Fast Car Driving
I’ve always wanted to drive a 5-speed sports car.
Always.
Which is not a surprise, really, because by nature I’m fairly aggressive.
So last night, when I drove my father’s red 2002 Mazda Miata, I had my fast-car-driving desire fulfilled.
Well, kind of.
In the process of tooling around Birmingham in my dad’s sweet ride, I learned 3 valuable lessons. One about the car and two about me.
1. Sports cars are not meant to be driven around in neighborhoods with stop signs and in places where there are stoplights every block or two. Trust me on this.
2. It has been a long time since I drove a 5-speed. Though I love it, I could use some practice.
3. I have officially lost the ability to think like someone who isn’t a mother. Some examples to prove this:
Ooh, I’d better not gun it when the light turns green. It’ll be too jerky.
Man, I’d love to air this thing out…but it would be dangerous to do that around here. Someone could get hurt!
Wow, it’s not really a smooth ride—in fact, it’s pretty rough. Thank God that Jane isn’t in the car. She’d be carsick!
I like my minivan better. (I know. Did I just actually think that?!)
With all that said, it still was a blast, and I’d jump at the chance to do it again if Dad offered.
Maybe one day my fast-car-driving desire will be united with an open road, an ease with a manual transmission, and a carefree spirit that can truly just enjoy the ride.
Until then, I guess I’ll just leave the fast car driving to my dad.
Filed under: General, Catbird, Random Thoughts on December 29th, 2006
You are just a few minutes away from Talladega. Ask your Dad to take you out to the speedway. There is a nice long old airstrip where people park for the races(only gets used a couple of times a year really!) Its perfect for driving like a crazy woman! My Dad took me there to teach me how to drive- sure beat the heck out of our driveway in Millbrook where we got to go in circles… wheee.
A friend of mine here has a 2006 Corvette, 6-speed.
Oh yeah I drove it.
I did not drive it like a dad but like a 17 year old.
And it was good.
Very good.
Now, back to the Hyundai.
You actually thought “I like my mini-van better!!!!” Remember when you were looking for a car and were VERY against a mini-van (grin, grin!!!)
Glad you had fun, and love your van better!!
Hey Catbird … my Miata has SIX forward gears and you can drive it anytime you want. Why don’t you and Paul get a sitter for the girls, find some open road and see why “mini-van” should never be used in the same sentence as Miata. Any tickets you pick up along the way are yours … but they’ll be worth it.
“Oh Cousin Where Art Thou??” Cathy Burch Martin, I thought I knew you!! You used to scare my pants off in a HONDA ACCORD! I would have thought you’d be burning rubber and running from cops- AGAIN!!
**All you current friends of Cathy need to ask her about speeding away from a cop and hiding out in a Hardees parking lot! (Sorry Cathy, couldn’t resist!)