Drivers Spend Time, Save Cash in Line for Bargain Gas

Some sought to wrest a few dollars from the oil companies, everybody’s favorite target of the past few weeks.

Others, quite frankly, had nothing better to do. But all came to the Mobil service station at Adolfo and Lewis roads in Camarillo for cheap gas. And on Wednesday afternoon, despite a wait of almost two hours beneath a sweltering sun, that’s exactly what 150 to 200 persevering motorists got.

Unleaded gas sold for 95.1 cents a gallon for 95 minutes beginning at noon in a promotion sponsored by Ventura radio station KBBY-FM (95.1). With nearly 60 cents a gallon off the regular price of $1.549, cars, pickups and recreational vehicles circled an adjacent strip mall, extended out the parking lot and snaked around the block.

“My time? I’ve got nothing to do with it,” said Camarillo retiree Joe Reed, 72, as he neared the pumps in his 31-foot motor home that gets all of 6 miles to the gallon. “We’re probably going to go on vacation in the next month. It’s really going to help me. It’s a godsend.”

Others had to work hard to save a few bucks.

Ventura resident Elaine Larson, 36, took an early lunch from her Simi Valley office and drove the 18 miles to Camarillo for the privilege of lingering in line.

“I’m going to be late, the boss is going to be madder than hell because I have a report due,” she said, adding that her midday jaunt was almost a matter of revenge. “I watched my favorite gas station go from $1.19 [per gallon] to $1.52 in three weeks. I think that’s absolutely ridiculous. In fact, I quit going to them.”

The bargain hunters included an elementary school teacher who called in sick--not just for inexpensive gas, she hastily explained--a Camarillo housewife who wanted an excuse to get out of the house while it was being remodeled and a receptionist who was left with a red face when her compact ran out of gas in the queue.

Then there was the unfortunate John Lowe, 23, of Camarillo. Lowe, who, judging by the faded color of his 1969 Chevelle wanted to use his gas savings for a paint job, idled patiently for an hour only to have the price promotion end with the car directly in front of him.

Still, he was philosophical about the near miss as he prepared to pay the regular price.

“I’m unemployed,” he said. “I really don’t have anything better to do.”

And was it worth it to those who did spend the time and saved some money?

“One hour and 40 minutes in line, but I got my gas,” said Larson, hurrying back to Simi Valley for the inevitable confrontation with her employer. “I’ll never do it again.”