DEFEND YOUR RIDE: Dhimitri At Historic Reisterstown
"I mush the gas so people can see the Mean Mug coming."
- The Ride
- The Driver: Dhimitri
- Car in Question: 2008 Dodge Avenger
- Spotted at: Historic Reisterstown, MD 21136
- Odometer: 68,937
- Car's Nickname: Mean Mug
THE DEFENSE
Q: Welcome to Defend Your Ride Baltimore. I love the Dodge Avenger. When did you get it?
A: A few years ago. My old car's engine went up, so I needed a new ride. One day I was walking by Heritage. That's where I saw Mean Mug. I went back with my dad and we got it. It was the first car that I purchased. The other one was a family car. That's one of the reasons I love it. It's mine, so my parents can't tell me I can't go anywhere or take it away.
Q: What is your car's main use?
A: School. I commute from here to my school near Security Boulevard. I love the drive because it's all back roads. There's also a really nice church at the intersection of Rolling Road and Liberty Road. It's really old.
Q: Since it's your first, are you protective of it?
A: I hate when other people drive my car. Whenever I let them, something happens. My friend Rob went off-roading in it. We were coming back from a party and he was driving that night. I always told him he stayed too far to the right. This time he went way too far on the right. <laughs> He got off the pavement and into the grass. I started messing with him and said, "I thought you didn't drive too far on the side?"
Q: So you have an actual rule that no one can drive it except for you?
A: <laughs> No. Not officially, at least.
Q: What rules do you have in your car?
A: I try not to eat in it. Whenever people eat inside, there's always a stain afterwards. I also have a new rule that I'm not smoking in my car because it smells terrible.
Q: Do you clean it or freshen it up often?
A: Yesterday I cleaned the trash out and went crazy with air fresheners. It was filthy. Surprisingly though, it didn't take that long for me to clean. I was surprised. Maybe because I was on a mission.
Q: What do you listen to when you drive?
A: I mainly listen to hip hop. Sometimes I'll listen to some of my own beats. I don't really do the radio. Every time I give that a shot, it's the same songs over and over.
Q: If your car had a human emotion, what would it be?
A: Bitchy because every time I hit the gas, it whines.
Q: Does that reflect your driving?
A: I scream, yell and give people the finger. That's actually more effective. I don't go flipping everyone on the road off, but when someone drives really bad, I try my best to let them know. So I'll go beside them and give them the finger.
Q: What's your favorite thing about this car?
A: If you mush the gas, it can go from 30 to 60 in like five seconds.
Q: Do you mush the gas a lot on the back roads you drive on?
A: I actually got a warning recently because of it. I mushed it because I was trying to get around this slow person. It was downhill, and by the time I saw the cop on the side of the road, it was too late. I ended up not getting a ticket because I pulled over before he even started moving.
Q: How do you behave when a cop pulls you over?
A: As polite as I can, obviously. "Hello sir. Hello ma'am. How are you doing? Sorry I was going so fast." Then after it's over and they leave, I probably end up going fast again!
Photos and interview by Eldis Sula
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