crobinso
The Grand Marquis Man
My thread on buying the Caprice (here in this forum) reminded me of this story involving the 1976 wagon I affectionately called GOLDEN WHEELS:
I was in my younger days, and hadn't learned a whole lot of driving lessons - the hard knocks - that I know today.
There was a quiet street leading into a Kmart shopping center after crossing a major road that intersected. The traffic light was green as I approached at 35 mph - rare, since the light was almost always red. Eager to make the light (I hadn't learned my lesson yet about not attempting to beat a light), I accelerated to about 45. Oh I made the light, alright. It was still green.
But, there was a crown in the cross street. I never noticed it before when I'd crossed the intersection from a standing stop, when the light was always red, and I'd have to wait for it to turn green. Well, the 5,000 pound car went up the crown and went airborne.
No, I didn't fly "Dukes of Hazzard" style; I didn't catch that much air. My guess is I was no more than 12 to 18 inches off the ground. Still, that was pretty high from my vantage point.
I immediately slammed on the brakes. But guess what? When flying, the brakes don't work!
It was all over in about 1 1/2 seconds. All four wheels touched down at once. Upon "re-entry", the brake-locked tires grabbed hold of the pavement, and the sound of the tires squealing was similar to that of a 747 landing.
I was petrified but unharmed. The big beast was none the worse for the abuse. But, I never went flying again! I take my time over crowned intersections now!
I was in my younger days, and hadn't learned a whole lot of driving lessons - the hard knocks - that I know today.
There was a quiet street leading into a Kmart shopping center after crossing a major road that intersected. The traffic light was green as I approached at 35 mph - rare, since the light was almost always red. Eager to make the light (I hadn't learned my lesson yet about not attempting to beat a light), I accelerated to about 45. Oh I made the light, alright. It was still green.
But, there was a crown in the cross street. I never noticed it before when I'd crossed the intersection from a standing stop, when the light was always red, and I'd have to wait for it to turn green. Well, the 5,000 pound car went up the crown and went airborne.
No, I didn't fly "Dukes of Hazzard" style; I didn't catch that much air. My guess is I was no more than 12 to 18 inches off the ground. Still, that was pretty high from my vantage point.
I immediately slammed on the brakes. But guess what? When flying, the brakes don't work!
It was all over in about 1 1/2 seconds. All four wheels touched down at once. Upon "re-entry", the brake-locked tires grabbed hold of the pavement, and the sound of the tires squealing was similar to that of a 747 landing. I was petrified but unharmed. The big beast was none the worse for the abuse. But, I never went flying again! I take my time over crowned intersections now!
