jimimac71 wrote: ↑June 11th, 2023, 5:50 pm
...I spent the summer of 1974 working for Storer Cable TV in Banning, CA.
I’d ride my bike to my little hotel room for lunch and watch Split Second.
What I remember about Split Second was the game winner was given five cars to choose from and see if the one they selected would start. I loved that.
I was a contestant on 'Split Second' just a couple of years earlier than this in 1972, jimimac. All of 20 y/o at the time. Tom Kennedy (Jack Narz's brother and himself a game show host of some repute during that time) was the host during its original run at the time, as I know there was a short-lived revival of this quiz show during the 1980s which was then hosted by its producer Monty Hall.
I did in fact win on one episode and so was one of those contestants who got a chance to pick from the five cars, and if as I'm sure you remember it started up, it would be mine to own.
The cars on stage were Pontiacs that week. And so being the young gearhead at the time that I was, I of course naturally opened the door and hopped into the Firebird and gave the key a twist. It didn't start. The car that WAS set up to start that day was the Safari Station Wagon, and of course the very LAST car I would've chosen.
(...I was beaten on the next episode and so didn't get another chance at those Pontiacs...as I recall, my total winnings were $550 and not a bad chunk o' change back then...oh, AND of course a year's supply of Rice-A-Roni..
"The San Francisco Treat!"
) LOL