|
|
I thought it was too good to be true to
have a 4x4 wagon, and I went looking for Baja Trails all over Fort Wayne. The
suspension was far superior to that of the Grand Am, and I was flying down alleys
like you wouldn't believe. This car could take everything I could give it,
and asked for more. I decided to go all out with making it a Baja car, and I
had at it. The fender was dented when I first got it, and there was rust
around the wheelwells. I took at it with the power saw and cut all that stuff
off. I also adjusted the valve lash and set the timing, and installed Bosch
Platinum spark plugs.
I got it running pretty damn good, and I couldnt help but get stupid.
I was running over trash cans in the alleys, and dragged them under the car
several blocks before they would fall out. I tore it up in the mud, grass,
and on the street. The motor had plenty of horsepower, winding up to 6 or
7000 rpm between shifts. I tackled the toughest of obstacles, driving up
steep hills and blazing along railroad tracks at 45 mph. One time, I nearly
got my car, myself, and 2 of my friends almost killed at the tracks. I was
crossing a track, and I was going to stop and look for a train, but my friend
told me not to worry about it. Just then, I saw the headlight of a train coming
around the bend. I hit the brakes(which werent very good) and stopped about
4 feet from the rails. I was trying to back up, but I wasn't quite used to
the shifting, and I kept putting it in 4th and stalling. I wasn't sure how
far the train overhung the track, but I thought it would at least hit the
front corner if the car. I finally got it going at the last second, and made
a narrow escape. That didnt stop me from off-roading. I tried to drive through
a deep puddle at the hotel semi truck parking lot, but I slipped in and lost
traction. (good thing for that tow and recovery ins.) That took care of the
situation. I was at Mertal's house and we were going to leave, with him
driving. Before we left, Mertal decided to take a few laps around the yard. I
asked him to let me drive in his yard, As I drove around his yard, I
remembered the days we tore it up on the Yamaha Blaster. I was getting on it.
I was tearing it up by the barn where you wouldnt think a car would fit.
Then I shot off into the field and hauled ass up into 4th gear. Oh what fun!
In a stationwagon!.
I had a job delivering pizza for Papa John's. Winter had set in,
snowing all at once on the first snowfall. The 4-wheel drive was excellent,
unstoppable as you will. I liked to drift around turns, taking advantage of
momentum to slide the car around. But one day I slid into a curb and bent the
rear axle. I was driving around with a crooked wheel, dogtracking severely. I
still delivered, and the car would slide around as it hit dry and icy spots
on the road. I managed to drive it like this for several hundred miles,
making 45 mile trips back and forth. One night I almost spun out doing 45 on
state road 3. But driving a car like this would make you an expert driver,
and I recovered with no problem. I bought another Subaru, and this one sat at
my mom's house.
When I bought my Pinto, I drove it for the first time in the snow, and
slid through a curve and hung it up on a pile of logs. With no one to help
me, I walked back and started up the Subaru after it had sat for quite some
time (it had never failed me yet). It had a donut on the front, and a flat on
the other side from excessive tire wear, and of course, the bent axle. I
grabbed the tow strap, and went to rescue the Pinto. No one was around to sit
in the Pinto to help it out, so The Subaru was doing all the work. After a
few tries, I managed to pull the Pinto free, with a flat, a donut, and a bent
wheel on a patch of ice, at 7000 rpm in reverse and a hole in the radiator.
(Goddam!) My mom was tired of me having cars all over the yard, so she had
the poor thing towed away. It brings a tear to my eye, there being no other
car like it. It is now my lifelong Quest to have another Subaru Wagon
|
|
