I told the cabbie to step on it and there would be an extra tip in it for him. He made it to my car in unbelievable time and I gave the guy a $50 tip.
On my last return from Viet Nam I found myself coming out of a bar in Oakland to see the sun rising. My luggage was in a San Francisco hotel. I flagged down a Veterans Cab and told him if he could make it to my hotel, pick up the bags and still get to San Francisco International on time for my early morning flight it would be worth $50. This was in 1968.
He hauled butt – taking the wrong level on the bridge (against traffic) because it was quicker. My bags were at the curb. I made the flight.