Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2001 22:30:53 -0700
Reply-To: VW Addict aka The Bus Nut <solomon_scott@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: VW Addict aka The Bus Nut <solomon_scott@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Lots of stuff, bad week!
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Hello all,
Well I have had a real bad week, but it seems to be turning around now that
it is Monday. Thursday morning on my way home from work, I saw a guy pushing a
motorcycle on the side of the road. It is a two lane road with large shoulders
and it passes through Fort Lewis Army Base. He seemed to be having trouble and
the closest house was about 2 miles. After I passed him, I felt bad and turned
around and came back to help him. I slowed down to make a left turn off to the
road side and put on my blinker. I was almost stopped when I looked in my rear
veiw mirrow and saw a Chevy truck comming very fast, he locked up his brakes
and smashed into the back of my van. (my new 85 Westy). He had planned to pass
on the left, but then saw my blinker too late and paniced. Well the first thing
the insurance adjuster said was"you know they will total it, don't you?". I was
pissed!. The van is still drivable, but it pushed the rear deck in so far that
the engine cover no longer fits the hole and the rear hatch is mangled. It also
bent up my brand new hitch I built(bus reduced the damage to the van).
I still had a trip planned down to Salem Or, so I just patched the van up,
installed a new tail light and went to Salem. On the return trip I was on 205N
just past the Oregon border when I felt a little shake. I changed lanes and it
still shook. About 10 seconds later the left front tire exploded! I stopped and
installed my spare. About a mile down the road I find out that my spare has a
belt separating. I drove(slowly) all over the Vancouver area looking for a tire
store to get a new tire, but on Easter Sunday, nothing was open. I knew I could
not drive to Tacoma on this bad tire with no spare and I had to be at work on
Monday at 0730.
I just happened to had a phone # of another Wet Westy member in my wallet,
Mark Fitzsimons. He was home and not too far away. I told him what happened and
he happily loaned me 2 tires off his spare Bus. We had a nice talk and I went
on my way and made it home safely.
This list is full of great people that are willing to go out of there way to
help out another listee. I for one am greatful for people like Mark.
One more bit of good news, I talked to a new friend that owns a body shop,
and he is a VW guy, and he said that my Van can be fixed. I will have to take
the money from the insurance and pay for the repairs myself, but I will get to
keep my van, and have it repaired. I plan to do as much of the repairs myself
as I can to save some of the money for other things it needs.
I have only had this van for about 1.5 months, but I have grown very attached
to it. I had 6 Baywindows before this 85 Vanagon and I never got as attached to
them as I have to this one. I am in this one for the long haul.
Well, thanks for listening and thanks to Mark and the others like him that
are so willing to help others in need. Without his help I would have not made
it home. And yes, I learned my lesson about checking the spare tire before a
trip!
=====
Scott Solomon AKA "VW addict"
85 Westy Multi-Van
83 Vanagon D parts heap
76 Triple White 'Vert
72 Super Beetle(FOR SALE)
http://www.geocities.com/solomon_scott/
See my FOR SALE area
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