Let's spin The Wheel Of Death (Part 1) (1293 hits)
Category: NoneRating: 0.86 on 16 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by joedaddy <zippadeedoodaa.at.aol.com> (View user info) at 2005-04-21 04:41:19 EDT
In the summer of 2002 in California, I was speeding down a main avenue in my city.
It was stupid, and a bad habit, but I knew I could do it with impunity at any time I wished.
I was driving an old 1ton black 1983 GMC van, I had purchased from the motor pool years before.
In one of the lanes a long ,flat wire band appeared. It was the type used to bundle large quantities of
cardboard or wood on pallets for truck transport, and had fallen off onto the pavement.
I was traveling around 55, in a 35mph zone, so before I could swerve the van out its way, the 8' wire
band had managed to wrap itself around the rear axle, next to the wheel. It was apparent from all the
noise, the band had somehow got caught in a spoke of the wheel and was literally having a ball,
wrapping itself around the axle and God knows what else, underneath the vehicle.
Ahead, 200ft, was an intersection and red light, complete with a stopped car in each lane.
A dozen people were in the nearest crosswalk traveling in both directions of the avenue.
I stepped on the brakes, slowed a little, then nothing. 150' remained before I would crash into
the rear of either of the stopped cars, pushing them into the pedestrians. Crossing the divider into the
oncoming lanes was not an option because of the remaining pedestrians and crossing traffic.
The band had severed the hydraulic line of the wheel cylinder, and since I had pressed the brake
peddle so hard, the entire contents of the system were now on the street surface and not, where
I needed them. The brake fluid had also coated the left rear tire completely.
I started to feel like I just might have a problem on my hands, but then I remembered the
emergency brake.
I slammed my left foot down hard on the pedal and..........nothing!
The band must have been made out of some space ship shit, because it had managed to also
slice off the 1/8" steel cable of the emergency brake line before it splits to each rear wheel.
Now, I had about 100 feet before impact.
The arrival of police cars, fire trucks, ambulances, Reach Helicopters and a lot of manpower would
be soon to follow. It was something I was very familiar with, but, from a different perspective.
It was going to be "Eyewitness News" material, and I knew I could not live with myself
knowing that I had caused it all by driving like some juvenile delinquent.
But since this town had been my beat for 30 years, I knew every inch of it.
Coupled with my countless "hot-pursuits" and training, (although both, decades in the past) I
still had confidence that all was not lost.
75ft left..........................
On my side of the street, on the corner, was a Shell gas station with no cars filling its lanes.
I knew on the far corner of the station was the exit driveway, so at the last minute I cranked the
steering wheel, slid the van hard to the right, across the sidewalk and into the station lot. I then
cranked the wheel to the left, to slide the vehicle between the island and the building ,so as to line
up the vehicle for my exit to the adjacent street.
In doing so I "scrubbed off "about another 20mph or so.
It was perfect. It would be worthy of great conversation in the "old cop shop" bar for weeks.
I thought to myself , "I AM STILL THE MAN!".............then "FUCK!"
There was a problem..
Blocking the exit was a Benito truck and trailer loaded with 11,000 gallons of gasoline.
At that moment, my decision to guide 1 ton of steel, without brakes, into a gas station ,seemed to be
rather stupid. Instead of rear-ending one or two cars and possibly injuring or killing one or two
people, I was now in perfect position to "nuke", at the minimum, 4 square blocks.
This was not what I had intended to do, but as you will soon learn, the choices one makes in life
are sometimes misinterpreted by others. In any event, you still have to live or die with those choices.
My last act while in "command" of the vehicle, was to take the gearshift lever and throw it into Park.
It is usually, an absolutely worthless, ineffectual and desperate act to do.
Clickitty...clickitty...click...click...clickitty
20ft left................
User Reviews
Submitted by lungfish (user info) at 2008-06-18 21:54:50 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I'm going to read these some day. I swear. But tonight is not the night.
Submitted by rodyarask (user info) at 2008-03-24 19:14:53 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Jungle_Jimanee (user info) at 2005-07-01 09:01:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Gripping!
Submitted by Rads_wife (user info) at 2005-06-14 00:43:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
http://www.ubersite.com/m/68315
WINNER!!!
Submitted by ProDrifter (user info) at 2005-05-04 15:14:11 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
the front and rear brakes have seperate resiviors in the master cylinder. Hence the little seperator when you check you brake fluid. If you slice the back brake line you should still have front brakes.
Submitted by jumpinjellyfish (user info) at 2005-05-04 14:55:22 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Well written, and quite intriguing.
Submitted by Wazza (user info) at 2005-04-29 04:33:16 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Yep, it happens, last time i lost brakes i hit a tree to stop her.
Submitted by rad1101 (user info) at 2005-04-29 04:19:48 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I usually try to use engine compression to slow down when my brakes fail.
It happens a lot, since I am a secret agent and people are always trying to assissaniate me by cutting my brake lines.
Submitted by jack11058 (user info) at 2005-04-27 22:12:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
i liked it.
Submitted by joedaddy (user info) at 2005-04-25 10:49:58 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
\/That is funny JX, so here is a +2 for you. That's how it works, right?
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2005-04-22 17:55:27 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
dont dance just pull up your pants
do the rock away
and
lean back
lean back
lean back
Submitted by missflibble (user info) at 2005-04-21 06:52:21 EDT (#)
Ranking: -1
meh. obviously you're not publishig this posthumously.
meaning you're not dead.
meh again.
Submitted by Fabit (user info) at 2005-04-21 06:21:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
beh
Submitted by dwr_budr (user info) at 2005-04-21 05:28:29 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
This was holding my attention until you left off. Be garaunteed that much like a commercial break during a shitty tv show I won't be back after the break.
Submitted by phuzzygish (user info) at 2005-04-21 05:19:52 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
I reckon it shoulda been a one part series, but it intrigues me a little. don't disappoint on the follow up, mkay?
Submitted by w_t_a_y_s_t_r_m (user info) at 2005-04-21 05:00:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: -1
No Comment