Some say, I was Overdue ...

There is a first for everything, or so it seems. Prior to Mr. Q I drove a 78 Corvette and an 82 Corvette with a race modified engine. The speedometer in the 82 only went up to 85mph. It spent the better part of 11 years pegged. Why is this important to know? Today, I got my very first ticket. A speeding ticket. A dozy at that.

I drive fast. I know it. I don’t deny it. But still, I would have thought if I was going to get a speeding ticket it would have happened in one of my Corvettes.

Pellissippi Parkway. Say it with me. Pell-a-sippy. The speed limit is 70mph. Of course it’s relatively common to be passed while going 80. I try to stay within 10 miles over the limit.

I was cruising along, minding my own business and didn’t even noticed the white police car in the median until it was too late … of course. I knew I was busted the moment I passed him. Our conversation went like this:

Morning, how are you?
Morning, I was fine up until about 5 minutes ago.
(Chuckle) Do you know how fast you were going?
70ish?
(Grins) a bit higher than that.
Well, I know it wasn’t 90, must have been 80? (For the record, my speedometer only marks off 10-mile increments … so I tend to not use the numbers in-between).
Not that bad, 76. Do you know the speed limit on Pellissippi?
70.
(Grins) No, it’s been changed to 45 for a couple weeks. Got your license on you?
Yes, it’s in my boot … errr trunk.

As I go to get my license, Officer Friendly starts asking me about my Mini. Do I like it? Have I had it long? Did I get it in town, because he hasn’t seen a Mini dealer in the area? I tell you, I would have died laughing on the spot if he would have asked me if it moved.

I got the ticket. 76 in a 45. I’ll call in a few days to see how much that one will cost me.

Now, I’ve peen pulled over before, but never issued a ticket … oh except the school bus thing in Georgia … but that’s another story. Each time I’ve had to show registration and proof of insurance. Here in Tennessee, all I had to show was my license. Odd, I thought.

Tonight I dug my radar detector out of my corvette parts box and installed it in the Mini. I figure I’ll take all the help I can get until they put the speed limit back up to 70. Mr. Q is easy to spot, no other car in town looks just like him.

Still, I’m amazed … all those years of driving a Corvette; it takes a Mini to get me a speeding ticket. Sheesh.