[Pilot]

Well, it's official. The F-bodies are now trying to kill Kevin. So I'm sitting at home enjoying the blizzard warning when I get a call from Kevin. He's been viciously attacked by a V6 Firebird. He was crusing down the interstate when he saw the firebird in the slow lane lose it in the snow and come plowing towards him. After he sped up (brakes? in this snow? HAH!) to avoid her, he lost sight of her and then felt the clunk which threw the truck (a friggin 1 ton now traveling at close to 60 mph) sideways about 30 degrees.

So now he calls me, the nose of the Firebird is in his truck and he's following a rather nice looking 27ish, blonde dental hygienist to my apartment complex. Apparently she's my neighbor. I trudge out into the 4" of snow to join in the merriment. He hasn't seen the damage on his truck so I brought a flashlight. We pull the front of her car out of the truck while she's drying her eyes and plop it in front of her car. I distinctly remember hearing her say, "I hate this damn car. I was just about to trade it!" About this time we grab the light and go to inspect Kevin's truck. He could have sworn from the severity of the impact that she not only caved in the passenger side of his truck, but that she also pushed the truck into the jersey wall on the driver's side. Not going to be a fun day.

Well, as it turns out, Kevin needs a new rear passenger side tire. Maybe a wheel. It's at least scratched, possibly bent. The rest of the battle tank survived miraculously (damn. I love Chevy.) without a scratch. Apparently the driver's side impact was the tire becoming close friends with the recently plowed, compacted, frozen snowbank on the side of the road (Kevin's Ice Removal Service... Ice and Noses done while you wait!). Now, Kevin has his own, traveling version of the snowbank firmly packed in his wheel. That's going to be fun to get out.

Tally:

• 1 - 31" Bridgestone Duravis truck tire... $162.50
• 1 - 16 x 7" GM work truck, 8 lug steelie... $cheap
• 1 - new thong for blonde firebird driver... $fun
• 1 - '99 Firebird V6 nose for a wall ornament... $priceless

Update: New Title - "How to Find a New Dentist and Have a Smashing Good Time!" or

"Trackbird's High Impact Dating Service!"

[trackbird]

Took the truck down to Bee Line performance in Columbus today to get the rear axle checked out. They are an alignment shop that has a reputation for being top notch (and then some). When I called I asked them if they had room to get an extra cab, long bed 3500 in the shop and up on the rack. They said "No problem".

When I pulled in and walked inside, I saw a tractor trailer sized diesel up on the rack and went "Oh, so that's why it was no problem". These guys do Greyhound busses, race cars, and about anything else. 20,000 lbs? No problem...

The rear is perfect, no damage to anything back there (like I was guessing), but they did find a bit of toe out in the front (odd?) and I had them fix that for me. In and out in 35-40 minutes and back on the road for $57 for the inspection/measurements and a toe reset. Great bunch of guys and they seem to do excellent work...on anything with wheels.

The new tire is here, I'm just waiting on the wheel and deciding if I'm going to replace the bumper or not.