61 Vette

In 1962, My older brother convinced my mother to buy a 1961 white Corvette. Just my little sister and I were still at home , so we had to take turns as to who would get the Vette on Saturday night.

One Saturday night it was not my turn so I was cruising around with some friends. There was nothing to do in that small town, so cruising was all we did. We had all pitched in a quarter which had been enough to buy three or four gallons of gas. Enough to last the night.

There were at least twenty cars cruising that night. All of a sudden they all started heading out East of town. That could only mean one thing. There was going to be a drag race.

East of town there was a straight section of a seldom traveled farm road. Years before, some enterprising guy had measured off a quarter mile and painted a large "START" and " FINISH" at each end. The local news paper had vilified the action with front page photos. Multiple black tire marks gave evidence that it had been used often.

The guy I was riding with did a 180, burning rubber all the way. We arrived on time as we could see the two pairs of head lights at the far end of the strip.

Just like in some fifties movie, we lined the road with headlights lighting up the strip. Someone with a makeshift flag got between the contestants and they blasted off with screaming tires and smoke.

We didn't know who it was until they flashed by the finish line. A Black 409 Chevy beat a White Corvette by two lengths.

My little sister was driving the Vette.

©2013