Monday, May 29, 2006

What was that yellow streak?

I spent the weekend in Jefferson City, hanging out at my friend Ron's... and driving his 1978 Triumph Spitfire. This car is a freakin' riot.


Me in "Spitty"

The first thing you need to know... it's really small. I had to remove my flip-flops to drive it, and could only fit my big toes on the pedals. Sure, I wear size 13 shoes, (you know what they say)but still it was funny that I couldn't drive the car with shoes on. The RPMs run around 4000 at 60 mph, so you don't want to drive it over 60 or 65 most of the time. It buzzes like a moped at 70.

You get all kinds of looks driving this machine. Women smile and wave, guys are eaten alive with envy. Screw you guys!

It's like a go-cart to a tall guy like me - to exit the vehicle, I almost have to roll out. Your ass is skimming along at about 6 inches above the pavement, and you get the feeling with each bump that you are going to get racked.

Anyway, I had a blast - we drove down to a farm about 30 miles outside of town and rode 4-wheelers through the fields and creeks. (the 4-wheelers likely had more horse power than the Spitfire) I got hayseeds in my asscrack, chiggers in my socks and lots of fresh air. It was great.

My only regret is not getting to a body of water this weekend... although I still have one more day.

Like Grandpa used to say, "Live fast, love hard, die old, and leave 'em with good memories."

8 comments:

Violet said...

You can come up to the pool with me, if you'd like...

Blogarita said...

Looks like a fun ride! Do you remember the Triumph TR7 that Renee Slavens had in high school? I always thought that would be a fun car to have.

Fantastagirl said...

I would have loved to go for a ride in that...but I'm kinda shallow like that... I like cool sporty cars...when I graduated high school my sister's boyfriend let me have his 1967 vette for the weekend - it had t-tops, white leather interior... It was shall we say sooooo coooool...I had the best time.

... said...

Looks like fun. I was thinking that being in a convertible this weekend would have been fabulous, but then I might have ended up with more sunburn than I got, huh?

Me! said...

My friend Mary Ellen's father actually gave her a red version of this car upon her 16th birthday. We were all seriously boiling over with envy. Mary Ellen on the other end was plain pissed off. She wanted a NEW car, not an old one. I wanted to soccer punch her. Here she was driving a cool classic car that attracted all the guys in school to look at her while I drove a freakin' white Geo Metro hatchback. Some people just don't know how good they have it.

OldHorsetailSnake said...

Gosh, I wish I had me a good time like that. I am all SO jealous.

Anonymous said...

one of my cars in high school was a copper colored TR-4A. fun car, but leaked like a sieve if it rained. and i think it was two, maybe three exhaust systems that i left behind crossing the railroad tracks. yes... low to the ground is a understatement. fun was had by all in that car though.

Chicken said...

I'd love to drive one of those.