When I was 17, and had already been a car fanatic since I was 10, I talked my dad into buying a '72 Capri. Car & Driver had raved about it, and my dad had never had a fun car, being one of those stoic old-school guys that were in World War II, in New Guinea and the Phillipines in his case. It was a fun joint adventure. It was a 2-liter, and was pretty quick. The best thing about it, though, was the feeling of bending it through a corner. That started a love of good-handling cars that continues to this day, and that led me to the FiST. Getting another European-designed performance Ford felt like coming full circle.
I loved driving it, and thought I was a great driver,avoiding any major wrecks even after almost losing it a few times going into a corner too fast. Looking back, it was more like a combination of luck and fast reflexes. I did have a few little fender-benders in it, which my dad was very patient about.
A few times I got to drive it to high school, and I thought I was cool. If you wanted to insult someone's car then, you called it a milkwagon, as in slow. We had a beautiful Turkish exchange student that we were all too scared and dorky to ask out. Some of the guys got her to come up to me and say "your car is milkwagon." A teacher saw me cut through a gas station in it to pass a bus near school, and ran up to me and said he was making a citizen's arrest. It reminded me of when Gomer tried to citizen's arrest Barney Fife on Andy Griffith. The car also helped me become friends with some of the muscle car guys, showing me back then how an interest in cars can help bridge gaps.
My dad had the car a few years then, but kindly gave it back to me during law school, and for a couple years after while I got my law practice going. Then, I bought my first car on my own, and was proud to give it back to him. He drove until he passed away.
That car remains very special to me, because it started me on a lifetime of liking cars and being fascinated by them. It also helped a shy kid make friends. Most importantly, it provided an extra bond and connection between my dad and me through the years.
Attached is a picture of my friend and I washing it. I haven't met any of you in person, but in the interest of full disclosure will state that I had slightly more hair back then. I'm the one on the right. The guy on the left is still a good friend all these years later.
I loved driving it, and thought I was a great driver,avoiding any major wrecks even after almost losing it a few times going into a corner too fast. Looking back, it was more like a combination of luck and fast reflexes. I did have a few little fender-benders in it, which my dad was very patient about.
A few times I got to drive it to high school, and I thought I was cool. If you wanted to insult someone's car then, you called it a milkwagon, as in slow. We had a beautiful Turkish exchange student that we were all too scared and dorky to ask out. Some of the guys got her to come up to me and say "your car is milkwagon." A teacher saw me cut through a gas station in it to pass a bus near school, and ran up to me and said he was making a citizen's arrest. It reminded me of when Gomer tried to citizen's arrest Barney Fife on Andy Griffith. The car also helped me become friends with some of the muscle car guys, showing me back then how an interest in cars can help bridge gaps.
My dad had the car a few years then, but kindly gave it back to me during law school, and for a couple years after while I got my law practice going. Then, I bought my first car on my own, and was proud to give it back to him. He drove until he passed away.
That car remains very special to me, because it started me on a lifetime of liking cars and being fascinated by them. It also helped a shy kid make friends. Most importantly, it provided an extra bond and connection between my dad and me through the years.
Attached is a picture of my friend and I washing it. I haven't met any of you in person, but in the interest of full disclosure will state that I had slightly more hair back then. I'm the one on the right. The guy on the left is still a good friend all these years later.
![[driving]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_driving.gif "Driving [driving]"){kind=icon}
