Date: Thu, 26 Jan 2006 08:04:08 -0600
Reply-To: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Re: A kid in Honda crunched my 87 syncro yesterday/ body damage
pics
In-Reply-To: <000f01c62253$2785d4f0$1102a8c0@ibmt23def>
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The General Pulic is comprised of at least some complete idiots!!
This incident, and the multi-vehicle pileups are purely and simply the
result of running to close to the vehicle in front and to fast
for the conditions. Simple as that.
I try my best to drive by the 3 second rule. When the car in front
passes a certain mark along the highway, I adjust my speed so it takes
the long count of three for me to pass the same mark. On dry pavement ,
no matter how fast we are traveling, it keeps the distance right for
stopping safety. On wet pavement I step that up to a long count of
five. Ice and snow - a whole 'nother matter. Varies with temperature
and snow conditions. But generally "well back" works. When some idiot
wants to "fill in the gap" in front of me and comes running up real
fast and then has to put on the brakes -- I let him have the space and I
back off. I won't argue about his being a complete idiot, I know he is a
complete idiot!
Regards.
John Rodgers
88 GL Driver
Doug F wrote:
>I fortunately survived the experience of having a young 22 yr old dude pile
>drive his girlfriend's late model Honda accord into the left rear of my 87
>syncro to westy conversion yesterday afternoon.
>
>I was sitting at a stop light that had just changed to green, just put the
>clutch in and put my 87 syncro into 1st ready to roll, when I heard the loud
>sound of tires screeching behind me. Looked up in the mirror to see a Honda
>crossed up and skidding towards me at a pretty high rate. I looked to see if
>I could gas it and pull to the right to dodge him but I left no room!
>(stupid me) I said in my head "here it comes....and here goes my bus" then
>"WHAM" and he bounced off me and into the center turn lane which he was
>trying to steer into, but lacked the driving experience to take his foot off
>the brake during a skid, to steer.
>
>Its a 35mph blvd and he was likely doing 50-60 before he realized the cars
>ahead were "stopped" at the green light. (according to witness)
>He left a huge skid mark on the blvd and I estimate he hit me going 25 to
>30mph.
>His Honda was a total I believe
>
>My syncro has 15s with 215/75s so it sits up pretty high.
>The Honda went under my bumper to a large degree.
>In looking at the damage to my van. It looks like the main impact was placed
>square on the SA trailer hitch corner where it enters the frame of the
>vanagon. The blow pretty much exploded my late fiberglass bumper I had on
>the rear of my 87. The hitch seems to not be bent only the tabs for mounting
>the bumper to it were bent.
>It destroyed bumper and ripped the rear apron and rear fender shirting
>pretty badly.
>
>He completely tore his plastic bumper and support metal off of his car and
>both ended up sticking out my fender well like a fishing poles. It destroyed
>the whole right front of his car buckled the hood and pushed the radiator
>carrier back into the engine. His right front wheel was broken loose from
>the chassis.
>
>I was very surprised to see that it didn't bend the frame member tube on my
>left side that the hitch bolts into. It "seems" to be intact.
>Vanagons are tough. I was also lucky he was not in a Lincoln Navigator btw!
>
>My taillight and metal behind it and the whole lower corner of my bus is
>tweaked. It looks like a clip will have to be welded in as well as left rear
>fender skirt. It will never be the same as it was. The exhaust system also
>took a blow. He may have struck the rear wheel but it tracks true and the
>wheel runs true. Alignment certainly in order.
>
>Any tips on dealing with insurance co's on getting properly compensated on
>an old classic bus, parts avail on factory sheet metal, etc would be greatly
>appreciated.
>
>I felt bad for the kid, he was not wearing a seat belt, even though the air
>bags deployed he cut his head badly, he was driving on a suspended with
>warrants, just had a baby in Dec. had his hip hop music blaring when his car
>was crashed and some folks were yelling at him about turning that sh*t off!
>I hate it too, but is was not the time or place to worry bout it imho.
>
>Here's some pics of my rig and a video link of a CRAZY series of crashes on
>a freeway in L.A. about a 7 car pile up. It shows just how easy it is for
>folks to get mixed up into it and how unsafe it is to be on the freeway
>stopped.
>
>
>Be careful out there and watch out for the "other guy".
>
>Peace
>Doug
>
>Pics:
>
>http://users.ca.astound.net/dougfayne/crunch1.JPG
>
>http://users.ca.astound.net/dougfayne/crunch2.JPG
>
>http://users.ca.astound.net/dougfayne/crunch3.JPG
>
>http://users.ca.astound.net/dougfayne/crunch3.JPG
>
>http://users.ca.astound.net/dougfayne/peoplearenotpayingattention.wmv
>
>
>
>
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