1. Welcome to VegasMessageBoard
    It appears you are visiting our community as a guest.
    In order to view full-size images, participate in discussions, vote in polls, etc, you will need to Log in or Register.

Unusual Rideshare Driver Stories

Discussion in 'Vegas After Dark' started by LVisBeautiful, Nov 29, 2018.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. LVisBeautiful

    LVisBeautiful High-Roller

    Joined:
    May 7, 2018
    Messages:
    951
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    7
    OK everyone,

    I've been itching to tell this story for over a year. I am not sure where to put it, but it has to be told. First off, this is a different take because this is a woman's perspective, this actually happened to me.

    Enjoy,

    I had just switched to Lyft from Uber, like this was the first time I had taken Lyft. I picked up a Lyft from McCarron Airport to go out to Circus Circus for the night. SInce I was funding myself on a work/research/visit family trip out of town and it was just an overnight, I chose Circus Circus for cheapness and a decent bed/safety because of familes.

    If I've learned one thing about Uber/Lyft drivers over the years, there are 2 types of drivers, those there for the cash, and those there for the conversation. Most retirees are there to chat. So I try to oblige out of respect for that generation, and sometimes I pick up an interesting story.

    I got picked up by a colorful older driver in his 70s. He was wearing a captain's hat, and suit jacket. I could tell right away that this was going to be good conversation. He was an old school gentleman, insisting on grabbing my small Spirit-Airlines-size under the seat bag and placing it in the trunk. I hopped in and checked the GPS, about 25 minutes, we had time for a chat. So I asked him about himself, and things got interesting.

    Mr. Captain's hat had a long colorful past, he had been in the military, and he had worked for a long time in church broadcasting. Remember Jim and Tammy Faye? He worked on the TV shows like those and did production work for televangalists. He relegated stories of what televangalists are like, some (the ones that do not have big broadcasts) are truly saints, but a lof them are mean devils.

    He had been married two times. He was very church-going as you can imagine. Then at one church, things sort of changed. Apparently, he and his wife met another couple at church. During this time, the friendship developed between him, his wife, and the other couple became intimate. The group started swinging. While they were swinging, he began to film the entire thing. And of course, as you can imagine, as a good film production person, he began to produce videos. He actually has written a book about this and its on Amazon about being a preacher and a porno producer.

    So anyhow, he became confused by the GPS and looped Circus Circus twice, and ask expected, my lyft bill went up, I didn't care, this was probably one of the most interesting stories I had ever heard on a rideshare. The reason I list it here, is after my ride, he propositioned me to keep the ride going..(whatever that would have meant, I don't know, a scenic ride around Vegas?)

    I politely told him no thank you, but thanked him for the story, because it was interesting, and hopped out quickly, got my bag, ran into Circus..

    But I gave him 5 stars..because good conversation.
     
    Last edited: Nov 29, 2018
    • Funny Funny x 9
    • Wow! Wow! x 8
    • Like Like x 3
  2. Big Tip

    Big Tip VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2008
    Messages:
    2,392
    Location:
    Austin
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    67
    [​IMG]
     
    • Like Like x 5
    • Funny Funny x 4
    • Wow! Wow! x 1
  3. Miller12pack

    Miller12pack High-Roller

    Joined:
    Dec 24, 2013
    Messages:
    699
    Location:
    Wisconsin
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    30
    Interesting story. I love talking to the old timers about their early Vegas days.
     
    • Agree Agree x 3
    • Like Like x 1
  4. LVisBeautiful

    LVisBeautiful High-Roller

    Joined:
    May 7, 2018
    Messages:
    951
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    7
    Me too!! Never a dull moment
     
  5. Johnzimbo

    Johnzimbo VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2010
    Messages:
    2,856
    Location:
    DFW
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    100
    You didn't ask him "Where's Tennille?"
     
    Annual me and Pete
    • Funny Funny x 4
  6. NPLV

    NPLV VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2016
    Messages:
    1,640
    Location:
    USA
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    15
    The Uber drivers I've had in Vegas have been pretty boring, bit of a relief after having two taxi drivers try to sling me cocaine in the past
     
    • Wow! Wow! x 1
  7. wesraft

    wesraft High-Roller

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2012
    Messages:
    532
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    4
    Great story! I was there a couple of years ago, showing my Son, who was fresh out of the Navy, the bus system there and we were seated across from a very interesting looking character. He was a 70-ish, disheveled, but not threatening, possibly homeless man topped with a very distinguished looking captain's hat. I immediately started pestering my son to spark a conversation with his fellow Naval veteran. My son recoiled in mild horror, but I kept it up until the man unfortunately departed. Ugh, the stories we missed out on! Thanks for sharing!
     
  8. NotFromConcentrate

    NotFromConcentrate It’s a Cassowary :)

    Joined:
    Jul 19, 2015
    Messages:
    9,321
    Location:
    Digital Nomad from Southern Ontario
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    28
    [TENTATIVE Late Jul/Early Aug] Vegas by way of Chicago/Elko/Reno!
  9. NotFromConcentrate

    NotFromConcentrate It’s a Cassowary :)

    Joined:
    Jul 19, 2015
    Messages:
    9,321
    Location:
    Digital Nomad from Southern Ontario
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    28
    While not as interesting or as textured as the OP's story, I did have a very interesting Uber driver named Aqeel, who some of you may remember from my last trip report.

    The short version of this story is he took my buddy and I a short distance on my buddy's last day of the trip. We were getting some stuff done before we both headed to the airport (I was going to Reno, he was going home). Seemed like an interesting fellow in his 70s, talked about his career as a mental health nurse, a job he had done for 39 years. This stood out when the valet staff at Aria, who from what he told me don't take kindly to Uber drivers, tried to tell him we couldn't stay in the front valet area while dropping our bags, and he was able to very calmly reason with them, in spite of the fact that they came across almost as though they were trying to pick a fight.

    That's not the cool part though. The cool part was that on our way down to the airport, we got matched with Aqueel again. This being a bit of a longer drive, he was able to talk to us a bit more, and he told us some stories about when he was in the military. But then he showed us a picture on his phone, from about 1965. He asked if we recognized the two men in that photo. One of them was Aqeel. The other one was... Muhammad Ali! Turns out, Aqeel converted to Islam at around the same time Muhammad Ali did, and Aqeel was hired to be one of his bodyguards.

    Most memorable rideshare driver I've ever had by a mile... and it's an abbreviated anecdote I always love to tell people, "I once had one of Muhammad Ali's bodyguards as an Uber driver".
     
    [TENTATIVE Late Jul/Early Aug] Vegas by way of Chicago/Elko/Reno!
    • Wow! Wow! x 4
    • Like Like x 3
  10. LVisBeautiful

    LVisBeautiful High-Roller

    Joined:
    May 7, 2018
    Messages:
    951
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    7
    • Funny Funny x 2
    • Like Like x 1
  11. LVisBeautiful

    LVisBeautiful High-Roller

    Joined:
    May 7, 2018
    Messages:
    951
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    7
    I’m on Tapatalk so I cannot emoji this but hugeee like :)
     
    • Like Like x 1
  12. Nick61

    Nick61 MIA

    Joined:
    Sep 12, 2007
    Messages:
    707
    Location:
    Midwest
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    99
    Yep, church is definitely the first place I'd suspect you might find couples that "swing", lol.
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
  13. bdautch

    bdautch VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2013
    Messages:
    2,265
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    24
    I didn't used to have a story like this but I guess I do now! I used Uber to get to work this morning because the DC Metro line I need to access the office is under repair.

    So the guy picks me up in DC. I live three blocks from the Capitol but I needed to get to Alexandria, VA. I get in, state my name so he knows he's picked up the right guy, and shut the door. I look at him, and he's, like CRYING. Just a 50 something year old guy flat out WEEPING. And he goes, "Sorry, man...it's just, George HW Bush died yesterday, and he was the greatest man I have even seen in my life..."

    And then for the whole 35 minute drive, he only tells HW stories. I happen not to be a member of the same party as HW (now would be a good time to ban this post for being too political), so I had to listen to the guy weep and sputter the entire trip. He also played the music from HW's funeral SUPER loud, and sang along quite poorly. Picture sad karaoke for grief striken people. Because of his profound sorrow, he kept missing turns and getting honked at, coming within maybe a foot or so of a semi-serious accident. He didn't notice. He just kept talking and crying about HW.

    He finally gets me down to Alexandria, and for his parting words, he tries to buck ME up. Like, "Hey man, it's OK...we all have to move on. Just try to stay strong, alright?" and he makes the fist of power or whatever you want to call that gesture when people want you to keep a stiff upper lip. So I was like, "you too man" and got out of the car.

    I wasn't in the greatest frame of mind when I walked into the office.
     
    Last edited: Dec 6, 2018
    • Funny Funny x 7
    • Wow! Wow! x 2
  14. vegasjester

    vegasjester Tourist

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2015
    Messages:
    10
    Location:
    North Carolina
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    10
    Probably my best is the guy who claimed to have been a pit boss at the Stardust back in the 70s and then basically described the plot to Casino.
     
    • Funny Funny x 4
    • Like Like x 1
  15. fugsworth

    fugsworth VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2012
    Messages:
    1,754
    Location:
    Orange County, CA
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    40
    I bet every passenger under 35 eats that shit right up.
     
    EDC
    • Agree Agree x 1
  16. fredgarvin99

    fredgarvin99 Tourist

    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2010
    Messages:
    9
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    14
    Did someone call me?
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Funny Funny x 1
  17. thegov2k2

    thegov2k2 VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2017
    Messages:
    2,888
    Location:
    Cherry Hill, NJ
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    5
    As a rideshare driver (NJ/Philly), I've had my share of weirdos and interesting experiences.
     
  18. spicole

    spicole No shirt, no shoes... NO DICE!

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2012
    Messages:
    2,393
    Location:
    Houston, TX
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    24
    ... are you going to share any stories? :poke:
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Funny Funny x 1
  19. thegov2k2

    thegov2k2 VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2017
    Messages:
    2,888
    Location:
    Cherry Hill, NJ
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    5
    The craziest story I have involves picking up around midnight at a sleazy looking motel in Jersey City. I arrive and text the guy I'm supposed to pick up. He responds and tells me it's for his girlfriend who is coming right out.

    About 90 seconds go by, and I see a very scantily clad and voluptuous woman high-tailing it toward my car. She gets in my car and tells me we have to get outta there right away. She keeps looking out the window toward the motel and telling me "we have to go, we have to go!" She acted nervous the entire ride, which wasn't particularly long.

    I'm pretty sure I transported a hooker either home or to her next customer!
     
    • Wow! Wow! x 2
    • Like Like x 1
  20. vegaskid74

    vegaskid74 VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2009
    Messages:
    2,350
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    999
    If this isn't the greatest story I've ever heard, it's certainly the best I've heard in many moons.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.