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But the thing is with such a major huge trip like that, you have to speed. You have no choice, unless you have super
human abilities and can drive for 20 hours straight. I needed to cut that down to about 13 or 14 hours (using excessive speeding
to compensate for slow traffic periods). I saw a cop at the side of the road, and braked in time. Usually if you see one,
you're good
to go for another 15 mins, but again there was another right after that. I saw it too, movement on the bridge. There was a
guy speeding up on my tail, so I moved into the right lane, but if I slammed the brakes the truck behind me wouldn't
have had enough time to slow down, so I did the best I could, but knew it was over. Got pulled over, 158km/h (100mph)
in a 100km/h (62mph) zone,
$350 ticket. That cop was such a jerk too, because I know for sure I wasn't going that fast at the time, the dude
behind me was going faster, and at the 250-300ft where the radar guy was, that garbage K band isn't accurate enough to
differentiate between a block of cars. I was so upset, and wanted to turn back, but... I kept going. Back at full speed
too, could not afford to sacrifice the awake time in driving slow.
For my long drive back home, I made sure I got what every speed enthusiast needs,
a radar detector. A Whistler 1565E. I've made an art of detecting police, and for 10 solid years of warp speed driving
and only 1 ticket, that's not bad. I guess that's not entirely true, I had a ticket when I had my learner's license
(racing my dad's station wagon with my friend and his dad's station wagon, though a measly $40 ticket back then). And
once I was doing a hella long drive with my uncle and family from Edmonton to Winnipeg, 1100km in a 4cyl totally
weighed down Dodge Caravan. Did 160km/h (100mph) the whole way, but getting into the city I was slowing down and my senses
saw the unmarked grey Caprice Classic, but a rear tail light was out and I thought that's pretty odd for a cop. So
I thought it was civilian, and sped up to 90 in a 70 zone only 10 minutes away from home. I'm passing by it, and I see all
the other clues I look for, the extra antennas, the special tires and rims... I even look inside the car and
see their computer, and badges on the jacket. But I was so tired from driving, and being up all that day, my brain
was in minimal function mode, and I just kept going. Got pulled over, and received a $70 ticket.
That's ok though, everything has a cost.
You pay $40 a day just for some totally safe rides at an amusement park, if you get caught once a year that's 19 cents a
day for speeding, big deal. Though of course, there's insurance issues.
In March 1998 I was at the point of making a decision of either taking a job in Chicago, or one in
California (good pay, but nothing compared to the Chicago job). The Chicago job was cool, totally what I'm into, but
it's like Ottawa. Snow, cold, and a lack of friends. I spent 2 years brainwashing friends to go to California, and
I honestly love California. So it was a hard toss up. The moment of realization was this one last blizzard in Ottawa.
I was at a Petro Canada filling up, I didn't have gloves on me and my hands were just freezing. It was totally cold, the salt on the roads, the slush,
the blah....so incredibly frustrating. I looked at my Prelude, and I could feel it's pain! The salt eating into the metal, it
was crying out for help... So I moved to California (Silicon Valley).
Now I drive my prelude with the sunroof open along the Californian highway coast, mountains on my left,
blue ocean on my right, warm sun and a cool breeze, this is paradise. I've upgraded the system in my car to two 12"
Rockford Fosgate DVC punches in a sealed enclosure, the bass is just insane! Plus the radio stations here are chillin,
though too much slow jam stuff, they need more stations like 108 and 103.5 in Toronto (ie dance music),
but sure beats the only station in Ottawa (Kool FM). Next on the agenda is finishing off my sound system. This
Alpine deck is showing it's age, and has taken up a career in chewing tapes (it seems to wind up the tape too tight
when it reaches the end). So I'm never buying Alpine ever again. The store I go to deals with Rockford Fosgate,
Kenwood, and one or two others. From my research, Clarion really makes some serious top notch head units, but I'm
thinking of going with Kenwood's double din CD, Tape, Graphic EQ unit. Hopefully be able to fit a CD changer somewhere,
but space is becomming limited. Also I plan to replace the stock drivers with FOCAL's, which are the most amazing speakers
I have ever heard in my life. They're crazy expensive, but the sound is so real, and so intense it's like you've been
deaf all your life until you've heard these. I've also finally found a car audio store that does great work, doesn't
cheap out with garbage installations, and tells you what your options are. Stereo Zone in Pleasanton, look 'em up if you're in the
Bay Area, talk to this guy called "Jim", he'll hook you up.
After the audio situation, next comes the cosmestics. I want to paint the car bright yellow, put on a body
kit, 17" rims, spoilers, and the whole deal. I hope to keep this car forever. It just blows me away how you can take
corners tighter than you've ever thought, and it still holds. Even when the wheels are starting to slide, you're
100% in control of the situation.
So things have been more or less going well in my great master plan of life.
Though my cop woes have gotten a bit worse. Californian cops are brutal! There's even a website that
was reviewed on NBC Dateline called Police Abuse where they camcord
cops crossing the line. I got pulled over 3 times in a period of 6 weeks! I wasn't even speeding! Once I was going down
this deserted road at night, unlit streets. I had just finished working out, so I was driving pretty relaxed as I cool
down, and bang there was a cop behind me. Apparently I went right through a stop sign, I went back to look at it after.
Branches concealed the sign, there was no sign on the opposing lane, and the sign was on an incline so it
didnt become illuminated by the headlights. The cop knew this, that's why he just happened to be there, and he even
admitted it. Then in Santa Barbara, I took an illegal left, I didn't even know! The worst is that they're just everywhere,
you can't make a single mistake. But...anyways...
So what's the point of my big ramble? Nothing really, there's a lot of Prelude sites out there that
have specs, performance enhancements, and all that stuff (go to Temple of
VTEC for all your Honda and Acura related needs, which is also where I got some of the stock photography
for the graphics, though the black Prelude pictures are of my car). I'm just here to express my appreciation for the 4th generation Prelude,
which has been Consumer Report's highest ranking mid-range sports car for the last few years.
This car has saved my life on many occasions with its awesome suspension and nimble agility, and has been a huge source
of my happiness. I've been thinking of getting a newer version of this generation, for some of the convenience features,
but it wouldn't be the same. This is my baby, they should let me claim is as a dependent on my taxes. I honestly
love my car, it's not just a bunch of metal, plastic, and glass bunched together. It's art. It's an
expression of who you are, just as much as the fashion that you wear. It's freedom.
I hate the 5th generation, Honda messed up bad on the headlights in my opinion. The whole
industry is messed up. The Japanese Techno Sports cars are a dying
breed, either being discontinued or turning into sports sedans (salute to the fallen comrades: RX7, Supra Turbo,
300ZX, MR-2 Turbo, and MX-6). Pretty much the only thing left in this category is the Acura Integra, and Mitsubihshi Eclipse.
Though for the year 2000 there's some signs of a comeback with the Nissan Z, Audi TT, Toyota MR Spyder, Honda SSX, and
Mitsubishi and Mazda have new sports cars coming out.
Lots of people have told me I'll end up getting a better car. Honestly though, I will always keep this car.
I don't care about the specs of other cars, it's about the sum of the parts. Including the way the car looks, how it feels
to be in one, how the engine sounds when the VTEC kicks in, every curve, and every line.
I'll keep this car forever...
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