Last Saturday I attended my first illegal street drag race meet. It was quite strange to see that my preconception was almost correct.
But then again, I’d carried out extensive research prior to the event – I hired The Fast and The Furious on DVD.
The scene had potential to match the movie set, but it was lacking some of the essential elements. Namely – hot girls, thousand dollar bets, ménage trois proposals and shameless plugs for the use of NOS.
Oh well…
The night started with an assembly of approximately 100 people at Liverpool McDonalds. Everybody waited by the cars, waiting for what I didn’t know.
A stereotypical Asian gangsta addressed the mass – “Oi, follow the R32 mate…”
Ok.
All the cars flowed onto the highway, racing away to an industrial area.
The runway was perfect. No street lighting, out of sight from the main roads, no neighbouring residential properties. It was just straight, dark and long…
The cars not racing were parked on either side of the road, the crowds then lining the runway. Cars that wanted to ‘run’ assembled at one end.
We had managed to secure a good position along the runway, 20 meters from the starting line.
This was where the action was.
Close enough to see the start of each race, to hear the launch screechings. Burnt tyres, crunching gears, exhaust notes in different keys, whispers of blow-off valves.
Excellent.
Notable cars that raced:
· A mini white pick up truck
· A turbocharged Commodore
· A white TX-3
· J’s Civic
The night had proved a success. The races had been running for nearly an hour, the crowd was well behaved and everything was in order.
Then the police came.
It reminded me of one of the Uncle Toby’s ads – where the whole crowd just spread from the center of the screen.
“Kick it to me!” was replaced with the more appropriate “Get the fuck out of here!”
The people scrambled to their cars, fumbling for keys and contacting those lost in the panic. The convoy went back to the highway, only to find it road-blocked by police. There were no metal barriers, but three police cars parked to block off our exit.
I'd never seen this before, well maybe in the movies...
There was no choice but to turn back and weave through the back-roads of Campbelltown. By chance, we managed to find our way back to the rendezvous point.
I must admit that half the fun was being chased by, and out running the police.
I hate it when you receive a phone call in the middle of a group debate.
You’re out of the field for two to three minutes. And it always happens when you’ve just formulated a witty line. The line you’ve been working on for the last five minutes.
You walk away to the quiet area of the bar or café, start on another topic with another person. By the time you get back, two things would have happened:
1. They’ve already moved onto another topic
2. You’ve already forgotten
J tells me that another game show has been born to fill in the 5:30 slot, it's called Pass The Buck. The game is played by five or 6 players, I think.
The aim of the game: to answer a question correctly from the presenter (who else but John Burgess...). A correct answer passes the same question to the next contestant, who in turn cannot repeat previous answers and has to still correctly answer the same question.
Examples:
Name words from the chorus of "Let it be"
Contestant 1: Let
Contestant 2: It
Contestant 3: Be
Contestant 4: Err...
Give two numbers that add to produce 19
Contestant 1: 18 plus 1
Contestant 2: 1 plus 18
I'm sorry Robbo, that's already been said...
Name one of the most popular movie series of all time
Contestant 1: Fists of Fury
The Great Aussie Million Dollar Giveaway - Part II
Called the company this morning and they cut straight to the chase.
Hello
Reference number?
Err… 2760157
Mario right?
Right
Are you single?
I’m seeing someone
But you’re not married or in a defacto relationship?
No
Then you’re single
Err, ok (if you say so)
Do you have an income of $45,000 per annum or more?
No
Well I’m sorry but to attend the seminar you must meet this minimum criteria
Ok
Goodbye
I'm currently reading Amy Tan's The Kitchen God's Wife and have come across an interesting passage.
"And how can you say luck and chance are the same thing? Chance is the first step you take, luck is what comes afterward. Your kind of chance makes no sense, it is only an excuse not to blame yourself. If you don't take a chance, someone else will give you his luck. And if you get bad luck, then you need to take another chance to turn things from bad to good."
As of late my cashflow has been non existent, only a monthly dump of cash from my parents keeps me alive. That and the generosity of D and my friends, whom I'll never be able to fully repay.
Thanks guys! You know who you are...
Anyway...
A letter arrived today, which I thought to be quite weird. I never receive letters. Well, not lately anyway. Who wants to write to someone who has no tertiary qualifications, job or interesting hobbies?
Answer - Promotional Companies
My first guess were debt collectors, seeing that I've avoided Vodafone for a month.
The signs were clear.
First came the SMS, then a pre-recorded call, then a 'Customer Service Operator' call. It was only a matter of time until I received a debt collector letter (if anyone has any suggestions on attaining a better credit rating, or even improving it, I'm all ears).
The envelope was plain white, attached with a company stamp. More importantly, it had in heavy blue writing "URGENT CLAIM REFERENCE". On goes my love hate affair with my mobile phone.
Surprise! It isn't a debt collector letter...
Surprise! My M was in the room at the time, since she thought it was a debt collector letter...
Surprise! It's a promotional company...
Hmmm...
Blah, blah, prize draw, blah, selected me, blah, blah, RECEIVE THE FOLLOWING GIFT
WOO HOO!
For once in my life...
Apparently, the company is willing to give me a holiday. Two adults and two children from a list of given destinations if I call a number and attend a 90 minute seminar.
Trying not to get too excited. It's probably too good to be true...
