Dueling drivers

[GeneW]

On the way to work last week I came up on a silver pickup who was hogging the left lane. I came upon him, flashed my lights, but he ignored me, as did a BMW riding alongside of him. Two lanes and a narrow shoulder. Oh well.

I surmise that they were playing games with one another and then this "pipsqueak" comes along demanding that they yield the right of way.

All three of us went along for another four miles, him clogging the left lane, the Beemer dancing in and out as cars in the right lane needed passing, both preventing me from passing and being dicks.

At one point a large truck appeared on the right, the beemer went ahead and our hero pulled up alongside of the truck. I flashed my lights a time or two and tried to exploit holes, but the pickup truck driver closed them just as fast as they opened.

Another lane opened to the left but the Beemer lept into the lane. He did a very sloppy pass and fishtailed a bit. Probably isn't too experienced? Angry? Stoned? Glad I'm not paying their bills.

I took a quick glance, saw an opening, and went to the extreme right lane, checking out everyone for safety's sake and got in and went forward.

I ended up passing both of them. I got ahead of the pickup truck driver and looked in. For someone who was "angry" he didn't seem too preoccupied, not looking at me or anything. I did not recognize him while I was passing.

I went about my business, being satisfied at putting two ass pains behind me.

Several miles down the road the truck driver caught up with me, carefully paced me and then pulled into a business near my own place of employment. Swell, well, that's why I have tools in the car. Better them than me. Yes, I was ready, no I did not want such an event on my employer's property.

There is a point in life where you cannot accept other people's bad behavior, such as someone playing games on the highway and taking umbrage at an Economy Car Driver for not "knowing our place". I didn't go after him, and he left me be. Fair enough.

Turns out the pickup pilot was coming to my place of work, to meet his brother who also works with me. He used to work for us. Nice kid.

I did not know any of this, only that I had successfully put a bully in their place, done it with style, and did not break laws or hurt anyone. A satisfying turn of events.

A week passed by...

This evening the pickup driver's brother, who works with us, asked me what my problem was. Upon being told that his brother had asked after the "Asshole in the blue Yaris" and being told who it was, he realized that he and I used to work together.

Small world, huh? I smiled and waited for the story.

The pickup driver did not "appreciate me trying to take a bite out of his trailer hitch". He added that he and the BMW were "f--ing with me because I was being an asshole".

No kidding? I did not ask what they were doing riding side by side down a two lane highway. I had about twenty seconds to watch them, and they were pacing one another, and it did not look like a normal event. I did not see the BMW driver, perhaps it was a female and our hero was making an acquaintance? Male ego indeed?

I told my colleague that I did not appreciate people bogarting the passing lane. I added that I had no hard feelings about his brother's antics, that I eventually found a hole and got ahead and that to extend my congratulations on holding me back, because "most people cannot do it for long". I smiled while saying it, in a sort of nasty way.

Here's where it gets interesting....

My colleague said, "You need to get a nitrous kit, something, so that you can 'keep up'."

Keep up? I'm not here to keep up and certainly not to race I'm trying to get from here to there.

I then said to the kid, "Did your brother get angry because someone in an economy car wanted him to pull over and let him by?". I smiled and said, "I'm not in this to race, I want to get to work on time. If your brother has a problem with being passed by economy cars maybe he needs to pick up the pace a bit".

My coworker did not comment at first but he smiled a bit in a shy sort of way.

Then he said, "You drive an awfully tiny car, and a pickup truck is really big. You could get hurt".

Well, folks, there it is in black 'n white - why America doesn't like little cars. Little cars translates to little people.

Yeah, and the worst beating I ever had in my life was from a man who stood five five and weighed 120 pounds. I've been stomped a time or two but this guy was just fooling around with me.

Little doesn't mean weak and it sure doesn't mean stupid. Of course it helps when little was the National Judo Champ in his weight class for that year!

I've been taking it down a notch the last week or so after that event. Still, there is no disgrace to me. I was treated like an inferior, and with a slower less powerful car I put two bullies into their places.

It's not the gear, it's the timing, and patience. Just like when that little fellow sent me flying here and there.

Just passed this on in case some of you wonder why these clowns in SUVs and Sports Cars get 'tudes if you try to pass them.

Sometimes I've wanted to borrow or rent something a bit more powerful and try it out on the road. Nahh... I'd get into trouble.

Gene