Timed Trials: The 217 vs. The 780

About two weeks ago I had a constant desire to race things. When I was walking somewhere and saw someone on the opposite side of the street I would race them to the next light. If I saw someone get on the elevator I would go to the stairs and try and get to the lobby before them. (The latter which caused me to be locked in a stairwell for about twenty-five minutes. Turns out the new building I’m working in hasn’t got its stairwell security stuff worked out.) Another thing that I started to race were Rapids against local busses. I had faith in the Rapids and have waited many a times for the Rapid to show up even if a local was sitting right there in front of me in all its orange glory, but I was starting to doubt that faith. So, with some third grade calculations and a couple opportune situations when both the Rapid and local showed up at about the same, I set forth in the name of science.

With the idea that this could be a series, I decided for the testing to stick to a single route/two line dual. In this case, I’ll be pitting the revamped Rapid 780 and the classic 217 against each other. Because I couldn’t ride them the entire length of their lines I only raced them north from Wilshire/Fairfax to Hollywood/Argyle (by way of Fairfax and Hollywood) in the afternoon at approximately 6 o’clock p.m. A 4.7-mile trip. And since the Rapid is supposed to go faster, less stops and all, just winning from point to point wouldn’t work. Therefore I’ve added a handicap of five minutes (approximately one minute per mile, though it should definitely be more in my opinion, but it’s rush hour so I’m giving the 780 the benefit of the doubt here). Simply put, the Rapid can’t just reach the goal first; it has to reach the goal by at least five minutes. Best of three races wins. Here’s how they faired.

RACE #1

The 217 arrives at Wilshire/Fairfax ahead of the 780, which is stopped at the red light facing north. I decide to wait it out and time the time from when the 217 leaves the stop and when the 780 leaves the stop. The 217 has a 3-minute head start.

From my vantage point I can see the 217 ahead of us like a dry piece of land. It isn’t too far off, but it mocks us all the same as we fight through the heavy waves of traffic that surround and separate us. It takes us ‘til Sunset to pass the 217 and as we do I scoff the orange rectangle. I was right. We were doing it now. Sure it was slow going there for a while, sure I was afraid I had wasted all that time before waiting for the Rapid when I saw two separate 217’s pass me, thinking, “the rapid will pass them both,” but here it was happening. Proof I didn’t wait in vein. We move on and I bask in my genius decision-making.  But my self-praise disappears quickly as the local passes us to our right. I can’t believe it. Of course. “Damn it BOI, lets get a move on!” I say to myself.

Then we are even again. Then we are behind. We go back and forth until we get to Highland at the same time, but because of a straggler we’re able to pull away from the stop faster than the local. Perhaps this is the break we needed. This is when the ol’ 780 would open up. The home stretch! Secretariat away! GO GO GO!

My pride comes back as we speed past Las Palmas and Wilcox and Ivar and going over Vine I pull the rope. “Stop requested,” the recording announces. I look at my watch and stroll off casually, thinking I’d have all day to wait for that local to catch up. Perhaps I’ll get a hot dog to celebrate. The cart’s delicacies smell so damn good, but I always refrain. Yep, a dog it is. What a day. However, to my and the hot dog vender’s chagrin, sitting at the Vine light, mocking me like the land it used to be, is the 217.

I’m not positive, but I think it flashes its headlights at me, showboating like the little orange creamsicle that it is. Damn you 217. The 780 pulls away and soon Vine’s red light turns green and the 217 approaches as I stand under a giant Charlie Chaplin hat for shade.

Three minutes. Just Three minutes later than the 780.

Therefore, including the three minute head start the 217 had, the 780 was a total of six minutes faster. Therefore, the winner of Race #1 in a less than convincing fashion is the 780. Good job 780, but if you keep that pace up and think you’ll be able to out due the 217 next time, you got another thing coming. Pick it up slow boi.

So what will it be next race? Will the 780 prevail? If so will it do it in embarrassing fashion again or will it live up to its Rapid designation and blow the 217 away? Or will the 217 tighten its belt a notch and pwn the 780 more so than it already has? Check back later for Race #2 results.