The Fun You Can Have with A RHD car in the USA

[Jim Ratto]

Talking to Sheep today about the fun he used to have with our buddy's RHD '63 ragtop Bug. I remember one day I was following them in the RHD car on the freeway, Sheep in the passenger seat (LH seat, driver's seat normally over here), our friend Kyle driving. So here we are going 70mph on a busy Bay Area freeway, and sheep rolls down LH window, and climbs OUT through the window to close the rear popout. All the cars in close proximity to the RHD car went crazy on the freeway......swerving, slamming brakes on, it was a mess.
Another time, Sheep rode along in the car with a decoy steering wheel from his Bug, that he held in position as Kyle drove from the rh seat. When they'd get next to another car Sheep would "pull" the decoy steering wheel free and hang it out the window or fumble around in the car with it.....again scaring the people sharing the road with them. 

[sheep]

Oh good times, the best was when the police officer pulled us over and demanded my drivers license

[Lanny Hussey]

Back in 91 I drove my RHD 64 through the Mcdonalds drive through in reverse.

[kafercup]

Hey, wasn't the steering wheel gag pulled on the way to Kelley Park also?     I think that was the same caravan that had the infamous "James Bond smokescreen stunt" that pissed everyone off.   

[Lanny Hussey]

Back in 91 I drove my RHD 64 through the Mcdonalds drive through in reverse.

 

Lanny.....anxious to see your car.....Sarge has been winding me up about it!
You coming to Nicks Friday?

We're in SoCal now, at Alans house. Sarge was over earlier. The car will be at Nicks on friday. It sure was fun cruising to In N Out today for a Double Double.

[kafercup]

Hey, wasn't the steering wheel gag pulled on the way to Kelley Park also?     I think that was the same caravan that had the infamous "James Bond smokescreen stunt" that pissed everyone off.   

maybe......couldn't see much that day thanks to the idiot with the smoke machine.

I do remember somebody wearing a paper bag over their head, in the LH seat holding the gag sterring wheel on the way to high school drags at Sears Pt....

Oh man, I forgot about that one!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jim Ratto]

we need a new guy with a RHD car....

[Rennsurfer]

Sounds like what I used to do in my LHD VWs back then. Since there's no center console like in a front engined car, it's very easy to slide across, over the tunnel, to the passenger seat, while driving. So, I'd do just that. I was very short for my age and didn't reach my adult height till I was in my late 20s. The look on peoples' faces was priceless as I passed 'em in my Bugs, sitting on the right side of the car with my window rolled down and my right elbow on the sill. With my left hand, I'd hold the steering wheel at six o'clock, out of sight.

I'd cruise Whittier Blvd. like that and just about everywhere else. To really step things up, I'd have a friend or two in the back seat for added effect. HAHA!! Now that I'm taller, I should give it a try and see if I can still do it in my '67. Be a great video or picture.

Another thing I'd do, but only with my stock '66 & '72 or my Mom's two '68 cars... was be driving in the fast (left) lane on our city streets that have the center island. I'd drive up onto the median, pass the car in front of me, and drop back down in the lane. Peoples' jaw(s) would drop as I laughed, looking in my rearview mirror. My childhood friends still tell those stories. Their families look at me and say, "YOU did that? No way... you take such good care of your cars." Yep, but they're also meant for havin' fun, too.

 

Great story, Jim. I love doing stupid stuff like that on the road.

[dave greiner]

I remember a friend that used to take his german shepherd along in the left seat. That got a lot of looks!

[stealth67vw]

we need a new guy with a RHD car....

Kyle still has a RHD car. We need to get him on here.

[mg]

Sheep rode along in the car with a decoy steering wheel from his Bug, that he held in position as Kyle drove from the rh seat. .....again scaring the people sharing the road with them. 

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/y1r_8UVZ3m0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/y1r_8UVZ3m0</a>

[Sam K]

My dad has a RHD car. It's this wierd little Suzuki jeep from 1971 or 72. It ha s a two stroke 360cc two cylinder engine. Maybe he'll let me borrow it so I can engage in some shenanigans. 

[vulgaris]

Hey, wasn't the steering wheel gag pulled on the way to Kelley Park also?     I think that was the same caravan that had the infamous "James Bond smokescreen stunt" that pissed everyone off.   

maybe......couldn't see much that day thanks to the idiot with the smoke machine.

I do remember somebody wearing a paper bag over their head, in the LH seat holding the gag sterring wheel on the way to high school drags at Sears Pt....

i remember the smoke screen jim was so pissed.

[beetletom]

ha ha reminds me on the way back from volksworld show, was in my mates swedish 65 (lhd) and i had bought my speedwell wheel, and driving up next to people, and then making it look like if the wheel had been yanked off 

[Ivan]

Back in the mid 80's we'd often drive from the passenger seat when convoying back from a show - the expression of the people you were convoying with as you over took them, with your elbow out of the passenger door window frame looking over smiling at them, was one of confusing. It helps if you've got long legs so you can reach the gas pedal (and is obviously a very stupid a dangerous thing to do anyway).
I'd forgotten all about that trick until I read this thread.
I can remember coming back from a Karmann Konnection open day in Southend and all three of us took turns in sitting in different seats, so each time we overtook one of the other VWs somone else was the front passenger, someone else the passenger and someone else the driver.
Looking back, it was far from clever!

[my65rhd]

I found you Jim, John, Derek and SHEEP boy...Def was fun times back in the day....Kyle still mr rhd but with Fuchs

[stealth67vw]

I found you Jim, John, Derek and SHEEP boy...Def was fun times back in the day....Kyle still mr rhd but with Fuchs

Hi Kyle  Great seeing you today. You'll have a lot fun here. Now get us a round of beers. 

[my65rhd]

Round a beers it is...except for me. i am dieting unfortunately....grrrr   Good seeing you,girrlfriend and the kids yesterday John...Kyle

[sheep]

Does anybody know WTF Bates avatar is

[stealth67vw]

Does anybody know WTF Bates avatar is

It's a cross eyed possum I found in Bandon, Oregon

[sheep]

Is that fucking thing alive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[kafercup]

Holy freaking crap! That looks like some of the old crankster hookers that used to wander in front of BH.

[my65rhd]

Hey John..Where did you take that pic of my car? I hope you didn't post it all over. I am in the BH Protection Program    Kyle mr rhd

[stealth67vw]

I was/am stalking you. Actually I got it off the Samba somewhere.

[stealth67vw]

Is that fucking thing alive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes. It was at the world largest petting zoo in Bandon, Oregon. The thing was blind.

[Jim Ratto]

dude that's not cool making fun of disabled animals.

[my65rhd]

All these stories are making me laugh so hard. I am glad John turned me onto it at BOR...    Kyle mr rhd or the backwards guy

[my65rhd]

Here's some pics for ya Jim..   Kyle mr rhd

Ratto Monster 2016cc...engine had well over 150,000 when I sold it and still ran like a beast. Pulled the engine only once to replace the clutch

[Jim Ratto]

Here's some pics for ya Jim..   Kyle mr rhd

Ratto Monster 2016cc...engine had well over 150,000 when I sold it and still ran like a beast. Pulled the engine only once to replace the clutch

Wow that brings back some awesome memories. That car was so fun. A little weird to drive for me... but cool to ride in,
Thanks for the old pics Kyle.

[sheep]

How long did Ratto take to build the motor?