The Red Riv - Meets the Law
We went into town in the Red Riv this evening to run a few errands and I'm sure became the talk of the town - its a pretty small town - not even a stop light and the story you are about hear happened right down town during the busy time of day maybe 20 cars passed by - some twice - alot were people we know.
When you drive around in the Red Riv you tend to attract attention. I dont think I've stopped for gas yet without at least a thumbs up - more often than not its a quick tour and a few questions and sometimes I gab on for 15 -20 minutes.
Sometimes the attention catches you by surprise someone taps on the window or comes rushing over all excited because its the first time they have seen 71 Riv and then sometimes its even some thing new - you get intercepted by two RCMP patrol cars as you exit the local Save Easy.

(we went back and took this picture 20 min later dressed the same parked in the same spot) If I had of had the camera with me I'd have asked the officers if I could get a picture while they had us pulled over - think they would have let me)

Heres what happened, I had dropped the wife at the bank made a stop down the road with my oldest son and then went to meet up with her at the SaveEasy across the street.
While she was inside people stoppped to look and ask questions as always, my son ran in the store to pickup something, I got out for a cigarette and talked with a couple more people who admired the Red Riv, a normal thing, after all the Red Riv is new in town.
As we are leaving the parking lot a Mountie cruiser comes thru the main intersection in town,(which leads into the Save Easy parking lot) lights flashing on it, hey some excitement other than one of my cars leading the annual heart of the valley parade in town tonight. The cruiser then turns (about were my GS is in the picture - heads towards us (the picture was taken from about the exit of the Save easy) pulls to the curb - stops and turns off the christmas tree, a second cruiser stays at the intersection. After a pause I figure what ever the lights were for is over and head out between them, as I pass the first cruiser on comes the christmas tree and it swings in behind us.
Ok they don't see shoulder belts, but we have our seat belts on (its the law here), been there before no biggie.
I pull over just beyond the bank, there is an abnormally long radio conversation going on behind me - plate check etc normal procedure but it shouldn't take this long, then second cruiser comes around blocks the road way to my left, I'm now between a parked car and the two crusiers, traffic is being held back. The Officer is relativley new to town, I haven't seen her before, then approaches cautiously I'm wondering whats going on a bit now - "Good evening sir - license, registration Id" .... etc, then she asks if we are related and were we shopping at the SaveEasy - not really the normal questions I would expect but she is calming down and seems satisfied we are who we appear to be - she then informs me they got a call about a suspicious red car and two males in the SaveEasy parking lot, I now clue in a let her know I can see someone thinking that something was going on, as I was standing out side smoking because I dont smoke in here (still in the car) talking to people while the wife and son came and went inside store. "Ok sir we have to check all calls have a nice evening" - the excitment is over everyone goes about their normal friday routine, will talking about for bit though, already got two "whad ya do" phone calls.

As we head home we wonder what the good samaritian who made the call may have been thinking - two males dressed in black leather jackets one with shaved head who goes in the store while the other waits by the not so normal looking car, thats new to town and parked close to the door. Or a flashy car they haven't seen before, people coming and going, the two occupants interacting with them. Your guess is as good as mine. Got any other theories drop a message in my guestbook.
Not much changes or goes on without getting noticed when you live near a small town (I still give people in town directions to my house by referring to the previous owners - we've lived there 9 years)
The constables handled the call very professionaly and were small town polite and I suspect probably think its just as amussing as I now do.
You just have to expect attention of all kinds when you drive around a small town in something as unusual as the Red Riv, after all only certain types of people would drive a car like this.

In this case an about to retire Airforce Master Warrant Officer, and local car nut.

No one mentioned anything suspicous about the elderly lady in the mini van, a couple and another fella in pickup trucks, the K9 Police Unit Yukon parked next to me for half the time I was there, the retired couple in the Ford Taurus or the teenager in the blue hyundi I had talked too while waiting.

Index
page 1 - The dream comes true - Uhaul nightmare
page 2 - The trip home
page 3 - The Red Riv gets home
page 4 - The sound system install - interior cleanup
page 5 - The interior is back together -sounds are in - ready to roll
page 6 - The Red Rivs first car event
page 7 - The Red Riv gets a checkup and window shops for new shoes
page 9 - Specs - Facts - Options - Number breakdowns etc
page 10 - 71 Riv Ads, Brochures, Documents, Road Tests, etc
page 11 - Restoration of the Mini Red Riv - 1/18 scale model
page 12 - The Red Rivs First Cruise and Car Show
page 13 - has nothing because Im superstitious
page 14 - The Red Riv gets ready for fresh paint
page - The 455 is all painted and gets started up