Nascar

I know that Nascar was created in the Appalachian country of America's south. It developed as the delivery system for the moonshine industry of the mountain folk. Fast cars and skilled drivers often proved too much for the cops.

Well, we have mountains out here in British Columbia. We have some fast cars and skilled drivers north of the border, too. On our way home from Castlegar, we were looking forward to a relaxing scenic drive most of the way. I drive well in the mountains. I don't slack off in keeping the speed limit, even in the corners. But I had several vehicles, trucks, no less,....that simply drove those roads harder than I.

I didn't start of as a race, not for me, anyway. I just happened to be the first car off the ferry boat. Being first on the road has a responsibility with it. Don't be an idiot and drive slowly. So, I did my part and was zooming along, checking my rear view mirror now and then. I was out ahead of everybody, for about five miles, and then I noticed a pickup truck closing in on me. I was astonished, actually. I was driving well, but this red pickup truck was just eating up the road! Behind him, was a silver pickup, and worse yet, behind him was a panel delivery truck.

Here in BC, there seems to be a local value on, how do I say it...owning the road. For example, we have a lot of visitors from Alberta come here. Albertan drivers seem to be used to straight roads and no speed enforcement. Many drivers from Alberta come to BC, and exceed the speed limit in a big way. (some die here too.) They go fast, that is, until the road curves. At the curves, the go fast foreign drivers hit the brakes and creep around the corner as if they are hoping for somebody to hold their hand and tell them it will be alright. These drivers annoy the BC drivers. It is therefore incumbent on any BC driver to pass the slow novice mountain drivers at the first opportunity.

I have BC license plates on my car, but just because somebody has BC plates doesn't mean that the car is driven by a good ol' boy from BC. So, driving in the mountains is like the survival of the fittest. I was doing my part in holding up the integrity for British Columbia, and after the trucks closed in, I sort of shifted into a "game mode" of wondering if how long I could keep my first place position
Well, the red truck seemed to stay behind and show little interest in passing me. That was good. That meant that I was holding up my end of driving as a good BC'er. But the silver Ford 3/4 ton 4x4 passed the red truck and closed on my tail. It was like I was in a dog fight; me in my A-10 and being pursued by a Mig-19. I could tell he wanted to take me, and it was game time!

The roads were very curvy. That is where the Saturn excelled. It is low and wide and tracks in curves as if the road was Velcro. But I have a 4-cylinder motor, and the car was heavily loaded. Pushing the limits did not seem wise, so I just focused on driving well, and making the silver truck have to work hard to get around me.
Well, it took miles, about ten grueling miles before the opportunity came. There was a 200 yard straight shot with no on-coming traffic. The silver truck seized the moment, touched off the afterburner (or so it seemed), and in a moment, he passed me. I wondered how he could stay upright in the curve coming up after putting on so much speed? Somehow, he did, and he extended his lead each minute.

Then the 1-ton panel truck, a uniform delivery truck, passed me! I was amazed!! How in the world did that guy dare to drive that top heavy, bulky truck, so fast? I don't know, but I figure one thing, Nascar guys, watch out for these BC drivers. They can really take the game to you!