McGee: Didn't think twice about pushing the limit

Someone was on Facebook asking: "What's the fastest you've ever driven?"

Some were reluctant to answer, basically writing, "I'm not making that public." Others wrote of rocketing down the highway as fast as 150 mph.

Me? Oh yeah, I remember where and when I hit my highest speed ever.

It was one night long ago and far away, back when the bits of mischief a juvenile might get into weren't deemed threats to national security.

I had a glorious mop of hair on my head, I was 17 and I was unknowingly testing the boundaries of my mortality on a regular basis as many a teenager often does.

Me and my buddy Catfish were rolling down the interstate in my 1965 Ford drop-top Falcon two-door coupe with its 289 V-8 engine. We had passed a weigh station with its nest of state troopers, we were over the hill from it. A long downhill grade lay in front of us, probably two miles of super-duper-highway with not another car in sight.

"Punch it," said Catfish.

I didn't even think twice. I crushed the accelerator of the Falcon to the floor. Sixty, 70, 80 mph. The speedometer moved up like the second hand on a clock. Ninety, 100.

WHUMP, WHUMP, WHUMP, WHUMP. In my excitement I hadn't paid attention to the noise from the convertible roof. It had been growing but now as the Falcon thundered down the interstate at 110 mph the noise was deafening. WHUMP, WHUMP, WHUMP…

Catfish was grinning as he yelled at me, "WE'D BETTER SLOW 'ER DOWN, THIS TOP MAY FLY OFF, MAN."

And so I did. And my illegal moment of irresponsibility was over.

That was the fastest I've ever driven.

I've thought about trying it again.

But if I got caught I'm afraid The Lady of the House might leave me in jail.

Grant McGee is a long-time broadcaster and former truck driver who rides bicycles and likes to talk about his many adventures on the road of life. Contact him at: [email protected].