'Twas The Night Before Christmas

Mike Carr · 12-24-2015, 02:30 PM

'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS'

'Twas the night before Christmas and out in the garage,
There wasn’t a trace of a Honda, Toyota, or Dodge.
The presents were wrapped and the lights were all lit,
So I figured I’d mess with the Camaro a bit.

I popped the release and lifted the hood,
When a deep voice behind me said “It looks pretty good.”
Well, as you can imagine, I turned mighty quick,
And there, by the workbench, stood ol’ Saint Nick!

I stood there a bit, not to sure what to say,
Then he said. “Don’t suppose that you’d trade for my sleigh ?”
“No way, Santa” I said with a grin,
“But if you’ve got the time we can go for a spin!”

His round little mouth, all tied like a bow’
Turned into a smile and he said ”Sure! Let’s go!!”
So not to disturb all the neighbors” retreat,
We quietly pushed the car to the street.

Then, taking our places to coast down the hill,
I turned on the key and let the clutch spill.
The sound that erupted took him by surprise,
But he liked it a lot, by the look in his eyes.

With tires a’ screaming and headers aglow,
We headed on out to where the Hot Rodders go.
And Santa’s grin widened approaching his ears,
With every shift as I banged through the gears.

Then he yelled “I CAN’T RECALL WHEN I’VE FELT SO ALIVE!”
So I backed off the gas and asked Santa if he would drive.
Ol Santa was stunned when I gave him the keys,
When he walked past the headlights he shook at the knees!

The Camaro exploded with a sweet exhaust sound!
And when Santa popped the clutch and the tires shook the ground!
Power shifting in to second, again into third!
I sat there just watching, at loss for a word,

Then I heard him exclaim as we blasted from sight,
“Merry Christmas to all, it’s been one hell of a night !!!!”

Dragsinger · 12-24-2015, 02:55 PM

Good job, two thumbs up.

Irace007 · 12-24-2015, 04:03 PM

I'm pressin the "like "button on this one

Gary Merrick · 12-24-2015, 04:34 PM

Merry Christmas to All!!!

Great Story Mike, I hope you and your folks have a Wonderful Christmas and wishing you a very Happy New Year...

Your story of ole Saint Nick reminded me of a ride I gave to my Dad (he was in his early 50's) back in the early 70's in my first race car, which was a 69 Yenko Camaro - SS/D (it had run 11.0's prior to this). I had just changed the clutch and Pop helped me get the trans back in. After I buttoned everything up, I asked him if he wanted to go for a short test drive around the neighborhood, to make sure the clutch worked OK. Slicks, open headers, needless to say I had other plans than just a short ride around our street. To make a long story short, I was heading towards a 4 lane highway (at a very reasonable speed) and he told me to turn it around and get it home before I got a ticket for the open headers. So, I pulled in a driveway, turned around, he yelled at me (hard to hear with open headers) to get going cause traffic was coming. That was all he had to say, so I put it in first, revved it up to 6000, dropped the clutch and started yanking gears, got it into 4th and shortly thereafter had to start slowing to make some turns to get back to our neighborhood. As I pulled in the driveway, shut it off and looked over, I will never forget that look on his face, his hands were shaking and he had this huge smile that was "priceless". I will never ever forget that moment. OBTW, the clutch worked great.
God Bless you, Dad.....

MAURICE BLENDHEIM · 12-24-2015, 04:50 PM

Good one.

Superfan1 · 12-24-2015, 06:29 PM

Great story, and Merry Christmas to all.

Greg Reimer 7376 · 12-24-2015, 08:36 PM

This didn't have anything to do with Christmas, but back in the mid '70's,I had a red '62 Impala SS 2 dr. hardtop, 4.56 gears, wide ratio Muncie 4 speed, 11 inch Mc Cloud clutch, and a 409 with a couple of 4 barrels. This car was in the high 12's, and it was a giggle toy to drive around in. One Saturday, my step dad was out in the rear yard and he made some comment about the car, so I invited him for an obligatory ride. We went about a half mile down the street,I turned around and got straightened up, asked him if he was ready,six granded the '09 and dropped the clutch. Six grand twice more, and we were coming up on their driveway rather fast,so I nailed the brakes and swerved into the driveway,went through the side gate and around back of the house and shut it off.We both got out, I shut the gate, let their German shepherd out of the dog run, and he went in. A few moments later, my mother came out and asked me if I was trying to give him another heart attack. It obviously scared him pretty well. He got rather old and forgetful over the next twenty years, but he never seemed to forget that one.

12-24-2015, 02:30 PM	#1
Mike Carr VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Enon Valley PA Posts: 1,650 Likes: 234 Liked 83 Times in 37 Posts	'Twas The Night Before Christmas 'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS' 'Twas the night before Christmas and out in the garage, There wasn’t a trace of a Honda, Toyota, or Dodge. The presents were wrapped and the lights were all lit, So I figured I’d mess with the Camaro a bit. I popped the release and lifted the hood, When a deep voice behind me said “It looks pretty good.” Well, as you can imagine, I turned mighty quick, And there, by the workbench, stood ol’ Saint Nick! I stood there a bit, not to sure what to say, Then he said. “Don’t suppose that you’d trade for my sleigh ?” “No way, Santa” I said with a grin, “But if you’ve got the time we can go for a spin!” His round little mouth, all tied like a bow’ Turned into a smile and he said ”Sure! Let’s go!!” So not to disturb all the neighbors” retreat, We quietly pushed the car to the street. Then, taking our places to coast down the hill, I turned on the key and let the clutch spill. The sound that erupted took him by surprise, But he liked it a lot, by the look in his eyes. With tires a’ screaming and headers aglow, We headed on out to where the Hot Rodders go. And Santa’s grin widened approaching his ears, With every shift as I banged through the gears. Then he yelled “I CAN’T RECALL WHEN I’VE FELT SO ALIVE!” So I backed off the gas and asked Santa if he would drive. Ol Santa was stunned when I gave him the keys, When he walked past the headlights he shook at the knees! The Camaro exploded with a sweet exhaust sound! And when Santa popped the clutch and the tires shook the ground! Power shifting in to second, again into third! I sat there just watching, at loss for a word, Then I heard him exclaim as we blasted from sight, “Merry Christmas to all, it’s been one hell of a night !!!!” __________________ Mike Carr, Tri-State S/SS Association President Looking for 2015 S/SS Race Sponsors Contact me if interested buffdaddy_1302@hotmail.com (724) 510-5912

12-24-2015, 02:55 PM	#2
Dragsinger VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Liberty City [East Texas] Posts: 1,760 Likes: 5 Liked 99 Times in 60 Posts	Re: 'Twas The Night Before Christmas Good job, two thumbs up. __________________ Larry Woodfin 471W

12-24-2015, 04:03 PM	#3
Irace007 Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Forest Lk Minn. Posts: 103 Likes: 534 Liked 17 Times in 12 Posts	Re: 'Twas The Night Before Christmas I'm pressin the "like "button on this one __________________ Marty Hanft

12-24-2015, 04:34 PM	#4
Gary Merrick Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 209 Likes: 427 Liked 196 Times in 29 Posts	Re: 'Twas The Night Before Christmas Merry Christmas to All!!! Great Story Mike, I hope you and your folks have a Wonderful Christmas and wishing you a very Happy New Year... Your story of ole Saint Nick reminded me of a ride I gave to my Dad (he was in his early 50's) back in the early 70's in my first race car, which was a 69 Yenko Camaro - SS/D (it had run 11.0's prior to this). I had just changed the clutch and Pop helped me get the trans back in. After I buttoned everything up, I asked him if he wanted to go for a short test drive around the neighborhood, to make sure the clutch worked OK. Slicks, open headers, needless to say I had other plans than just a short ride around our street. To make a long story short, I was heading towards a 4 lane highway (at a very reasonable speed) and he told me to turn it around and get it home before I got a ticket for the open headers. So, I pulled in a driveway, turned around, he yelled at me (hard to hear with open headers) to get going cause traffic was coming. That was all he had to say, so I put it in first, revved it up to 6000, dropped the clutch and started yanking gears, got it into 4th and shortly thereafter had to start slowing to make some turns to get back to our neighborhood. As I pulled in the driveway, shut it off and looked over, I will never forget that look on his face, his hands were shaking and he had this huge smile that was "priceless". I will never ever forget that moment. OBTW, the clutch worked great. God Bless you, Dad.....

12-24-2015, 04:50 PM	#5
MAURICE BLENDHEIM Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Langley (no igloos), British Columbia, Canada Posts: 565 Likes: 305 Liked 264 Times in 85 Posts	Re: 'Twas The Night Before Christmas Good one.

12-24-2015, 06:29 PM	#6
Superfan1 VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bridgeport,CT. Posts: 1,987 Likes: 1,661 Liked 2,631 Times in 437 Posts	Re: 'Twas The Night Before Christmas Great story, and Merry Christmas to all. __________________ Bill Seabrooks - superfan1 Bridgeport, CT

12-24-2015, 08:36 PM	#7
Greg Reimer 7376 VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Glendora,Calif. Posts: 1,130 Likes: 172 Liked 698 Times in 216 Posts	Re: 'Twas The Night Before Christmas This didn't have anything to do with Christmas, but back in the mid '70's,I had a red '62 Impala SS 2 dr. hardtop, 4.56 gears, wide ratio Muncie 4 speed, 11 inch Mc Cloud clutch, and a 409 with a couple of 4 barrels. This car was in the high 12's, and it was a giggle toy to drive around in. One Saturday, my step dad was out in the rear yard and he made some comment about the car, so I invited him for an obligatory ride. We went about a half mile down the street,I turned around and got straightened up, asked him if he was ready,six granded the '09 and dropped the clutch. Six grand twice more, and we were coming up on their driveway rather fast,so I nailed the brakes and swerved into the driveway,went through the side gate and around back of the house and shut it off.We both got out, I shut the gate, let their German shepherd out of the dog run, and he went in. A few moments later, my mother came out and asked me if I was trying to give him another heart attack. It obviously scared him pretty well. He got rather old and forgetful over the next twenty years, but he never seemed to forget that one.