Commercial Boulevard runs East/West through the commercial district of Northbrook.  Starting at Sanders Road and heading East. It goes past numerous industrial buildings and office complexes. The last major intersection is Huehl Road, running North/South at a stop sign. From there it is an exactly one mile stretch to Anthony Trail where it dead ends, with about 50 feet of grass over the curb to a brick office building. I was driving a 74 Pontiac in green with a 400 V8. The goal was to start at Huehl Road, floor it and see how fast I could get going and still stop at the Anthony Trail intersection. The speedometer topped out at 120.

70, I’d call out to Keith, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, count down 3, 2, 1 ,and slam on the brakes. Keith would hit the dashboard and I’d be pressed up against the steering wheel both of my feet standing on the brake pedal. We’d go into a slide through the intersection, tires howling against the pavement. Up over the curb and into the grass. Sliding in furrows across the lawn to the building. Sometimes we’d stop before the brick wall, sometimes we’d slam into it laughing maniacally. We’d get out of the car and look at the front brakes where the rotors were glowing cherry red through the mag wheels.

I always wondered what passers by thought of the skid marks across Commercial, through the Anthony Trail intersection leading to the tire tracks, up over the curb and across the grass up to the building.

We never did die.