You're right-it is attitude.
The difference being that the delivery guys, dump trucks and such are more
or less professional drivers doing their jobs and driving *their employers
vehicles*. That truck is their 'office' and their livlihood. For many, this
is their career.
I'm a woman, so I hate to say it, but I have found that women driving SUVs
to be among the worst! Especially if there's kids in the vehicle or a
passenger.
A bus driver friend once commented to me that the drivers that caused the
most accidents in te town he drove for 15 years in were women in trucks and
SUVs and people driving the "safest" cars-especially Volvos! He said that it
seemed that these people somehow felt invulnerable because of either size or
safety rating.
I dated a guy for years who was a very good driver-in his sportscar,
motocycle and van-but when he got behind the wheel of his Mercedes 4 door-he
turned into a monster! I started to refuse to drive with him in it!
No matter what you drive, you gotta remember that in one way or another,
you're vulnerable. And people should care that even if they're driving the
biggest thing on the road-there are still other cars on the roads and even
if they come through ok physically, they can still kill or maim someone-or
at the very least, destroy someone elses property and be sued.
I am very careful driving my spit-not because I care so much about dinging
an SUV, but because I care about my car and it's the only car I have-and the
only real property I own. (And I know this is true for a lot of people.)
It all goes back to what we were talking about last week-being responsible
and driving being a previlege and not a god given right.
Laura
Vita brevis est: rapide agite, vigore strigate!
----- Original Message -----
From: Banbury, Terrence <Terrence.Banbury@dnr.state.oh.us>
To: Laura Gharazeddine <Laura.G@141.com>; 'Jeff McNeal' <jmcneal@ohms.com>
Cc: <spitfires@autox.team.net>
Sent: Monday, March 13, 2000 11:43 AM
Subject: RE: CRASH!-'79 Spit parts car for sale
> That is true. No substitute for sheer mass.
> Now a sidebar about those "damned big SUV's". This rant is not aimed at
> anyone; it is just something that boggles my mind. What about the
thousands
> of semi-trucks, UPS delivery vans, RV's, dump trucks, buses, and all the
> other larger vehicles that have been on the road for decades. Aren't they
> "dangerous and unsafe" for the smaller vehicles out there? Should they be
> banned? Ok I'm done. It comes down to people's attitudes. I try to
> remember that the Expedition driver up ahead there, just might be driving
> his Spitfire tomorrow. (So far, Jeff and I are the only ones I know that
> own both vehicles. Hey, let's start a club. No, no, no,...I'm only
> kidding.)
> Terry Banbury
> Mk III
>
> > ----------
> > From: Jeff McNeal[SMTP:jmcneal@ohms.com]
> > Sent: Monday, March 13, 2000 2:24 PM
> > To: Joe Curry; Laura Gharazeddine
> > Cc: Banbury, Terrence; 'Winnie Olmer'; spitfires@autox.team.net
> > Subject: Re: CRASH!-'79 Spit parts car for sale
> >
> > Just a word of advice. The big cars always win. The bigger they are,
the
> > wider the margin. I have my Spitfire parked in the garage next to our
> > Expedition and I almost shudder when I glance over and see that the top
of
> > the tire on the Ford is nearly as tall as the top of my door on the
> > Spitfire!
> >
> > Cheers,
> >
> > Jeff in San Diego
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Joe Curry <spitlist@gte.net>
> > To: Laura Gharazeddine <Laura.G@141.com>
> > Cc: Banbury, Terrence <Terrence.Banbury@dnr.state.oh.us>; 'Winnie Olmer'
> > <who@sover.net>; <spitfires@autox.team.net>
> > Sent: Monday, March 13, 2000 10:30 AM
> > Subject: Re: CRASH!-'79 Spit parts car for sale
> >
> >
> > >
> > > Such is life in LALA land! That is why my son hasn't driven his Mk2
in
> > > a while. He whips in and out of traffic in his Jetta Wolfsburg
edition
> > > like there is no tomorrow. Can't do that in a Mk2 Spit. He wants me
to
> > > bring it to Arizona and put a big engine in it.
> > >
> > > Barry, are you up for a challenge???
> > >
> > > Joe
> > >
> > > Laura Gharazeddine wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Ditto, I always drive around with my headlights on.
> > > >
> > > > On the other hand, Friday, coming back from lunch, I was signaling
to
> > move
> > > > over to the exit lane (so as to not have to drive 5 miles out of my
> > way
> > at
> > > > 1.79 a gal!) and the S*F*UV would not let me over no matter what I
> > did.
> > I
> > > > looked up and saw the driver-and she looked me right in the eye!-and
> > kept
> > > > going! I would say that in the area I live in, 8, maybe9 times out
of
> > 10,
> > > > they do see me-we make eye contact, but the drivers here are sooo
> > arrogant
> > > > that their attitude is "I have the right, I'm better than you-!@#$
> > you!"
> > > >
> > > > Talking to friends from L.A.-they agree with my assesment of OC
> > drivers.
> > > >
> > > > I used to have a Maverick-but I had to get rid of it because people
> > were
> > so
> > > > rude to me-the moment of realization came when I was trying to exit
> > the
> > > > freeway and a grey haired 'grandma' -wearing a Chanel suit driving
a
> > Jag
> > > > Vanden Plas-flipped me the bird!
> > > >
> > > > Anyway, I use my headlights, my horn, and I'll yell-Hey!-but some of
> > these
> > > > people think they have the god given right to be there, and you
don't!
> > > >
> > > > Laura G.
> > > >
> > > > Vita brevis est: rapide agite, vigore strigate!
> > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > From: Banbury, Terrence <Terrence.Banbury@dnr.state.oh.us>
> > > > To: 'Winnie Olmer' <who@sover.net>
> > > > Cc: <spitfires@autox.team.net>
> > > > Sent: Monday, March 13, 2000 7:38 AM
> > > > Subject: RE: CRASH!-'79 Spit parts car for sale
> > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > That seems to be the most often used excuse by poor drivers...."I
> > didn't
> > > > see
> > > > > them!" It is true for motorcycles especially. I drive with my
> > lights
> > on
> > > > in
> > > > > the Spit. I might even add a few more up front just to get their
> > > > attention.
> > > > > A high mounted (temporary, is possible, I suppose) rear brake
light
> > is
> > a
> > > > > good idea too. Driving a '60's car in the new millennium is risky
> > > > > Terry Banbury
> > > > >
> > > > > > ----------
> > > > > > From: Winnie Olmer[SMTP:who@sover.net]
> > > > > > Reply To: Winnie Olmer
> > > > > > Sent: Sunday, March 12, 2000 1:44 PM
> > > > > > To: 'Graham Stretch'
> > > > > > Cc: 'List Spitfires'; 'List Triumph'
> > > > > > Subject: RE: CRASH!-'79 Spit parts car for sale
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Thanks for the sentiments. Hopefully someone picks up whats left
> > of
> > the
> > > > > > Spit
> > > > > > and can give it a second life in another car. It's a strange
> > feeling
> > to
> > > > > > not
> > > > > > really bum out about losing the Spit. While I wish I still had
> > it..
> > > > > > especially so close to Spring... I am simply so thankful to have
> > come
> > > > out
> > > > > > of
> > > > > > it OK that I'm counting my blessings. It makes me "weak in the
> > knees" to
> > > > > > look at how caved in the driver door and windshield are. I have
no
> > idea
> > > > > > how
> > > > > > I came out with a few cuts and a badly bruised side. Just
bruises!
> > I
> > > > dont
> > > > > > get it! The "Triumph Gods" wanted me to finish the TR6. It's not
> > my
> > time
> > > > > > yet. When I can figure out how to get a picture of it on line it
> > would
> > > > be
> > > > > > very sobering to others to take a look. My lesson learned is..
> > drive
> > > > with
> > > > > > my
> > > > > > lights on at all times!! Just like motorcyclists do to be more
> > visible.
> > > > In
> > > > > > all my cars actually. Especially with all the "cell phone while
> > you
> > > > drive"
> > > > > > drivers out there. Maybe I'll paint the 6 dayglow tie-dye.
Austin
> > Powers
> > > > > > TR6?
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Take care
> > > > > > Winnie
> > > > > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > "If you can't excel with talent, triumph with effort."
> > > -- Dave Weinbaum in National Enquirer
> > >
> >
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