One Hot -
1970 XW Falcon Futura
Hi Po 302W - 4spd Toploader!
A few of us were petrol heads with
Hot
cars. And it was always fun to run a Hot 10 mile lap from our Rugby club through the country back home to the farm.
That was back in the days when we were in the transition stage of our sporting careers.
The time when the mind is willing but the body can't take any more punishment.
We would join what is termed in Rugby the "Presidents Grade."
A rag tag brigade who would play a little and on the odd occasion have one too many beers.
It was one occasion after a winning match that Roger my neighbour was heading out of the carpark in his brand spanking new V8 Holden and I followed close behind in my 25 year old Falcon.
It was dark, around 7pm. I kept my car in second gear for the first quarter mile until we got out to the open road turn off.
I could tell he knew what the deal was and I was ready.
And so was he as soon as we hit the turn off he booted it and we were away.
Around the 7 mile mark the pace was a little Hot.
The new handling technology was starting to
tell and he was about a third mile ahead.
Suddenly I saw a pair of headlights flash just ahead so I slowed for what I thought was an oncoming car. Got around the corner to see Roger pulling out of the long grass on the side of the road towing a small tree under the car.
I shook my head in wonder because we both knew the road so well.
And also laughed with more relief than anything.
He lost control on the only 200 meter stretch of road with a verge.
Every other part of the road had drains or fences.
So very very lucky.
I followed him to his place to take stock of the damage and compare notes.
The look on his face was just ashen.
His passenger crawled out from the foot well area in front of the front seat.
Shaken would be an understatement.
Roger told me he took the church sweeper quite well but caught the loose gravel on the roadside, corrected slightly, the tyres dug in and then spun in the middle of the road and then ending up in the grass.
Yes, there is a little church on that corner. I like to think that it bought him a little luck!
The only damage to the car was a broken reflector on the boot spoiler where the tree snapped up after running it down.
Rogers next assignment was to go inside and tell his wife what had happened to the brand new car. All I could think of was thankfully I could leave that Hot assignment to him!
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