Date:         Mon, 18 Mar 2002 01:13:04 -0800
Reply-To:     Patrick Harris <harrisvanagon@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Patrick Harris <harrisvanagon@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Project "Bessie": Her Death
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed

Yup, bad bad bad news.

For those of you out there that have read some of the emails about my 81 van
that I've been working on called Bessie, she died a horrible firey death
Friday night.

Approximately 11:45pm Friday night (Mar. 15, 2002) the garage that housed
Bessie burnt down to the ground.  Fire investigators have deemed it an
electrical failure in the panel box.  Said it looked like one of the
breakers had exploded and fried all the wiring in the box and subsequently
caught the whole freakin shop on fire.  They found the breaker box laying
face down in the rubble.  It was perfectly intact, but nothing, and I mean
nothing else survived.

The shop was insured, but I'm not sure if they're going to cover what I had
in there as far as Bessie goes because I didn't have that many pictures of
her as I was going along.  Last batch of film I shot was when she was primed
and gutted.  So, not much help there.  The engine that I dumped a crap load
of moola into is a complete waste.  All that head work, case work, and loads
of extras.. gone.  It was on the bench while I worked on the van itself.
Most if it is melted down because of the heat from the parts wash bin
burning so hot.  It was right next to it.

I really wish I had something else to work with.  Even if it was just burnt
to a crisp, I could work with something.  But, the beams overhead came down
on top of the rig and folded it two different ways.  I haven't been up there
since yesturday and have taken pictures, but are hesitant to look at them
nor put them for display until the sick feeling in my stomach goes away.
Well, I'll see if anything is still intact.  I'm sure that some suspension
stuff is in good condition.  I'll make a list and sell it on the list for
cheap.

Ugh, she was looking great too.  It really fries my butt.  It's sickening to
think all that work, poof.  Anyways, just thought I'd update everyone.  Kind
of a bitch that I sold that other 81 I had.  Oh well, maybe the man upstairs
is telling me to get away from Vanagons or something.  But, I still have my
87 and God willing, nothing will happen to it.  I'll make the pictures
available sometime when I feel like looking at the carnage again.

Umm.. whatever.  Good evening everyone.

Patrick Harris
Longview, Washington
1981 Vanagon (Project "Bessie")  ** DECEASED **
1987 Vanagon GL

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