I hope you’ve all had a great Easter.
With all the traffic during the long weekend and such bad weather here, it’s a miracle there were no major accidents. I did have a close call though.
I was pulling my 24 ft trailer loaded with my tractor and shredder (approx. 13K LB) down the highway with my V10 Super Duty. I was in no hurry and traveling the speed limit, coming to an intersection. I always slow down quite a bit long before I come to a stop and happened to notice two vehicles coming up behind me. The one on the rear was right on the bumper of the first vehicle. They approached fast, the first car, a Town Car, decided it had room to pass before we got to the stop sign, which was only about 30 yards away. I really had to get on the brakes to keep from rear-ending him. He came to a “rolling stop” and jumped out onto the busier-than-normal highway. The other vehicle behind me was a Chevy 3500 DRW, who just seemed normal…at first. After swallowing down my temper, I stopped, looked both ways and saw that there was only one slot between cars to get my rig, so I gassed it. It was the first time in awhile that I went to WOT with a load and the V10 came through as expected – screaming. I paid no attention to the Chevy until I glanced in my side mirror and saw him crawling up beside my trailer – trying to pass! There was a line of traffic coming towards us – and seeing that he was not making sufficient progress – I applied the brakes to let him around. When he came by I noticed his wife yelling and slapping the dash, and I also noticed the Duramax badge on the tailgate.
I guess he thought he could take me fairly easy since I was loaded…but was obviously mistaken.
To make matters worse, he pulled over at the next gas station and was refueling when I passed???? His wife’s hair was disheveled and she was on the cell phone, head down in her hands.
Talking about a near miss, on a holiday…and if I hadn’t dogged the brakes when I did, someone might have missed an Easter Egg hunt!
Some people! And why in such a hurry?

Also – just braggin’ on my truck…a little.

 

Well I woulda kept gassin' on it, Big O, just to make him sing Man I Feel like a Woman, just to see his headlights in my rear view mirror where they belong.

 

Isn't driving a Ford fun!!!!

 

That is a good question. I always wonder why people are like that to. Always in a hurry to go no-where.
I like watching them in heavy traffic nearly taking their own lives just to get another car ahead of a person.

 

Try the same thing on a motorcycle. Been riding for years and if I haven't seen it, I'm looking 'cause I'm bound too.

 

My first thought was to see just how much oil he would have to burn to get a fire built in it, but then again, there's was that loss-of-life thing...
It's still puzzling about the delay in power - you'd think that empty truck with a Duramax would easily get around. But, there could have been an extra foot on the brake pedal - what with the look on that woman's face and all.
I think she might have been calling Mama...or the lawyer.

 

Just thought I'd add that I saw the truck again this morning...the woman was driving and had a big smile stretched across her face.

Goodbye Mr. Chips-all-off-on-yer-shoulder!

 

> There was a line of traffic coming towards us

I would have hit the brakes too and let the moron pass instead of watching a head-on happen around me. Imagine if he hit a Honda or something. Gotta love those V-10s!

 

It always brings to mind that Alabama song, "I'm in a hurry to get things done. I rush and rush until life's no fun." I have to admit that I was once that way, but have found that taking my time really saves it.

About the Duramax: Not even one puff of black smoke came out of the tailpipes. Wonder if he just bought to badge to be cool?

 

I drive a E 350 with a V 10 to work loaded with 15 people van pooling. That thing has power to spare!

 

I second that!

I love the Sturgis rally....but it really seems like the idiot factor always shoots up expotentially around Rapid City during the rally.

 

What about the guy that always tries to beat the barrier arm at a railroad crossing? I have seen this way too many times. I wasn't there when it happened, but there was this one guy that took out that 2 x 6 inch aluminum bar that drops down. It also took out his windshield.
All to get there a few minutes earlier.
Now, I can see a life and death situation forcing you to go through Uncle John's cornfield or mow down Aunt Mary's flower garden....but to jeopardize your life or the life of others just to get to a gas station, or the beer joint? No, wait, maybe billsco would do that?!

 

Im just glad you are ok,and that guy coming at you.I saw one about 2 yrs ago where some idiot was in a big hurry and jumped out to pass,the poor guy coming the other way didnt have a chance.the idiot that jumped out into on coming traffic lived and the innocent family didn`t.I just cant understand why some people have to get right on your back bumper,then try to see oncoming traffic.

 

Yea - and some people say truckers are crazy. I have a lot of respect for those OTR guys that see this everyday, sometimes more than just a couple of times, and can still be courteous. I wish had the stats differing driving the speed limit and doing 10 to 20 miles/hour over going only a distance of 20 to 30 miles. Not that much.

The Hwy Patrolmen around here when in hot pursuit with lights flashing wouldn’t have attempted that “ignit” move.

 

Last summer, my dad and i were pulling a loaded 12' U-Haul trailer on I35, coming back from San Antonio, and there was quite a bit of traffic on the road. We were in the right hand lane, going with the flow (~55mph), when two ricers pass us on the right hand shoulder, and cut us off!!! IDIOTS!!! There was a brief exchange of hand gestures, and then they proceded to tailgate two guys on a motorcycle. Saw one of them pulled over by a State Trooper a few miles down the road. Looks like their speed didnt save them any time (or money) at all!! LOL