We've all flirted with that old eternity road. I've had three that come to mind immediately that I'll never forget (over 34 years of driving--including the year with learner's permit).
When I was, you guessed it, 16, I had the habit of top-ending my mom's Cutlbutt, which was 112-115 mph. I lived in a small rural town, and there was another tiny town about 12 miles away that I decided one day to see how fast I could get to. There was also a clbuttic "dead man's curve" on the route that I'd heard a little about but didn't take too seriously. It had-has quite an impressive dead list over the years--from people doing just what I was doing that day. I was top-ending when I hit the curve (it's a deceptive thing as there's a little downhill and it also curves sharply after it starts, which is not noticeable when approaching it (I didn't wear seatbelts in those days either). How I managed to not lose it that day I'll never know. I was literally an ant away from rest. The road was dry, and I always had the wisdom--even at that age-- to never over-correct. Bottom line is that that taught me a lesson I'll never forget as I was never that reckless again. (My face was as white as a dead man's when I looked at myself in the mirror.)
Another time, I was driving a 1974 Vega (very light vehicle) a little too fast I'd guess, hit a puddle, hydroplaned, and very nearly had a head-on with a huge Buick. This scared me pretty good, and could've easily been bane, but it wasn't quite as terrifying as the dead man's curve day. (This spot some years later caused a woman to hydroplane in the same dip in the road during rain, causing her to hit a log truck head on, killing her.)
anyone drive a CHINESE car beforeNot hardly. You are forgetting that Japanese companies know how to produce a quality product, while the chinese can't produce a quality turd. You will...
The other instance is almost funny really. I was driving at about 4 a.m. one morning in 1978, along a highway I'd never been on before. I was cruising along at about 65 mph, had no idea I was about to get to a T intersection (if I continued on straight, I would've hit woods). Anyway, I was looking at myself in the mirror for some reason, looked up and saw woods fast approaching. LUCKILY, make that VERY LUCKILY, just to the left was a dirt road that intersected with the same highway I was intersecting with. I had just enough time, and had just good enough reflexes, to quickly veer to the left and fly down the dirt road instead of flying into the trees!
I've had other close calls as well--almost getting hit by drunks etc., these really stand out.
-- Flores
