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Steve Jobs loved to drive fast, and even late in his life, it wasn’t an uncommon sight to see him zooming down the highway at breakneck speeds to the Cupertino campus. Back in 1979, though, Stephen Stapleton got a joyride that he would always remember from Jobs… all in a breakneck search for Woz!
Stephen writes:
Just after I graduated college in 1979, I got a job running a movie theater owned by Steve Wozniak.
My apartment on Valley Green Drive, by sheer chance, was just down the street from Apple’s Mariani Avenue offices. I was by there constantly to get Woz to sign checks or contracts.I wasn’t entirely sure what this thing called Apple did there, but the people were nice enough.
One afternoon, I needed something signed quickly and Woz was nowhere to be found. Jobs was barrelling down a hallway and I shouted to him if he knew where Woz was. He whirled around, told me he was driving to meet Woz, and if I wanted to go, he’d drive me.
Off the two of us went in his car. I drive like a madman, letting nothing stop me, and so did Jobs. He drove with a manic concentration and we didn’t talk, but we were there in a flash.
I told him he was the best driver I’d ever ridden with.
Steve just smiled and pointed to where Woz was.
John Brownlee is a writer for Fast Company, and a contributing writer here at CoM. He has also written for Wired, Playboy, Boing Boing, Popular Mechanics, VentureBeat, and Gizmodo. He lives in Boston with his wife and two parakeets. You can follow him here on Twitter.
43 responses to “I Took A Joyride With Steve Jobs And It Was The Fastest Ride Of My Life [Me & Steve Stories]”
Amazing story, made me smile :)
Sounds fabricated. But, more power to you if you really got to ride with him.
How did that guy get back?
What makes you think it was fabricated?
What’s most impressive is this guy graduated a college. It is usually the other way around. Wow!
Woz drove me to the theater after the meeting finished. It didn’t last all that long and I don’t remember what Woz, Jobs, and others were meeting about, if I ever knew. Tracking Woz down was a big part of my job. He would disappear for days, often leaving me with unsigned paychecks, film booking orders, and all sorts of things. He didn’t mean to, he would just get interested in something and sorta forget about the theater. We weren’t a big part of his life, just this little side thing, so when I needed something signed, I would work on getting to him for signatue and worry about getting back later. Getting back was never the problem tracking down Woz was.
Woz was then a simply wonderful man, but an occasionally frustrating boss (from what I hear, he still wonderful today, I just don’t know him). I wish we’d remained friends or even in contact, but this was all before Apple even went public and I viewed the Apple II I used at the theater as a terrific, but wildly expensive, typewriter. I didn’t even think to ask about one for my home and I am not sure what I would have done with it if I asked.
Jobs was legendary for his driving, but I liked the fact he went fast and got us there without delay. Back then, I’d been known to drive on sidewalks in my little 850 Syder to avoid stopping, so Jobs seemed a kindred spirit. We weren’t all that different in age, but he was clearly much wealthier than I was and nice enough to give me a ride out to my missing boss. I never saw him yell at anyone, nor be in the least bit impolite. He came with Woz to the theater a couple of times, but I left them alone to enjoy the picture.
The theater, for those that are interested, was called the Mayfair and Woz discusses it in his book. It became the Mexico after he gave it up and is located at 1194 E. Santa Clara Street, San Jose, CA 95116. I understand it is closed now and all of the lovely restoration work Woz paid for to the neon has been destroyed.
Exactly what part of my memory sounds fabricated? For a very brief time in my life, I walk with giants and didn’t know it.
I can see it now, “GUN IT STEVE!!!!!!” :D
what kind of car did Steve drive back then?
Which Steve? I am not a car person and I honestly don’t recall specifically. I think both drove some Porsche model. I remember others thought they were hot sports cars. I remember Woz’s car was a mess and Jobs’ was imaculate.
I can vouch for the fact that Jobs drove very, VERY fast. More than once, I’d get on the highway, and see a silver mercedes flashing its high beams behind me. Having a fair intuition it was him, and knowing his temper, I’d just get the HELL out of the way, and he’d pass me as if I were standing still. He was also proud of the fact that his car didn’t have a license plate, and was amused at the way people tried to explain how he’d accomplished that. (And no, I don’t know for sure.)
And yes, he did often park in a handicapped space. But, to be fair, there were NO other parking spaces available in that parking lot, and he’d park in the least-convenient space, leaving four or five other handicapped spaces open. He also refused to have a reserved spot. (I’m not sure why he didn’t have an underling move his car, though.)
The part where you got into a car with him but failed to have a conversation.
wow no plates…..there’s a story. :D
Don’t pay mind to the e-clowns congrats to u for the chance to have a story with the late great Mr Jobs
If I’d known then what the futue would bring, many things in my life would be different. He drove with intense concentration and I enjoyed the ride. How was I to know I was being driven by one of the great minds of the 20th century? I am sure people in 1903 at the Bern patent office didn’t realize they should have talked to that quiet clerk who was always scribbling equazitions either. (“Hey, Albert, everything is relative. If you’e the boss, it’s a request; if you’e the clerk, it’s an order. Where are those damn reports I asked for!?!”)
I was 23, so he was 24 or 25. I was gay and coming out, he was straight with rather intimidate good looks. He didn’t strike me as the type to have a CD of 42nd Street, the hot new Broadway musical back then, on hand and I didn’t know diddly about sports (isn’t that the only thing straight guys talk about, sports? “Hey, Steve, how about those Giants?”). He was rich and I was was lucky to pay my car insurance. I was glad for the ride, happy he didn’t drive like a little old lady, and wasn’t trying to engage me in conversation.
Woz had a rather easy-going and very friendly manner. He was so approachable, even kids loved to talk to him. Jobs was not so approachable. Jobs didn’t strike me as the type to enjoy idle chitchat.
awesome story. made me happy knowing he’s a maniac speeder behind the wheel. so am I. Maybe he was passionate about cars.
A lovely story. This made me smile.
And I guess it’s a moment with this incredible man. Something that the rest of us wish to have but will never get it. One of the items on my bucket list was “see Steve Jobs in person”. Makes me sad that I never will now.
I do hope that the rumored movie about him will get made. But I’m not sure if any actor can be convincing enough as he is. The air and aura about him is not something that can be duplicated.
His life was an exciting journey. If my life had a ten per cent of what he had, that would allow me to die happy.
Okay, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to turn this into a eulogy.
He dropped out.
Steve and Bono on the 280:
http://iamnotstevejobs.blogspo…
Loved his Mercedes, and his motorbikes, he even had a boxer BMW bike on display at Apple. There is a picture floating around of him riding a BMW bike, going well, with no helmet on. Top Marks I say…
You mean the clerk that stole the theory of relativity from someone submitting it for patent? ; )
He “graduated a college” http://globalpublicsquare.blog…
[a college didn’t graduate him.]
Reread mactarkus’ comment.