“There was a distance between you and I A misunderstanding once, but now We look it in the eye”
First off, I would like to call out that my version of this song is the correct one not Larry’s, but his version is from the movie and since this is a memory reference I guess I will let it be.
Second, my favorite memory from this movie wasn’t even from the time we all went to see it at the theater. It was several years later and we were driving somewhere far enough away that Connor was watching a movie in the backseat. Gabriel was not with us this time, so it was just Connor, Larry and me. Connor was sitting in the backseat watching Cars for the 100th time but this time was different, he was getting at that age where he was starting to get some of the more adult jokes that are in kids movies, so when this part happened…
• Lightning McQueen: He's won three Piston Cups! • Mater: [spits out fuel] He did WHAT in his cup?
I thought Connor was gonna have his own Piston Cup. He laughed so hard and then Larry and I let him in on the fact that all his beloved movies had jokes in them for the moms and dads to laugh at. He couldn’t wait to go back and rewatch them to see what other jokes he had missed out on before. Part of me hated to see him growing up so quickly but I have very much enjoyed being able to have that adult relationship with him. Connor is definitely one of the funniest people I know.
Yes Cars is one of the greatest movies of all time; especially if you are into anything car related. Yes there are two versions of this song presented tonight. One is the correct version and the other one is Shannon's.
Cars came out in 2006, so the boys were 11 and 12 - the perfect age to appreciate it - plus it was a PIXAR movie so that made it all the more better for Gabriel.
I can't begin to tell you all the Easter Eggs in the movie that are car related. The production team really did their homework. And being a huge Ferrari Formula One fan, Michael Schumacher providing a voice was icing on the cake.
Back in 2003, a co-worker turned me onto SCCA Events - and I was hooked. I had always been a car guy in the sense of appreciating design and stats and speeding tickets, but these events allowed me to do stupid stuff in a much safer environment.
I started with my Integra GSR but quickly traded that in to get my dream car (Thanks video games! And World Rally Championship!) when it was sold in the United States for the first time ever - a 2003 Tarmac Black Mitsubishi Evolution 8. I've included a few action shots - check out that 3 wheeled action! I had so much fun doing these events over the years, and it wasn't that expensive. You could literally spend almost zero dollars and "run what you brung"; or you could spend tens of thousands of dollars.
Since the cars I was using were also my daily drivers, I was more on the zero dollar end of the spectrum.
I know Shannon had some safety concerns as well as what could be considered a somewhat dangerous (not really) way to beat on your daily driven car but she tolerated my participation over the years and I am truly thankful. I made some great friends, got to ride in some really cool cars and let some kids who considered my EVO the "cool car" ride alongs. It was always great fun, even in the 90+ degree humid Ohio weather.
P.S. If my Ohio vanity plate doesn't prove what kind of Rush fan I am, I'm not sure what else would.
P.P.S. I ultimately traded in my Tarmac Black EVO for the color I always wanted but took forever to find - Blue By You. Drove to Wisconsin to get it (hat-tip to Jon, again). And if my THE STIG vanity plate doesn't prove what kind of car guy I am, I'm not sure what else would.
Ghost of a Chance 