I killed Milner's Rod (American Graffiti)

[chuckspeed]

Have you ever wanted to do something real bad - then regretted you did it?

Happened tonite - right in front of the SEMB crowd. I'd gone out for a couple of loops, and was inna real mellow mood. Didn't wanna run anyone; let a 'vette, a Scoobie, and a turbo Jetta roll right by while Max and I enjoyed short-shiftin' on the first nice night for several weeks.

So - rigght after I do a 2nd gear roll-on for the SEMB'rs, I see a car I've been wantin' to run for a couple of summers - John Milner's Deuce Coupe. yellow five window, chrome reverses, smallblock Chevy with three deuces. Yah - that's the car - straight outta American Graffiti.

Quintessential hot rod.

I dunno what's gotten into me lately - I've been lookin' to slay legends. Last year it was Eleanor and the 440 six-pack 'Bee, the year B4 it was a Deuce hiboy and a rumpety El Camino.

Milner cuts across the Street and hits a turn upstream of 555 Woodward; I tuck in behind him. He rolls out onto the street - then hits it. Milner's rod just GOES - it's at the lite B4 I can blink.

Well...

I'm gonna challenge him, so I gotta bring it.

We sit...The lite seems like for-freakin- ever. It goes green - Milner just flat LAUNCHES his rod - this guy as been at the tree more than once! He pulls a half right off the bat - Max is still on winter shoes with the stickies in the shed...made a mental note to fix that this week.

Anyway, about halfway thru 1st, Milner's rod seems to nose over - either that or Max hit high song. I'd run some Techron thru it today to loosen up the injectors - the motor seemed a lot crisper.

Bang second, and Max puts about a carlength of daylight on the THX-1138 clone...

huh?

I thought I was gonna get my butt whupped!

We repeat at the Lincoln lite - right where the SEMB'r can see the action. this time Milner leaves little to chance; lanches even harder. Max, acting like a thorobred, matches the Deuce and then flat kills him on the 1-2 powershift. I toss in a 2-3 and pull a solid two lengths before hitting the brakes to signal 'game over'.

'DAMN! That thing is FAST!' Milner jerks a thumb at Max.

'yah - but I'd rather have your car any day of the week.'

An honest sentiment.

Gonna hafta go to church tomorrow and confess, for I have sinned against the gods of speed...

I have killed milner's rod.

<snif>

[78KingCobra]

what do you have?

your stories are so interesting.

oh yeah, REAL nice kill.

[j0n]

01(iirc???) mach 1 with some basic bolt-ons and from what i can gather a hell of a driver behind the wheel

[4 cam tbird]

Muscle cars and cool rods are things that I just don't like to run against. I want to keep that illusion they are faster than they really are. Hard to do if I'm out there beating up on them with a truck :h

Anouther great story by chuckspeed and max!!

This time I got to see the story come alive, Good race max!

[Godhatesimports]

I envy chuck, Mach 1 is probaly my favorite car. How much do those things cost? I was thinkin of getting one when I come home from the Army.... Its no surprise you won chuck your Mach 1 is fucking sick. Max > all

[4 cam tbird]

NADA with average mileage input and no options clicked is 20,750 for average retail.

[Godhatesimports]

Damn for that I get a Cobra for a few extra chokes at the wallet, I see Mach's for sale on autotrader for cheaper though. Wayyyyy cheaper, like around 12-15k its prolly cause they think its a GT with a sweet hood =p

[chuckspeed]

Originally Posted by Godhatesimports

Damn for that I get a Cobra for a few extra chokes at the wallet, I see Mach's for sale on autotrader for cheaper though. Wayyyyy cheaper, like around 12-15k its prolly cause they think its a GT with a sweet hood =p

I'm guessin' it's worth about 16K in current form with 37K on the clock.

The Mach is more of a period piece - appeals more to fortysomethings than the Cobra. It's lighter by several hundred pounds, and easier to launch with its solid axle. Making a Mach go fast has less to do with finding HP - and more to do with getting the suspension and gear ratios right. Guys runnin' Mach's in Factory Stock classes are in the mid 11's leaving wheels up. Max ain't nowhere near that - but he's quite a bit quicker than stock nowadays.

[WishIHadACamaro]

Another excellent tale from chuck! :smt023