7.08.2011

We're Off-Road Kind of People

If you've had the pleasure of seeing Pete drive his car on Brooklyn's streets, I'm sure you heard the heart-stopping Mack Truck horn -- quite possibly you were one of those sorry ass pedestrians who had to jump out of the way when Pete decided to make a side road to the main road -- or, maybe you were a passenger?


I like the way Pete is casually lounging on the Cross behind the guys.


While Peter shared lots of things with us, he didn't take us for joy rides in his tank. If we were lucky enough to get asked to an event with him, or to go to Duff's, then we got an opportunity to ride in the passenger seat. The car was set aside for expressing himself and  impressing people -- not for his little neices to be seen with him in his chick magnet car.

The last time I rode in the car with Pete, I felt the seat belt wasn't enough to hold me in. I used my feet to brace myself for the hair pin stops and my arms held tightly to any possible part of the seat, while Peter zipped in and out of traffic lanes laughing wildly when I screamed and saw my life pass before me. But the looks we got. Trucks honked, cars tried to ride besides us to get a glimpse inside, girls hung out their windows to flirt openly with Peter in the front. When Pete hit a red light, he kept on moving ... gliding onto the sidewalk to get around cars in the lane infront of him. It put a whole new meaning to the whole "off road" experience alright.

But pulling up to Duffs was like being a guest on the red carpet. There was always a crowd hanging outside. When Peter drove up, people knew exactly who he was. They parted and let him walk though, shaking hands and allowing kisses (from women) as he strode through.

While Pete gave me some car rides I won't soon forget, it's a family thing. Pete's sister Cathy used to take the neices to an area in Starret City Brooklyn that had a HUGE hill and dip in the road in the middle of nowhere - no side streets so we didn't have to worry about cars getting in the way.  We'd pile in the car with her and she'd speed down the street, up the hill and try to make the car jump over the Huge dip in the road. Sometimes we'd made it, but more often the car would smash down and we'd all be screaming and begging her to "Do It Again Aunt Cathy."  It always reminded me of Dukes of Hazzard driving.

When Pete's sister Pam came into town, she drove a VW Beetle. It was the perfect car to drive down small paths where regular cars couldn't get to. Peter, Nancy, Marie and I would pile into Pam's car and go for a drive to the car wash first and then to Prospect Park. She'd take the car onto the horse paths which led to the pedestrian path and before you know it we'd be driving down staircases and going around the lake. We are very "off road" kind of people, I guess.

Ahh the memories.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ye4-7QOz1k&feature=related

20 comments:

  1. You guys are crazy. I cant believe you drove around like that and you were lucky enough to not have the cops stop you. Everything about Peter was larger than life so it is no surprise he drove the same way...and the sisters!
    Thanks again for the car stories

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  2. Cool stories - do you have any pictures of Pete's car? Would love to see some!

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  3. Whoooooops, sorry. Didn't realize I was a couple of posts behind. Just found the pic of Pete and his ride below. 8-)

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  4. Sounds hair-raising. I can imagine driving with Pete would be like being with a friendlier version of the Kurgan... I'm just thinking of that scene in Highlander where he takes Brenda for a spin.

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  5. Awesome story ...lol I would have loved going on those rides!! Sounds like a lot of fun but i would have had to check my pants to see if i messed myself after..lol Thank you for sharing :)

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  6. Great story, reminds me of stuff we did as teens. Cars were made to have fun in, you know? Metal. Thank you as always. xxx

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  7. I love the picture & the stories to the car - a chick magnet ;-) but perfect for Pete as I can imagine. Yeah - off road really gets a new meaning with these stories ;-)
    Thank you for sharing once again.
    Much love & respect
    -Sabine-

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  8. Great story!!! Being from Queens and about a half hour from where he lived in Brooklyn, I always hoped I would get a chance to see that car on the road. Several friends of mine had seen it in Brooklyn while working throughout the years and told me it was a sight to behold. I met Peter and Josh when I won a contest on Q104.3 back in 1994 and we had dinner at Peter Lugers....but I have to admit I was disappointed when they arrived by cab and not that awesome car!!! Oh well...it was still a great time of course.

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  9. Hi! I love, love, love these stories!! There are no words to express how grateful I am for all that you bare here. Much love! *~*Samantha*~*

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  10. Where are the posts from the previous (2) posts? I don't see my comments?
    This story, well again showing a side of Peter that is playful, mischevious, always entertaining and caring. What a man!! What a huge talent and caring brother, uncle. I love these stories where you're tooling thru New York, my old neighborhoods (I'm from NY). I miss that. Makes me want to hop on a plane right now and fly out. Thinking of you all again today. I don't know if you got my message from yesterday so I'll repeat it because it was Ringo Starr's B/Day yesterday. He sent message to the world. I know Peter was Beatle fan. So please spread Peace and Love to all:

    • Ringo Starr
    Don't forget to join the wave of Peace & Love as it continues this July 7, 2011

    Whether you say it along with a crowd, out loud as you go about your day, Tweet it or simply think the words, we hope you will join Ringo, on his birthday, in celebrating “Peace & Love” wherever you are at Noon your local time.

    We love you all Ratajczyk family. You are all in my prayers.

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  11. ROFL!!! How the hell you girls stayed outta jail is beyond me!!! My husband bought me a 71 VW Beetle a couple of years ago for my bday and it's being worked on right now...now that I've read this I can't wait til he's finished with it...oh the fun I'm gonna have!!!

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  12. Hi Darcie--

    And the laughs just keep coming! Knowing how the traffic is in New York it doesn't surprise me that Peter (or the sisters, for that matter) drove the way he did. You almost have to drive that way in New York to get anywhere! But I'm with you Darcie, I would've been holding on to anything I could get my hands on, while hoping we would get to where we were going in one piece!
    Thanks for this--you made my day. :)
    Love & Gratitude--Patty P

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  13. I can imagine the hilarity and terror of those rides. Laughing and screaming until your face hurt! I hope you still go and jump the dip. Fun and foolishness is ageless! Peace.

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  14. Love is but the song we sing,
    And fear's the way we die
    You can make the mountains ring
    Or make the angels cry
    Know the dove is on the wing
    And you need not know why
    C'mon people now,
    Smile on your brother
    Ev'rybody get together
    Try and love one another right now
    Some will come and some will go
    We shall surely pass
    When the one that left us here
    Returns for us at last
    We are but a moments sunlight
    Fading in the grass
    C'mon people now,
    Smile on your brother
    Ev'rybody get together
    Try and love one another right now
    If you hear the song I sing,
    You must understand
    You hold the key to love and fear
    All in your trembling hand
    Just one key unlocks them both
    It's there at your command
    C'mon people now,
    Smile on your brother
    Ev'rybody get together
    Try and love one another right now
    Right now
    Right now!

    Lyrics to Get Together by The Youngbloods
    Peter you have left us but not really...you are here with us just close your eyes, we see you.
    Love each other that much more everyone. Have a good weekend.

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  15. lol. soo love your stories, had a bad day and night and this story made me laugh cause I can also relate to it a bit...my mom wanted one of those yellow beetle cars at one time..she said it was a cute car and were like omg..lol.I can see it though cause my mom is short too so it probably fit her..lol. there was a family friend that did those little car tricks like rocking the car..stuff like that while driving and taking us little ones for a ride..back when they didnt have the seatbelt law. oh and my brother when he drove..omg..lol..I had to hold on for dear life too..he was a maniac when he drove..lol. he was the type that swore at other drivers if they got in his way..lol...one time he had this little truck with only 2 front seats and he came to pick me up before his or after his band he was in at that the time did a practice session..and since there was no room or a trunk to put his electric guitar in (it was in this big black heavy case)I had to hold on to the dang thing while he drove to take me somewheres dont remember where, but I remember having to hold on to that heavy thing and try not to get killed by his driving at the same time..lol. thank goodness hes calmed since then when he got married and had his 3 boys...his first born is driving now and I wonder if he picked up his dads driving habits..if he did omg..lol..feel sorry for whoever has to ride with him. hopefully though hes not that bad.
    anyways another good story and so looking forward to the next one. helps me feel somewhat better with all thats goin on in my life these days..always look forward to a good story that makes me laugh..thanks for that. it makes my day a bit better and not as gloomy.
    everybody have a good weekend over there.stay safe,healthy and take care.

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  16. The pic's so... wow, that's so great.
    It's easy to imagine riding shotgun in these stories. They're so discriptive and well written.
    I believe people treat their people much the same way they treat their cars. To have known Pete, or for that matter to know any member of the Ratajczyk family, must involve one wild ride.
    Completely supporting your quest!

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  17. oh I have another story on this subject..I had a ex that decided in his nice truck to go bahaing with a friend of his...in the eastern high school sports field...they drove all over the yard and the hilarious part was when they were done having fun doing the dukes of hazzard yehawww scream and drove back on the street we heard a ssssssssssssss sound and they didnt realize till they got out and looked that they drove over something that put a nice hole in their nice expensive tires...was funny as they were going oh f**k and were all dying laughing as their tires were flattening...think they learned a very expensive lesson that day. ahhh the memories..lol..sighh. wonder what Peters thoughts would be with how the world is today.with all the stuff thats happend within this and last years. probably might agree with alot of us that its a bit mucked up right now.
    anyway hope it was ok to share again.till the next good story...take care. so adore you all for letting us into yours and what was Peters world.god bless everybody over there for sharing with us. Peter is still very much loved and missed everyday all over the world. and thank you god for sharing him with us. he was a very special one in a million kind of guy who is missed very much down here. the world just hasnt been the same since he has been gone.

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  18. lol...hey I didnt know my name was in Mad Max...damn..thats so kool since my name is a rare one...lol.

    oh and in that pic..it so looks like Peter is scheming something..lol. maybe his next victim??.lol sighh so miss him.

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  19. Great story. I love Peter, but what a nightmare he was on wheels!

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  20. Thought of the Ratajczyk family a few weeks ago while road-rigging the Dunebuggy's just-snapped throttle cable with a paperclip. Drove it home rigged, reinforced a replacement cable with solder and installed it late that night when security wasn't looking. It was very much a (-) moment.

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