No kidding, fill 'er up!

Two miles away from salvation - a Philadelphia gas station selling gas for 76 cents for 76 minutes - the low-fuel warning light in Jennifer Brophy's car turned red.

Coming from the Northeast, Brophy made it to the station just before 7 a.m., more than five hours ahead of the noon start. But then she faced a new worry: With 12 vehicles ahead of her, would her luck hold out?

"I told the people behind me they might have to push me," she said with a laugh.

Brophy was one of about 200 drivers who took advantage of the gas price relief at the Lukoil station at Spring Garden and Delaware Avenue, a company promotion tied to the Sixers' NBA playoff run against the Detroit Pistons.

By the time the station reverted to normal prices at 1:16 p.m., it had sold 1,965 gallons before the pumps showed regular at $3.69.

In the Philadelphia region, the average price of gas yesterday was $3.55 - up 17 cents in one week, according to AAA-Mid Atlantic.

"Oh man, these gas prices are terrible," said Jose Figueroa, 67, sitting in his minivan with salsa music blaring. "I think I'm gonna buy a motorcycle or maybe get me a horse or something."

In the line, which stretched for up to four long blocks around the station, hundreds of drivers in compacts to trucks passed the time talking, smoking, sleeping, eating, reading - some even danced - as they waited for the price reprieve.

For Brophy, 36, filling up usually costs about $60 a week. As a single mom with a daughter in college, she called juggling bills with rising gas costs "very frustrating."

"I don't think I'll be going anywhere," she said after she topped her gas tank. "I plan to travel as little as possible."

Charles Thomas of North Philadelphia said he drives his children to school before he goes to his maintenance job. He said he spends about $90 a week for gas for his SUV; his wife, about $50.

"The prices are ridiculous," Thomas said, leaning back in his driver's seat. "At some point, everybody needs to boycott. Then maybe the government would do something."

That sentiment was probably shared by the hundreds of drivers, too far back to make the cutoff time, who were turned away by traffic police.

In time and two blocks from the station, Charles Randle, 60, of the Northeast, sat in the driver's seat of his sister's black Tahoe. Ahead of him - in their own cars - were his brother-in-law and mother.

"I don't even have a car," Thomas said, "and I'm glad.

Randle, whose sister drafted him to take advantage of the discount, said he travels by foot or by bus.

"I keep my money in my pocket," he said.