[Shotimes] Pontiac unveils SHO successor?

[James F. Ryan III]

> Oh wait- I think we had something 5 or 6 years ago that they called snow.
> The SHO didn't seem to care though.

I'm sure the SHO didn't care, but I'm sure the Texass driver did.  I lived
in Irving, Texass for 5 months (Jan '03-May '03).  One weekend in January
there was a snow "storm" - less than 1 inch on the ground.  People on I-635,
I-35E, 114, and 161 were pulling off to the side of the road!!!  Those that
did not want to stop were "speeding" along at 10mph!!!

My colleague and I (both of us are from NJ) were in our long-term rental, a
bright yellow Nissan Xterra and we were doing 65mph.  Even if we weren't in
an SUV we still would have been doing 65mph.  We had our high beams on and
were laying into the horn just to watch these idots swerve out of the way.
Is it possible to "swerve" when you're only doing 10mph???

Anyway, we were on our way to the DFW Gun Range on Mockingbird Lane, near
Dallas Love Field.  This place is BYOG or you can rent over 100 different
guns (.22 to 9mm to .45cal) just by showing your driver's license.  For $50
you get the gun of your choice, 50 rounds, eye and ear protection, and 1
paper target.  That place was great, we certainly don't have anything like
that here in NJ.

A few weeks later it snowed again.  MUCH worse this time - there must have
been 2-1/2 to 5.........centimeters on the ground (1 to 2 inches).  Offices,
stores, and schools actually closed for the day!!!!!  Once again we were out
in the Xterra, and there was only a handful of cars on the road  Then we get
pulled over on Loop 12 or 183 (I forget which) by this jackhole from DPS.
He comes up to our truck yelling, "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU GUYS DOIN OUT HERE
ON THE ROAD?"  "Ummm.....driving!!!"  "DON'T YOU KNOW THAT EVERYTHING IS
CLOSED?"  "And..........go ahead dufus, write us a ticket, we're from out of
state and we work for the federal government."  (silence)  "Are you going to
give us a ticket or not?"  "GO HOME AND STAY OFF THE ROADS."  My friend Dan
says, "Blow me.", and we leave.  I don't think he had any intent of chasing
us, but an inexperienced snow driver in a RWD Crown Vic is NO match for 2
boys from the Northeast in a 4WD SUV.

There's a ginormous Bass Pro Shops (aren't they all) off of I-635 in
Grapevine, Texass.  Connected to the BPS is a bar/restaurant AND a BYOG or
BYOB (Bow) shooting range.  Soooooooo, you can purchase a weapon at BPS, go
to the restaurant and get all liquored-up and pissed-off, then go to the
range and shoot something or somebody.....BUT, you're not allowed to drive
in the snow.

In Texass, the liquor stores close at 9pm-ish, the restaurants close at
11pm-ish and some counties don't even have a liquor store (they're called
DRY counties)!!!  You can carry a weapon in your car or pick 'em up truck,
BUT it must be proudly displayed for everyone to see.  OR you can take a
weekend course at the gun range near Dallas Love Field and receive your
"Carry a Concealed Weapon" Permit.....BUT, you're not allowed to drive in
the snow.

Official state slogan:  "Don't mess with Texass!!  Except when it snows,
'cause then we're powerless to do ANYTHING."

Gosh I love living in the Northeast.  We get to experience all 4 seasons to
their fullest extent.  Right now the trees have changed to their beautiful
autumn colors as they prepare for the upcoming winter season.  How's it down
there in Texass....I bet it's still flat and brown.



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "bjshov8" <bjshov8@comcast.net>
To: <shotimes@autox.team.net>; "V8List SHO" <v8sho@v8sho.com>
Sent: Saturday, October 30, 2004 10:28 PM
Subject: Re: [Shotimes] Pontiac unveils SHO successor?


> > As someone that grew up with lOTS of snow in central
> > Illinois
>
> What's snow?  I don't think we have much of that down here.
>
> > The facts are that FWD in both big and little cars is a LOT better in
snow
> > than RWD
>
> Oh wait- I think we had something 5 or 6 years ago that they called snow.
> The SHO didn't seem to care though.
> >
> > I agree, most car buyers here really are buying a device to
> > get from point A to B and don't care much about performance
> > beyond the basics and maybe looking good (in their own minds).
> >
> In Dallas its strictly image.  The people who only want to go A to B buy
> Hyundai's, Corollas, Buicks, etc.  Whether they buy for image or
> transportation doesn't matter- 99% of them are clueless about any other
> aspects of the car.  Nobody buys SUV's to even drive on dirt roads.  Most
> people who regularly have to drive on dirt roads are the type who want
> pickups anyway.
> >
> > A big part of the move to big SUV's no matter what wheels
> > drive them has more to do with wanting to see over the next
> > car and thinking bigger is safer, than any perceived or real
> > improvement in traction in bad weather.
>
> I dare say that it is very rare to find an SUV down here that isn't 2WD so
> who expects these things to have any traction advantage anyway.
>
> I like to ridicule stupid SUV drivers.  Setting in my garage right now is
a
> Jeep Grand Cherokee, WITH 4WD.  We bought it because its a Jeep, because
its
> 4WD, and because we actually use it in places where lesser SUV's fear to
go.
> My only regret is that we don't go more often.  I'm happy that the AWA
likes
> to drive it daily because I would not want to.  I much prefer my gen3.
> _______________________________________________
> Shotimes mailing list
> Shotimes@autox.team.net
> http://www.team.net/mailman/listinfo/shotimes