Saturday 16 November 2013

Gary Numan - 'Cars'

Saturday Night Jukebox.....
Everyone has a guilty pleasure

My face when I saw Jazzman out the window

 
Gary Numan - 'Cars' (1979)
I parked my baby next to an older green beetle I had been admiring for months in the college car park and strutted to my art lessons like a proud peacock. I couldn't wait until my free periods to cruise around Twickenham high street with my friends. I got the great comments I was after about my car tape too, could it get any better?
I had already arranged to pick up 2 friends after college and go to the pub. I couldn't wait to say, 'Just a diet coke for me, I'M driving!' We decided on the Wetherspoons in Hounslow, only the best for us students. With my steed safely parked at the Gala Bingo next door, we went in and were having a whale of a time until something caught my eye out the window. My friend said, 'Hey a beetle like yours!' and I realised in a terror I hope never to relive again, It was my beloved beetle on the back of a tow truck being dragged away at full speed! 'Thats my f@*king car!!!' We all ran out of the pub and as much as I wanted to chase it down the road at full pelt, I had to accept it was gone and do the only thing I could, reluctantly call Old pa. Feeling like Cameron from Ferris Bueller after the Ferrari crashed out the window, I punched in the number. Oh God, the dream was well and truly over, I felt sick. After a seriously loud ear bashing, Old pa calmed down and realised it was no fault of my own that I wasn't roadwise. I was able to extract a mobile number for the tow company from the minuscule, filthy sign that was much below eye level at the gala car park and give it to old pa. Old Ma called back saying she had caught the guy and he reluctantly agreed to hang around at a petrol garage to let us pick the car up for a whopping £280! It was either that or pick it up from a lot in Iver the next morning.

How was I to know?!
Oh boy was I quiet on the way home feeling very sorry for myself. Needless to say, the following day I decided to give Jazzman the day off after his traumatic experience and went out to the pub with my pals. Now that we had all slept on it, Old pa began to see the funny side and my friends couldn't stop ribbing me about it. There was a DJ on at the pub and in between songs I heard him make an announcement. 'This song is dedicated to a girl who managed to get her car towed away on her first day of driving it!' I went redder than Jazzman when this track came on, thanks a lot!!

Have a listen to my guilty pleasures playlist!


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Gary Numan - 'Cars'
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7 comments

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16 November 2013 at 10:44

I bet you've always made sure to read the small print ever since!
A great tale brilliantly told Shell Hunter.

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16 November 2013 at 10:52

Well and truly classic story...remember it so well and after the initial shock, I felt so sorry for you....but the good thing about it is, I bet you have never had a ticket since.....I feel a parking ticket story coming on!!!

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16 November 2013 at 18:21

Thanks TS and OP, I remember being ultra paranoid for years after that! I even paid for a ticket on a Sunday when I was 90% sure it was free anyway!

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16 November 2013 at 18:30

Brilliant! That's so funny, I think I vaguely remember that. Off the gutted scale! Top track too.

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Anonymous
16 November 2013 at 19:48

Tis a thing that can happen to anyone. It nearly happened to me once but I persuaded the bloke to give me my car back. How lucky was that? I caught him just as my motor was being hoisted onto his truck. I think he was just content to take the car parked next to mine. 'Cars' is not a guilty pleasure, it's just plain great.

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17 November 2013 at 04:53

Agreed SB, have you heard any of his new stuff? You must have used the Jedi mind trick in the guy!

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C
17 November 2013 at 09:38

Oh NOOOOO, SH, I feel your pain... Just relieved to know that Jazzman didn't end up being crushed. And while it must have been so horrible at the time, at least it does now make a brilliant anecdote!
Gary Numan seemed so different at the time - I loved Tubeway Army back in the day.

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