Stop! In the mid-seventies I would drive by anyone who charged more than 50¢ and I remember when I was a kid it being less than 25¢. I also remember waiting in line for it, only being able to fill up on odd or even days or only being able to buy five or ten gallons at a time. Funny the price didn't shoot up 400% back then...
No, I did not experience that time in history. But I did experience waiting half a day during certian hours on certian days to only buy 10 gallons of gas after Katrina and Rita. And you are right, the price shoot is crazy. I remember in high school we would all pitch in a dollar of our lunch money from the week to fill up someone's car. We would cruise all weekend and half the week on that! Today that wouldn't get you across town!