Hammer,
You bring back memories!
I, at one time, worked the docks in Long Beach, CA., and one day was working the auto ships.
Auto ships are cool, as all you do is get driven up to the ship in a van, and you walk up into the ship, find a car (for me, they were always from Japan. Boy, did I wish for a car from Germany or Italy), open the door, get in, turn the key (the cars always had about a half gallon of gas in them), start it up, and drive it off the ship, to a huge parking lot. Get out, wait for the van, and repeat. All day long.
Now, when I was doing this, the longshoremen union was just starting to let in women.
And most of the men didn't want the women working, taking their jobs.
Didn't bother me, as long as they could do the job.
However, on the auto ship job, you would be fired if you couldn't drive a stick.
So, being a Trans Am owner even back then, I got together with about 4 girls, and made them a deal.
If they found a stick, call me right away, and I'll take it, leaving the autos to them.
It was working real good for almost the whole day, when finally a foreman saw what was going on.
He called me over, and started giving me sh*t about why I am only grabbing sticks.
It was a super hot day at the time, and I was tired, so I just spat out to him that I couldn't drive autos.
Everyone around us got quiet, and the 2 girls there thought they, as well as me, were gonners.
Well, after what seemed like forever, the guy just busts up laughing, and says OK, smart a**, follow me.
We walked about 5 decks higher, and sitting in a special hold were these turbo 3 cylinder little Chevys, all sticks!
I thought I was in heaven, cause the hold was even air conditioned.
I get in, start the car, and go.
Now, since I was about 5 stories higher, I had to drive down deeper into the ship.
Just like in a multilevel parking lot.
As I came to the first turn, I slowed for it, and gave it gas as I came out of the turn.
That little turbo kicked in, pulled the car right around fast, and was gone.
Now, the rub was, it is a front wheel drive car!
The first one with a turbo I have ever been in!
The car went the right way, lucky for me, but I wasn't wearing my seatbelt, and I took off another way!
Scared the sh*t out of me! I am so lucky that I didn't crash!
After that, I wore the seatbelt!
At the end of the day, all 4 girls were still there, and they were all happy no one got fired.
We all went out for beer after that.
Ah, the good ole days.
George
