[ben]

On the way to Walmart today (fishing line for cutting off the molding) I came across an STI. I was in the middle lane of the expressway at a light, and this really clean, blue STI pulls up on my left. The next light (about 1/4 mile) was the onramp to the freeway, and apparently he wanted to get to the freeway. He figured that when the light turned green, he would just gun it, get ahead of me, and cross over in front to the far right lane, thus being able to get on the freeway first.

Unfortunately for him, I have recently contracted this Pavlovian-type reaction to people mashing the gas next to me. The moment the light turned green, STI-guy hit it. Therefore, I had no choice.... I hit it.

He couldn't get ahead of me. I was pulling away and he eventually realized he would have to let off in order to get on the freeway (he still had to move over 2 lanes to the right). He dipped back and gunned it, but I was still on it.

I came to the hard right, braked, then turned, as I straightened out, I got on it again (not full out). He came flying around the corner (really quick!) trying to make up some ground. That thing turns QUICK! He came out of the corner and onto the ramp like a bat out of hell... he had a point to prove.

I was halfway up the ramp (decent incline), going about 60ish when I realized he was still coming for me. I mean, I saw the quick turn but I thought he was just turning at whatever speed he had accumulated. My Shopping-Cart-Wing-busting persona took over and I pushed it all the way down.

Needless to say... I got ONTO the freeway at 120 MPH... yeow! STI-guy finally realized defeat and stayed like 1/8th mile back the entire time until I got off the freeway. He didn't do a fly-by, which was cool.

Seriously though, once the beast is rolling, it's a whole different game.

- ben