MUSTANG SALLY
CHAPTER 1
My name is Dave. I'm 57, widowed, childless, and live alone. I lost my wife to cancer 2 years ago. I've always loved classic cars. I'm finally in a position where I was able to purchase one. It took a while to find one at a reasonable price.
I recently purchased a '66 Chevelle SS. It's all original. It has the big block 396, 4 speed. It is blue with black stripes. Black interior. It needs restoring, but is in pretty decent shape. The motor was rebuilt in '96 at 105,000 miles. It has 90,000 on the rebuilt motor. I plan to restore it over the next couple of years, but for now. It's driveable, and runs damn good. It's not a show car, nor will it be. I plan on driving it and having fun.
There was a car show in town last week. I fired up Kimmie. That's what I named the Chevelle because she was pretty and hot, like my deceased wife. I headed out to the car show a little early so I could ride around for a while before the show. I saw quite a few other classics headed to the show or out for a drive before going. Some really, really nice, some pretty nice, and some in various states of restoration. And a few rust buckets. When it comes to cars, I feel it's simply a matter of what you like.
I stopped at a stoplight just outside of town and a green '67 Mustang Mach 1 stopped in the lane beside me. It was a very nice ride. Looked like it wasn't completely restored to original condition, but in good shape. It sounded really good. A very pretty girl was driving it. She saw me looking over at her and her car and smiled.
When the light changed I took off and goosed Kimmie a little, burning a little rubber, as they say. At the next light the girl in the Mach 1 smiled, and gave me a thumbs up. When the light changed she took off and showed me a little of what the 'Stang could do.
We were on Broad St. and it was Sunday afternoon so the traffic was light. At the next light we both took off not HARD hard, but got on it pretty good. We each looked over at the other and just grinned like a couple of idiots. At the next light we both complimented the other on their fine ride. Our windows were down as it was a nice warm day. We chatted a little at each light. I asked if she wanted to go to a place I knew where we could let 'em loose a little. She said "Sure."
I told her to follow me and I led her out to Wilson Flats. That was what the locals had always called the area. It was just a long, flat, straight stretch of road that went by a farm that used to be owned by a family named Wilson. It has since been bought by some developer and I'm sure it will be turned into a housing development. But for now the farm sits empty. It's where all the kids have been going to drag race for years.
I stopped at a marker that had been put up years ago by me and some of my friends to mark the beginning of the quarter mile. She pulled up beside me and I told her there was a sign exactly 1/4 of a mile from this spot that said Taggart 5 miles. I told her the road was good. No potholes or anything. And you can see a mile ahead if not more. She nodded and said, "Let's do it."
Since neither of us had anyone with us to start us I suggested that we use the blinking red light on the cell tower in the distance. After I say start we go on the third blink of the light. She agreed. I let her watch the light for a minute to get a feel for how long it was between flashes. She said she was ready.
After verifying there was no one else on the road we got lined up side by side, me on the right and her on the left.
I revved my engine to where I felt I could get my best launch. Her Mach 1 was automatic so she held her foot on the brake and revved. I said "GO." On the third flash of the red light we launched. She got the jump on me off the line. When I hit 2nd. I caught up slightly. I shifted into 3rd. and pulled up even with her. When I hit 4th. I was doing 120 mph. We passed the Taggert sign dead even beside each other.
I know some of you younger guys will say that's slow. And that your Honda is quicker. And you may be right. But I'm an old guy and I like my old cars, and the torque of a big engine.
We slowed down and she fell in behind me. I pulled over at a picnic table on the side of the road another 100 yards up the road and she pulled in behind me. I got out of my car and went back to talk to her. I said, "That was some nice driving. I'm impressed. And I love your car." I held out my hand. "I'm Dave. Pleased to meet you."
She shook my hand. "Hi Dave. I'm Bonnie. Pleased to meet you, also. And thanks. I do enjoy driving. And a little racing now and then. I like your car, too. '66? 396?"
"Thanks. Yeah, '66 SS396. What's under your hood? 351? 390? Or 428?"
"Just the 351."
"Well it ain't no slouch. And you handle it quite nicely."
"I've done a little drag racing before. My former boyfriend got me into it. Nothing big time or anything. Just at the local track."
"Do you mind if I take a look at your car?"
"Not at all. Help yourself."
Bonnie got out of her car and I took note of just how pretty she is. She was wearing jeans and a tank top. I sat in the driver's seat. The interior was well kept. It had a black interior. Bucket seats, everything clean and shiny. I'm sure it had been redone at some point. "Nice. Beautiful car. May I look under the hood?"
"By all means."
I raised the hood and saw the engine was as clean as the rest of the car. Looked stock, as far as I could tell, but of course you can't see inside. "You keep your car nice and clean."
"I do like a clean ride. And I'm proud of Sally. May I check out yours?"
"Of course. You named your car Sally? That's appropriate, I guess."
"I know it's silly."
"No, not at all. I like it. Mustang Sally."
She looked Kimmie over and gave her approval. "I think the '66 and '67 Chevelles are my favorites next to the Mach 1. Of course it's got to be a big block."
"Of course. Nothing like the torque of a big block."
"Are you headed to the car show over at Taggert?"
"Yeah. You?"
"Yeah. It's getting close to time for it to start. I guess we should go."
"I guess I'll see you there."
"See you there."
CHAPTER 2
Bonnie and I had both entered our cars in the show. Neither of us expected to win anything because neither of our cars were in mint condition. We happened to get slots not right beside each other, but there were only 2 others between us. That made us both happy because we didn't know anybody else there. We didn't really know each other, but at least we had met.