Sometimes, L-A traffic is fun

[boracayjohnny]

I was behind a guy today that used the curb as a steering device. He did it three times with the third going through a water puddle. He made a pretty good splash too. He soon after turned right in his older Civic and I was able to see the other side of the car. Surprise, surprise there were no hubcaps on any wheel. :D

[Bill]

Wang Chung - To Live And Die In L.A. - YouTube

[StaticCling]

God, I've seen some stupid shit over the years on LA freeways, BELIEVE ME.

Outside of the flying part, I won't go there...imagine some crazy bullshit, I have seen it. :yesnod:

But as a regular joe commuter, I was once sitting on the 405 Southbound in West LA, in a mega JAM, saw smoke up ahead. This was right around Wilshire Blvd. Inch up after about 10 minutes to Santa Monica Blvd, and there was this dude running around the middle of the freeway (NO BULLSHIT, dude was crazy as a shithouse rat running around and stuff) flailing his arms and screaming that his car was on fire....sure enough, about 100 yards ahead, his car was burning to the ground.

Thank You Captain Obvious. :Jeff '79:

[Kerrmudgeon]

God, I've seen some stupid shit over the years on LA freeways, BELIEVE ME.

Outside of the flying part, I won't go there...imagine some crazy bullshit, I have seen it. :yesnod:

But as a regular joe commuter, I was once sitting on the 405 Southbound in West LA, in a mega JAM, saw smoke up ahead. This was right around Wilshire Blvd. Inch up after about 10 minutes to Santa Monica Blvd, and there was this dude running around the middle of the freeway (NO BULLSHIT, dude was crazy as a shithouse rat running around and stuff) flailing his arms and screaming that his car was on fire....sure enough, about 100 yards ahead, his car was burning to the ground.

Thank You Captain Obvious. :Jeff '79:

....always carry a bag of marshmallows and a coat hanger for emergencies...you just never know! :rofl:
http://www.vetteonline.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/33/files/2011/08/whitec4burns.jpg

[StaticCling]

True Story...

Early in my Chopper days, this was back in 2006 or 2007, I was flying in the KLOS ship with Kaptain George (protecting my identity) he was the KABC reporter, 5foxmike was the ship. Great machine, loved that one. Phillipe, a dear friend to this day was the pilot, the flying Frenchman. Hilarious dude, you would love him.

Anyway, there is a common traffic freq in LA, 123.02, where aircraft give position reports outside of airspace. Generally the protocol is to identify who you are, your position and heading, altitude etc.

This was early on in my days with Philipe, and he was making calls on "oh-two" as it is called, with completely false information...

Like "Five fox Mike East LA Interchange, 11 thousand" -- well, we never fly that high. In a chopper, you are usually like 1k at the most around those parts...

So I questioned him on it, I asked him why he was doing that (this was right when we started working together) and he said that nobody listens anyway.

Then he said, watch this....and I remember it clearly. :funnier:

"Five-Fox-Mike East LA Interchange, Over the Naked Lady, 11 Thousand"

Literally 5 minutes after that, EVERY. SINGLE. MEDIA HELICOPTER in town was over the East LA interchange questioning him on where the naked lady was.

He never answered...We rode off into the sunset on our trusty steed. :Jeff '79:

Honest to god true story. :hide:

[boracayjohnny]

Just in my short time here, I've seen a few things already. Just yesterday at Lassen/DeSoto, I was headed toward the 118 and a guy was limping around in traffic. Meanwhile, two Explorer x2 LAPD are failing to corner him. LAPD is continually moving and blocking traffic both ways. Still, dude is hopping around and yelling. Kinda funny in a way. My way soon got clear and I left. As I neared the 118, here comes an LAPD Explorer Code 3 going toward "Hoppy". No idea what that was all about but I made it home in one piece.

[Iron Chef]

Boy...you guys are in my old stomping grounds (West LA, SF Valley). I know exactly where you're talking about and it's an absolute mess (at least it was when I was there in September).

[markids77]

Cows. Cows in the road. Or deer. Or the occasional moose. These were the traffic hazards to remark on where I was raised.

[boracayjohnny]

Boy...you guys are in my old stomping grounds (West LA, SF Valley). I know exactly where you're talking about and it's an absolute mess (at least it was when I was there in September).

Steering guy was at Magnolia/Fulton. As you well know there's plenty of just bad drivers here.

[Iron Chef]

Steering guy was at Magnolia/Fulton. As you well know there's plenty of just bad drivers here.

Right near my old Alma Mater, LA Valley College. :rofl:

Funny what a sleepy little area the valley used to be.

[Bill]

Steering guy was at Magnolia/Fulton. As you well know there's plenty of just bad drivers here.

L.A. has the second largest number of illegal aliens per capita in the US. NYC is #1 and Houston is #3. Dallas is # 4. Welcome to driving in the Third World.

[erickpl]

My commute was Hwy 58 from Tehachapi to Edwards AFB... with the occasional jaunt down the 14 to Rosamond, then to EAFB. I hated going to LA and driving Friday evenings, yet all my flights to Alabama usually meant I'd get back to LA Friday at 5 after my layover in Dallas. UGH... So I learned going to Marina Del Rey for dinner and drinks before driving home to Tehachapi made for a much nicer commute. :)

Then, once we had our sailboat there, I just stayed there and my wife would come join me. :)

[markids77]

I been from Tucson to Tucumcari, Tehachapi to Tonopah......:)

[Iron Chef]

My commute was Hwy 58 from Tehachapi to Edwards AFB... with the occasional jaunt down the 14 to Rosamond, then to EAFB. I hated going to LA and driving Friday evenings, yet all my flights to Alabama usually meant I'd get back to LA Friday at 5 after my layover in Dallas. UGH... So I learned going to Marina Del Rey for dinner and drinks before driving home to Tehachapi made for a much nicer commute. :)

I worked up at Edwards and Lancaster for awhile on a project for the B-1B. I have to tell you...some people will think I'm out of my mind, but I really like it up there. I like the solace and serenity of the high desert. If I was a single guy, no kids and working up at EAFB, I'd buy myself a house waaaay the hell out there, a Can-Am Spyder and a big ol' truck and enjoy life. :yesnod:

[Nox]

Be careful. A pedestrian got taken out just down the street from your house on Ventura Blvd last night. People in LA can't drive in the rain.