Posted by
Gray Ghost on Friday, November 12, 2010 1:31:50 PM
When I was at Mississippi State University (1969 through 1973), money was always a problem. I had a full scholarship in electrical engineering; but my father (wisely I might add) never gave me any "spending" money. Ocassionally he might give me $5.00 or $10.00 when I was home; but I had to earn my gasoline money, my dating money, my car insurance money, and my "spare cash" money. I worked in the High-Voltage Lab on campus ($1.25 per hour, 12 hours maximum per week). I worked during two of my years on campus in the Student Union ($1.25 per hour, 8 hours maximum per week). During the summer, I worked 40 hours per week at $1.50 to $1.75 per hour, anywhere I could get a job.
However, my second football game on campus, I realized that there was an opportunity to make alot of money real easily. I noted that most of the campus would pay $1.00 a can for Coors beer (or $5.00 a six-pack). At this time, the closest place to buy Coors beer was Texarkana, Texas. Just as in the movie "Smokey and the Bandit", in 1969 Coors beer was illegal East of the Mississippi River. My vehicle was a 1958 International Harvester Scout, with only a front seat and a covered "truck-like" back end. Gasoline was about $.25 per gallon; and my Scout got about 20 miles to the gallon with its slant 4 cylinder engine. (I hope you can see where this is going.)
Starkville, MS to Texarkana, TX is a straight "shot" on US Hwy. 82, approximately 350 miles for a round trip of 700 miles. My investment opportunity would require about 40 gallons of gasoline ($10.00) and the cost of beer (240 six-packs was about all my Scout could hold, costing about $275.00 including tax).
The net profits I could make were over $900.00. (240 x $5.00) - ($10.00 + $275.00) = $915.00.
$900.00 was BIG MONEY to me in 1969. I left on the Friday afternoon before the third footbal game on campus. Saturday morning, I was back on campus and made over $900.00. I don't remember the actual sum, but it was over $900.00. And I did this two more times during the fall of 1969.
My old Scout (which I wish I still had) wouldn't get over 50 mph. It had no radio. And it leaked when it rained. But that was alright, it had holes in the floor for the water to run out. I was never stopped by the highway patrol or police during my "Smokey and the Bandit" runs; but I remember several law enforcement officers looking me over very closely from their patrol cars and laughing.
I have told this story to my daughter several times. I hope when my grandchildren are old enough, I can tell them. Perhaps they will realize that their grandfather wasn't always an old "fart".
Anyway, the video at the following address is what started this whole email. It is one of the best chases I have seen in a while. And the music in the background of this video is from 1977's great movie "Smokey and the Bandit". Enjoy!
PS: I realize my Scout was not a "muscle" car; but with its 4-wheel drive it could go through mud that no "muscle" car could navigate.