The Banana Car

I have seen cars with lemons on them and signs saying that they were lemons. And I have seen a car shaped like an Oscar Myer Hotdog. But this is the first time I have ever seen a car shaped like a Banana.

It is built on the frame of a Ford F150.

Jeep ( Candy Peeps) SUV

This Jeep has been decorated with candy Peeps. It is amazing what you can do with this much candy.

Monster Tri-Cycle

John Deere Chopper/Lawnmower

Barrett-Jackson 11th Annual Palm Beach Auction

Barrett-Jackson Generates More Than $21 Million In Sales At 11th Annual Palm Beach Auction

  The World's Greatest Collector Car Auctions™ Attracts Nearly 55,000 Attendees Despite Weather Concerns, Reports Strong Sales Signifying that Collector Car Market is on Steady Incline•More than $21 million in gross sales – An increase over 2012 sales•Nearly 55,000 car fans in attendance•More than $1.8 million raised for charity

Scottsdale, Ariz. – (April 9, 2013) – Barrett-Jackson, The World's Greatest Collector Car Auctions™, announced today that it generated more than $21 million in gross sales of rare, high-end collectible vehicles, exotics, customs, classics, hot rods and resto-mods, during its 11th Annual Palm Beach auction, held April 4-6, 2013 at the South Florida Fairgrounds.

Despite severe thunderstorms, more than 55,000 car fans were in attendance to witness the comprehensive lineup of cars at the renowned auction and lifestyle experience. It was clear from the cheers of the standing-room only crowd and the final sales prices that the collector car market is continuing at a steady incline and that Barrett-Jackson retains its stronghold within the hobby.In fact, certain market segment sales were on-par with those from pre-recession 2007. Specifically, American muscle car sales were strong overall, as exampled by Lot #713 Chevrolet Chevelle SS LS6 2-Door Coupe selling for $148,500, Lot #713.1 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 2-Door Coupe selling for $165,000 and Lot #739 2010 Chevrolet Camaro Custom 2 Door Coupe, which was built by Hendrick Motorsports for country superstar Brad Paisley. Several late European Sports Cars also crossed the block and did exceptionally well. In an effort to attract new collectors to the hobby, Barrett-Jackson also offered by design, an introductory auction on Thursday, for those who still wanted to get a piece of the action with a quality lineup of cars.

Top five individual sales at the 2013 Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach auction included:

•Lot #3004 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible – $1,000,000

•Lot #3006 2009 Ford F-150 King Ranch Super Crew Pickup – $350,000

•Lot #762 1968 Shelby GT500 Convertible – $330,000

•Lot #772 1970 Oldsmobile 442 Convertible – $275,000

•Lot #767 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle LS6 Convertible – $258,500

Unique sales included the first production 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible (Lot #3004), which sold for $1 Million to Rick Hendrick, the NASCAR team owner who also took home the first production coupe at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale in January. Proceeds of the sale benefitted the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan.

'We kicked off the year strong in Scottsdale and are thrilled that our 11th year at Palm Beach has kept that momentum going,' said Craig Jackson, Chairman and CEO, Barrett-Jackson. 'We were able to offer a unique lineup of rare, high-end automobiles that helped to bring out an enthusiastic crowd and we are proud to see that the collector car hobby is going strong. We're very pleased with the event's overall results.

'Adding to the excitement was the attendance of several celebrities and VIPs, many of who sold personal vehicles at Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach. Pop sensation Rob Van Winkle, formerly known as 'Vanilla Ice', was seen enjoying himself inside the auction tent, alongside actor James Marsden, Charles Walsh, Partner in the Chicago Bulls and White Sox sports teams. Ford Motor Company's Chief Operating Officer Mark Fields, American Le Mans Series driver Ron Fellows and NHRA Top Fuel Champion Joe Amato also enjoyed watching cars cross the auction block. In addition to selling a car, Indianapolis Colts' wide receiver Reggie Wayne was seen actively bidding with his family standing by his side.

In addition, former General Motors' Vice President and current Chief Executive Officer of Hendrick Automotive Group Jim Perkins enjoyed watching the event, as did Wayne Huizenga Jr., businessman and former owner of the Miami Dolphins, Florida Marlins, Florida Panthers and the current owner of Rybovich Super Yacht Marina and Refit. Huizenga shared an emotional moment with his wife Fonda on stage, as the couple sold Lot #768 1968 Shelby GT500 E Continuation Fastback for $148,500, which was a cherished anniversary gift Fonda had given to her husband years earlier.

Barrett-Jackson also helped raise more than $1.8 million for local and national charitable organizations. Six charitable vehicles were sold during the auction, including the 2009 Ford F-150 King Ranch Super Crew Pickup (Lot #3006) once owned by former President George W. Bush. The truck sold for $350,000, with proceeds benefitting the National Guard Youth Foundation.

We're grateful for the opportunity to help raise money for these wonderful charitable organizations and we are so proud of the contributions by our sponsors, fans, bidders, consignors and other supporters,' said Barrett-Jackson President, Steve Davis. 'We're now looking ahead to our next auction, the inaugural Hot August Nights Auction Presented by Barrett-Jackson and we couldn't be more excited.

'SPEED and FOX Sports Networks broadcasted more than 18 hours of live, high-definition TV coverage of the Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach auction.

Consignments are now available for Barrett-Jackson's upcoming Inaugural 2013 Reno Tahoe and 6th Annual Las Vegas events. For more information, please visit http://www.barrett-jackson.com/consign/. For more information about Barrett-Jackson or to purchase tickets, visit http://www.barrett-jackson.com or call (480) 421-6694.

About The Barrett-Jackson Auction Company

Established in 1971 and headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., Barrett-Jackson specializes in providing products and services to classic and collector car owners, astute collectors and automotive enthusiasts around the world. The company produces 'The World's Greatest Collector Car Auctions™' in Scottsdale, Ariz., Palm Beach, Fla., Las Vegas, Nev. and Reno Tahoe, Nev. Barrett-Jackson also endorses a one-of-a-kind collector car insurance offering for collector vehicles and other valued belongings. For more information about Barrett-Jackson, visit http://www.barrett-jackson.com or call (480) 421-6694.

Source: Internet

1933 Duesenberg SJ Torpedo Sedan

  Duesenberg '20 Grand' To Be Featured Car At 2013 Palos Verdes Concours
  Palos Verdes Peninsula, April 23, 2013 -- The 'Featured Car' at the 2013 Palos Verdes Concours d'Elegance on September 15 will be this 1933 Duesenberg SJ Torpedo Sedan which wears a California license plate reading '20 Grand', since that was the original sales price of the car. Part of the Nethercutt Collection, it was restored in 1979 and took top honors at Pebble Beach in 1980. It was originally built for display at the 1933 Chicago World's Fair Century of Progress Exhibition.The 21st Palos Verdes Concours at the Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes, will celebrate the 'Age of Elegance' by showcasing some of the world's most luxurious classic automobiles, according to Chairman Peter Kunoth.The featured classes include Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Duesenberg and the coachwork of Raymond Dietrich. The Concours will also recognize the centennial of Aston Martin, the 60th anniversary of the Corvette, and the 50th anniversary of the Loewy Avanti. Other classes will showcase post-war luxury cars, and a full range of sports cars. Preservation cars - automobiles that are in original and well maintained condition - will be displayed alongside the restored cars.The PV Concours will be preceded by a Pleasure Road Rallye on Saturday, September 14, where drivers and passengers can take in the beauty of the Palos Verdes Peninsula while competing for prize.
The PV Concours is a 501(c)(3) charity event with proceeds benefitting the Palos Verdes Art Center's educational and community outreach programs and Palos Verdes Rotary Foundation charities, including Harbor Area Boys & Girls Clubs.

Source: Internet

RM Auctions' Don Davis Collection Attracts Texas-Size Bids

RM Auctions' Don Davis Collection Attracts Texas-Size Bids

  • RM Auctions posts over $21.2 million at the record-breaking sale of the distinguished Don Davis Collection, April 27 in Fort Worth, Texas

• Top seller: a rare 1967 Ferrari 330 GTS sold for $1,936,000, to establish a new auction record

• Five lots achieve million-dollar-plus results, with numerous auction records shattered

• Toyota 2000GT enters history books with seven-figure sales price

• Exceptional collection attracts bidders from 14 countries around the world 

FORT WORTH, Texas (April 29, 2013) – RM Auctions continued its strong track record in Texas this past weekend with the record-breaking sale of the Don Davis Collection in Fort Worth, Texas. Held onsite at Mr. Davis's estate, the single-day auction of the esteemed 'collector's collection' saw 64 prized automobiles sell for more than $21.2 million before a packed house.

The exceptional quality of the collection was reflected in the strong global interest in the sale, with bidders hailing from 14 countries around the world, including from as far away as Brazil, Australia, and Kuwait. Top sale honors went to a rare, matching-numbers 1967 Ferrari 330 GTS. Representing the epitome of mid-sixties Italian GT styling, and stunning in Blu Scuro, the example on offer attracted tremendous interest from collectors, selling for an extraordinary $1,936,000, which set a new world record for a Ferrari 330 GTS sold at auction.

Taking the number two spot was another dream car, the 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spider, which garnered a remarkable $1,650,000. In total, five lots achieved individual million-dollar-plus results, while spirited bidding saw a number of automobiles well-exceed pre-sale estimates, to set no less than eight new world records.

Record-shattering sales were led by the 1967 Toyota 2000GT, which sparked an exciting bidding war, eventually selling for an amazing $1,155,000, which far-exceeds the previous world record for a Toyota 2000GT sold at auction. Also entering the history books and setting new auction records for their class were the highly sought-after 1988 Porsche 959 'Komfort', which sold for an outstanding $770,000; the 1965 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III Mulliner Park Ward Drophead Coupe for $577,500; and the 1965 Lamborghini 350 GT Coupe for $550,000.
'We were honored to have been entrusted to offer Don Davis's incredible collection,' says Ian Kelleher, Car Specialist, RM Auctions. 'The fantastic results reflect not only the truly exceptional quality of the cars, but also the continued health of the collector car market and Mr. Davis's reputation for collecting the best of the best. From the Toyota 2000GT to the Ferrari 330 GTS, this was certainly a record-setting sale that we're very proud to add to our portfolio of private collection auctions and to our strong track record in the Lone Star State.'RM Auctions' Don Davis Collection Million-Dollar-Plus SalesLot 132 1967 Ferrari 330 GTS $ 1,936,000 - Record for a Ferrari 330 GTS sold at auctionLot 148 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spider $ 1,650,000Lot 142 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing $ 1,237,500Lot 149 1967 Toyota 2000GT $ 1,155,000 - Record for a Toyota 2000GT sold at auctionLot 112 1965 Shelby 289 Cobra $ 1,001,000The Don Davis Collection sale is the latest on a list of highly successful single-vendor auctions presented by RM Auctions, furthering the company's reputation as the specialist for private and estate collection sales.'The entire RM Auctions group was outstanding in handling my auction,' said Don Davis following the sale. 'From start to finish, every person handled each step of the process in an extremely professional and friendly manner. The enhancements made to my warehouse by the team completely transformed it to showcase the cars in the best possible way. From the outset, I was told all I needed to worry about was showing up on sale day. Because of the confidence I had in RM, that's exactly what I did! My experience with the entire RM team was absolutely stellar!'RM continues its busy 2013 auction season with the return of its highly anticipated biennial sale held during the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este weekend, May 25, on the shores of Lake Como, Italy. This will be closely followed by RM's established U.S. summer sales, including its annual sale in Plymouth, Michigan, held in conjunction with the respected Concours d'Elegance of America at St. John's, July 27, as well as RM's flagship Monterey, California, sale, held during the same weekend as the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, August 16–17.

Source:  rmauctions.com

Sotheby's To Showcase Automotive Artistry

RM Auctions In Association With Sotheby's To Showcase Automotive Artistry At New York Sale

• RM Auctions, in association with Sotheby's, announces exclusive New York collector car auction, November 21

• Groundbreaking sale to celebrate the automobile as an art form and feature an elite, handpicked selection of approximately 35 significant motor cars

• Early highlight: bespoke, one-off 1956 Aston Martin DB 2/4 MkII 'Supersonic' embodies wonderful concept of 'rolling sculpture'

BLENHEIM, Ontario (April 30, 2013) - RM Auctions, in association with Sotheby's, is delighted to announce a new sale in New York City, November 21. The exclusive auction will celebrate the motor car and its place in the history of design, focusing on iconic styling and the artistry of combining automotive function with exquisite form. Featuring approximately 35 handpicked automobiles from around the world, the auction will be held at Sotheby's global headquarters in New York and will represent the first time a major collector car auction has been held in Manhattan in over a decade. With an emphasis on bespoke design and 'best of category' examples from the world's most admired automotive marques, the sale will feature one of the most significant collections of motor cars offered in auction history.As a prelude to the sale, an extraordinary exhibition showcasing the vehicles on offer will be held November 19 - 20 on the 10th floor galleries at Sotheby's New York—a setting customarily reserved for the display of world-class works of art offered at Sotheby's.

'In recent years, collector cars have enjoyed phenomenal interest from enthusiasts and experts who value their historic importance and rarity alongside the achievements of their creators, coachbuilders, engineers and designers, who must be counted amongst the world's great artistic visionaries,' says Rob Myers, Chairman & Founder, RM Auctions. 'Our upcoming New York sale will celebrate the historic importance of the automobile—a singular achievement at the crossroads of art, technology and innovation—at the same time paying tribute to the creativity, styling and imagination of the world's leading coachbuilders. We are delighted to be working with the team at Sotheby's for this exclusive event. From the exhibition on their 10th floor galleries to the incredible caliber of the consignments on offer, it will certainly be a sale like no other.'

Maarten ten Holder, Sotheby's Managing Director, Americas, commented, 'We are thrilled that this autumn Sotheby's will host the first ever automobile exhibition in our 10th floor galleries when 35 of the world's finest and most important cars will be shown ahead of the RM sale on November 21. As the first car auction in Manhattan for over 10 years and one of the most significant ever held, this is set to be an unprecedented and historic event.'

Leading early highlights for the sale is the stunning 1956 Aston Martin DB 2/4 MkII 'Supersonic', chassis AM300/1/1132. A truly one-off creation, '1132' received its bodywork from the renowned Ghia coachworks of Turin, Italy. It is the only Supersonic built on an Aston Martin chassis, was first displayed at the 1956 Turin Auto Salon and was driven by American grand prix racing driver Harry Schell. The car's first registered owners were newlywed New Yorkers Gail Whitney Vanderbilt and her husband, the record-setting water skier Richard C. Cowell, who took delivery directly from David Brown and were photographed with this car by Life magazine whilst living in the South of France. It was then acquired in the late 1950s by noted American collector Robert Lee and benefits from known ownership history through the present day. Offered for sale from the distinguished James Patterson Collection, it is the recipient of a recent, thorough, no-expense-spared, Pebble Beach award-winning restoration.
'A completely bespoke creation, '1132' is unlike any other Aston Martin of its era,' adds Myers. 'From the oval egg-crate grille and covered headlamps to the arrow-like spear running along its sides, Supersonic tailfins and Jet Age tail lamps, it is truly a masterpiece of the automotive designer's art and emblematic of the most advanced postwar alloy coachwork. Considered alongside what the automotive industry offered the public in 1956, this Aston Martin was not only fast and exclusive, it was downright wild! It's pop art on wheels!'The striking Aston Martin, which carries a pre-sale estimate of $1,500,000 - $2,000,000, will be on display in Sotheby's York Avenue lobby, New York, from today (April 30) through May 7. 

Further information on the sale will be provided in the summer.

Source: Internet

1937 Chevrolet Suburban

1936: Chevrolet Invents the SUV

The Suburban points the way

In 1936, Chevrolet invented the SÚV – and the station wagon as well. In this respect, the Suburban, the designated forefather of the Captiva, was already a classic example of a crossover.

When the roads were still dusty and cars were loud and slow, the railway was the most popular means of transport for long distances, also in the Únited States. The arriving passengers wîth their luggage then wanted to continue their journey in comfort, perhaps to one of the city suburbs. Consequently, in the early days of the motor car, a species of vehicle was developed to satisfy this need: An open, engine-driven carriage with an additional platform for the luggage. People called them 'suburbans'. A number of car makers used this generic name, and it was not until 1988 that General Motors protected the name 'Suburban' for its model.

The origins of the station wagon were similar to those of the suburban. The first models were built on a car chassis wîth a wooden rear section. This created the extra space needed to accommodate several passengers and their luggage when they were picked up from the station – consequently 'station wagon'.

In autumn 1935, Chevrolet merged the two ideas, and in 1936, the ÚS market leader brought out a spacious station wagon made of sheet metal, which was based on a half-tonne delivery van. With the crossover Suburban it was now possible for the first time to transport up to eight people comfortably in an all-steel body. Priced at just $685, it launched the triumphant career of a model that has continued to the present day.

Another innovation that was also destined for worldwide fame came in 1938 with the horizontally split tailgate. The original version wîth rear doors continued to be built in parallel wîth this for several years, but the customers' verdict was unmistakable: the first model of the Suburban wîth a tailgate netted sales of 16,696 up to 1947 – interrupted by the War – and proved far more popular than the rear-door version, of which 4,799 were sold.

In addition to the originally targeted taxi companies and hotels, large families also soon recognized the utility value of the Suburban, as did enthusiasts of all kinds of leisure activities. In contrast to the cars of that time, they could now carry not only passengers but also a whole stack of luggage. And they soon realized that the luggage space could be made even larger by taking out one or two of the back seats. This was an idea that only really spread to other vehicles wîth the arrival of vans in 1980's.

It was in 1957, the year that 4WD first became available as an optional extra, that the Chevrolet Suburban – fondly called 'Burb' by its fans – truly became the forefather of the SÚV (sports utility vehicle) and the darling of all off-road enthusiasts, even though nobody actually called it so. Two years previously, GM had, for the first time, installed a V8 under the powerful hood and thus provided the pulling power that was lacking in the ageing straight six.

In total, several million Suburbans (including its close relatives like the somewhat shorter Tahoe) have so far been built. With the new Captiva, Chevrolet will for the first time apply its crossover success formula to Europe: Compact and wîth a self-supporting body, but just as versatile, spacious and comfortable as the original.

Chevrolet Suburban Carryall 1936

Frame & Body

2 door, 8 passenger window truck
based on Series FB ½ ton truck. Steel ladder frame (wheelbase 2,844 mm), steel body panels, wood frame roof wîth black vinyl cover

Engine & Transmission

Inline 6-cylinder wîth overhead valves (OHV), bore x stroke 84 x 101 mm, displacement 3388 cm³, Carter single barrel carburettor, 79 hp. Three speed manual synchromesh transmission, rear wheel drive

Suspension

Straight front axle wîth live rear axle, semi-elliptic springs, hydraulic four wheel brakes, wheels 5.5 x 17

Technical milestones

The highlights of the eleven model generations since 1935:

•1954: Automatic transmission optional
•1955: 180 hp V8 engine optional
•1957: Four-wheel drive available
•1965: Air conditioning available
•1967: Second door on the passenger side
•1975: Catalytic converter
•1978: Diesel V8 available
•1987: Gasoline engines with fuel injection
•1995: Driver airbag as standard
•2003: Four-wheel Quadrasteer Steering and StabiliTrak
•2006: Cylinder deactivation „Active Fuel Management'
•2007: Dual-Mode hybrid transmission
Source - Chevrolet

Chevrolet Suburban At 75: A Historical Look At An American Icon

In 1935, the 'United States' population was a little more than 127 million. A first-class stamp cost three cents, Technicolor was introduced to motion pictures and the Detroit Tigers defeated the Chicago Cubs in a tough World Series. It was also the year Chevrolet introduced the Suburban.

In the seven and a half decades since its introduction, the Suburban became an icon and the industry's longest-running model. In fact, Suburban is the first vehicle to reach 75 years of production and Chevrolet is commemorating the milestone with a special 2010 75th Anniversary Diamond Edition model.

'Times have changed, but the Suburban remains a fixture in the industry for private and professional customers who need truck-like towing capability with maximum passenger and cargo space,' said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet general manager. 'The Suburban's core capabilities and dependability have remained constant for more than seven decades and generations of people know that a Suburban will haul people and their gear.'

The original Suburban could seat eight, while easily removable seats provided a large, 75-inch-long by 77-inch-high (1,905 x 1,956 mm) cargo area. The 2010 Suburban seats up to nine, but offers up to 137.4 cubic feet (3,891 L) of cargo space when the second-row seats are folded and third-row seats are removed.

History of an icon
The idea for the Suburban was born out of a need for a heavier-duty, truck-based wagon. Through the early 1930's, most manufacturers offered car-based wagons for professional use. Open models with windows and rear seating were known as depot hacks, and were used to ferry passengers and their cargo around train stations and boat docks. Enclosed models, typically without rear seats, were known as sedan deliveries.

Bodywork for these early vehicles often consisted of wood sides and canvas tops; and while they were versatile, their car-based chassis and damage-prone bodies were compromises. Chevrolet began experimenting with an all-steel wagon body mounted on a commercial chassis in the mid-1930's, and the Suburban Carryall was launched in 1935.

The base price of the original, eight-passenger Suburban was about $675, or the equivalent of about $10,900 in 2010 dollars – although the 1935 model didn't come with frontal and side air bags, OnStar, XM Satellite Radio, anti-lock brakes and stability control, a six-speed automatic transmission or remote keyless entry. In fact, a radio, heater, clock and even a rear bumper were extra-cost options. It might well have been called a sport utilitarian vehicle.

After the Suburban's introduction, car-based commercial vehicles, including sedan deliveries, remained in production, but the heavy-duty chassis of the Suburban increasingly found favor with professional customers. In the post-World War II years, its popularity with private customers who appreciated its uncompromising capabilities increased steadily.

The Chevrolet Suburban hit the mainstream in the early 1990's, with the overall popularity of sport-utility vehicles. But while many customers were new to the Suburban then, it had garnered a legion of longtime owners who had purchased multiple examples over the years – using them to haul Little League teams and their equipment, tow a horse trailer or seat a work crew on the way to a job site.

 Source - Chevrolet

Parking Lot Etiquette

Driving a 1998 Subaru wagon with 205 thousand miles on it doesn’t put me in a hurry to get anywhere. I find keeping a lackadaisical throttle foot to be an effective survival technique, designed to milk every remaining mile out my noble Japanese steed. It’s also indicative of my thrift-artist financial situation, which as it stands requires I shop religiously at Costco as if it were a giant welfare box store.

If I need groceries, I go to Costco. If I need a shirt, I go to Costco. If I need tires, I go to Discount Tire; Costco’s nitrogen-filled tires scare me. But that doesn’t affect my general complacency when tooling around a Costco parking lot to find a vacant space, nor does it negate my outrage at the affront to my dignity that took place there recently.

As I’ve established, Costco is a pillar of my life. You know the Kirkland Signature brand of everything Costco sells? That’s a product of my hometown - Kirkland, Washington; I practically invented that crap myself.

Still, I don’t roll into a Costco parking lot expecting to be treated as royalty, much less find a parking space anywhere near the front entrance. Even if I did, I would still park a half-mile away in the back of the lot, just to avoid the ravenous crazy people who think if they cheat a walk by parking in a front row stall they won’t have to spend forty-five minutes PUSHING AN OVERSIZED SHOPPING CART AROUND A WAREHOUSE.

But I’m used to these lost souls stopping their cars directly in the flow of traffic, sometimes with their blinkers on, waiting patiently for another shopper to unload two months’ worth of groceries into their vehicle. It doesn’t bother me at all – I just drive around.

And then one day it happened. Never, ever in my tenure as a Costco Gold Star member have I seen the parking space sloppy-seconds maneuver performed in tandem by a duo of able-bodied shoppers. But there it was, splayed out before my front bumper: Two cars, facing the same direction, each waiting for a parking spot on opposite sides of the aisle.

They were completely blocking the lot’s entryway traffic in both directions.

The calm inside me began to bend, rapidly losing its elasticity. I couldn’t back up to avoid the obstruction. A line of cars had formed behind me. A minute passed… a minute and a half. It was already too much. What in the hell were the rest of us supposed to do? We were being held hostage by these louts!

I tooted my horn just long enough to emphasize a moderate degree of frustration. The lady holding up the left of the blockade turned on her blinker and pointed out her window to identify the spot she was waiting for, as if all of us had mistakenly assumed she was stopping up rush-hour traffic back to the Costco gas station for no good reason.

I don’t do road rage. What happened next was going to be a vigilante display of social justice that couldn’t be stopped or reasoned with.

Any man worth his Costco card knows the corners of his car like a cat knows its whiskers extend to the width of its body. By the looks of the terrible scene, there would be just enough room to squeeze my Subaru between the vulture lady’s car on the right and the rear bumper of the vehicle being loaded with a Kirkland Signature bounty on the left. Whether my roof-rack would clear the underside of the open hatch was up for grabs. Cats don’t have whiskers on top of their heads.

I inched through the opening, making sure to alleviate the uncomfortable tension of the pass by pointing through my windshield at where I intended to go. And it was done. Someone with a car that could easily be totaled from a minor fender bender had taken a stand against a bully, one who thought putting every Costco shopper in the greater downtown Seattle area behind her own convenience was her right for paying a $55 membership fee.

She might not have learned a lesson from my livid close quarters roll-by, but at the very least her arrogance was challenged by that of another. If she didn’t appreciate the gesture I hope she stopped to wonder why.

Source: Examiner.com