Long post, but it's been a long time coming...
Yesterday was a great day. Well, aside from the tornado and subsequent "Italian Mistress" misbehavings, all went perfectly.
You may recall that RobertVegas had posted his "first day" outing mishap, to which many of us chimed in with same. Mine of course was "in the past" and since I'm a genius now, I'm immune to these things. Right.
My car FINALLY arrived from Pat Mical's yesterday. Was getting back from coaching baseball on an awesome Saturday when the world's nicest and most careful trucker (no kidding) called and said, "I think your Pantera is happy to be home finally".
We unloaded the green beast, rolling it carefully off the enclosed hauler with yours truly at the helm, narrowly missing trailer inner fenders, loading ramps, and exhaust tips nipping at the asphalt. I fire the thing up and almost cry ("ALMOST", and I'm only telling you guys that.)
The feel, sound, smell, and vision that has filled my head both waking, sleeping, and in-between was alive. Real. The exhaust note sounded better (just a little biased here) than ANY V-8 I've heard in, well, forever.
I sat there, a man possessed, while my son filled the passenger seat. I told L.D. (the trucker) I'd be right back. So, with 1983 Michigan plates and about zero knowledge of the "working prowess" of the car, I zoomed off. First, click, second, click, third, click, decel, stop sign. If I'd had the gas I'd have gone to Vegas right then.
I went back, visited with my new forever friend L.D. We spoke of children, Christ, integrity, ambition, and the hereafter. Amazing guy. I paid him and he left. (He's bringing another car next week, so we'll visit again.)
My son and I "invented" an errand to go get another cell phone battery since mine held a charge for like, 5 minutes. Dark skies ahead, literally and figuratively. Tornadoes looming. The weather staion showed 'egg sized hail' in the area. Love does funny things, so we stole plates off my other car and drove the Pantera.
Got the cell phone battery, fully charged, and left for home. Serious wind. Car hiccups on low fuel. I put in 10 gallons, remembering that the gas in the tank is AT LEAST 6 months old.
I go about a mile, cough, sputter, "see you later" says the lovely exhaust burble and the car cuts off. "Exotic embarrassment" thread comes to mind. It's less funny than I remember.
http://pantera.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/7650045562/m/9080056284
Cars seeking sane shelter from the storm, crane to look at the idiot who's chosen a really preposterous place to park his little green knife.
Rain picking up. Car restarts, dies. Again. Cell phone battery was now very important and call for a tow. Raining seriously now. (Haggerty Flat Bed service is NOT an indulgence boys and girls.)
My dear wife gives us a ride home. Forty five minutes later, the tow driver calls to say policemen are telling people to get off the streets so he "must" cancel, and I don't blame him.
Heaviest rain clears and so does my head. I go to O'Reilly auto parts and get a fuel filter. I tell him it's for a Montego. For $4.60 I head to the world's wettest Pantera. Miraculously, I change the filter WITH THE AIR CLEANER mostly attached since it's still raining steadily and need all the combustion shelter I can muster.
My very wet blue jeans now weigh 47 pounds and from the back I appear to be an old white guy who's a Ludacris groupee.
I hop in, twist the key. Life resumes. It drove, pulled, shifted, stopped and sounded better than I'd ever hoped. I was the happiest, most-soaked motorist on the road, 32 year old demisting technology and all.
The mean green is finally home. I've one minor conquest alrady, and love every minute of it. It is just about too cool to believe. Remember, this is NOT a show car - - but it's my car and for now that'll have to do.
Soon as the very unPantera like weather clears I'll report more. Pictures too, I promise.
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