- Joined
- 10 November 2002
- Messages
- 1,124
After my recent flame wars, I thought I would try a more lighthearted approach. Post your best NSX story here. It can be about anything...Glory at the track, picking up girls, getting a speeding ticket, best drive ever, any subject goes. I'll start...
Last year I was filling up at a gas station just off I-66 late one night, when two young guys approached me. I could tell by the look in their eyes that they wanted to talk car. They were young truckers, still in their early twenties. Seems they grew up in trucking families, and were working as truckers now, on the buddy plan. One drove while the other rode shotgun, or slept in the back. They said they drove all over the country, and got paid mileage only (I don't remember the rate per mile now) so it only paid when the truck was moving. They said they stayed on the road a month at a time. One said that he had never seen an NSX before, and the other didn't even know what an NSX was. So I talked with them a little while while they looked the car over. Then I tossed them the keys. They just looked at me in disbelief. So I say, "Well, you are coming back, aren't you?" "Well yeah." "Where y'all from?" "Texas" "Well, since y'all are from Texas, I for sure ain't worried now. See you when you get back." I think by now they weren't sure if they could actually physically operate the car. Say, Travis, does this thing have a starter button? And have you seen the engine? I can't find it on EITHER end. Anyway, they finally decided they didn't want to go together but the older one said he would go if I went with him. So I agreed, and we set off down the interstate. At this point the interstate turns rural, and I may or may not have a radar detector, so I told him "No speed limit. You can drive as fast as you want. Triple digits are okay." Well, he took it real easy anyway, only went about 75mph max. So we go down about fifteen miles or so, turn around, and come back. When we get back, I ask him "How was it?" "That was great!" At this point I am thinking I have done my diplomatic duty in carrying the NSX banner. He'll have a story to tell for a long time. I figure my work is done here, when he unexpectedly asks me if I want to drive the truck. Hunh? I have never driven a full-size "tractor" before. Now it is my turn to be hesitant. Umm, isn't that a company truck? Oh, it's your Daddy's truck? You're sure it's okay? You are? Are you sure you're sure? You are? Well, um, okay, er, I guess I'll have a go at it. Now I don't know if I can actually operate the truck, a 2003 Freightliner with a ten-speed transmission. (No trailer this night.) I have only driven trucks before up to about the ton-size. "It's easy! We'll show you." So I climb up into the cab, and after about five minutes of familiarization, off we go down the same stretch of interstate. Obviously, the sensation of size was much different from the NSX, but it wasn't hard to drive at all. The transmission would really grind sometimes, and I thought I was messing up, but they said, "No, that is how they are. Just pull 'er into gear. Don't worry about the grinding. Blip the throttle when you shift while moving." About five minutes down the highway, one of them announces "You are doing great! The first time I drove, I was all over the road. You are right in the center of the lane!" The truck had a speed governor that maxxed out at 65mph. Also, I learned that truckers adhere religiously to those yellow "safe speed" cautionary signs that I mostly ignore because the speed recommendations usually seem too low. When we finally turned around and came back, I was able to check off the "Eighteen Wheeler" (okay, no trailer, but it still counts) box on my life experience chart.
Truckers are really great; very friendly and down-to-earth. I also think that as a group they are much safer than car drivers. If you are ever on a long car trip, watch the truckers compared to the other traffic. After observing them for awhile, you will see that they usually make all the right moves.
Anyone else have a story to tell? Oh yeah, before I forget...let the flames begin!!
Last year I was filling up at a gas station just off I-66 late one night, when two young guys approached me. I could tell by the look in their eyes that they wanted to talk car. They were young truckers, still in their early twenties. Seems they grew up in trucking families, and were working as truckers now, on the buddy plan. One drove while the other rode shotgun, or slept in the back. They said they drove all over the country, and got paid mileage only (I don't remember the rate per mile now) so it only paid when the truck was moving. They said they stayed on the road a month at a time. One said that he had never seen an NSX before, and the other didn't even know what an NSX was. So I talked with them a little while while they looked the car over. Then I tossed them the keys. They just looked at me in disbelief. So I say, "Well, you are coming back, aren't you?" "Well yeah." "Where y'all from?" "Texas" "Well, since y'all are from Texas, I for sure ain't worried now. See you when you get back." I think by now they weren't sure if they could actually physically operate the car. Say, Travis, does this thing have a starter button? And have you seen the engine? I can't find it on EITHER end. Anyway, they finally decided they didn't want to go together but the older one said he would go if I went with him. So I agreed, and we set off down the interstate. At this point the interstate turns rural, and I may or may not have a radar detector, so I told him "No speed limit. You can drive as fast as you want. Triple digits are okay." Well, he took it real easy anyway, only went about 75mph max. So we go down about fifteen miles or so, turn around, and come back. When we get back, I ask him "How was it?" "That was great!" At this point I am thinking I have done my diplomatic duty in carrying the NSX banner. He'll have a story to tell for a long time. I figure my work is done here, when he unexpectedly asks me if I want to drive the truck. Hunh? I have never driven a full-size "tractor" before. Now it is my turn to be hesitant. Umm, isn't that a company truck? Oh, it's your Daddy's truck? You're sure it's okay? You are? Are you sure you're sure? You are? Well, um, okay, er, I guess I'll have a go at it. Now I don't know if I can actually operate the truck, a 2003 Freightliner with a ten-speed transmission. (No trailer this night.) I have only driven trucks before up to about the ton-size. "It's easy! We'll show you." So I climb up into the cab, and after about five minutes of familiarization, off we go down the same stretch of interstate. Obviously, the sensation of size was much different from the NSX, but it wasn't hard to drive at all. The transmission would really grind sometimes, and I thought I was messing up, but they said, "No, that is how they are. Just pull 'er into gear. Don't worry about the grinding. Blip the throttle when you shift while moving." About five minutes down the highway, one of them announces "You are doing great! The first time I drove, I was all over the road. You are right in the center of the lane!" The truck had a speed governor that maxxed out at 65mph. Also, I learned that truckers adhere religiously to those yellow "safe speed" cautionary signs that I mostly ignore because the speed recommendations usually seem too low. When we finally turned around and came back, I was able to check off the "Eighteen Wheeler" (okay, no trailer, but it still counts) box on my life experience chart.
Truckers are really great; very friendly and down-to-earth. I also think that as a group they are much safer than car drivers. If you are ever on a long car trip, watch the truckers compared to the other traffic. After observing them for awhile, you will see that they usually make all the right moves.
Anyone else have a story to tell? Oh yeah, before I forget...let the flames begin!!
