While most juniors and seniors are not phased by the privilege of being able to park in the parking lot, it is the rite of passage that is looked upon during the long freshman and sophomore years. Former Raptor Claire Hunt (‘18) set out almost 2 years ago to uncover the truth about the cars in Magnet’s parking lot. However, with both the class of 2018 and 2019 gone, I took it upon myself to find the new cars of Magnet.

Jack Dillard

Model, year and name of your car:

“I have a 2006 Toyota 4Runner, but I used to have a 1966 white Ford Bronco named OJ, like OJ Simpson.”

Is there anything that sticks out about your car?

“It’s gold and it has very large wheels, they are pro comp rims. I also have a really big front bumper and around the holidays I’ll put lights and a wreath on it. I have the Magnet parking sticker on the back and a discreet Trump sticker.”

How long have you had it/when did you get it?

“I went mudding with the Bronco and got water in the flywheel, so it’s currently out of commission. I got my 4Runner towards the end of sophomore year. It’s from Craigslist.”

What is the most prominent memory (good or bad) with your car?

“With the Bronco, it was the brakes going out on the Ravenel Bridge and I had to get all the way home without brakes. I ran 3 red lights. In the 4Runner, it would probably be getting stuck in the mud.”

Andrew de Arellano

Model, year and name of your car:

“I have a 2005 Honda Odyssey. It was my mom’s. It doesn’t really have a name.”

Is there anything that sticks out about your car? (color, stickers, etc.)

“It’s blue and I have a Supreme sticker on it.”

How long have you had it/when did you get it?

“Sophomore year I drove a 2002 silver Honda Odyssey and it was called the Silver Bullet. It was in my family forever. My sister, Abby, drove it, and then I did. I drove the Silver Bullet too rough and wrecked the transmission. The new one has been in my family for about 10 years, but I’ve had it for about a year.”

What is the most prominent memory (good or bad) with your car?

“I don’t have anything significant, but I will say that I can fit as much stuff in that car as someone could fit in a pickup truck bed. If you were wondering, my family has 4.”

Mary Ashton Jenkins

Model, year and name of your car:

“I have a black 2006 Toyota 4Runner.”

Is there anything that sticks out about your car? (color, stickers, etc.)

“I have an 843 sticker on the back left part of the windshield and a Palmetto Girls State sticker on the lower right side. Because of these stickers, everyone knows it’s my car. I also have a hood scoop, which not many 4Runners have.”

How long have you had it/when did you get it?

“I got it in October 2017, my sophomore year. My dad drove to Atlanta to get it. It’s my dream car.”

What is the most prominent memory (good or bad) with your car?

“In my 1st week of driving, I was on the way home from school and I had to sneeze. For some reason, I closed by eyes and jerked the wheel, so I hit a light pole with my mirror. I cried because I thought that I had broken my mirror, but it ended up being fine. Another memory was last year in the parking lot. One day, Will Schnell threw chewed gum into my car through the sunroof and it landed in my lap.”

Molly Dickerson

Model, year and name of your car:

“It’s a 2000 Volkswagen Beetle named Junebug Martha Dickerson. June because I got it in June, bug because its a beetle and Martha is the name of my grandma’s sister.”

Is there anything that sticks out about your car?

“Well, it’s a bright blue Punch Buggy. People always tell me it smells like crayons, but I don’t see it.”

How long have you had it/when did you get it?

“I got it around my birthday sophomore year. I started driving it the summer before junior year. My grandpa gave it to me because it used to be his car.”

What is the most prominent memory (good or bad) with your car?

“One time I got in an accident downtown and was really freaked out. I got out of my car and while I was waiting for the police to come, these religious people came and made a circle around me and prayed for me.”

While these testimonials are only a slice of Magnet’s parking lot, they are a true representation of what really goes on in the life of a teenage driver. Make sure to avidly read The Talon to see the next issue! If you would like to be featured next time, come find me and we can have a chat.