Gravity Races
We used to have Gravity Races on a bicycle when I was a kid. Our "Gravity Racer"
was an old frame, forks and wheels, that's all (well, except for handlebars and
a saddle of some sort). Tires and/or air in them, along with common sense were
optional. Oh yes, we stuck a stick through the bottom bracket for a footrest.
We would push the "Gravity Racer" up the hill in front of the school, which was
about the only hill in town, and one person would stand at the intersection
about half way to Main Street to watch for Lawyer Tate in his Dodge or Tom
Groves in his pickup who might come along at most any time. They were about the
only people who lived along the street that crossed the one euphemistically
known as "Broadway". Stinnett hadn't acquired the status of a one-stoplight town
at that time but we did have one horse. His name was "Old Granddad" and was
famous for jumping over things. One time his owner won a bet that he could jump
over a Buick. Anyway, I digress (whatever that means) which I'm prone to do.
When the kid at the intersection waved his arms, which was the signal for both,
"it's clear or someone is coming" we would run as fast as possible, leap on and
begin our coast down the hill. The object was to see who could coast the longest
distance and we would make a mark in the dirt street where we came to a stop.
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