6 Golden Days (1/2)
The old garage stood rusty and abused nestled between some trees. A small parking lot sat outside the little building, and one of the doors sat wide open. The other two stood closed with fogged over windows being the only way to see out.
Anyone off the street would think it was closed. The rusty metal walls, and leaf covered roof gave away the neglected state of things at the garage, but inside sat an old man with the automotive equivalent of a green thumb.
At fifty years old this man had learned every trick of the trade when it came to the art of automotive work. Tony was his name, and he was the only reason work ever got done on the three-oh-two. He loved the car almost as much as me and did work on it for half the price for me.
I pulled the fox body up into the open garage door and parked it. In the corner office I could spy the graying old man through his window. He put down his newspaper and ran his fingers through his gray streaked head.
Tony hoisted himself up and lumbered out to the fox body as myself and Johnny exited.
”It has been awhile since you brought the fox body in. You looking to do some work on it?”
”Just some off-road tires if you've got some in the back. I'm looking to make some passes on the trails”
Tony's eyes widened half in surprise and half in an odd wistful happiness.
”You're running the trails again? It's been a while”
”To long if you ask me Tony. How much do I owe you for the tires?”
Tony shook his head and waved his weathered hands.
”Nothing at all. Just bring her back in one piece”
Tony lumbered to the back searching through for some old tires. Johnny sat back in wonder looking around the shop. It was a relic from the past honestly. All the tools and machines where vastly outdated, but Tony made due.
”Man, this place looks lit!”
Johnny exclaimed dragging his fingers across the metal walls.
”This place is like straight out of a sixties movie or something”
I nodded to myself smiling a little. Tony had been the only person my Grandfather trusted to work on the three-oh-two. It was how I came to know the guy. In many ways he was my Uncle and mechanic.
”Hey, can I ask a question Jack?”
”Sure. Hit me”
”What made you start stunt driving?”
I sighed deeply and leaned against the fox body. My hands found their way into my jacket pockets instinctively as I recited the story I gave to everyone who eventually asked.
”It was my grandpa. When I was little my grandpa would take me for joy rides in the three-oh-two. It just stuck with me. The speed, the g-force, the rush. It was amazing. I carried that with me all my life and when I started driving I couldn't help but follow him. My years of riding with him I guess some of his skill rubbed off on me. That being said Ill never be as good as him”
”So the three-oh-two was your grandpa's? Your grandpa on your mom or dad's side?”
”Mom's side. My dad is a step and I honestly haven't seen my grandparents on his side. Also, yeah the three-oh-two was his. When he died he willed it to me along with his house up North”
”Damn he must have loved you to give all his shit to you”
”He was basically my dad. My step dad understood that and never tried to over step that boundary thankfully.”
From the back of the shop I heard Tony call.
”Roll the fox body on the lift so we can get these wheels on!”
I dropped the e-break and with Johnny's help we pushed the car onto the lift. Tony hit the button to move it up and grabbed his impact gun. He had the wheels off and the new ones on in record time despite his old age.
”Bring in the three-oh-two next time. I haven't seen it in a while”
”I'll bring it when I can drive it up here”
Tony gave a deep rich laugh and patted the hood of the old fox body as the lift lowered it.
”I'll hold you to that Jack.”
Johnny hopped in the passenger seat and strapped in. I drove us down the road a little way more, and took a small dirt road off the main road.
”So... Are you about to take a run down the trails?”
”Yeah, I am. Gotta get back in shape”
”Oh...”
Johnny looked around in a panic as his hand grabbed onto the seat belt for safety.
”Are you sure you want to run with me in here?”
”Well Adal did say Id have a co-rider. That's you Hound. ”
”I'm not going to lie Fox... I'm scared...”
I smiled wide and let loose with my trade mark maniacal laugh. Flash backs to all the other times I brought people up here for a little thrill ride ran through my head.
”So is everyone else the first time, and usually every time after that”
Before Johnny could give another protest I dropped the clutch launching the mustang down the well-traveled dirt road.
I've never done any drugs but I can only assume that running the trails was the closest I would ever get. The fox body screamed a v-eight symphony to the trees that drowned out Johnny's screaming. The motor bounced off the rev limiter as the tires broke loose on the first turn.
I held the slide all the way and ripped the e-break at the end to help correct myself. Johnny latched onto the door screaming helplessly into the wind. As I heel-toed my way through the curve I felt instinct take over. My hands flew over the shifter and steering wheel nearly automatically.
The best part was how open all my senses felt when I was driving like this. My eyes picked out and noticed everything, my ears heard every subtle sound of the car, even my nose could pick out the faint smell of car exhaust on the crisp wind.
I slid every corner and hammered down on every straight. Just like the old times. It was the purest high anything could ever give me. Johnny probably had a different idea. When I came sliding to a stop at the end of the trail he was petrified against the door.
”Well...”
He began not even trying to hide the shake in his voice.
”You didn't seem very rusty to me”
”Nah I'm rusty alright. It's been a while since I ran those back roads. Especially that hard”
”How long exactly?”