Date: Tue, 22 Aug 2017 20:41:32 +0000
Reply-To: Stephen Grisanti <bike2vcu@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stephen Grisanti <bike2vcu@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: Carolina crash
In-Reply-To: <15e0b71132d-c09-4919@webjas-vaa076.srv.aolmail.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
Sorry about the crash. We drove the Civic instead and stayed in an unscalped room on the edge of The Path on Sunday night, then drove into the area seeking our spot Monday. Found ourselves in the nearly vacant Sumter National Forest mid-state, and located a vacant rifle range for our viewing spot. Scattered clouds threatened to spoil things but miraculously cleared for totality.
Saw only one Vanagon the whole thousand-mile trip just shortly before the Big Event, an oncoming Titian Red Westy westbound on NC72 near Clinton, if it's someone on the list.
Traffic was awful on I-85, mostly due to construction lane closures and several accidents. Stopped dead several times in backups as two, or three, or four lanes slammed to a halt as the various sections of road narrowed to a single lane. Getting off those interstates onto two-lane back roads (to dodge Charlotte) with long lines of traffic leading to the various rural stop signs and stop lights were murder on the clutch leg and would have been even worse in the Westy. We stayed off interstates for the ride home and enjoyed it much more.
Stephen
On Tuesday, August 22, 2017 3:35 PM, David Bjorkman <ddbjorkman@VERIZON.NET> wrote:
Hi Edward. We weren't that far from each other. So far, I'm still on the fence about how extensive the repair will be done here. The only place found so far (by OlRivrRat friend Dean) is Just Kampers, but that is in England. I can't imagine what the shipping for that 100 lbs. would be. Probably better to find a donor(???) bus to cut the lower center nose off of. Also found out the box behind the panel is a separate part! I have a shop here that will look at the damage and at least pull it out and straighten the pushed in, bent metal where the trailer hitch went in! Right now I am getting ready to order parts that will make it run. Anyone can chime in on the parts I'm ordering pros and cons and if I need anything else. Looks like I'm ordering an A/C evaporator form GoWesty. $!00 cheaper than the closer Bus Depot and supposed to work better with modern refrigerants. Radiator, both front hoses, and temp sensor seal will come from Bus Depot. Still looking for a new passenger side rad mount. From what I can see, it may have been distorted or have torn out bolt holes. I'll post how things go. Wish me luck.
Dave B.
-----Original Message-----
From: Edward Maglott <emaglott3@GMAIL.COM>
To: vanagon <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tue, Aug 22, 2017 10:45 am
Subject: Re: Carolina crash
maybe car-part.com ? can you get it cobbled together enough to get home
then deal with it? or is that what you are trying to do. Eclipse was
great here in Transylvania, NC!!! saw more non-local vanagons than I've
ever seen on Saturday. we're attracted to impressive celestial events
apparently.
Edweard
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