Some of you know that Stable Boy drives an "antique" car--a little white 1991 Chevy Metro. We used to be a one car, one motorcycle family, but when we arrived in Denver in 2002, we realized we needed a second vehicle. After paying off our moving expenses, we only had enough cash left to buy a used Metro. Stable Boy was kind of bummed at the time--he had set his heart on getting a small pick-up like we had B.C. (Before Children).
Over the years, though, that Metro has been great. It's kind of beat up--it's got some dings and it's missing the passenger side mirror from when Stable Boy parked to close to a wood privacy fence. Various interior plastic pieces are starting to fail (the handle mechanism for the front passenger door literally fell apart in Kid 2's hand a few years ago), but, for a variety of reasons, we've just hung on to it.
It's cost us next to nothing in repairs and when gas prices started to skyrocket, at 40 miles to the gallon, we hardly noticed. (Don't ask me how much I spend on gas hauling my horses around, though!) Stable Boy just doubled it's value by replacing all four tires on it two weeks ago.
I'm not sure how it got christened White Lightning, but the name has stuck. Back when Stable Boy was coaching college wrestling, his team members used to regularly threaten to paint lightning bolts on the sides.
I've got a whole bunch of White Lightning stories. For now, I'll just share the most recent. (Clarification--Rexburg hosted a Figure 8 car race on Saturday.)
Stable Boy was with Kid 4 Friday night at a wrestling tournament. An acquaintance came up and, out of the blue, asked, "Are you ever going to race your Metro?"
Stable Boy (confused): How do you know what kind of car I drive?
Acquaintance: I've been watching you drive that piece of s--- for years!
The guy then proceeded to tell Stable Boy how he would need to replace the side mirror before he raced it.
Later, at home, Stable Boy said to me, "I don't think I can ever get rid of that car. Everybody knows it's mine!"