i enjoyed my valentines day..a day late...15th feb 2009
Put the small unimpressive key into the slot on the right of the steering column...twist it..and a set of "not so unimpressive" eight cylinders put together by the blue oval nearly 45 years ago burst and burble into life!!!....
Im sitting in a 1965 Ford Mustang 289 Convertible!!!...
The engines burbling a couple of feet from where my palms are....i cant beleive what im experiencing!!!!...
one of those emirates moments: "when was the last time you did something for the 1st time?"....precisely!
It idles...and just to get a feel......i blip the throttle once...earth shattering torque shakes the whole car..
sitting still in that black bucket seat and not an inch of rubber moving on the tarmac...iv travelled quantum leaps...
im ecstatic....and only my heart can see the expression on my face....
my right hand shakes as i grab the floor mounted gear lever...the 3 speed synchromesh manual has an awkward shift...
thats what i WOULD feel..the 1st EVER time that i grabbing it....
I slip it "forward" into reverse..understanding where the four slots for each gear is..
i slip the red topless beast off the kerb outside of mohsin bhai's(the owner of the mustang) house..as he hurriedly snakes around his BRG(thats british racing green for you!) colored austin healey out of his driveway...
as easily as he walks...
The lowriding 50's brit is on the street..and im still struggling to turn around the most significant piece of american automotive history.
i manage...
slide it "down" to 1st..roll into main street.......im quivering...and its been a LONG time since i quivered in exitement...a LONG LONG time!....
2nd gear...the lady warms up to me...but is a bit pensive..as if to ask me..."qasim..is that all uv got?"
sunset boulevard....and up to gizri...my jaws clenched...muscles tense....i have NO idea how ill handle this car...in a long long time..im humbled...unsure of wat im doing!
past khada market..we turn left onto one of many khayabaans....its nearly empty..as mohsin bhai slows down, looks at me as if to say....let her go qasim!...
he floors the healey!
the hair on my back stand on end...as a secret demon, forces my right hand to downshift from 3rd into 2nd...and i floor her...my left hand hanging onto the wooden 3-spoke classic mustang steering wheel for dear life!..
the 270 horses from the 4.7 liter v-8 monster leap forward from beneath me...the rear wheels squeal with pleasure...THE MUSTANG BUCKS!!!.....
the wild horse heritage shaking me into my mere mortal senses....
my heads leaning forward!....my arms straight..grabbing hard around the willow as i feel the Gs pulling!
I realise im grinning from ear to ear.....my heart in my throat!.....in the bat of an eye...we turn right on khayaban e etihad...and a hair raising buck later....we're on seaview....and as mohsin bhai slows down again...i grin at him..downshift into 2nd again....
as we both watch the beach and the surroundings obliterate into the clouds!
its all there!...the sea breeze tousling my hair like a woman playing with her man.....the sun setting behind us...the open road..being devoured by the mustangs snout....the heat blasting from the engine into my face...the roaring 8 cylinders......
enveloped in a red 1965 Ford Mustang convertible...
im sweating...im quivering..im scared!..........
and M FREAKING LOVING IT!!
