1996 was a good year for me and it was a good year for the Presidents of the United States of America. The band had launched into the national spotlight with their first album in 1994 and after rattling off a few chart worthy tunes, they were touring the world and jamming on all corners of the Earth. In August of 1996, I got my learner’s permit and got to legally cruise the highways and byways of my fair state (with parental or adult supervision of some kind). I got my license in early 1997 and this song, Mach 5 was still all over the airwaves. My car being “fast” for a high school whip was named the Mach 5 by my friends. Later, after an accident when the car had a caved in door, I took the liberty of painting Mach 5 on the wounded piece.
The song is kind of strange in the sense that it about a kid playing with a toy version of the Mach 5. That being said, he talks about “laying patch” and smoking the tires, so it ain’t all bad. These guys cranked out a lot of quick fun songs like this before disappearing in the later 1990s. While the grunge guys were running around in flannel shirts being pissed at the world, these guys could make you smile and bob your head with some decent jams.
Press play below to take a ride in the Mach 5 with the Presidents of the United States of America –
So, Racer X drives a six cylinder, getting beaned with an errant wheel is pretty minor, and being tossed from a wrecked race car results in a bit of dirt. Good to know.