[po65to]

First a bit of background on the car. Back in the late seventies I bought a 68 Tempest Custom 2 door from our neighbor, the original owner. Was always a garaged car, so was in pretty decent shape. Over time, I had the car repainted, put a GTO hood on it, GTO tail lights, hideaway headlight front bumper, rally II wheels, Goodyear Polyglas GT tires, changed it to a 4 speed, put in a 3.55 posi out of a 71 Buick GS350, pulled the tired 350, put in a strong 400 out of a 72 Grand Prix, then built a 67 Firebird 400 HO engine with solid lifters. Was pretty good with the 72 engine, but really came to life with the 67 engine, and was a pretty respectable looking and running car.

This takes place in the Indianapolis area in the early eighties. I was with one of my friends, and his girlfriend was sitting in the back in the middle between the bucket seats. At this point in time, 82nd street going west from Allisonville road, was a two lane road west of the Castleton area. It was kind of a rural highway section at that time, and there were what was left of old farms, and maybe a golf course. Pretty much nothing until you got to the iron bridge just a bit before Keystone Avenue. I had turned right off Allisonville, to 82nd going west. I proceeded to floor it, and run it through the gears. At the bottom of the first hill was a blind sweeping curve with double yellow stripes for no passing. I was doing 90 + when I got to the curve, and there was some clown passing someone, and he was still halfway in my lane. I had a split second to react, and there was really not much of a shoulder to speak of. Maybe two feet, and then some gravel. I pulled the wheel over a bit, just putting the RH tires in the gravel, and we passed door handle to door handle without touching. Needless to say, I saw my life pass before me, and then my heart was pounding. I never knew who that person was, but is sure something they or I will never forget. Now that area is full of businesses and restaurants, and is a 4 lane divided road.