Every time I see a picture of my ’49 Chevy, one particular incident comes to mind. It was a drag race, of course.

My best bud, Terry Wilson, and I installed a 1956 Jimmy engine in it and then it was tweaked with a couple of go-fast modifications. It was really fast, especially for a 6 cylinder. My favorite victim was those late ‘50’s Oldsmobiles, sporting their huge OHV motors.

One night I was just about home, sitting at Cherry and South in Long Beach, CA at a red light. My house was just a quarter of a mile up on the right and I was tired and ready to crash. Until this ’56 Olds pulls up next to me and starts revving his engine, looking for some action. I’m no longer tired, and I return the rev clearing showing it’s a 6 cylinder. Big grin from Toothy.

Off we go, both screeching the tires. As we fly by my house, I yank it down into 3^rd gear and extend my two car-length lead to three. Satisfied I had him clobbered I ease it down, just smiling away. Toothy pulls up beside me – and is now grinding his teeth, and yells, “Pull over!!”

Oh great, now a fight.

We both pull over; I step out of my car hoping he’s small. He isn’t. As he approaches me he stammers, “What the hell you got in that thing, I gotta see it.”

Wholly shit, he just wants to see what just beat his ass. Really pleased I’m not hitting the sack tonight with a black-eye, I open the hood and we spend the next 10 minutes talking about my really fast car.

I then ease home thinking how really bithcin’ that was. That’s what it’s all about.