One summer night back in 1988, I was working as a valet parker at Opryland Hotel. Late that night, a guest arrived in one of the coolest cars I had ever seen. A Sterling. All the bells and whistles and leather and everything you think a fancy British car would have. As I am going to park the car, I wave another valet over and say, “Let’s see how fast this baby can go on Briley Parkway.”
We got on Briley and turned around at Two Rivers Parkway. We were heading back to the hotel when we hit, I will never forget, 112 miles per hour in the car. I was petrified. I had been up to about 85 or so at that point in my life, but I vividly remember thinking, “This is not fun.”
Fast forward to 2025, and I am driving back from my brother’s house in Portland recently. I go to pass a truck, which was going about 70, and I hit 80 to get around him. As I did that, this guy came up from behind me and honked. I got over, and he zoomed past me. He had to be going at least 100. Literally a mile later, I have to pull around another truck, and I see a car flying up and get right on my tail. I pass the truck and get over. He also zooms past me. Again, at least 100 miles per hour…