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<<>So I took it for a spin (Uninspected. OOPS!)>>
This reminds me of my first drive in my (now deceased) '66 MGB.
I was in college in Raleigh, NC in 1984 and had just sold my ratty '77
MGB and rusty '71 Midget to purchase my dream car... a 1966 BRG MGB from
Belgium. Of course, it had not been driven since the year it was first
imported... 1972. The seller had gone through the car and had gotten it
somewhat running and driving, but had not gone any further. The carbs
were in terrible shape, but it would run well enough to get it to an LBC
shop.
So I take off in this car to drive across town to the MG guy. I went by
a city cop with radar in a speed trap, but I was driving VERY carefully.
I did notice him look long and hard at the car. I then realized I had
made a wrong turn and had to backtrack. I even took a different route
to miss him, but in a couple of blocks I met him at an intersection.
This time he stared even harder... and flipped on the lights before I
even moved.
Now I should mention that NC has different colors for each year of
inspection on the sticker, so anyone can glance at the car and know if
the inspection has expired. He walks up to the car and looks at the
sticker. Looks at me. Back at the sticker... just shaking his head.
Finally he says "No wonder I didn't recognize the color of the sticker.
I was in fourth grade the last time this thing was inspected. I'll bet
you have one helluva story for me." My first response "Well, I've been
pretty busy...."
Turns out he was a pretty nice guy and had owned a couple of LBC's.
Once he found out I had just bought it and was taking it in to be
inspected (and after I reminded him I had 10 days to do so)he let me go
without any trouble.
But the look on his face when he realized how far the car was out of
inspection... priceless.
Bill Elliott
Lake Mills, WI
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