Did you Lose a Trunk Lid

Did you drive a Nash Metro and  live in Yorba Linda approximately 50 years ago? Were you driving down Imperial Hwy and pulled to the side of the rode to pick up a tire? If that was you then read the following story.

Bridget Chumbley provided this story from her father (Jim Pogue) when he was just a young boy growing up in Yorba Linda and being mischievous.

When I was young[14 to 15]–my gang and I would take a tire from a gas station (the one wrapped in gold foil as the ‘display’) tie a long length of rope to it and head to Imperial Highway in Yorba Linda, California. We intentionally chose Yorba Linda as they had NO police department, patrolled by Brea police that were at least 15 minutes away–I KNOW because we had ‘timed’ it–several times.

At night, laying the tire along side the highway…didn’t even require covering up the attached rope–the greed of some un-expecting motorist would always provide the entertainment we required.

We would lay it alongside the road…letting out enough rope to allow us to hide in the first row of trees in any of the numerous orange groves along the highway.

Within minutes after setting the ‘bait’–a car would slow down or back-up (sometimes hanging a double pair of u-turns) to perfectly align his trunk with the tire. The driver would shut off his engine {remember this was prior to in car trunk release}, check the surrounding area, walk back to open his trunk, quickly snatch the tire with one hand and fling it towards his trunk. The timing was critical–about the time he was slinging it into his trunk WE would give the rope a yank. The tire would ‘fly’ off his arm…he’d run for his car, trunk still wide open, and he couldn’t get his car started quick enough to get out of there. To us nothing was funnier than watching that car racing away with the trunk lid wide open. Within a minute we had re-set the trap and waited for our next player.

All had gone well one night until, about our third “customer” backed-up a lot farther than any other(s). Still he did not notice the attached rope. The extra distance and slack in the rope did not allow us to “yank” and he completed the deal; not only getting the tire into his trunk but closing the trunk as well!

The tire was not worth anything–it was a used tire wrapped in new foil…however the rope belonged to one of our dads!! The Nash Metro driver (remember these tiny cars with the continental kit on the trunk?) had already closed his trunk and started the car–WE tied our end to a tree! That rope stretched about twice as long as it was supposed to be then——-BANG! Here comes the tire, rope and the trunk lid of the Metro. I’m still amazed that rope never broke. Next– break lights, u-turn, and the squeal of burning rubber.

Instincts kicked in and all of us headed deeper into the orange grove. Just as the driver got back to the scene of the crime…the volunteer fire department ‘chief’ drove by. Well this guy had a ‘walkie talkie’ and called it in. Within 10 minutes the highway must of had 20 cars all parking along the shoulder. Somehow every one of them had a flashlight. I climbed a tree!

Two things I find to be amazing:

1). You pick a ‘full’ looking tree to provide cover–and when you get in it–all of a sudden it appears not to have any branches or leaves?!
and
2). Why is it when your hiding all of a sudden you REALLY need to pee?

I must of been back 5 or six rows into the orchard… I could hear the gathering of troops from the highway. In they came–flashlights pointing in every direction…yes even up into the trees. My mind was racing. I considered pulling up my T-shirt and exposing my belly button to try and resemble a navel orange.

Then miracle of miracles — one of our guys had managed to slip past the first wave of “hunters”… came out about 100 yards away. Actually walked to the middle of the street and screamed at the volunteers …”ollie ollie all come free” and took off at a run in the opposite direction. Most of the troops took off after him giving the rest of us the distraction we needed to climb down and escape.

Nobody got caught that night…the guy that saved us became our new leader…but within a month his dad discovered he had lost his rope and got grounded.Written by: Jim Pogue

Thanks to Bridget Chumbley for this HILARIOUS post

Written by Loren Nason

I am the builder of this website and along with my wife Sondra we maintain the site. I am a technology coach providing technology coaching/training/management services to the entrepreneurs and small businesses of Orange County. If you need help just call 866-987-TECH

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