So Mrs. S and I have a great night out with family and friends, this evening. It's after midnight, before we head back to Tampa.

 

On the way home I pull up behind a Rav-4 with the Stars and Bars hanging longways down the back of the vehicle, almost touching the ground, and covering the license plate. We notice assault weapons stickers and some kind of skull emblem on the rear window that we could see behind the flag. It's a 3 lane straight intersection. Next to the Rav-4 was a nondescript late model Mustang.

 

I mentioned to Mrs. S something about somebody making a statement. Didn't bother me. Thought it was amusing looking, the way the flag was hanging. Mrs. thought it was funny that the Rav-4 hadn't been pulled over, with the flag covering the plate and all.

 

No sooner had the light turned green and the Rav-4 took off, flag waving in the wind, the Mustang slid in front of us and lights of the unmarked police car came to life. We didn't stick around to watch, but I'm thinking Mr. Assault Rifle Sticker did not have a conventional traffic stop experience.

 

That was the first incident of interest. It went downhill from there.

To get home, we have to go by Tampa Bay Downs. To do this, we have to turn left on to Racetrack Road where it intersects with Tampa Road. Racetrack is 6 lanes. Tampa road is 8 lanes at that point.

 

We were sitting in the left hand turn lane, when a Jeep Wrangler pulled up to the red light coming from the opposite direction in the third lane from the curb, his side. There is a car in the lane next to the curb. The Jeep lurched, as if it was going to run the light, then it abruptly turned right onto Racetrack Road, in front the car sitting nearer to the curb.

 

Our left hand light turns green, but I told Mrs. S that we were giving the Jeep all of the room it needed, considering it was straddling the center line of the right two lanes, once it was on Racetrack. I backed off and let the Jeep get as far ahead as it wanted.

 

The Jeep turned into the Tampa Bay Downs parking lot, then left up a side road. I know this road comes back out to Racetrack Road and tell Mrs. S that the Jeep is cutting around. I backed off more because I knew what was about to happen.

 

Sure enough, as we came up to the place where the side road comes out, the Jeep flew out in front of us, running a stop sign. If I'd been going the speed limit I'd have T-Boned the Jeep or it me. As it was, I still had to get into the breaks. The Jeep straightened itself out in front of us again and headed on up Racetrack Road.

 

It then made a right at the next light. Exactly the route we needed to take. Again I backed way off and made my turn onto the two lane road. The Jeep again got some distance ahead.

 

I noticed that the Jeep had slammed on it's brakes and made a U-turn, going up on the sidewalk in the process. It then headed straight at us, full bore. I veered off the road to my right and the Jeep caught itself before we hit, getting back into its lane and speeding off the opposite direction.

 

I checked to make sure I hadn't soiled myself. Mrs. S was good, too, though both of us were whiter than normal.

 

I think I'm staying in the rest of the weekend.

I don't get what was on the second cat's mind at all.

 

Interesting indeed.

The second guy, if you mean the driver of the Jeep, was 3 sheets to the wind. No doubt in my mind about that.

That's who I meant, and it sounds like he was even more than just that. Sounds like he was trying to cause a wreck.

This is why we stay at the Bird nest….

I can hardly navigate Tampa/St. Pete 100% sober and in daylight. Certainly never used the sidewalks a short cut. Stay safe.

And that's why I preach to my kids that nothing good happens after midnight.

Good job of being aware of your surroundings and taking defensive measures!!

Sorry about your experience. But I do like races from Tampa Bay Downs. Do you ever go for live racing?

I would have called 911 on the jeep.