Lunch with the guys (my report)

[excelguru]

As has become my custom, I opened the garage door and pushed out the Cobra to avoid filling the garage with startup fumes. My fingers fumbled in my pockets as I retrieved my keys to unlock the trunk and hood. White puffs of breath appeared in front of me as I gently rubbed the California Car Duster over the car's surface. "Clean enough," I thought. I topped off the brake fluid, checked for oil leaks, and buttoned down the hood. The car was ready.

With several layers of clothes, my heaviest coat, warm gloves, hat, and sunglasses, I was ready as well. "Where's Elizabeth?"

Inside the warm house, that's where. You see, it was curently 36 degrees and I had an hour's drive to meet the other cold-wether nuts at the local mall. Elizabeth had absolutely no intention of riding shotgun in this sort of weather. She would shadow me in the Honda instead.

I spent several minutes cranking the car, stalling it, cranking it again, stalling it again, cranking it again... Eventually, the engine warmed up enough to stay awake on its own. Okay, not really, but close enough. Big blocks really don't like cold weather. Away we went!

Let me see if I can paint this picture for you: if Julia Roberts was jumping on a trampoline in the middle of Times Square naked, she still wouldn't garner as much attention as some nut driving a roofless Cobra at 65 MPH down the interstate on a 36-degree December morning. Most people would look and smile (those are the ones who think I'm nuts). Others, however would actually give me thumbs-ups (those are the ones who are nuts like me).

After an hour-long drive, my shadow and I arrived at Columbiana Mall. I saw four Cobras already in the parking lot as I approached. I blipped the throttle to say "hello" (and just because I can). Hal Copple arrived shortly after us and the crew was all here. We strapped in for a short (fast, loud) drive to Zorba's Greek restaurant. This car is simply more fun than someone should be allowed to have. I broke the tires loose in 2nd once while driving to the Zorba's... okay twice. This cold air does wonders for power!

During lunch, I was reminded once more that it's not the cars that make this club so special. It's the people. Great people, great conversation, great cars, great food, and the sun was beginning to warm things up a bit outside... what more could you ask for? After lunch we posed the cars for some family photos.

Most of us followed each other for a mile or two as we left the parking lot and picked our own directions home. Elizabeth had some shopping to do, so I was released on my own recognisance to head back home. Hal and I tagged each other for several miles along I-26 and I-20.

What a blast it is to pilot one Cobra longside another on the highway. I kept thinking to myself, "Man, I hope my car looks as shiny as his right now." We would squeeze the throttles a bit to play, then ease back and just cruise. We got alonside one another and gave each other that knowing look... we downshifted and really hammered it for a bit. What a blast! Hal was doing his best to look collected, but he really wanted to smile. I could tell.

Soon we parted company as Hal headed north for home and I headed east to put the car away for the winter. Spring will not arrive soon enough, I'm afraid.

Keith