FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON’T RECALL, MY EXTREME FETISH FOR PONTIACS STARTED WITH DICK HAROLD’S RED AND WHITE 1958 CHIEFTON CONVERTIBLE BACK IN ROSSFORD OHIO.  IT LOOKED LIKE RED GLASS AND ALWAYS HAD A TROPHY IN THE BACK SEAT EVERY SUNDAY FROM WINNING HIS CLASS AT THE DRAGS AT THE OLD TOLEDO EXPRESS AIRPORT.

I FOUND MY DREAM CAR AT INDIANAPOLIS RACEWAY PARK WHERE THE NATIONAL NHRA DRAG RACING EVENTS WERE HELD   THERE ON A TRAILER IN 1968 WAS THE CAR OF MY DREAMS.  NOTE THE TOW CAR IS A 1961 PONTIAC WAGON AND YOU COULD BARELY SEE THE HEADLIGHT OF A 1967 PONTIAC LOWER LEFT.  THE CAR HAD THE REALLY GREAT ORANGE PONTIAC GIRRRRRR LICENSE PLATE.  IT HAD A SET OF CHROME CRAGERS.  I WOULD HAVE PUT WHITE WALLS AND 1959 BONNEVILLE SPINNERS ON IT.  IT HAD RENEGADE 1313 ON IT AND WAS A CONSISTENT CLASS WINNER.  ABOVE THE LEFT QUARTER PANEL IS A 1966 CHEVROLET TWO DOOR POST 427 TURBO HYDROMATIC DRAG RACING CAR.  LASTLY ABOVE ALL THE CARS THE STANDS FULL OF SPECTATORS, GEAR HEADS AND CAR ENTHUSIASTS.  WHAT YOU CANNOT EXPERIENCE IS THE THRILLING SOUND OF OPEN HEADERS ON 15 OR 20 CARS RACE CARS ALL AROUND YOU AND GREAT PERIOD MUSIC BELLOWING FROM THREE OR FOUR GREAT JAM BOXES.

YOU ALSO HAVE THE INTOXICATING SOUND OF WHOLE SHOTS AND CARS PAIRING OFF FOR EACH CLASS AS THE LIGHTS TURN GREEN.   SERIOUS COMPETITION!  IF THIS DOESN’T MOVE YOU, YOU HAVE NO SOUL.

I TOLD THE OWNER I WANTED TO BUY THE CAR.  UNDERSTAND SOMETHING ABOUT RACE CAR OWNERS, THEY ALMOST ALWAYS NEED MONEY.  RARELY DO THEY HAVE A FORGIVING WIFE OR COMPASSIONATE DEBTORS SO A GENEROUS CASH PURCHASE COULD BE VERY WELCOME.  I HANDED HIM MY CHECKBOOK WITH A CHECK SIGNED MADE OUT TO HIM AND SAID FILL IN THE AMOUNT.  KEEP IN MIND I AM ALSO A NATIONAL JUDGE FOR CAR SHOWS.  BE FAIR.  YOU WILL FIND ME GENEROUS.  HE FILLED IN AN AMOUNT THAT I AM NOT AT LIBERTY TO THIS DAY TO DIVULGE AS I NEVER BETRAY A CONFIDENCE.

BEFORE THE INK WAS DRY, ANOTHER WELL KNOWN ALMOST LEGENDARY POLISHED GENTLEMAN WHO OWNED SEVERAL CARS APPROACHED ME AND SAID I WILL WRITE YOU A CHECK RIGHT NOW FOR AN AMOUNT BACK THEN THAT WOULD CHOKE A HORSE.  THIS TRANSACTION AND SALE IS TO REMAIN PRIVATE.  I SOLD THE CAR TO THIS FAMOUS GENTLEMAN AND NEVER GOT TO EVEN SIT IN IT.

LEARNED SOME MONTHS LATER THE PURCHASER WHO KNEW OF THE STRUGGLES REQUIRED BY THE ORIGINAL OWNER GAVE HIM HIS CAR BACK AT NO CHARGE – THAT’S CLASS!  SO, DON’T TELL ME IT DOESN’T HAPPEN.  BE NICE TO PEOPLE.  BE RESPECTFUL.  BE COURTEOUS.  TRY TO PUT A SMILE ON THEIR FACE AND SOMEDAY SOMEONE MAY OFFER YOU SOME AN ACCOMMODATION

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