I pulled out onto a four lane divided = highway just behind a truck... as I started to overtake the truck on the left, = he cut me off without a turn signal, slowed and went into the left turn = lane, again without a turn signal. I swung past him on the right and = made the mistake of flipping him off as I went by.

He aborted his turn and chased me to = the next stoplight... jumped out of his van and started screaming. I put = the window most of the way up and locked the door. He wanted me out = of the car so we could beef... I wanted no part of him. so he reaches = through the slit of the window that was open (maybe two inches or so and = smacks me in the nose with the side of his hand... got me good.

Got his plate number and the name of = his company (it was on the side of the truck... duh!). Went straight to the = police department and reported the incident. Called the company up when = I got home and told them their employee had assaulted me and I had reported = it to the police. they knew exactly who I was talking about and = aplogized profusely... seems they'd had trouble with him before. Next = think I know he's calling me, pleading with me to drop the charges or he'll lose = his job. I probably should have taken him to court, but I gave him a = break (after he almost gave my nose the same treatment).

But I learned several valuable = lessons... don't flip anybody off... you never know what kind of a nut case they may = be. And in case of confrontation, roll the window all the way up. = I'm no fighter... self preservation is much more important than proving the = size of my genitals. And drive defensively... there is no future in = getting someplace two minutes faster... who cares? Besides, if I'm = interested in arrival time, what am I doing in a vanagon?

Mick Kalber
89 Syncro Westy "Daddeo"
Tropical Visions Video, Inc.
62 Halaulani = Place
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
808-935-5557
808-935-0066 (fax)
hotlava@interpac.net
www.volcanoscapes.com

----- Original Message -----

From: JordanVw@AOL.COM

To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM =

Sent: Saturday, February 10, = 2001 11:35 AM

Subject: Re: road rage...my = first experience tonite.. LOCK YOUR DOORS!!!

In a = message dated 2/10/01 2:17:20 PM Eastern Standard Time,
jwalker17@earthlink.net = writes:

can't let it ruin your life, and make you afraid to go =
out. that's what i don't like about SUVs ... they tend to = promote that
sort of temperment in their drivers (i'm more important than = anybody
else on the road!!!).

i = agree.. Alot of SUV drivers get that pumped up testosterone = level "im the
king of the road-dont mess with me" attitude.. That, and = maybe he was trying
to "impress" his girlfriend (who was sitting in the = SUV the whole time) with
his "tactfulnes" (read: "insane brut force") in = handling a situation. i hope
she dumped him after last = night. One of these days he is going to do that
to the = wrong person...someone who wont back down like i did. Someone who = has
a short temper just like him..someone who has a loaded gun in the = glovebox.
And he'll be dead..
what comes around, goes around, they = say...
i think i did the right thing , tho. still a little shaky, but = calming down..

chris =