. There is just something about being behind the wheel that calms me.
It's nice to know a kindred spirit.
bill
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One of many happy sprees, Dora, and they are all tucked in my memory banks to call upon when needed. I'm glad you enjoyed the ride, and thank you.
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You are very welcome, Martie. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thank you!
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California dreamin' for sure, Bill. I'm glad you had fun with my memories. Thank you!
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goatfury, if it felt like you were there, then I did my job as a writer. Thank you!
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Well, Sheila, I'm sorry you didn't experience a ride like this one. It was great fun, and thanks for riding with my imagination.
Great way to capture that first car experience. All I can say is no one can contend with a man and his car. Thanks for the joy ride :)
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Michelle, that might be a true statement, especially when that man is a young one. :) Thanks for being here.
Thanks for taking us back with you Bill. That was fun.
Better luck next time! lol
This just made me grin from ear to ear Bill! Loved it!
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Audrey, that's what I love to hear. Thank you!
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That's okay, Jackie. Today I've got a Ford pickup truck and a girl who loves me....I'm a big winner. :)
You bet, Bill and I love those truck songs but I know she would love you without it! :)
Your writing is on fire here.
Hello Bill.
Spending time with you on this exciting ride refreshes memories… Just crossed my mind; after all these years we aren't change much, only age did.
Voted beautiful , interesting.
Good night my friend.
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LOL..I suspect you are right, Jackie!
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Thank you Flourish! I love creative writing.
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Very true, Michael my friend. In my mind I am still twenty-one and ready for another joy ride. :) Thank you, Michael, and peace be with you.
This is a fun story, Bill. I love the atmosphere that you've created. That car ride certainly sounds enjoyable!
A wonderful moment!
Enjoyed the ride, great write. Life is a blast and yes adulthood will rear it's head but then there are lovely memories to fall back on!
That makes me miss my Corvette convertible more than ever. "Red sky at night...young punks take flight"-nice!
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I'm glad you enjoyed it, Alicia. Thank you!
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Thank you DDE!
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There are indeed, Vellur! Thanks for visiting me three times this morning.
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Iris, you SHOULD miss your Corvette convertible. :) Thank you once again.
How fun! My first (car) live was a 73 bright red Pontiac Ventura! Thanks for sharing all the memories!
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Randi, I'd forgotten about the Ventura...thanks for sharing that. I'll bet the girl and car were hot together. :)
Pat O'Day, KJR, and street racing. For just a few minutes I was 17 again. What a great read. Thanks for the memories on this Friday morning. (The only thing you left out was Frisko Freeze, but maybe that's another story for another day).
With that white vinyl roof, I sure thought I was! Sometimes that's all that matters! Have a great day, Bill! :-)
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Linda, my sister loved Frisko Freeze. I was a DQ guy. It's nice to hear from someone who even knows what Frisko Freeze is. LOL Thanks for the great memory and have a wonderful weekend.
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Randi, you got that right! LOL
Loved your story, as underneath all my 'properness' I have a wild side a really want a Corvette! My hubby would've loved this even more, as he's more the real muscle car guy!
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Thank you healthwealthmusic....we have to get that properness to break free one day.
I know you had a blast writing this. I had a blast reading it! Memories galore, the drive-in, cruising mainstreet in a hot rod ford, aha the good ole days of youth. I love Bob Seger's Mainstreet. Thank's for a fun read...
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You are very welcome, Ruby. Thanks for riding along.
Voted up and awesome. Thanks for the great ride and the music. Ah, memories. I was born at the end of the 50s so I missed dates at the drive-in but as kids in the summertime folks would take us to a drive-in and I fell in love with this form of entertainment right away. A very nostalgic read. Passing this on.
Good ride. Brings back some great memories. Mine was a 72 Vette, 454.
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Thank you Rasma! Yes, you were about a decade behind me so you missed this scene...I'm glad you liked my memory.
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handymanbill, that's not a bad ride at all. You know, I've never driven a Vette....must do that soon.
This is an amazing hub Bill that sucked me right into the event!
I can understand your carefree spirit when driving such a car. I just had the opportunity to drive my sister's mustang (it is a convertible - oh the joy!) down the highway and it was such a great thrill! Thanks for the fun read today.
thank you for the back seat drive through time my friend.. and I love the car... super classic..
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Thanks vkwok...I had fun writing it.
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They were and are a thrill, Dianna. Totally impractical, but what the hell? LOL Thank you!
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Super classic indeed, Frank, and a great memory for me. Thank you!
Aw, yes, when life knocks those rose-colored glasses off our faces, it is indeed a major reality check and then some ... sigh.
You will find this funny (maybe), but when I was young and dumb and wearing the rose-colored glasses too, I truly loved muscle cars and actually dreamed of being a female racecar driver LOL. I still love the muscle cars. Hey, I can still get where I need to go, maneuvering in and out of traffic. I wish you had a photo of you in your car from back then.
Varooom!!!
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Faith, I'll have to scour the photo albums...maybe I can find a picture of that car. I have no problem picturing you in a muscle car. :)
Thank you and blessings always
bill
Pretty car. I guess there's a reason they're called babe magnets.
btw, I loved your preface! lol
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Thank you, Beth! I appreciate you stopping by.
Oh Bill, you really stirred up some memories of my first car and I also had a Camaro Z28 white and gold.
Voted up, ABI and shared.
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Very nice, Shyron....a Z28 was a beast for sure. Just one more reason why I like you. :)
Youth was meant to be enjoyed, but you remembered it well. Even though reality eventually set it, the memories were all picture perfect and brought those smiles back. Twenty-two showed through again for a short time, and was it ever beautiful. Nice work!
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Thank you Deb! We can't go back again for sure, but it sure is nice to relive for a few moments. :)
Loved the ride in the Camaro. Wow, that does bring back some great memories of muscle cars. Some of my friends in high school had these cars when they were brand new. I once owned a '72 Satellite Sebring, bought right off the showroom floor. Mmmm. That new car smell.
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Love that new car smell, Peg, and it's never the same smell again. Thanks for mentioning that. I'm glad you enjoyed a ride in my Camaro.
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