There is a certain allure to gambling. You make a bet and with some luck and maybe a little skill, you’ll get to experience the thrill of winning. Of course, most of the time it’s the house that wins, but the thought of winning it big can drive some to place a bet. Maybe you’ve seen a movie or two or perhaps one of those poker shows where gambling pays off huge. Gambling with cars really clicks up your heart’s RPM.
Yesterday, XLEJim700 rolled into Mark’s 1977 Chevy C10 vs 1986 Dodge Ram Shitbox Showdown with a Dodge story. I’m not sure I’ve ever been on the edge of my seat reading a comment here, so this was a great read. Here you go!
Dodge for tradition’s sake: My first “car” was a ’72 W100 Power Wagon, locking Warne hubs, 225 slant, auto. I bought it in 1974 with proceeds from my summer construction job.
My second Dodge truck was a ’98 SS/T black over grey leather with stripe delete, 360 CID, SWB 2WD. A good customer of mine offered it to me for 10K in 2002 because the dealer’s trade-in offer was insulting.
I brought the cash to his house that night, and he was sitting in the dining room of his waterfront home with his older brother. We had a drink, I offered him the envelope, and he said, “Nah, let’s have some fun.”
He was a big gambler, and had his wife bring out a fresh deck of cards: “Let’s cut the deck, double or nothing.” I refused. His 70-year old brother (both drunk) whispered “Wussy.”
I just looked at both of them. This went back & forth. I was a “Wussy” about three times over. Then my guy says “OK OK, we can play Go Fish, best 3 out of 5.” And then he threw in the kicker, “If you lose you can work off the 10K on house repair.” Here was my chance:
I was a little drunk too, looked him in the eye and said, “One hand. Five-card draw: I win, I take the envelope and truck. You win, I take the truck, leave the envelope, and owe you 10K in construction work on your house.” We all agreed.
His brother counted the cards in the new deck, removed the jokers, and wished us both luck.
I drew two cards after the deal, and was left with a pair of nines. My customer drew two, said “Who dealt this crap? Looked at me, and asked whadya got?”
I lay down my pair, he looked at me, lay his cards face down, “Beats my crap.”
He shook my hand, and wished me luck with the new truck.
Gentlemen.
P.S. These guys were both multi-millionaires and my customer was a frequent gambler in Atlantic City for real high stakes. This game, for them, was just something to do after dinner. I never saw his cards, and it’s not something you really ask about. It was a good truck, and the 10K really helped me out.
Fantastic! Admittedly, I am a bit of a gambling wuss. I’ve been known to turn $20 into $300 at a casino, but I never go further or harder than that. I definitely wouldn’t gamble $10,000 in labor or a truck! For a nomination from today, we have one of so many comments from David’s article about how people reacted to his Instagram Reel. OrigamiSensei says:
Reminds me of a quip my daughter told me about the difference between knowledge and wisdom…
Knowledge: Frankenstein was the doctor, not the monster.
Wisdom: Frankenstein was the monster.
Honestly, I’ve never even thought of it like that. Your daughter sounds like she has a good noggin on her shoulders, OrigamiSensei!
Before we close out our day, I just want to remind all of you wonderful people to treat your fellow Autopians as you would your favorite family member, spouse, pet, or best friend. Would you call them names in what should be a calm debate? No? Try not to do it here. Have a great night, everyone!
(Top Photo: Dodge)
Well, I certainly didn’t expect that one to be my first ever COTD (on either the old lighting site or The Autopian), but thanks!
The main thing I remember from reading Frankenstein in high school is how surprised I was that of the two really well-known books we read, I preferred Jane Eyre. It may have been the first (but definitely not the last) time I was surprised by my like or dislike of something. Turns out I have somewhat eclectic taste in media.
Sorry if the butt heads are being mean to DT or anyone else associated with this site.
To be clear, I certainly hope that DT, Torch, and the rest here know that the stuff I say is not meant to cause pain or discomfort. We kid and tease cause we care. No harm EVER intended.
But just the same, if you are an asshole or unreasonable, well then watch out folks. Being brain damaged leaves me with very little patience for dealing with turds and turd like behavior.
There’s little more enjoyable to me than reading what’s posted here, and responding to both the writers, and the other commenters. I thank each one of you.
Just the same, there’s a lot of sarcasm in my posts, no harm or foul is meant.
Being older than 90% of those here, comes with some some additional baggage.
And that does equate to a shorter tolerance for dealing with assholes. Fair warning given…99% of commenters are great, even if I don’t agree, and I appreciate diversity of thoughts.
There have been times I have told some others here to fuck off, etc. TBH, have always felt justified in doing so, as mentioned above there are assholes everywhere it seems. Social media is such a double edged sword, and a true reflection of the sad state of our times and intolerance of being open minded to the value of others. We can do better.
So just a real and sincere thank you to everyone here. This is truly my favorite site, and words can’t express my gratitude for everyone who works to entertain and inform us. Thank you!
The rest of the trolls and turds can go screw themselves just the same.
“I don’t want to be a Pirate.”
Sounds like he gave him the truck without giving him the truck.
Man, the good ol’ days, when you could buy a two year old truck by just working a single summer. But dare mention this to about half the boomers out there, and they are quick to prattle on about “smartphones and Nikes!”
My grandpa said…. Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
From an explainer of D&D character stats:
Strength is being able to crush a tomato.
Dexterity is being able to dodge a tomato.
Constitution is being able to eat a bad tomato.
Intelligence is knowing a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is knowing not to put a tomato in a fruit salad.
Charisma is being able to sell a tomato based fruit salad.
I guess I’ll be the one left to wonder how/why one would draw 2 cards to a pair rather than 3, or what 3 card combo he might have drawn 2 with containing a 9 rather than pitch the whole thing?
There’s no betting/bluffing, you don’t need to try to convince him you have trips!
789 suited or something?
Seeing this:
“I just want to remind all of you wonderful people to treat your fellow Autopians as you would your favorite family member, spouse, pet, or best friend. Would you call them names in what should be a calm debate?”
Makes me sad, I didn’t see any sort of mean commentary, but the friendly awesome nature of the comment section here is one of the best things about it, don’t let it go downhill Autopians!
“Knowledge is knowing tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad” – Winston Churchill.
Is that a real Winnie the Church quote?
https://billmoyers.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/dont-believe-the-meme.jpg
Lincoln was so wise and ahead of his time.
“Wisdom: Frankenstein was the monster.”
Those damnable 19th century medical students! How dare they try to learn from anything but a book!
Gambling, Frankenstein and old Dodge trucks. Frankly, this is exactly why I come here..
I’m kind of surprised a dickbutt didn’t make it onto that commentary montage. Kudos for having more restraint than I do. (IIRC, I hid one on the 944 somewhere when we did the clutch/head gasket job. Someone’s going to drop the transmission and be greeted by one crudely drawn Mister Richard Butt.)
“Admittedly, I am a bit of a gambling wuss. I’ve been known to turn $20 into $300 at a casino, but I never go further or harder than that.”
We know what you’ve done on and off road, and vehicles collected. You’re the hardest core gambler I know of !
Tomorrow’s COTD coming in early!
Excellent Dodge story. Given op’s relationship to the gamblers, and his description of them, this would be something that nagged me the rest of my life had I been driving that Dodge instead of him. A regular on the 2am hampster wheel, if you will
Well deserved COTD