Newfoundland Rackets

I think you will enjoy is amusing and true story that took place in Newfoundland in the late 1970. Back then I worked for an oil distribution company traveling the Maritimes selling Quaker State oils and Wynns additives products. Our customers were mostly service stations and garages. We used a variety of promos to help sell products, for example we often used Parka’s in Wynns or Quaker State colours, they were free with a certain amount of product. This particular story takes place on the highway somewhere between Port aux Basque to St Johns. My colleague Al was driving his new Dodge Station wagon, it was loaded with product and as it was winter he had a great seasonal promo. In the back side windows of the Dodge. He had carefully placed the items so station owners would see them and hopefully inquire about them., At one particular station Al went in to hopefully make a sell. The station owner decided to come out to the car and see what Al had. As he approached the vehicle he suddenly stopped and said, “I see you have rackets in the car” Al wasn’t sure what he meant by rackets but guessed he meant the roof racks. “Where did you get them” asked the operator . Al hesitated thinking it was an odd question,then said Oh they came with the car. You mean you can order them like an accessory? Right, said Al. Hmm the operator look a bit bemused and then asked Al if he used them much. No not a lot, I mostly use them in the summer when I have the family with me.. Hmm the operator looked at Al strangely, so how do you like them? Yeah they are okay but when I load them they tend to whistle at high speed, you know like over sixty miles per hour. Plus I worry a bit that pieces might blow off at high speed. The station operator was beginning to think Al was crazy. Look, just give me a case of oil I have work to be getting on with. Al finally arrived in St Johns and checked in to a local motel. In the parking lot a guy said to him, you must be expecting snow brought your own rackets eh. Al had to ask, what do you mean rackets?? The snow shoes in the back window boy, they are called rackets here. Al headed for his room wondering what the service station operator must have thought of him, a crazy main-lander????
Only in Newfoundland Eh!!!!!
God Bless and keep reading