Taylor
New Member
Found this on another forum, from someone who copied the original. I'm on page 2 or so and it's gotten REALLY interesting.
Posts: 179
Joined: 4-September 06
From: North Phoenix
Member No.: 431
It was one of those days. You know; the kind that you just wish you hadnt even got out of bed for? Seemed like everything I touched just went in the dumpster all morning beginning with the stupid alarm clock.
It didnt even go off. Piece of crap; finally, I had to admit that I was going to accept the fact that I was going to have to replace it. On top of that, I was already late for work and because I was hurrying in the shower, I cut my face shaving in not one but two places. I looked like a poster-boy for a toilet paper pieces commercial. But out the door I went, grabbing the keys to the GN on the way.
When I got out in the garage, I see another disappointment for the day. Damn! The right rear tire was low.
Again.
Sheesh when will I ever learn? The tire needs to come off and be looked at. It obviously has a slow leak and since I hadnt driven the GN since the previous Wednesday, I didnt think about. Which, in retrospect, seems like something I do (or dont do) a lot think. Well, I was already late, it was forecast to be a great Ohio morning for late fall (a predicted high of mid-60* and this was two days after Thanksgiving how great is THAT?), and I wanted to get the Buick out for the short drive to work just to work all the fluids around again. Of course, that great plan was now delayed since I was going to have to get the air hose and air up the Nitto DR again.
Yep, I shoulda learned a long time ago deal with it now while youre thinking about or youll have to deal with it at a time when you really dont have the time.
This day was one of those times.
As I was airing the tire up (which really wasnt that low it looked much worse than it actually was), I was running through my plans for the day. Head into work and put a fresh tank of 93 octane in the car on the way. Cut out early since I was only really going in to catch up on some paperwork and then head on over to Barstow to hook up with some friends for some wings and drinks before the big game. Ok, so I was going to be delayed a bit was it really that big of a deal? After all, I DID have some extra time so, I relaxed a bit.
Testing the tire pressure again to make sure it was up to snuff, I put the Chrome valve stem cap back on and coiled the hose back up before opening the glistening black door and sliding into the drivers seat. No matter how old I get, sliding into the seat of a Turbo Buick will always be a thrill. For some reason that is unexplainable, it just makes me feel like I should expect something and that it will come to pass.
Something great. Even if it is just a drive or a cruise, doing so in a Turbo Buick, especially an 11 second GN, was indeed something great.
As I turned the key and listened to the fuel pump come up to pressure and kick off (love the sound of that Walbro 340M for some reason!), I thought about my previous GNs I had owned. My first one was a brand new one back in 1987. Chuckling to myself, I remembered how the rear tires on that car only lasted a little over 600 miles. Yeah it was always great to drive a GN unless you were its rear tires.
Twisting the key on to Start, I smiled as I heard the motor fire on what had to be the first spin of the starter. Gotta love that 3.8SFI Ive never had a car that starts as easy as these cars. Maybe Ive just been lucky but no matter; mine have ALWAYS started quickly and fast. Well, as long as I had a good battery in them.
Or, as long as that stupid Fan Delay Relay didnt crap out on me.
Again. And out of town to boot. But thats another story. 
Letting the car warm up for a moment before easing the shifter back into R to back out of the garage, I remembered that Brandon was supposed to be at B-dubs today. Youve really got to meet Brandon to understand what Im about to tell you but Ill try
Backing on out of the garage and touching the garage door opener to close, I head on out the drive and begin the drive to work. Hmm I really need a hot coffee. I wonder if Mickey Ds is open? Those thoughts raced through my head oh, where was I? Yeah I was about to tell you about Brandon. Ok, here goes.
First of all, Brandon is loyal. Hes a guy who will have your back no matter what. If he is your friend, hes there for you, no matter what. Even if you are undeniably wrong, he will stand with you to the end. So, for that Ive always been grateful.
Brandon is also a pretty big guy. Not fat just big. Nearly 63 which is two inches taller than me, he is an imposing figure. And, he has arms the size of cannons, mainly from all his years loading stock at UPS.
But Brandon is also a Ford guy. Oooh . Major flaw, right? Yeah, I thought so too. And did I mention loyal? Well, Brandon is one of those guys who will definitely bleed Ford Blue when hes cut, assuming you can cut his alligator leathery skin. And on top of that, hes not just a Ford guy hes a Ford Mustang Guy.
Yeah one of THOSE guys.
So, you can imagine the debates weve had over the years. Hes always had a Mustang and Ive always had GNs (well, when I had the money to have a performance car, that is). While Ive dallied with GTOs, Camaros, Firebirds, Olds 442s (not the anemic late 70s early 80s crap the REAL hairy-chested 442s from the late 60s and early 70s), Brandon has owned nothing but Mustangs.
Now, hes had some real impressive ponies I must add. He had a sharp 67 Shelby (that he sold just recently at Barrett-Jackson for BIG bucks), a 70 Boss 302, a 69 Mach 1 with the 428 that ran solid high 11s with the few mods he did to it, several 5.0s, a 95 Cobra R, two different Terminators (an 03 and a particularly nasty Competition Orange 04), and his current car, a white/blue striped 06 Mustang GT (Screaming Yellow) with the Roush Stage 3 package. And, hes had a few other Ford products over the years, including a stock 03 Mercury Marauder, a few different F-150s, and a 70 or 71 Torino GT that was a pretty good ride.
Like I said Brandon is loyal to his Fords. But, hey theres nothing wrong with that. Thats just Brandon.
As I slowed for the intersection, I note that the traffic is light. Well, at this time of the morning (6:30am) it usually is on a Saturday. This morning was no exception. I pull on into the Golden Arches and when I roll down the incredibly slow-moving Buick window (gotta do that power window mod someday) I smell the wonderfully addictive smell of fast food in the cool, crisp air. I order my food and move on around to the pick up window (Second window, please!) but just as I round the corner I notice that there is some ongoing construction at this restaurant. Well, normally, that isnt a big deal, right?
Wrong.
Because with construction comes mud. It could be the middle of July and no rain for a month in this part of Ohio, if somebody is digging theres gonna be mud. And yep, I have no choice but to drive right through it to get up to that Mecca of fast food the Second Window. Please.
I hear the grimy clay-like stuff flicking and spitting off my tires onto my recently waxed fenders. Ugh.
Now isnt that great? Brown clay spots on my black car.
Yep its one of THOSE days.
So, I grab my order (Coffee, black and an sausage/egg McMuffin) and head on out, hearing more little tic, tics of mud flinging off my tires and onto my car. Damn
Oh well, Ill have time to spray it off before I head to join the crowd. In a moment, I make the parking lot for work, park out by the fence away from everyone, get out, lock up and head on inside to knock out the work-du jour, a bite of McMuffin already being chewed to bits as I pass through the gate.
The 6 hours go by pretty quickly other than a big fight with the printer (just another part of this day) but just as I am ready to leave my desk the phone rings. Its my wife.
Did Brandon get a hold of you?
No, I answer. I dont know why, but the guy just refuses to call my work number. And since my cell was charging on the desk it was off. What did he want?
Im not sure. He just said to tell you that hell meet you in the parking lot by your car hes there now and hes got something to show you.
Hmmm what could it be THIS time? A new girl? A new car? A new watch? With Brandon, you just never know. Hes a guy who changes stuff more often than anyone I know so it could be anything.
As I pass through the gate, I cant see the parking lot but I crane my neck a bit as I round the corner of the office building and thats when I see it.
A black late model Mustang without any stripes on it but it does look to have some big tires. Hmm . The new body style (05 or newer) for sure which I think looks great.
But this one has an unusual hood and wheels. It definitely isnt his current ride, the 06 Roush. What is it?
As I get closer (still a couple hundred yards away), I notice that the front grille doesnt have the extra fog lights like his GT does but the sides of the grille opening area seem to have a peculiar slant to them. I wonder if its a V6 car for a daily driver?
I watch Brandon open the drivers door as the passenger door opens too, both getting out at the same time. Well, the other one is Stacy, his latest (but nicest) true love (more on her later! 
.
I see that there is an unusual emblem on the side of the car just about the same time I notice Brandons mile-wide grin.
Its a snake. And not just any snake. Its a Cobra. OMG Brandon just stepped out of an 07 Shelby GT-500 without stripes.
And it is drop-dead gorgeous.
He notes my lower jaw scraping the ground and comes up to greet me as I approach the car.
Well? he asks. Whadayathink? His brilliantly white, perfectly aligned teeth gleemed with the huge grin he was flashing - I was almost blinded by the glare from them in the brilliant afternoon sunshine.
I just grin back and nod, trying not to show TOO much excitement. Is it yours? is all I can think to ask as I take in the serious attitude of the Shelby.
Oh, yeah baby. She's mine, all right. I just picked it up an hour ago. I happened to walk into Anderson Ford for some filters as they were taking it off the truck this morning. One thing led to another and then the next thing I know, Im signing the papers. Man, youve got to hear this thing .
I just stand there in amazement. An honest-to-God 07 Shelby Cobra, all of its 500 Horses backed by that wonderful 6 speed, is parked next to my GN here in the light of day. I couldnt figure out why there wasnt a crowd of people gawking at it like I was until I realized that I had answered that question before I realized what the car was.
This car really just wasnt that noticeable without the stripes that every other Mustang you see on every street corner in Small Town, USA has. Actually, it kind of looked like a mildly body-worked V-6 Mustang which I thought was kinda cool. Stealthy
How far in you did they break off the price? I asked him looking the lines of the car over, all the while thinking about all the Marketing Adjustments of $10k or more I had read about on various car forums since the car was first announced.
Thats the cool thing, Steve . I got it for MSRP. After all, I am one of Andersons best customers, you know. They wanted me to give them a nickel over but I told them no way. So, in the end, I got her for sticker and Im happy.
I had to agree. Only paying a bit over $43k for this awesome car was a pretty good deal.
So where ya heading, Steve?
Well, I WAS just going over to the new car wash on Cable to blow the mud off my GN. Wanna follow me over? I would love to get a good look at your car but Ive got to get the crud off mine.
Ive got a better idea he said. YOU drive the Shelby, me and Stacy will take your GN. Hows that? I would really like to know what you think of it anyhow. I mean, its stock and its new so its probably gonna be a little doggy for a while but still, take her for a spin and tell me what you think, ok?
How could I turn THAT down? So, I tossed him my keys to the GN, opened the door to the Shelby and slid on inside. What was the first thing I noticed?
That wonderfully delicious new car smell! Leather, plastic, metal, paint, cloth, carpet it all overwhelmed my senses as I ran my hand over the passenger side seat suede insert. It smelled
Good. I'm being honest here - it did!
It smelled (and felt) REAL good. But how would it drive, I wondered to myself as I slid the fat key into the ignition.
How would it drive? Hmmm.....
I sat back in the seat of the Shelby and was immediately swept back to another time - back to when I bought my first GN. Even 20 years couldnt separate the feeling, the smell, the sensation of sitting in a new and very powerful car. It was a heady feeling; one of knowing that all sorts of excitement was at my beck and call by simply matting the pedal beneath my right foot.
Ah but there was a difference too. Horsepower
The Shelby has an alluring call to it. You only have to look down at the Cobra on the steering wheel emblem to know that it, like the GN, is a breed all its own. From the fat steering wheel to the gauges, from the feel of the contoured seats to the view out over the slightly bulged and vented hood, you know that the GT500 is all business - at least 200 more HP of business - stock - versus the GN as it came from the factory.
And there is no denying that when you turn the key
Since the door was still open, when I slid the key on into the cylinder, the gentle pong of the chime began to politely remind me to close the door, strap in, and hold on. And by rotating the key, I brought to life the engine of the most powerful Mustang Ford had ever built.
The motor didnt start as much as it angrily exploded to life. In a very similar fashion to the way the Intercooled V6 in my GN had started earlier that morning, the 5.4 seemed as if it wanted to jump out of the K-member and smack down anything that dared challenge its authority. And the subtleness of the exhaust belied the explosive power being fired in the cylinders it rumbled but not in an untoward way just a muscular beat but without a lot of cam-effect that had a very, very sinister tone to it.
At nearly the same time, I heard Brandon fire the GN. I looked over at him but couldnt see inside the deeply tinted glass but I knew that he, just like me, had a silly but appreciative grin on his stupid mug.
I snugged up the seat/shoulder belt, depressed the clutch (and was pleasantly surprised at how real it felt, not overly harsh but not like a marshmallow either), released the e-brake, snicked the shifter into first and began to pull away. The first impression I had of the power was the ease that the car pulled out there didnt seem to even be a chance of stalling the motor. Ive driven Terminators and they can be a little finicky at low RPMs and can even be stalled fairly easily if you dont have enough Rs to keep the torque flowing.
That just didnt seem to be the case with the Shelby. It almost felt as if I could hook onto a house and drag it behind me and to be able to say that about a Mod-Motor is saying something.
This motor felt STRONG.
Running it through the gears was uneventful and smooth all the while feeling as if I was guiding a hungry panther through a sea of gazelles. Even the shifters position was placed in a good place and wasnt notchy or sloppy in the least. At one of the first lights I was stopped at, I happened to look over to my right and saw that Brandon was beside me with the window down, motioning for me to roll down mine.
Waiting for the light to change, he gave me the So? look.
I gave him the thumbs up I definitely was impressed. This car feels powerful and in turn, makes the driver feel almost invincible. Theres only one other car Ive driven that made me feel like that.
Yep. My GN.
By the time we got close to the Carwash, I was feeling pretty good about the shifter and shift points so I decided to wind it on out a bit since we were in a 45 mph zone. Once I pulled away from the light, I left it in first and gave the pony most of the go-pedal, immediately rewarded with a massive shove against my chest and pushing me back into the seat without manners. The tach swept upward in a dizzying pace and I short shifted at ~5500rpm, feeling the torque once more and hearing the big blower howl with impunity. Just as quickly, I let out of it and noticed that Brandon was way behind me. Looking down, I watched the speedo spiraling downward from almost 70 mph.
I knew then and there that the Shelby is no poseur, even with less than 50 miles on the clock at that point.
I rolled on into the car wash and let the car idle a bit as Brandon pulled on in beside me. We both shut down within seconds of each other and I got out shaking my head.
Well? Whadaythink?, he grinned once more.
Brandon . THAT is a car to be reckoned with. No doubt shes got the power and it isnt even broken in yet. I have no doubt that its a solid mid-12 second or lower car as she sits right there. With traction, you might even be high 11s . and I dont care what people say about its weight it just does NOT feel like a heavy car.
He just nodded in agreement, his goofy grin still trying to blind me.
Yeah, B you did good. I couldnt lie I liked his car. And after all, how can a GN guy not like a black car with balls the size of coconuts?
As we swapped places, I looked back at the GT500. I had to admit to myself that I really DID like its looks. The understated ness of no stripes, no big massive fog lights in the grille, no big Look at ME! scoop on the hood it was a modern day GN to be sure. And after the experiences I have had with the Terminators (my son owns a black 03 10 second street monster), I just KNEW that the Shelby was a valid heir to the throne that had yet to be vacated by the Terms.
Yep there is going to be trouble on the streets when more of these bad-boys begin to prowl.
Brandon and Stacy jumped in the Cobra, waved goodbye and headed on over to B-dubs. I watched and listened as the pulled away and only had one thought .
I wanted to run that car with my GN. I just had to know how strong the Shelby really was. Little did I know that I would find out much sooner rather than later.
By the time I got to the restaurant, my wife was already there sitting with the crowd. The parking lot was so full, I didnt even see Brandons car but I knew he was there because my wife had called me on the cell to see if I had got lost. When I told her about having to wash off the car, I could hear the hes so anal about keeping that car clean sigh Ive heard a million times. Thankfully, I know shes not TOO upset about it.
Making my way through the crowd, I finally spied the tables where we had gathered, not too far out from one of the big Plasma TVs scattered about the noisy place. The smell of wings and brews was mixed in with the sights and sounds of a noisy restaurant holiday crowd; sounds of clanking glasses, silverware on plates, children squealing with delight over their desserts, and so forth it felt nice. Thats one of the things Ive always liked about the place it just feels like home.
As I got closer to the table, I saw Brandon and Stacy to my wifes right with the girls engaged in conversation. Brandon was jawing with a guy I hadnt met before but that wasnt unusual Brandon never met a stranger. I swear he just loves to talk. And 99.9% of the time, its about cars. Well, as long as Stacy wasnt around. Then, it was usually about girls AND cars.
I decided to say hello. Anyone who could last more than a minute listening to Brandon talk about Fords was either A) a Ford lover too or, deaf. As I got closer Brandon, stood up and pulled up a chair for me to sit with him.
Steve, this here is Ned. I met him today at the dealership and invited him to join us.
Ned and I shook hands but for some odd reason, I got a weird vibe sort of one of those strange, deja-vu experiences. Had I met this guy somewhere before? I just didnt know... Odd the guy just seemed to be a bit unfriendly I thought. Maybe it was just my imagination but something seemed a bit off-key. Where did I see him and when? But good ol Brandon broke that train of thought for me.
I didnt get a chance to tell you but Ned here bought the first Shelby in the state. He got it up at Findlay did you see it in the parking lot out there?
Nah, I didnt. But I would like to have I was sure impressed with yours so seeing another one would be icing on the cake. I figured I would toss out a compliment and see if that broke the ice with Ned.
It didnt. He didnt say a word. No matter Brandon had enough words for all three of us.
Steve, his car is a Red one with white stripes. I gotta admit it its pretty eye-catching. I cant believe you didnt see it out there. What side did you park on?
I parked out there on the Mall side away from everyone. Where did you guys park?
Ned spoke. Yet, I couldnt quite put my finger on why this guy seemed familiar.
We parked across the street in the Lowes lot. I cant believe you didnt see my car, dude. Seems like everyone else has! Some clown in a Camaro bout ran off the street just starin at the Shel! and with that, he burst out in one of the most loud and obnoxious laughs Ive ever heard. Some people jerked their heads around with odd looks on their face as if to ask, Who let Mr. Ed in here? But Mr. Ed, er, I mean Ned, didnt let that stop him. Seemed like attention was the fuel that this guy needs.
Of course, Im used to it. Ever since I got the car back from the Tuners, its been getting a lot of attention. Just like it should its the new sheriff in town now. When you leave, make sure you look at it but take a napkin. I know youre gonna drool.
It was then that the memory smacked me hard! The word Sheriff was the trigger.
National Trails drag strip in Columbus, about 8-9 years ago. He was banned from the track that year for having been caught tampering with his closest competitors car in the sportsman class. What the tampering was had never been revealed (although there was a flurry of rumor about him loosening some lug nuts on a car) but the guy was a cheater and everyone in Columbus knew it. He disappeared from the area right after that and I had heard he had gone down south somewhere.
But I was there when the track officials confronted him that day in the staging lanes (I was two cars back from his supposed record-breaking car in the same lane) and Ned laughed that same, egotistical laugh as he told the officials to take hike. Thankfully, they remained steadfast and called for the Sheriff to escort Mr. Ed from the premises, which they did. Some people said he made all sorts of threats about lawsuits and such but I never heard any more about the guy.
Until today. Yep, it was definitely one of THOSE days.
And now, here he was, back in the flesh, eating wings and drinking beer at the same table with me and B and our wives.
Hey. Brandon here tells me youve got one of those old-school Buicks is that right? He seemed to even sneer as he asked the question.
Yeah its a GN.
Is it as fast as he says? Hmm where was this guy going? I wasnt sure I wanted to know, knowing what I already knew about him.
Fast enough, I guess.
Maybe we oughta line em up after the game. You know, sort of a friendly little race just to see how well Old School can do against New School. I promise I wont embarrass ya TOO BAD! Har-har-HAR!!!
Brandon had the oddest look on his face, almost as if he just found out his fly was open. It was obvious he didnt know his new buddy was an first class jerk.
Not today, Ned. Too much traffic and besides, I would rather race at the track. Its much safer. Maybe next spring, huh? By that time, Brandon will have his car broken in and we can take the three of them.
Neds face darkened. Aw, cmon Buick-boy. I wont even put any money on it. Well just run for fun and I can show you we get it done with the blue oval these days.
Ok. Now, Im a little pissed. Lets see how late the game runs, ok Ed? (I purposely said his name wrong just to poke a stick in his blood-shot eye )
Its NED, not Ed. And ok, well see. Ive beat everything else Ive ran against, might as well add a Buick to the list. HAR-HAR-HAR!!!
I noticed that Brandon was strangely quiet up till then but he spoke. Steve, lets go up to the bar and see where our waitress is. I want to tell you something I read in the manual about my car anyhow
So, off Brandon and I went, trying to snake through the crowd. But as we got out of earshot of the table, he stopped me.
Steve, first - this guy's a JERK! But beyond that - Neds car is serious business. It isnt stock either. I know you were impressed with mine and its a bad boy all right. But Neds hasnt just been tuned. Its had a LOT of stuff done to it.
Like what?
Suspension work. A new blower and CAI. Gears and an aluminum driveshaft. ET Streets on aluminum wheels. Dyno tuned. And more. If hes not lying, its supposedly putting down nearly 700 rwhp, if not more - you just don't know what to believe from this guy it seems. I just thought you should know this isnt a stock Shelby youre looking to run.
I nodded my head as I listened.
"But I will tell you this Steve - his Shelby DOES sound wicked. It makes mine sound like a kitten..."
Hmmm....
Brandon, a lot of the time and as you know better than anyone, in a race, it isnt how much dog is in the fight. Its how much fight is in the dog. Well see how it goes ok? Im not afraid of his shiny new red car. Ive been beaten by better guys a lot better of a man than him so even if I would race and lose, thats no big deal. But Ive also got a feelin that ol Ned doesnt realize what Ive got under the hood either. Did you tell him about my GN, about what I did to it?
Nah only that you had a Turbo Buick. And when I did, he licked his lips like a dog thinking of a raw steak. But he doesnt really know what youve got.
Good. Lets keep it that way. At least for now
Brandon and I hung out at the bar for a minute or two until we found our waitress, ordered drinks and went back to our table. The girls were still talking a mile a minute and Ned had engaged another mutual friend that B and I both hung with from time to time Jason. Even before we got to the table, we heard Neds obnoxious laugh (most likely at something he said that only HE thought was funny) Har-har-HAR!
And it was true. Even as we sat down, Ned was regaling poor Jason about his new GT500 and how bad it was. We were fortunate enough to hear the repeat about the guy in the Camaro that bout ran off the street just to get a good look at my Shel! Har-har-HAR!!
Brandon looked at me with one of those Good grief is this guy for REAL? looks. But Ned wasnt about to let up now; not that he had an audience.
Well, there ya are Buick Boy! Where ya been? Looking for more parts for your little V6? Har-har-HAR!
The butt clown then slapped the table with his hand really hard for emphasis as he uncorked more of his unique laughter at his own un-funny joke. Ok . Enough was enough.
I leaned in towards him and just stared at him, unblinking. It took a second but Ned got the message. He shut his pie hole and just sneered a bit. I wanted to choke Brandon for inviting this guy but resisted the urge. But I also had something to say.
You know, Ned Brandon invited you hear out of the goodness of his heart which is bigger than his brain, sometimes. But for you to talk smack and we dont even really know each other seems pretty rude to me. Sure, youve probably got a shiny red car with cute stripes but still, its just a car. You like yours; I like mine so lets leave it at that, ok? Youve got a lot of nerve running your mouth here and not even knowing what it is youre blabbing about so knock it off.
Ned blinked. Most likely, very few people had ever spoke to him like that before but man, enough was enough. And I had had enough. Kelly, my wife, gave me one of her Please dont embarrass me! looks and I smiled back at her.
Which, I dont think helped. But I wasnt going to stop now
Ed, everyone at our table is tired of your trying to be the center of attention. If you want to sit and have dinner with us, drink a couple of long-necks and have a good time, then youre welcome to stay. But if this is gonna continue, why dont you find another table because were tired of you and your act. You REALLY need to grow up.
Sometimes, I surprise even myself. Brandon, for the first time since I had met him, was speechless. Angry at Ned, yes. But still, speechless.
I could see the red rise in Neds face and cheeks. I obviously had pushed a button or two.
You know something, dude? I was just havin some fun and you go and get all pissy with me. Fine. Ill head on out of this dump over to someplace that has people who can appreciate the opportunity to hang with someone like me. I was going to be nice and try to not embarrass you too bad whenever we run but no more. When we meet on the street or the track, Im gonna bury you so deep, you will have to look up just to see your own ass. You have no clue who you are messin with, pal.
Oh, I am quite sure who you are Ned. I found out a lot about you when I watched you get escorted out of Columbus 8-9 years ago for cheating.
Oh yeah. Shot, swish, point, game. I thought his face was red before but now, it was almost purple.
But to his credit, he just stood up, tossed a Twenty onto the table, and glared at me, his beady, rat-like features looking almost comical in the light.
However, he did have one more thing to add. Youre gonna wish you hadnt said that, pal. Oh, how you are gonna wish that you had not said that He then spun on his heel and left.
Brandon, always the jester, broke the tension.
Well, that went well, didnt it? Sheesh what a jerk!
We all had a good laugh and the rest of the evening at the restaurant went as planned. I didnt even care who won the game because Ive never been a sports fan unless it was a sport performed a quarter mile at a time. But regardless, before we knew it, the girls were all clamoring to head home. But then, Stacy spoke asked a question really.
Steve? Do you think Ned is waiting on you? You know, to run?
I hadnt given it much thought I guess.
Aw, Stacy, I doubt it. Hes probably over at the Macaroni Grille right now with all his peeps, sipping on some fancy drink with a little paper umbrella in it, and has forgotten all about any sort of race. Besides, its after midnight its too late for any silly stuff now. Ive been up since early this morning and Im ready for some shuteye.
My lovely wife nodded her sleepy little head in agreement. But Stacy brought us back to reality.
I dont know Steve. That guy doesnt seem like the kind of person I would turn my back on and I think you really made him angry. You just might want to keep your eyes open is all Im sayin.
Thanks Stacy. Ill keep that in mind. Brandon, you guys leaving now?
He pulled Stacy close.
Yeah, lets head on out. Ive gotta drive right by your place anyhow so Ill be right behind you I want you to tell me if my headlights are aimed too high or not anyways. This will give me a chance to see your tail lights because Im sure it will be the only time Ill see them when Im in my Shel Har-har-HAR!
We ALL got a belly laugh out of Bs impersonation (a bad one at that) of Ned. It was definitely the nightcap we needed. With that, out the door we went and into the cold night air.
Actually, it felt great being outside after being cooped up in the restaurant all evening. We walked out the opposite door (which was facing Lowes) I had come in earlier and it was then that we saw it something was on Brandons windshield. We couldnt make it out what it was but it kind of looked like a big piece of paper or something tucked beneath the wiper blade. Maybe a sales flier?
Instead of separating there and my wife and I going to our cars, we walked on across the street to see what was on Bs car.
It was a note.
From Ned.
And it wasnt a nice one. Brandon read it aloud.
Hey buddy. Tell your Buick Boy Ill be waiting for him tonight down at Winks Drive-In. Ill be there until around 12:30 and if his balls are as big as his mouth, he wont avoid me. Ive got something I want to show him. And if he DOESNT show, Ill find him. It may not be tonight or tomorrow, but Ill find him. He cant dodge me forever. Make sure you tell him.
I just laughed. Man, did this guy ever get past the 7th grade?
But - Brandon was furious. First, because someone had the audacity to touch his car. Or, the wiper blade TO his car. But beyond that, he was mad because someone had called out his friend and remember the loyalty thing I told you about earlier? he wasnt having anything of it.
Steve, lets go down there and show him whats what! I want to rip his head off for even touching my car but Ill agree to wait until after you hand him his butt with the GN first. Whadayasay?
Stacy spoke as Kelly pulled up tight and increased her grip on my arm. See Steve? See what I mean? This guy isnt right and to make a threat like that? Thats scary!
Stacy, hes just a punk and a bully and most likely isnt used to people standing up to him. Dont worry about. Im sure hell crawl back under his rock and we wont see him again.
I had no more than said that, standing there in Lowes parking lot at nearly one oclock in the morning with a cold breeze brushing my face when I heard it.
It was a car with a very, very loud exhaust slowing to a stop at the intersection about 200 yards from where we stood. We all turned at the same time to look and at first, we just thought it was another late model Mustang with some stripes slowing to stop. But THIS car was pretty loud; louder than any other mod-motor Mustang I had heard on the street.
Steve? I think that that is Neds car
Brandon had said answered a question I had just formulated in my mind. It was definitely a Shelby.
Weird isnt it? You can go for months and not see a rare performance automobile but then Bam! You see TWO of them in the same day??! Like I said it was going to be one of THOSE days .
We watched the blinker of the Shelby come on as it stopped at the light. Oddly, the breeze that had been tousling our hair and nipping at our cheeks stopped blowing and the night seemed amazingly quiet.
The Shelby sat there at the light, idling with a very deep, basso-profundo exhaust note. It was Red. It had white stripes and it definitely had aftermarket wheels.
It HAD to be Neds car. And it was getting ready to turn into Lowes parking lot.
This is gonna be interesting, I said.
Lets go, Steve. You dont need to get into a fight with an idiot tonight, ok?, said Kelly, not sounding like she really meant it. Later, I found out that even SHE wanted a piece of Ned but that too is another story.
So, we watched the Shelby idle. I could imagine how its turn signal flasher sounded after having driven Brandons car only hours earlier
Tinka tinka . Tinka tinka tinka
We watched the opposing lanes light illuminate the caution.
Still, I could hear in my head that eerie blinker sound in concert with the exhaust note from from Pro-Stock Hell... Tinka tinka . Tinka tinka tinka . Badda ba- badda badda, badda ba .
The light changed and the events of the night were now set in motion.
The Shelby pulled into the lot, its front valance nearly scraping the inclined approach, Ned feathering the exhaust and the clutch to keep what sounded like a HIGHLY modified GT500 motor from stalling.
Clearing the opening, the Shelby accelerated quickly towards us, angling across the parking lot and ignoring the lines and lane striping. Straight at us it began to hurdle, sounding like it was still in first gear and flying now, covering the distance in the blink of an eye.
And just as quickly and loudly as he arrived, Ned slammed on the brakes to stop oh-so-melodramatically, his window down.
He shut off the Shelby and it was oddly quiet again. Off in the distance, we could still hear some of the noises from the restaurant and the sounds of cars being started to leave. Normal cars; not cars like the Devil Red Mustang in front of us.
A trains horn sounded far, far off .
I just looked at Ned and grinned. Brandon went to step towards him but I put my arm in front of him to stop him. Surprising, he stopped.
Ned spoke, clearly proving he was a disturbed man.
So where yall been? Ive been waiting for ya down at Winks, telling everyone how some fool in an old Buick was challenging me to a run. But I told them that I knew you wouldnt show up. And, you didnt. Probably for the best there pal, doncha think?
He tried to grin but it was obvious - he didnt know how. He just had some odd look on his contorted face as if he meant to pass gas but got a surprise instead.
Go on home, Ned. Theres not going to be any racing tonight. Like I said in there (nodding towards B-Dubs) lets get together next spring at the track and well have a go at it.
He was shaking his head before I even finished.
Oh, no-sir-ree, Buick Boy. Were gonna dance tonight. I saw your car over there in the lot when I left so I know its here. Lets line em up down there at the light and Ill show you why youve made a big mistake.
No, Ned. Not tonight. Next spring. Cmon guys, lets go.
With that, Ned shook his head angrily but still started his car. I turned my back on Ned walked back towards Brandons Shelby and heard Ned leave back out the way he came in. Stacy and B went ahead and got in the car and Kelly and I turned to cross the street just as I heard Stacy yell out her window before Brandon started his car.
Watch out for him, Steve. Hes trouble.
I thought for a moment and then answered.
You know, Stacy? I think you might just be right. Ill keep my eyes open gnight.
As I walked Kelly to her car, neither of us spoke. Sheesh what a day, I thought to myself. Just a little drive home and then a nice, warm shower and on to bed. At least THIS day was over - finally. I kissed Kelly a quick good-bye kiss and headed on over to the GN, glad it was over indeed.
It wasnt until a few short moments later that I realized just how wrong I really was .
Kelly pulled out of the parking lot just ahead of me, her 05 GTOs lights leading the way. We headed on down Market, winding our way through town. I had kicked on the stereo and was just about to scan the channels when a traffic light separated us she made it through but I was a little too far behind her to make the caution. No biggie I just slowed to a stop with Brandon and Stacy behind me. While I waited for the light to change I hit the Scan button on the faceplate.
I glanced ahead and saw Kellys tail lights slowly fading in the distance. Then, I saw the brake lights come on along with the right turn signal as she was turning onto Arlington, the road that eventually took us out to near where we live.
Since the intersection was a four-lane with a turn lane, it took a couple of minutes for the lights to cycle through, obviously not having vehicle detection built in to the logic. I heard the radio skip through a couple of stations when I heard a loud engine noise to the rear and right of my car. Still waiting for the Green, I craned my neck around and back to see what it was that sounded like someone trying to blow their motor. I knew it wasnt Brandon his car was too new for him to be playing Rev-King games. When I glanced in the passengers side door mirror, I got my answer.
It was Ned who had just jumped out of an alleyway and was coming up to a stop beside me. Oddly, I felt a chill down my spine not out of concern about a race but rather out of concern for Neds mental state. First of all, he was definitely abusing the crap out of the Shelby. It sounded like he even bounced the rev limiter when he bolted from the alleyway. And then, he downshifted it and dumped out the clutch as he came to a stop beside me, to my right. All of this was within 10 seconds or so.
He had his window down and I could see that he was smoking a cigarette; one of those funny-looking, hand rolled jobs. So, that explained a lot of the attitude tonight alcohol and weed are a bad mix. He motioned furiously for me to roll down my window, continuing to rev his car as he did so.
I rolled it down.
Lets go, Buick Boy. Lets go right here, right now. There are no cops around, no traffic. Lets run em right NOW, funnyman! CMON! LETS GO!!!
For just a second, I gave a thought to doing so but I also knew that I would regret it, either way. Sheesh what a way for the night to end. I glanced in the rear view mirror and wondered what Brandon was thinking about this turn of events. I would find out a little later.
Ned, settle down. I told you I dont race on the street. Go home and sleep it off. Tomorrow, youll be glad you didnt do something so stupid.
That only infuriated him more.
F*ck you, pal! LETS GO! More revs, more sounds like he was trying to shoot the blown 5.4 out the hood of the gorgeous car. The motor sounded way too healthy to ignore and to assume it would be an easy race.
I said earlier that my GN was an 11 second ride. Well, that is true. It WAS an 11 second car what it was now I didnt know for sure. I hadnt had it to the track since I had put the built Stage II in it. To be honest, I had yet to run the car for a full run so I just wasnt sure.
But my car wasnt 100% in Kill Mode either. I knew the alcohol tank was low but I didnt think it was empty. The air pressure in the Nittos was probably in the low 20s and not in the upper teens where I set it when I run. On a cold street, I doubted if adequate traction could be had. Of course, ol Ned would have the same problem so
Why NOT?
I didnt answer him. I first hit the switch to open the cutout gotta love the solenoid operated cutout option I had installed. The sound and attitude of the Buick went from quietly powerful to serious business.
It was now officially Go-time .
I then hit the line-lock and set about doing a short burnout, right there on Market Street at one in the morning with no other traffic in sight. Looking over at Ned, I saw him grin and then yell something back over the noise of the engines and then roll his window back up but I couldnt make out what he said exactly. I heard him rev and dump the clutch a couple of times to clean his tires. In my mirror I saw Brandon back up a bit, cut over around us and run the light to get down the road a ways to watch. Again no cops in sight, no traffic in this part of town at the moment .
I released the line lock, pulled up a little closer to the intersection as did Ned . I set the trans-brake Ned picked up some revs . I began to boost the Stage II, 2psi 3 psi 4 psi 6 psi lights are cycling Im pushing up against the 3200 rpm converter
The Shelby is now screaming in my right ear. I have no idea what Ned has the rpms at but it is way up on the tach Im sure. Hes going for a banzai launch but so am I.
The Stage Motor hits 8psi of boost just as the opposing lanes light goes from yellow to red. In a split second, our lane goes
GREEN!
We both launch together, rocketing forward and I am absolutely crushed into the seat as I note the front end lift and the steering goes unbelievably light as the front tires nearly lose full contact with the pavement. Thanks to the suspension mods, there is no torque twist of the car it shoots out straight and true, fender to fender with the radical Shelby.
But the Shelby is absolutely screaming in anger now and Ned grabs the gears better than Even Smith. The GT500 doesnt miss a beat and were STILL as if welded together as I feel the 1-2 shift of my tranny, the front end bolting upward just a bit as it does.
Thankfully, weve now passed the last houses on that part of Market. I try to scan the gauges but am absolutely overwhelmed at the sheer, raw power and noise that both of these cars are making. It is too close to tell who if either is ahead; the Shelby is not giving an inch but neither is the Stage II. Everything seems to become a blur that is moving so fast its almost as if its in slow motion.
As the 2-3 shift comes up, I sense that the GN is ever-so-slowly inching ahead just by the slightest of margins. But then - I hear a LOUD bang to my right, catch a glimpse of what looked to be the hood flying up and off the car like a leaf in the wind, and see a flash of light as the Shelby suddenly drops behind as if an anchor was tossed out. I back out of the accelerator and look in the rear view mirror to see what happened.
Just as quickly, I wish I hadnt.
In unbelievably slow motion, I see the Shelbys striped hood floating back to earth while at the same time I see flames licking out of the GT500s engine compartment. There is no way that Ned could see out the front window it looks to be a massive fuel/oil fire.
But then, to make matters worse, the Shelby suddenly yaws left and then back right, as if the rear brakes had locked up and then it goes into a sideways skid, off the road to the right.
At what had to be still at least 60 mph if not more with the drivers side leading the way
My foot is on the brake hard as I watch the Red Mustang sliding in my rear view mirror the front wheels hitting the stoned area just at the edge of the road stones and dirt and dead grass flying up for a moment enormous blue/red/yellow/white/orange flames dancing devilishly from the nose of the car the rear end trying to pass the front end of the Shelby I see the nose dip down as the forces of physics draw the car down into the ditch more grass and dirt and debris being blown up and about eerie lights and shadows playing about the roadway
And then I witness the sickening sight of the Shelby hitting the power pole on its driver side how near the door I could exactly see - with enough deadly force to wrap the car nearly around it. The dust and debris still fill the air but the flames are building even more .
I slam the GN into a power turn and race back there with Brandon and Stacy right with me We bail out of the cars and run upward, me with the extinguisher I grabbed from the mount on the rear floorboard of the Buick
I try to knock down the fire and have only enough success to slow it down for a bit as Brandon tries to rip the drivers door open Ned is slumped in the seat; a huge gash visible on the left side of his head the flames beginning to build again as Brandon smashes the window of the door that unbelievably did not break in the crash Stacy is screaming while she dials 911 on her cell
Its only going to be a matter of time before the Shelby explodes fire is trying to work its way back underneath the car but thankfully, the fuel tank held for now
The extinguisher is empty I run to the passengers side and thats when I see the girl moving her mouth as if to scream but no sounds can be heard shes hysterical and blood is streaming from her mouth and nose her eyes are huge with fear and shes trying to loosen her seat belt but for some reason, it wont release I see that shes got a five-point on and for some odd reason shes feeling along the edge of the seat I smash the window with the empty extinguisher
In the distance, we can hear sirens begin to wail possibly coming our way?
The heat is building the flames are coming back stronger than ever
Brandon is leaning in the drivers window and is trying to free Ned from his five point but Ned is not moving. For all we know, hes dead we just cant tell seconds are going by the heat is building
I hit the release on the girls five point and suddenly shes screaming loudly in my ear, begging me to pull her through the window the door will NOT open due to the body damage I grab her under her arms and pull but she only gets part of the way out
The smell of burning plastic, paint, oil insulation its overwhelming now I finally get the girl out of the car and surprisingly, she takes off running Stacy goes after her as I race around to the other side of the car to try and help Brandon
I see Brandon straining and straining and pulling and tugging, trying to extricate Ned from the Shelby Neds head is just flopping about but Brandon does have him almost out of the car I see foamy blood from his nostrils but it does appear that hes breathing
Finally, Ned is free his feet slide down the side of the door multiple siren sounds are getting louder and louder Stacy catches the girl and holds her close, their silhouettes visible against the back light of the town we just left as she tries to bring her back and around the wreck with Brandon carrying Neds torso and me lifting his legs/feet, we get Ned safely away from the Shelby and over onto the grass near where the GN is parked
The Shelby doesnt explode but it burns frantically, its headlights are still on and mysterious groans and hisses emanate from the burning hulk the fire department and EMS services arrive firemen attack the burning car EMTs and Paramedics run over to us with wheeled stretchers and orange emergency kits, asking us who is hurt they see Ned is seriously hurt and two of them get to work on him immediately
Police cars pull up, their blue and red lights swirling and dancing about the fields reflecting off of street signs, the cars, our faces life is blurring again I realize that Im exhausted and tears are in my eyes as the reality of what just happened hits me like a train from behind I see the EMTs doing CPR on Ned, intubating his airway the defibrillator is pulled from the closest ambulance and ran over as the lead Paramedic rips Neds shirt open
CLEAR! I hear the EMT yell as the paddles are rubbed together and then slapped onto Neds very white chest I see Neds body jump as the jolt of electricity tries to get his heart out of ventricular fibrillation Again, CLEAR! ZAP!.... his body jumps again
Ive got a pulse! Lets load and go NOW! We may not get him back if he goes again!
Cars are now coming from everywhere ambulances and sirens are magnets to those who are curious Stacy continues to hold the girls hand as a female EMT does a first assessment of her condition
I realize that I am shaking and that I miss my wife, Kelly and that I wish this day had never started
Brandon comes over and puts his arm around my shoulders we just stand there, absorbing what has happened but not understanding it
It was not turning out to be a very good day at all and it was already two days long
Just then, I heard, STEVE! Are you ok?! It was Kelly she had seen the lights and since I had never made it home she came back
She came running up, grabbed me around the waist and hugged me it was about the best thing I could think of happening at that point in this very, very bad day
And I didnt even know or care how tomorrow might be . Looking back, it was probably best that I didnt
The next morning, I was sitting at the kitchen table sipping on a very hot cup of black coffee and smearing some butter on the pancakes that Kelly had just fixed for us when the doorbell rang. As I got up to go answer it, I noticed the Sheriffs cruiser in the drive that neither of us had heard pull in. Suddenly, I had a bad feeling that today wasnt going to be any better than the yesterday.
Opening the door, I recognized Jim, a former neighbor who served on the department. Jim had a pretty straight face on when I invited him in.
Mornin, Steve. Mornin, Kelly I hate to bother you guys on a weekend but Ive got some questions I need to ask you about last nights accident. Do you have a few minutes?
Sure Jim. Just pull up a chair at the table. Want some coffee and pancakes? My wife is always the hostess even if our visitor was Bin Laden, Im sure she would offer him some food.
But Jim politely declined, waving his big meaty hand that was holding his flat-rimmed hat in the air.
Nah, Kelly. Ive already ate. This shouldnt take too long and Ill get on out of here and let you enjoy your breakfast.
I could see Jim waffling (pardon the pun) about the coffee though. Kelly DOES make the best coffee around.
Ok, Kelly go ahead. I guess Ill take a cup of coffee if youve got enough. It sure DOES smell good
In a flash, she had it poured and the wonderful smell of fresh coffee rose from the steamy liquids surface like fog off a lake. Jim took a delicate sip, careful not to burn his tongue, sat the cup down and pulled a small tablet out of his breast pocket.
Sure is good, Kel! Ok lets get this over with Heres the first question
For the next 20 minutes, Jim basically just asked us about the previous evening and what transpired. Not once did he broach the subject of street racing but I felt that sooner or later, he was going to ask me about it.
As he wound down, he finally sat the tablet and pen on the table, picked up the cup of coffee and in one long drink, finished it off. He sat upright and leaned forward and looked me straight in the eye.
Steve Ive only got one last question. Were you racing this guy? I dont have any eyewitnesses who say that is the case and even the girl that was in the car with this Ned fellow says he wasnt racing, that it was just an accident. So, tell me were you racing?
Damn. Just when I thought he was going to ignore the obvious, he surprised me.
Jim, before I answer that, I need to know how Ned is doing.
Jim looked at his hat as he twirled it on his hand in sort of an awkward manner.
Neds going to be fine. He was banged up pretty bad and had a broken bone in his left wrist but considering how his new Mustang looked, hes lucky to be alive. Investigators said he hit the pole sideways, doing something like 60mph if his car had hit farther back on the drivers side, he would probably be dead. But it looks like hes gonna be ok. Hes supposed to get out of the hospital later today. The girl was fine; nothing other than a few scrapes and some bruises. Just goes to show you how well these new cars are built.
So were you racing?
I figured honesty has always been the best policy and I sure didnt want to be found out later that I was lying during the course of an investigation.
Yeah, Jim. I was. I know its wrong but I was definitely racing him.
Jim just looked down at the floor for a moment. He seemed to be thinking about what to say next
Well, Steve our friendship goes back a long way so Im not going to lecture you. Since I didnt see it and since no one has come forward to make a statement that you two were letting it all hang out, Im going to act like I didnt hear what you just said. But Ive got to tell you this, Steve - if I see you so much as chirping the tires in that Buick of yours, Im gonna run you in, you got it? Street racing is illegal and dangerous, as you two clowns proved last night. Both of you could be dead right now along with some innocent driver or pedestrian. So take it to the track, ok?
Whew . I sighed to myself. I was thinking that Jim was going to write me up for a real nose-bleed of a ticket. I was very, very lucky. I just nodded agreement
One other thing, Steve
Yeah, Jim?"
Were you winning?
I paused for a moment, appreciating the fact that Jim too is a motorhead and a drag race fan.
Yeah but not by much if at all and we still had more to go. Neds Shelby is er, WAS pretty bad ass. You know my GN doesnt have the original motor in it right now, dont you? I put that Stage 2 mill in that I built last year. But even with the Stage motor, that Shelby had enough mods itself that it was really too close to call. I cant really say if the race had gone the full distance who would have won.
Jim shook his head in amazement.
By the way, did you guys find out what happened? What caused the Ford to lose it? I was definitely curious as to what happened.
Well, were still investigating it but it looks like the nitrous backfired somehow through the blower but the explosion blew the blower off the engine, taking the hood with it. According to Carol the girl in Neds car when the hood it was a fiberglass one by the way - blew off, Ned jerked the wheel to the right and lost control, going into a slide. It also looked like the motor might have seized and with the clutch still engaged, the rear tires just lost traction.
Like I said, were still investigating it but it looks like he basically blew the motor up, lost control, hit a pole, totaled the car, and is damn lucky to be alive this morning. Oh one more thing
What?
He wanted me to ask you to give him a call. Heres his home number he didnt say what he wanted you to call him for just that you should give him a call tomorrow sometime.
Ok, Jim. Ill do that. Anything else?
Nah, Steve, Kelly thats pretty much it. Neds insurance has already been contacted and he claims hell get another car out of it. I guess EVERY one involved was pretty lucky last night. You guys take care. Kelly? Thanks for the coffee. And Steve? Remember what I said about taking it to the track, ok? Id hate to have to scrape you up off the road.
With that, Jim left. Kelly looked at me with one of those patented, I TOLD you so looks.
See Steve? See why Ive been telling you to get your head out of your butt about this racing on the streets? That could be YOU laying up there in the hospital, with more serious injuries than a broken wrist. Promise me you wont race on the street anymore, ok?
I pulled her in close and gave her a hug. How could I resist?
Sure, Kel I promise
Even as we kissed, we both knew I was lying
*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
Later that afternoon, I finally got out in the garage and under the hood of the GN. It didnt look any worse for the wear following the previous nights events but as I was checking the oil, I thought I saw something on the floor beneath the engine.
Something shiny and wet.
Putting the dipstick back in, I grabbed the flashlight off the bench and knelt down in front of the grille. Flicking the switch on, I shined the light back under the car, not seeing anything at first.
But then it caught my eye. There was definitely a puddle of liquid; maybe even two. Due to the angle, I couldnt tell where it was coming from so after putting the flashlight back, I grabbed the floor jack and axle stands and got the car up in the air.
Lying back on the creeper, I glided back under the car with the flashlight in hand once more. I examined the puddle closely and smeared some of the fluid on my fingers. Bringing them up to the light, my heart sank.
Oil. And lots of it and right beside it, almost mixing in with the oil, was a slightly smaller puddle of antifreeze.
Double Damn!
Where the hell could it be coming from? Twisting back over on the creeper, I cast the light up into the dark recesses of the underside of the engine bay, looking for a tell-tale drip or run.
It didnt take long to find where it LOOKED like the oil was coming from - the passengers side of the block, possibly from around the front corner area above the pan. Not a good sign The Antifreeze source took a little longer but ended up being just a bad thermostat gasket that was seeping and letting the fluid drip on down to the floor. But the oil leak worried me.
Three hours later, I came to a bad conclusion the motor was going to have to come out of the car. After tearing off nearly the entire front end of the motor, it appeared that there was either a leaky pan gasket or more likely a small crack in the block casting. I just couldnt be sure without pulling the motor so rather than guess, I slid back out from under the car and went inside to see if I could get Brandon on the phone.
Luckily, B was available and came on over. As soon as he got there, he slid under the GN and then slid back out with the same opinion the motor needed to come out of the car.
Sheesh here was yet again ANOTHER one of the those days
A few hours later and after several scraped and bloodied knuckles, a couple of large pepperoni pizzas and some sodas, the Stage motor was out of the car and on the stand. Parts and tools were scattered all about the floor of the garage, tagged and identified for return back to the car. Sure enough, there looked to be a small, hairline crack just above the bolt hole for the pan mounting that was allowing some oil seepage. Only after complete disassembly could I be sure but it didnt look good.
Damn, damn, damn what a sucky weekend .
Thankfully, I still had the original motor on a stand under plastic in the corner of the garage. It was all stock internals but did have a TE-60 turbo, 009s, etc and had propelled the car to the to a best ET of high 11s but still had some room in it I felt.
After some debate, B and I decided, Why not? So, we set into another wrench fest with a fury and in a few more hours had the GNs original motor back in the car. Thankfully, everything went back in with not much hassle. After a few spins of the starter, the 3.8 fired off and settled into a nice staccato rhythm of exhaust noise, the exhaust still not hooked up to the Downpipe. Kelly had given up a few hours before but I had no doubt that she had to have heard the motor fire it was after midnight and in the cold night air, the little V6 sounded like a Top-fueler in the pits at the US Nationals.
For the first time that day, I think I finally smiled.
You know, Steve I never liked that stage .
Posts: 179
Joined: 4-September 06
From: North Phoenix
Member No.: 431
It was one of those days. You know; the kind that you just wish you hadnt even got out of bed for? Seemed like everything I touched just went in the dumpster all morning beginning with the stupid alarm clock.
It didnt even go off. Piece of crap; finally, I had to admit that I was going to accept the fact that I was going to have to replace it. On top of that, I was already late for work and because I was hurrying in the shower, I cut my face shaving in not one but two places. I looked like a poster-boy for a toilet paper pieces commercial. But out the door I went, grabbing the keys to the GN on the way.
When I got out in the garage, I see another disappointment for the day. Damn! The right rear tire was low.
Again.
Sheesh when will I ever learn? The tire needs to come off and be looked at. It obviously has a slow leak and since I hadnt driven the GN since the previous Wednesday, I didnt think about. Which, in retrospect, seems like something I do (or dont do) a lot think. Well, I was already late, it was forecast to be a great Ohio morning for late fall (a predicted high of mid-60* and this was two days after Thanksgiving how great is THAT?), and I wanted to get the Buick out for the short drive to work just to work all the fluids around again. Of course, that great plan was now delayed since I was going to have to get the air hose and air up the Nitto DR again.
Yep, I shoulda learned a long time ago deal with it now while youre thinking about or youll have to deal with it at a time when you really dont have the time.
This day was one of those times.
As I was airing the tire up (which really wasnt that low it looked much worse than it actually was), I was running through my plans for the day. Head into work and put a fresh tank of 93 octane in the car on the way. Cut out early since I was only really going in to catch up on some paperwork and then head on over to Barstow to hook up with some friends for some wings and drinks before the big game. Ok, so I was going to be delayed a bit was it really that big of a deal? After all, I DID have some extra time so, I relaxed a bit.
Testing the tire pressure again to make sure it was up to snuff, I put the Chrome valve stem cap back on and coiled the hose back up before opening the glistening black door and sliding into the drivers seat. No matter how old I get, sliding into the seat of a Turbo Buick will always be a thrill. For some reason that is unexplainable, it just makes me feel like I should expect something and that it will come to pass.
Something great. Even if it is just a drive or a cruise, doing so in a Turbo Buick, especially an 11 second GN, was indeed something great.
As I turned the key and listened to the fuel pump come up to pressure and kick off (love the sound of that Walbro 340M for some reason!), I thought about my previous GNs I had owned. My first one was a brand new one back in 1987. Chuckling to myself, I remembered how the rear tires on that car only lasted a little over 600 miles. Yeah it was always great to drive a GN unless you were its rear tires.
Twisting the key on to Start, I smiled as I heard the motor fire on what had to be the first spin of the starter. Gotta love that 3.8SFI Ive never had a car that starts as easy as these cars. Maybe Ive just been lucky but no matter; mine have ALWAYS started quickly and fast. Well, as long as I had a good battery in them.
Or, as long as that stupid Fan Delay Relay didnt crap out on me.
Again. And out of town to boot. But thats another story. 
Letting the car warm up for a moment before easing the shifter back into R to back out of the garage, I remembered that Brandon was supposed to be at B-dubs today. Youve really got to meet Brandon to understand what Im about to tell you but Ill try
Backing on out of the garage and touching the garage door opener to close, I head on out the drive and begin the drive to work. Hmm I really need a hot coffee. I wonder if Mickey Ds is open? Those thoughts raced through my head oh, where was I? Yeah I was about to tell you about Brandon. Ok, here goes.
First of all, Brandon is loyal. Hes a guy who will have your back no matter what. If he is your friend, hes there for you, no matter what. Even if you are undeniably wrong, he will stand with you to the end. So, for that Ive always been grateful.
Brandon is also a pretty big guy. Not fat just big. Nearly 63 which is two inches taller than me, he is an imposing figure. And, he has arms the size of cannons, mainly from all his years loading stock at UPS.
But Brandon is also a Ford guy. Oooh . Major flaw, right? Yeah, I thought so too. And did I mention loyal? Well, Brandon is one of those guys who will definitely bleed Ford Blue when hes cut, assuming you can cut his alligator leathery skin. And on top of that, hes not just a Ford guy hes a Ford Mustang Guy.
Yeah one of THOSE guys.
So, you can imagine the debates weve had over the years. Hes always had a Mustang and Ive always had GNs (well, when I had the money to have a performance car, that is). While Ive dallied with GTOs, Camaros, Firebirds, Olds 442s (not the anemic late 70s early 80s crap the REAL hairy-chested 442s from the late 60s and early 70s), Brandon has owned nothing but Mustangs.
Now, hes had some real impressive ponies I must add. He had a sharp 67 Shelby (that he sold just recently at Barrett-Jackson for BIG bucks), a 70 Boss 302, a 69 Mach 1 with the 428 that ran solid high 11s with the few mods he did to it, several 5.0s, a 95 Cobra R, two different Terminators (an 03 and a particularly nasty Competition Orange 04), and his current car, a white/blue striped 06 Mustang GT (Screaming Yellow) with the Roush Stage 3 package. And, hes had a few other Ford products over the years, including a stock 03 Mercury Marauder, a few different F-150s, and a 70 or 71 Torino GT that was a pretty good ride.
Like I said Brandon is loyal to his Fords. But, hey theres nothing wrong with that. Thats just Brandon.
As I slowed for the intersection, I note that the traffic is light. Well, at this time of the morning (6:30am) it usually is on a Saturday. This morning was no exception. I pull on into the Golden Arches and when I roll down the incredibly slow-moving Buick window (gotta do that power window mod someday) I smell the wonderfully addictive smell of fast food in the cool, crisp air. I order my food and move on around to the pick up window (Second window, please!) but just as I round the corner I notice that there is some ongoing construction at this restaurant. Well, normally, that isnt a big deal, right?
Wrong.
Because with construction comes mud. It could be the middle of July and no rain for a month in this part of Ohio, if somebody is digging theres gonna be mud. And yep, I have no choice but to drive right through it to get up to that Mecca of fast food the Second Window. Please.
I hear the grimy clay-like stuff flicking and spitting off my tires onto my recently waxed fenders. Ugh.
Now isnt that great? Brown clay spots on my black car.
Yep its one of THOSE days.
So, I grab my order (Coffee, black and an sausage/egg McMuffin) and head on out, hearing more little tic, tics of mud flinging off my tires and onto my car. Damn
Oh well, Ill have time to spray it off before I head to join the crowd. In a moment, I make the parking lot for work, park out by the fence away from everyone, get out, lock up and head on inside to knock out the work-du jour, a bite of McMuffin already being chewed to bits as I pass through the gate.
The 6 hours go by pretty quickly other than a big fight with the printer (just another part of this day) but just as I am ready to leave my desk the phone rings. Its my wife.
Did Brandon get a hold of you?
No, I answer. I dont know why, but the guy just refuses to call my work number. And since my cell was charging on the desk it was off. What did he want?
Im not sure. He just said to tell you that hell meet you in the parking lot by your car hes there now and hes got something to show you.
Hmmm what could it be THIS time? A new girl? A new car? A new watch? With Brandon, you just never know. Hes a guy who changes stuff more often than anyone I know so it could be anything.
As I pass through the gate, I cant see the parking lot but I crane my neck a bit as I round the corner of the office building and thats when I see it.
A black late model Mustang without any stripes on it but it does look to have some big tires. Hmm . The new body style (05 or newer) for sure which I think looks great.
But this one has an unusual hood and wheels. It definitely isnt his current ride, the 06 Roush. What is it?
As I get closer (still a couple hundred yards away), I notice that the front grille doesnt have the extra fog lights like his GT does but the sides of the grille opening area seem to have a peculiar slant to them. I wonder if its a V6 car for a daily driver?
I watch Brandon open the drivers door as the passenger door opens too, both getting out at the same time. Well, the other one is Stacy, his latest (but nicest) true love (more on her later! 
.I see that there is an unusual emblem on the side of the car just about the same time I notice Brandons mile-wide grin.
Its a snake. And not just any snake. Its a Cobra. OMG Brandon just stepped out of an 07 Shelby GT-500 without stripes.
And it is drop-dead gorgeous.
He notes my lower jaw scraping the ground and comes up to greet me as I approach the car.
Well? he asks. Whadayathink? His brilliantly white, perfectly aligned teeth gleemed with the huge grin he was flashing - I was almost blinded by the glare from them in the brilliant afternoon sunshine.
I just grin back and nod, trying not to show TOO much excitement. Is it yours? is all I can think to ask as I take in the serious attitude of the Shelby.
Oh, yeah baby. She's mine, all right. I just picked it up an hour ago. I happened to walk into Anderson Ford for some filters as they were taking it off the truck this morning. One thing led to another and then the next thing I know, Im signing the papers. Man, youve got to hear this thing .
I just stand there in amazement. An honest-to-God 07 Shelby Cobra, all of its 500 Horses backed by that wonderful 6 speed, is parked next to my GN here in the light of day. I couldnt figure out why there wasnt a crowd of people gawking at it like I was until I realized that I had answered that question before I realized what the car was.
This car really just wasnt that noticeable without the stripes that every other Mustang you see on every street corner in Small Town, USA has. Actually, it kind of looked like a mildly body-worked V-6 Mustang which I thought was kinda cool. Stealthy
How far in you did they break off the price? I asked him looking the lines of the car over, all the while thinking about all the Marketing Adjustments of $10k or more I had read about on various car forums since the car was first announced.
Thats the cool thing, Steve . I got it for MSRP. After all, I am one of Andersons best customers, you know. They wanted me to give them a nickel over but I told them no way. So, in the end, I got her for sticker and Im happy.
I had to agree. Only paying a bit over $43k for this awesome car was a pretty good deal.
So where ya heading, Steve?
Well, I WAS just going over to the new car wash on Cable to blow the mud off my GN. Wanna follow me over? I would love to get a good look at your car but Ive got to get the crud off mine.
Ive got a better idea he said. YOU drive the Shelby, me and Stacy will take your GN. Hows that? I would really like to know what you think of it anyhow. I mean, its stock and its new so its probably gonna be a little doggy for a while but still, take her for a spin and tell me what you think, ok?
How could I turn THAT down? So, I tossed him my keys to the GN, opened the door to the Shelby and slid on inside. What was the first thing I noticed?
That wonderfully delicious new car smell! Leather, plastic, metal, paint, cloth, carpet it all overwhelmed my senses as I ran my hand over the passenger side seat suede insert. It smelled
Good. I'm being honest here - it did!
It smelled (and felt) REAL good. But how would it drive, I wondered to myself as I slid the fat key into the ignition.
How would it drive? Hmmm.....
I sat back in the seat of the Shelby and was immediately swept back to another time - back to when I bought my first GN. Even 20 years couldnt separate the feeling, the smell, the sensation of sitting in a new and very powerful car. It was a heady feeling; one of knowing that all sorts of excitement was at my beck and call by simply matting the pedal beneath my right foot.
Ah but there was a difference too. Horsepower
The Shelby has an alluring call to it. You only have to look down at the Cobra on the steering wheel emblem to know that it, like the GN, is a breed all its own. From the fat steering wheel to the gauges, from the feel of the contoured seats to the view out over the slightly bulged and vented hood, you know that the GT500 is all business - at least 200 more HP of business - stock - versus the GN as it came from the factory.
And there is no denying that when you turn the key
Since the door was still open, when I slid the key on into the cylinder, the gentle pong of the chime began to politely remind me to close the door, strap in, and hold on. And by rotating the key, I brought to life the engine of the most powerful Mustang Ford had ever built.
The motor didnt start as much as it angrily exploded to life. In a very similar fashion to the way the Intercooled V6 in my GN had started earlier that morning, the 5.4 seemed as if it wanted to jump out of the K-member and smack down anything that dared challenge its authority. And the subtleness of the exhaust belied the explosive power being fired in the cylinders it rumbled but not in an untoward way just a muscular beat but without a lot of cam-effect that had a very, very sinister tone to it.
At nearly the same time, I heard Brandon fire the GN. I looked over at him but couldnt see inside the deeply tinted glass but I knew that he, just like me, had a silly but appreciative grin on his stupid mug.
I snugged up the seat/shoulder belt, depressed the clutch (and was pleasantly surprised at how real it felt, not overly harsh but not like a marshmallow either), released the e-brake, snicked the shifter into first and began to pull away. The first impression I had of the power was the ease that the car pulled out there didnt seem to even be a chance of stalling the motor. Ive driven Terminators and they can be a little finicky at low RPMs and can even be stalled fairly easily if you dont have enough Rs to keep the torque flowing.
That just didnt seem to be the case with the Shelby. It almost felt as if I could hook onto a house and drag it behind me and to be able to say that about a Mod-Motor is saying something.
This motor felt STRONG.
Running it through the gears was uneventful and smooth all the while feeling as if I was guiding a hungry panther through a sea of gazelles. Even the shifters position was placed in a good place and wasnt notchy or sloppy in the least. At one of the first lights I was stopped at, I happened to look over to my right and saw that Brandon was beside me with the window down, motioning for me to roll down mine.
Waiting for the light to change, he gave me the So? look.
I gave him the thumbs up I definitely was impressed. This car feels powerful and in turn, makes the driver feel almost invincible. Theres only one other car Ive driven that made me feel like that.
Yep. My GN.
By the time we got close to the Carwash, I was feeling pretty good about the shifter and shift points so I decided to wind it on out a bit since we were in a 45 mph zone. Once I pulled away from the light, I left it in first and gave the pony most of the go-pedal, immediately rewarded with a massive shove against my chest and pushing me back into the seat without manners. The tach swept upward in a dizzying pace and I short shifted at ~5500rpm, feeling the torque once more and hearing the big blower howl with impunity. Just as quickly, I let out of it and noticed that Brandon was way behind me. Looking down, I watched the speedo spiraling downward from almost 70 mph.
I knew then and there that the Shelby is no poseur, even with less than 50 miles on the clock at that point.
I rolled on into the car wash and let the car idle a bit as Brandon pulled on in beside me. We both shut down within seconds of each other and I got out shaking my head.
Well? Whadaythink?, he grinned once more.
Brandon . THAT is a car to be reckoned with. No doubt shes got the power and it isnt even broken in yet. I have no doubt that its a solid mid-12 second or lower car as she sits right there. With traction, you might even be high 11s . and I dont care what people say about its weight it just does NOT feel like a heavy car.
He just nodded in agreement, his goofy grin still trying to blind me.
Yeah, B you did good. I couldnt lie I liked his car. And after all, how can a GN guy not like a black car with balls the size of coconuts?
As we swapped places, I looked back at the GT500. I had to admit to myself that I really DID like its looks. The understated ness of no stripes, no big massive fog lights in the grille, no big Look at ME! scoop on the hood it was a modern day GN to be sure. And after the experiences I have had with the Terminators (my son owns a black 03 10 second street monster), I just KNEW that the Shelby was a valid heir to the throne that had yet to be vacated by the Terms.
Yep there is going to be trouble on the streets when more of these bad-boys begin to prowl.
Brandon and Stacy jumped in the Cobra, waved goodbye and headed on over to B-dubs. I watched and listened as the pulled away and only had one thought .
I wanted to run that car with my GN. I just had to know how strong the Shelby really was. Little did I know that I would find out much sooner rather than later.
By the time I got to the restaurant, my wife was already there sitting with the crowd. The parking lot was so full, I didnt even see Brandons car but I knew he was there because my wife had called me on the cell to see if I had got lost. When I told her about having to wash off the car, I could hear the hes so anal about keeping that car clean sigh Ive heard a million times. Thankfully, I know shes not TOO upset about it.
Making my way through the crowd, I finally spied the tables where we had gathered, not too far out from one of the big Plasma TVs scattered about the noisy place. The smell of wings and brews was mixed in with the sights and sounds of a noisy restaurant holiday crowd; sounds of clanking glasses, silverware on plates, children squealing with delight over their desserts, and so forth it felt nice. Thats one of the things Ive always liked about the place it just feels like home.
As I got closer to the table, I saw Brandon and Stacy to my wifes right with the girls engaged in conversation. Brandon was jawing with a guy I hadnt met before but that wasnt unusual Brandon never met a stranger. I swear he just loves to talk. And 99.9% of the time, its about cars. Well, as long as Stacy wasnt around. Then, it was usually about girls AND cars.
I decided to say hello. Anyone who could last more than a minute listening to Brandon talk about Fords was either A) a Ford lover too or, deaf. As I got closer Brandon, stood up and pulled up a chair for me to sit with him.
Steve, this here is Ned. I met him today at the dealership and invited him to join us.
Ned and I shook hands but for some odd reason, I got a weird vibe sort of one of those strange, deja-vu experiences. Had I met this guy somewhere before? I just didnt know... Odd the guy just seemed to be a bit unfriendly I thought. Maybe it was just my imagination but something seemed a bit off-key. Where did I see him and when? But good ol Brandon broke that train of thought for me.
I didnt get a chance to tell you but Ned here bought the first Shelby in the state. He got it up at Findlay did you see it in the parking lot out there?
Nah, I didnt. But I would like to have I was sure impressed with yours so seeing another one would be icing on the cake. I figured I would toss out a compliment and see if that broke the ice with Ned.
It didnt. He didnt say a word. No matter Brandon had enough words for all three of us.
Steve, his car is a Red one with white stripes. I gotta admit it its pretty eye-catching. I cant believe you didnt see it out there. What side did you park on?
I parked out there on the Mall side away from everyone. Where did you guys park?
Ned spoke. Yet, I couldnt quite put my finger on why this guy seemed familiar.
We parked across the street in the Lowes lot. I cant believe you didnt see my car, dude. Seems like everyone else has! Some clown in a Camaro bout ran off the street just starin at the Shel! and with that, he burst out in one of the most loud and obnoxious laughs Ive ever heard. Some people jerked their heads around with odd looks on their face as if to ask, Who let Mr. Ed in here? But Mr. Ed, er, I mean Ned, didnt let that stop him. Seemed like attention was the fuel that this guy needs.
Of course, Im used to it. Ever since I got the car back from the Tuners, its been getting a lot of attention. Just like it should its the new sheriff in town now. When you leave, make sure you look at it but take a napkin. I know youre gonna drool.
It was then that the memory smacked me hard! The word Sheriff was the trigger.
National Trails drag strip in Columbus, about 8-9 years ago. He was banned from the track that year for having been caught tampering with his closest competitors car in the sportsman class. What the tampering was had never been revealed (although there was a flurry of rumor about him loosening some lug nuts on a car) but the guy was a cheater and everyone in Columbus knew it. He disappeared from the area right after that and I had heard he had gone down south somewhere.
But I was there when the track officials confronted him that day in the staging lanes (I was two cars back from his supposed record-breaking car in the same lane) and Ned laughed that same, egotistical laugh as he told the officials to take hike. Thankfully, they remained steadfast and called for the Sheriff to escort Mr. Ed from the premises, which they did. Some people said he made all sorts of threats about lawsuits and such but I never heard any more about the guy.
Until today. Yep, it was definitely one of THOSE days.
And now, here he was, back in the flesh, eating wings and drinking beer at the same table with me and B and our wives.
Hey. Brandon here tells me youve got one of those old-school Buicks is that right? He seemed to even sneer as he asked the question.
Yeah its a GN.
Is it as fast as he says? Hmm where was this guy going? I wasnt sure I wanted to know, knowing what I already knew about him.
Fast enough, I guess.
Maybe we oughta line em up after the game. You know, sort of a friendly little race just to see how well Old School can do against New School. I promise I wont embarrass ya TOO BAD! Har-har-HAR!!!
Brandon had the oddest look on his face, almost as if he just found out his fly was open. It was obvious he didnt know his new buddy was an first class jerk.
Not today, Ned. Too much traffic and besides, I would rather race at the track. Its much safer. Maybe next spring, huh? By that time, Brandon will have his car broken in and we can take the three of them.
Neds face darkened. Aw, cmon Buick-boy. I wont even put any money on it. Well just run for fun and I can show you we get it done with the blue oval these days.
Ok. Now, Im a little pissed. Lets see how late the game runs, ok Ed? (I purposely said his name wrong just to poke a stick in his blood-shot eye )
Its NED, not Ed. And ok, well see. Ive beat everything else Ive ran against, might as well add a Buick to the list. HAR-HAR-HAR!!!
I noticed that Brandon was strangely quiet up till then but he spoke. Steve, lets go up to the bar and see where our waitress is. I want to tell you something I read in the manual about my car anyhow
So, off Brandon and I went, trying to snake through the crowd. But as we got out of earshot of the table, he stopped me.
Steve, first - this guy's a JERK! But beyond that - Neds car is serious business. It isnt stock either. I know you were impressed with mine and its a bad boy all right. But Neds hasnt just been tuned. Its had a LOT of stuff done to it.
Like what?
Suspension work. A new blower and CAI. Gears and an aluminum driveshaft. ET Streets on aluminum wheels. Dyno tuned. And more. If hes not lying, its supposedly putting down nearly 700 rwhp, if not more - you just don't know what to believe from this guy it seems. I just thought you should know this isnt a stock Shelby youre looking to run.
I nodded my head as I listened.
"But I will tell you this Steve - his Shelby DOES sound wicked. It makes mine sound like a kitten..."
Hmmm....
Brandon, a lot of the time and as you know better than anyone, in a race, it isnt how much dog is in the fight. Its how much fight is in the dog. Well see how it goes ok? Im not afraid of his shiny new red car. Ive been beaten by better guys a lot better of a man than him so even if I would race and lose, thats no big deal. But Ive also got a feelin that ol Ned doesnt realize what Ive got under the hood either. Did you tell him about my GN, about what I did to it?
Nah only that you had a Turbo Buick. And when I did, he licked his lips like a dog thinking of a raw steak. But he doesnt really know what youve got.
Good. Lets keep it that way. At least for now
Brandon and I hung out at the bar for a minute or two until we found our waitress, ordered drinks and went back to our table. The girls were still talking a mile a minute and Ned had engaged another mutual friend that B and I both hung with from time to time Jason. Even before we got to the table, we heard Neds obnoxious laugh (most likely at something he said that only HE thought was funny) Har-har-HAR!
And it was true. Even as we sat down, Ned was regaling poor Jason about his new GT500 and how bad it was. We were fortunate enough to hear the repeat about the guy in the Camaro that bout ran off the street just to get a good look at my Shel! Har-har-HAR!!
Brandon looked at me with one of those Good grief is this guy for REAL? looks. But Ned wasnt about to let up now; not that he had an audience.
Well, there ya are Buick Boy! Where ya been? Looking for more parts for your little V6? Har-har-HAR!
The butt clown then slapped the table with his hand really hard for emphasis as he uncorked more of his unique laughter at his own un-funny joke. Ok . Enough was enough.
I leaned in towards him and just stared at him, unblinking. It took a second but Ned got the message. He shut his pie hole and just sneered a bit. I wanted to choke Brandon for inviting this guy but resisted the urge. But I also had something to say.
You know, Ned Brandon invited you hear out of the goodness of his heart which is bigger than his brain, sometimes. But for you to talk smack and we dont even really know each other seems pretty rude to me. Sure, youve probably got a shiny red car with cute stripes but still, its just a car. You like yours; I like mine so lets leave it at that, ok? Youve got a lot of nerve running your mouth here and not even knowing what it is youre blabbing about so knock it off.
Ned blinked. Most likely, very few people had ever spoke to him like that before but man, enough was enough. And I had had enough. Kelly, my wife, gave me one of her Please dont embarrass me! looks and I smiled back at her.
Which, I dont think helped. But I wasnt going to stop now
Ed, everyone at our table is tired of your trying to be the center of attention. If you want to sit and have dinner with us, drink a couple of long-necks and have a good time, then youre welcome to stay. But if this is gonna continue, why dont you find another table because were tired of you and your act. You REALLY need to grow up.
Sometimes, I surprise even myself. Brandon, for the first time since I had met him, was speechless. Angry at Ned, yes. But still, speechless.
I could see the red rise in Neds face and cheeks. I obviously had pushed a button or two.
You know something, dude? I was just havin some fun and you go and get all pissy with me. Fine. Ill head on out of this dump over to someplace that has people who can appreciate the opportunity to hang with someone like me. I was going to be nice and try to not embarrass you too bad whenever we run but no more. When we meet on the street or the track, Im gonna bury you so deep, you will have to look up just to see your own ass. You have no clue who you are messin with, pal.
Oh, I am quite sure who you are Ned. I found out a lot about you when I watched you get escorted out of Columbus 8-9 years ago for cheating.
Oh yeah. Shot, swish, point, game. I thought his face was red before but now, it was almost purple.
But to his credit, he just stood up, tossed a Twenty onto the table, and glared at me, his beady, rat-like features looking almost comical in the light.
However, he did have one more thing to add. Youre gonna wish you hadnt said that, pal. Oh, how you are gonna wish that you had not said that He then spun on his heel and left.
Brandon, always the jester, broke the tension.
Well, that went well, didnt it? Sheesh what a jerk!
We all had a good laugh and the rest of the evening at the restaurant went as planned. I didnt even care who won the game because Ive never been a sports fan unless it was a sport performed a quarter mile at a time. But regardless, before we knew it, the girls were all clamoring to head home. But then, Stacy spoke asked a question really.
Steve? Do you think Ned is waiting on you? You know, to run?
I hadnt given it much thought I guess.
Aw, Stacy, I doubt it. Hes probably over at the Macaroni Grille right now with all his peeps, sipping on some fancy drink with a little paper umbrella in it, and has forgotten all about any sort of race. Besides, its after midnight its too late for any silly stuff now. Ive been up since early this morning and Im ready for some shuteye.
My lovely wife nodded her sleepy little head in agreement. But Stacy brought us back to reality.
I dont know Steve. That guy doesnt seem like the kind of person I would turn my back on and I think you really made him angry. You just might want to keep your eyes open is all Im sayin.
Thanks Stacy. Ill keep that in mind. Brandon, you guys leaving now?
He pulled Stacy close.
Yeah, lets head on out. Ive gotta drive right by your place anyhow so Ill be right behind you I want you to tell me if my headlights are aimed too high or not anyways. This will give me a chance to see your tail lights because Im sure it will be the only time Ill see them when Im in my Shel Har-har-HAR!
We ALL got a belly laugh out of Bs impersonation (a bad one at that) of Ned. It was definitely the nightcap we needed. With that, out the door we went and into the cold night air.
Actually, it felt great being outside after being cooped up in the restaurant all evening. We walked out the opposite door (which was facing Lowes) I had come in earlier and it was then that we saw it something was on Brandons windshield. We couldnt make it out what it was but it kind of looked like a big piece of paper or something tucked beneath the wiper blade. Maybe a sales flier?
Instead of separating there and my wife and I going to our cars, we walked on across the street to see what was on Bs car.
It was a note.
From Ned.
And it wasnt a nice one. Brandon read it aloud.
Hey buddy. Tell your Buick Boy Ill be waiting for him tonight down at Winks Drive-In. Ill be there until around 12:30 and if his balls are as big as his mouth, he wont avoid me. Ive got something I want to show him. And if he DOESNT show, Ill find him. It may not be tonight or tomorrow, but Ill find him. He cant dodge me forever. Make sure you tell him.
I just laughed. Man, did this guy ever get past the 7th grade?
But - Brandon was furious. First, because someone had the audacity to touch his car. Or, the wiper blade TO his car. But beyond that, he was mad because someone had called out his friend and remember the loyalty thing I told you about earlier? he wasnt having anything of it.
Steve, lets go down there and show him whats what! I want to rip his head off for even touching my car but Ill agree to wait until after you hand him his butt with the GN first. Whadayasay?
Stacy spoke as Kelly pulled up tight and increased her grip on my arm. See Steve? See what I mean? This guy isnt right and to make a threat like that? Thats scary!
Stacy, hes just a punk and a bully and most likely isnt used to people standing up to him. Dont worry about. Im sure hell crawl back under his rock and we wont see him again.
I had no more than said that, standing there in Lowes parking lot at nearly one oclock in the morning with a cold breeze brushing my face when I heard it.
It was a car with a very, very loud exhaust slowing to a stop at the intersection about 200 yards from where we stood. We all turned at the same time to look and at first, we just thought it was another late model Mustang with some stripes slowing to stop. But THIS car was pretty loud; louder than any other mod-motor Mustang I had heard on the street.
Steve? I think that that is Neds car
Brandon had said answered a question I had just formulated in my mind. It was definitely a Shelby.
Weird isnt it? You can go for months and not see a rare performance automobile but then Bam! You see TWO of them in the same day??! Like I said it was going to be one of THOSE days .
We watched the blinker of the Shelby come on as it stopped at the light. Oddly, the breeze that had been tousling our hair and nipping at our cheeks stopped blowing and the night seemed amazingly quiet.
The Shelby sat there at the light, idling with a very deep, basso-profundo exhaust note. It was Red. It had white stripes and it definitely had aftermarket wheels.
It HAD to be Neds car. And it was getting ready to turn into Lowes parking lot.
This is gonna be interesting, I said.
Lets go, Steve. You dont need to get into a fight with an idiot tonight, ok?, said Kelly, not sounding like she really meant it. Later, I found out that even SHE wanted a piece of Ned but that too is another story.
So, we watched the Shelby idle. I could imagine how its turn signal flasher sounded after having driven Brandons car only hours earlier
Tinka tinka . Tinka tinka tinka
We watched the opposing lanes light illuminate the caution.
Still, I could hear in my head that eerie blinker sound in concert with the exhaust note from from Pro-Stock Hell... Tinka tinka . Tinka tinka tinka . Badda ba- badda badda, badda ba .
The light changed and the events of the night were now set in motion.
The Shelby pulled into the lot, its front valance nearly scraping the inclined approach, Ned feathering the exhaust and the clutch to keep what sounded like a HIGHLY modified GT500 motor from stalling.
Clearing the opening, the Shelby accelerated quickly towards us, angling across the parking lot and ignoring the lines and lane striping. Straight at us it began to hurdle, sounding like it was still in first gear and flying now, covering the distance in the blink of an eye.
And just as quickly and loudly as he arrived, Ned slammed on the brakes to stop oh-so-melodramatically, his window down.
He shut off the Shelby and it was oddly quiet again. Off in the distance, we could still hear some of the noises from the restaurant and the sounds of cars being started to leave. Normal cars; not cars like the Devil Red Mustang in front of us.
A trains horn sounded far, far off .
I just looked at Ned and grinned. Brandon went to step towards him but I put my arm in front of him to stop him. Surprising, he stopped.
Ned spoke, clearly proving he was a disturbed man.
So where yall been? Ive been waiting for ya down at Winks, telling everyone how some fool in an old Buick was challenging me to a run. But I told them that I knew you wouldnt show up. And, you didnt. Probably for the best there pal, doncha think?
He tried to grin but it was obvious - he didnt know how. He just had some odd look on his contorted face as if he meant to pass gas but got a surprise instead.
Go on home, Ned. Theres not going to be any racing tonight. Like I said in there (nodding towards B-Dubs) lets get together next spring at the track and well have a go at it.
He was shaking his head before I even finished.
Oh, no-sir-ree, Buick Boy. Were gonna dance tonight. I saw your car over there in the lot when I left so I know its here. Lets line em up down there at the light and Ill show you why youve made a big mistake.
No, Ned. Not tonight. Next spring. Cmon guys, lets go.
With that, Ned shook his head angrily but still started his car. I turned my back on Ned walked back towards Brandons Shelby and heard Ned leave back out the way he came in. Stacy and B went ahead and got in the car and Kelly and I turned to cross the street just as I heard Stacy yell out her window before Brandon started his car.
Watch out for him, Steve. Hes trouble.
I thought for a moment and then answered.
You know, Stacy? I think you might just be right. Ill keep my eyes open gnight.
As I walked Kelly to her car, neither of us spoke. Sheesh what a day, I thought to myself. Just a little drive home and then a nice, warm shower and on to bed. At least THIS day was over - finally. I kissed Kelly a quick good-bye kiss and headed on over to the GN, glad it was over indeed.
It wasnt until a few short moments later that I realized just how wrong I really was .
Kelly pulled out of the parking lot just ahead of me, her 05 GTOs lights leading the way. We headed on down Market, winding our way through town. I had kicked on the stereo and was just about to scan the channels when a traffic light separated us she made it through but I was a little too far behind her to make the caution. No biggie I just slowed to a stop with Brandon and Stacy behind me. While I waited for the light to change I hit the Scan button on the faceplate.
I glanced ahead and saw Kellys tail lights slowly fading in the distance. Then, I saw the brake lights come on along with the right turn signal as she was turning onto Arlington, the road that eventually took us out to near where we live.
Since the intersection was a four-lane with a turn lane, it took a couple of minutes for the lights to cycle through, obviously not having vehicle detection built in to the logic. I heard the radio skip through a couple of stations when I heard a loud engine noise to the rear and right of my car. Still waiting for the Green, I craned my neck around and back to see what it was that sounded like someone trying to blow their motor. I knew it wasnt Brandon his car was too new for him to be playing Rev-King games. When I glanced in the passengers side door mirror, I got my answer.
It was Ned who had just jumped out of an alleyway and was coming up to a stop beside me. Oddly, I felt a chill down my spine not out of concern about a race but rather out of concern for Neds mental state. First of all, he was definitely abusing the crap out of the Shelby. It sounded like he even bounced the rev limiter when he bolted from the alleyway. And then, he downshifted it and dumped out the clutch as he came to a stop beside me, to my right. All of this was within 10 seconds or so.
He had his window down and I could see that he was smoking a cigarette; one of those funny-looking, hand rolled jobs. So, that explained a lot of the attitude tonight alcohol and weed are a bad mix. He motioned furiously for me to roll down my window, continuing to rev his car as he did so.
I rolled it down.
Lets go, Buick Boy. Lets go right here, right now. There are no cops around, no traffic. Lets run em right NOW, funnyman! CMON! LETS GO!!!
For just a second, I gave a thought to doing so but I also knew that I would regret it, either way. Sheesh what a way for the night to end. I glanced in the rear view mirror and wondered what Brandon was thinking about this turn of events. I would find out a little later.
Ned, settle down. I told you I dont race on the street. Go home and sleep it off. Tomorrow, youll be glad you didnt do something so stupid.
That only infuriated him more.
F*ck you, pal! LETS GO! More revs, more sounds like he was trying to shoot the blown 5.4 out the hood of the gorgeous car. The motor sounded way too healthy to ignore and to assume it would be an easy race.
I said earlier that my GN was an 11 second ride. Well, that is true. It WAS an 11 second car what it was now I didnt know for sure. I hadnt had it to the track since I had put the built Stage II in it. To be honest, I had yet to run the car for a full run so I just wasnt sure.
But my car wasnt 100% in Kill Mode either. I knew the alcohol tank was low but I didnt think it was empty. The air pressure in the Nittos was probably in the low 20s and not in the upper teens where I set it when I run. On a cold street, I doubted if adequate traction could be had. Of course, ol Ned would have the same problem so
Why NOT?
I didnt answer him. I first hit the switch to open the cutout gotta love the solenoid operated cutout option I had installed. The sound and attitude of the Buick went from quietly powerful to serious business.
It was now officially Go-time .
I then hit the line-lock and set about doing a short burnout, right there on Market Street at one in the morning with no other traffic in sight. Looking over at Ned, I saw him grin and then yell something back over the noise of the engines and then roll his window back up but I couldnt make out what he said exactly. I heard him rev and dump the clutch a couple of times to clean his tires. In my mirror I saw Brandon back up a bit, cut over around us and run the light to get down the road a ways to watch. Again no cops in sight, no traffic in this part of town at the moment .
I released the line lock, pulled up a little closer to the intersection as did Ned . I set the trans-brake Ned picked up some revs . I began to boost the Stage II, 2psi 3 psi 4 psi 6 psi lights are cycling Im pushing up against the 3200 rpm converter
The Shelby is now screaming in my right ear. I have no idea what Ned has the rpms at but it is way up on the tach Im sure. Hes going for a banzai launch but so am I.
The Stage Motor hits 8psi of boost just as the opposing lanes light goes from yellow to red. In a split second, our lane goes
GREEN!
We both launch together, rocketing forward and I am absolutely crushed into the seat as I note the front end lift and the steering goes unbelievably light as the front tires nearly lose full contact with the pavement. Thanks to the suspension mods, there is no torque twist of the car it shoots out straight and true, fender to fender with the radical Shelby.
But the Shelby is absolutely screaming in anger now and Ned grabs the gears better than Even Smith. The GT500 doesnt miss a beat and were STILL as if welded together as I feel the 1-2 shift of my tranny, the front end bolting upward just a bit as it does.
Thankfully, weve now passed the last houses on that part of Market. I try to scan the gauges but am absolutely overwhelmed at the sheer, raw power and noise that both of these cars are making. It is too close to tell who if either is ahead; the Shelby is not giving an inch but neither is the Stage II. Everything seems to become a blur that is moving so fast its almost as if its in slow motion.
As the 2-3 shift comes up, I sense that the GN is ever-so-slowly inching ahead just by the slightest of margins. But then - I hear a LOUD bang to my right, catch a glimpse of what looked to be the hood flying up and off the car like a leaf in the wind, and see a flash of light as the Shelby suddenly drops behind as if an anchor was tossed out. I back out of the accelerator and look in the rear view mirror to see what happened.
Just as quickly, I wish I hadnt.
In unbelievably slow motion, I see the Shelbys striped hood floating back to earth while at the same time I see flames licking out of the GT500s engine compartment. There is no way that Ned could see out the front window it looks to be a massive fuel/oil fire.
But then, to make matters worse, the Shelby suddenly yaws left and then back right, as if the rear brakes had locked up and then it goes into a sideways skid, off the road to the right.
At what had to be still at least 60 mph if not more with the drivers side leading the way
My foot is on the brake hard as I watch the Red Mustang sliding in my rear view mirror the front wheels hitting the stoned area just at the edge of the road stones and dirt and dead grass flying up for a moment enormous blue/red/yellow/white/orange flames dancing devilishly from the nose of the car the rear end trying to pass the front end of the Shelby I see the nose dip down as the forces of physics draw the car down into the ditch more grass and dirt and debris being blown up and about eerie lights and shadows playing about the roadway
And then I witness the sickening sight of the Shelby hitting the power pole on its driver side how near the door I could exactly see - with enough deadly force to wrap the car nearly around it. The dust and debris still fill the air but the flames are building even more .
I slam the GN into a power turn and race back there with Brandon and Stacy right with me We bail out of the cars and run upward, me with the extinguisher I grabbed from the mount on the rear floorboard of the Buick
I try to knock down the fire and have only enough success to slow it down for a bit as Brandon tries to rip the drivers door open Ned is slumped in the seat; a huge gash visible on the left side of his head the flames beginning to build again as Brandon smashes the window of the door that unbelievably did not break in the crash Stacy is screaming while she dials 911 on her cell
Its only going to be a matter of time before the Shelby explodes fire is trying to work its way back underneath the car but thankfully, the fuel tank held for now
The extinguisher is empty I run to the passengers side and thats when I see the girl moving her mouth as if to scream but no sounds can be heard shes hysterical and blood is streaming from her mouth and nose her eyes are huge with fear and shes trying to loosen her seat belt but for some reason, it wont release I see that shes got a five-point on and for some odd reason shes feeling along the edge of the seat I smash the window with the empty extinguisher
In the distance, we can hear sirens begin to wail possibly coming our way?
The heat is building the flames are coming back stronger than ever
Brandon is leaning in the drivers window and is trying to free Ned from his five point but Ned is not moving. For all we know, hes dead we just cant tell seconds are going by the heat is building
I hit the release on the girls five point and suddenly shes screaming loudly in my ear, begging me to pull her through the window the door will NOT open due to the body damage I grab her under her arms and pull but she only gets part of the way out
The smell of burning plastic, paint, oil insulation its overwhelming now I finally get the girl out of the car and surprisingly, she takes off running Stacy goes after her as I race around to the other side of the car to try and help Brandon
I see Brandon straining and straining and pulling and tugging, trying to extricate Ned from the Shelby Neds head is just flopping about but Brandon does have him almost out of the car I see foamy blood from his nostrils but it does appear that hes breathing
Finally, Ned is free his feet slide down the side of the door multiple siren sounds are getting louder and louder Stacy catches the girl and holds her close, their silhouettes visible against the back light of the town we just left as she tries to bring her back and around the wreck with Brandon carrying Neds torso and me lifting his legs/feet, we get Ned safely away from the Shelby and over onto the grass near where the GN is parked
The Shelby doesnt explode but it burns frantically, its headlights are still on and mysterious groans and hisses emanate from the burning hulk the fire department and EMS services arrive firemen attack the burning car EMTs and Paramedics run over to us with wheeled stretchers and orange emergency kits, asking us who is hurt they see Ned is seriously hurt and two of them get to work on him immediately
Police cars pull up, their blue and red lights swirling and dancing about the fields reflecting off of street signs, the cars, our faces life is blurring again I realize that Im exhausted and tears are in my eyes as the reality of what just happened hits me like a train from behind I see the EMTs doing CPR on Ned, intubating his airway the defibrillator is pulled from the closest ambulance and ran over as the lead Paramedic rips Neds shirt open
CLEAR! I hear the EMT yell as the paddles are rubbed together and then slapped onto Neds very white chest I see Neds body jump as the jolt of electricity tries to get his heart out of ventricular fibrillation Again, CLEAR! ZAP!.... his body jumps again
Ive got a pulse! Lets load and go NOW! We may not get him back if he goes again!
Cars are now coming from everywhere ambulances and sirens are magnets to those who are curious Stacy continues to hold the girls hand as a female EMT does a first assessment of her condition
I realize that I am shaking and that I miss my wife, Kelly and that I wish this day had never started
Brandon comes over and puts his arm around my shoulders we just stand there, absorbing what has happened but not understanding it
It was not turning out to be a very good day at all and it was already two days long
Just then, I heard, STEVE! Are you ok?! It was Kelly she had seen the lights and since I had never made it home she came back
She came running up, grabbed me around the waist and hugged me it was about the best thing I could think of happening at that point in this very, very bad day
And I didnt even know or care how tomorrow might be . Looking back, it was probably best that I didnt
The next morning, I was sitting at the kitchen table sipping on a very hot cup of black coffee and smearing some butter on the pancakes that Kelly had just fixed for us when the doorbell rang. As I got up to go answer it, I noticed the Sheriffs cruiser in the drive that neither of us had heard pull in. Suddenly, I had a bad feeling that today wasnt going to be any better than the yesterday.
Opening the door, I recognized Jim, a former neighbor who served on the department. Jim had a pretty straight face on when I invited him in.
Mornin, Steve. Mornin, Kelly I hate to bother you guys on a weekend but Ive got some questions I need to ask you about last nights accident. Do you have a few minutes?
Sure Jim. Just pull up a chair at the table. Want some coffee and pancakes? My wife is always the hostess even if our visitor was Bin Laden, Im sure she would offer him some food.
But Jim politely declined, waving his big meaty hand that was holding his flat-rimmed hat in the air.
Nah, Kelly. Ive already ate. This shouldnt take too long and Ill get on out of here and let you enjoy your breakfast.
I could see Jim waffling (pardon the pun) about the coffee though. Kelly DOES make the best coffee around.
Ok, Kelly go ahead. I guess Ill take a cup of coffee if youve got enough. It sure DOES smell good
In a flash, she had it poured and the wonderful smell of fresh coffee rose from the steamy liquids surface like fog off a lake. Jim took a delicate sip, careful not to burn his tongue, sat the cup down and pulled a small tablet out of his breast pocket.
Sure is good, Kel! Ok lets get this over with Heres the first question
For the next 20 minutes, Jim basically just asked us about the previous evening and what transpired. Not once did he broach the subject of street racing but I felt that sooner or later, he was going to ask me about it.
As he wound down, he finally sat the tablet and pen on the table, picked up the cup of coffee and in one long drink, finished it off. He sat upright and leaned forward and looked me straight in the eye.
Steve Ive only got one last question. Were you racing this guy? I dont have any eyewitnesses who say that is the case and even the girl that was in the car with this Ned fellow says he wasnt racing, that it was just an accident. So, tell me were you racing?
Damn. Just when I thought he was going to ignore the obvious, he surprised me.
Jim, before I answer that, I need to know how Ned is doing.
Jim looked at his hat as he twirled it on his hand in sort of an awkward manner.
Neds going to be fine. He was banged up pretty bad and had a broken bone in his left wrist but considering how his new Mustang looked, hes lucky to be alive. Investigators said he hit the pole sideways, doing something like 60mph if his car had hit farther back on the drivers side, he would probably be dead. But it looks like hes gonna be ok. Hes supposed to get out of the hospital later today. The girl was fine; nothing other than a few scrapes and some bruises. Just goes to show you how well these new cars are built.
So were you racing?
I figured honesty has always been the best policy and I sure didnt want to be found out later that I was lying during the course of an investigation.
Yeah, Jim. I was. I know its wrong but I was definitely racing him.
Jim just looked down at the floor for a moment. He seemed to be thinking about what to say next
Well, Steve our friendship goes back a long way so Im not going to lecture you. Since I didnt see it and since no one has come forward to make a statement that you two were letting it all hang out, Im going to act like I didnt hear what you just said. But Ive got to tell you this, Steve - if I see you so much as chirping the tires in that Buick of yours, Im gonna run you in, you got it? Street racing is illegal and dangerous, as you two clowns proved last night. Both of you could be dead right now along with some innocent driver or pedestrian. So take it to the track, ok?
Whew . I sighed to myself. I was thinking that Jim was going to write me up for a real nose-bleed of a ticket. I was very, very lucky. I just nodded agreement
One other thing, Steve
Yeah, Jim?"
Were you winning?
I paused for a moment, appreciating the fact that Jim too is a motorhead and a drag race fan.
Yeah but not by much if at all and we still had more to go. Neds Shelby is er, WAS pretty bad ass. You know my GN doesnt have the original motor in it right now, dont you? I put that Stage 2 mill in that I built last year. But even with the Stage motor, that Shelby had enough mods itself that it was really too close to call. I cant really say if the race had gone the full distance who would have won.
Jim shook his head in amazement.
By the way, did you guys find out what happened? What caused the Ford to lose it? I was definitely curious as to what happened.
Well, were still investigating it but it looks like the nitrous backfired somehow through the blower but the explosion blew the blower off the engine, taking the hood with it. According to Carol the girl in Neds car when the hood it was a fiberglass one by the way - blew off, Ned jerked the wheel to the right and lost control, going into a slide. It also looked like the motor might have seized and with the clutch still engaged, the rear tires just lost traction.
Like I said, were still investigating it but it looks like he basically blew the motor up, lost control, hit a pole, totaled the car, and is damn lucky to be alive this morning. Oh one more thing
What?
He wanted me to ask you to give him a call. Heres his home number he didnt say what he wanted you to call him for just that you should give him a call tomorrow sometime.
Ok, Jim. Ill do that. Anything else?
Nah, Steve, Kelly thats pretty much it. Neds insurance has already been contacted and he claims hell get another car out of it. I guess EVERY one involved was pretty lucky last night. You guys take care. Kelly? Thanks for the coffee. And Steve? Remember what I said about taking it to the track, ok? Id hate to have to scrape you up off the road.
With that, Jim left. Kelly looked at me with one of those patented, I TOLD you so looks.
See Steve? See why Ive been telling you to get your head out of your butt about this racing on the streets? That could be YOU laying up there in the hospital, with more serious injuries than a broken wrist. Promise me you wont race on the street anymore, ok?
I pulled her in close and gave her a hug. How could I resist?
Sure, Kel I promise
Even as we kissed, we both knew I was lying
*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
Later that afternoon, I finally got out in the garage and under the hood of the GN. It didnt look any worse for the wear following the previous nights events but as I was checking the oil, I thought I saw something on the floor beneath the engine.
Something shiny and wet.
Putting the dipstick back in, I grabbed the flashlight off the bench and knelt down in front of the grille. Flicking the switch on, I shined the light back under the car, not seeing anything at first.
But then it caught my eye. There was definitely a puddle of liquid; maybe even two. Due to the angle, I couldnt tell where it was coming from so after putting the flashlight back, I grabbed the floor jack and axle stands and got the car up in the air.
Lying back on the creeper, I glided back under the car with the flashlight in hand once more. I examined the puddle closely and smeared some of the fluid on my fingers. Bringing them up to the light, my heart sank.
Oil. And lots of it and right beside it, almost mixing in with the oil, was a slightly smaller puddle of antifreeze.
Double Damn!
Where the hell could it be coming from? Twisting back over on the creeper, I cast the light up into the dark recesses of the underside of the engine bay, looking for a tell-tale drip or run.
It didnt take long to find where it LOOKED like the oil was coming from - the passengers side of the block, possibly from around the front corner area above the pan. Not a good sign The Antifreeze source took a little longer but ended up being just a bad thermostat gasket that was seeping and letting the fluid drip on down to the floor. But the oil leak worried me.
Three hours later, I came to a bad conclusion the motor was going to have to come out of the car. After tearing off nearly the entire front end of the motor, it appeared that there was either a leaky pan gasket or more likely a small crack in the block casting. I just couldnt be sure without pulling the motor so rather than guess, I slid back out from under the car and went inside to see if I could get Brandon on the phone.
Luckily, B was available and came on over. As soon as he got there, he slid under the GN and then slid back out with the same opinion the motor needed to come out of the car.
Sheesh here was yet again ANOTHER one of the those days
A few hours later and after several scraped and bloodied knuckles, a couple of large pepperoni pizzas and some sodas, the Stage motor was out of the car and on the stand. Parts and tools were scattered all about the floor of the garage, tagged and identified for return back to the car. Sure enough, there looked to be a small, hairline crack just above the bolt hole for the pan mounting that was allowing some oil seepage. Only after complete disassembly could I be sure but it didnt look good.
Damn, damn, damn what a sucky weekend .
Thankfully, I still had the original motor on a stand under plastic in the corner of the garage. It was all stock internals but did have a TE-60 turbo, 009s, etc and had propelled the car to the to a best ET of high 11s but still had some room in it I felt.
After some debate, B and I decided, Why not? So, we set into another wrench fest with a fury and in a few more hours had the GNs original motor back in the car. Thankfully, everything went back in with not much hassle. After a few spins of the starter, the 3.8 fired off and settled into a nice staccato rhythm of exhaust noise, the exhaust still not hooked up to the Downpipe. Kelly had given up a few hours before but I had no doubt that she had to have heard the motor fire it was after midnight and in the cold night air, the little V6 sounded like a Top-fueler in the pits at the US Nationals.
For the first time that day, I think I finally smiled.
You know, Steve I never liked that stage .
