Ouch!! Crashed my '72

[Seppi72]

I've devised and coordinated my local club's (ZROC) so-called "Western Run" in the hills of Logan, Union and Champaign counties in central Ohio for five years now. This past Saturday afternoon, an absolutely clear and dry day, my wife and I were laying out this year's route to be driven this coming weekend.

We were on Logan County Road 29 headed west. I'd never been on this section of road before, but it is reasonably wide and has a good paved surface. We were on the downhill part of the road and had entered a portion having an S-turn warning sign with a suggested 35 MPH speed. The initial lefthand portion was easily taken at, perhaps, 60 with no issues. We were on the straight section before the righthand portion. The sun was directly ahead of us (~5:20 p.m. EDT) and glinting off the road. I saw the entrance to the turn. I also saw what I thought was a deer step out of the woods at the inside entrance to the turn.

I got on the brakes hard. Too hard, it turned out, and the fronts locked up. We went straight off the turn and got airborne over a 2-foot deep ditch. The car flys fairly well. It doesn't land too well though. We were on a flat, heavily weed-overgrown field and moving right along mowing those weeds down. After 100 feet or so, we nosed into an overgrown mound of dirt and came to a stop at about a 30 degree up angle.

No injuries other than an abrasion on my left elbow and both of us with stiff necks from the landing jolt. The car wasn't as lucky.

Front airdam torn off. Lower grill locators torn off. Both fiberglass headlight nacelles cracked. Front bumper distorted somewhat. Left front wheel, strut, etc. pushed back about 6 inches. Left front frame rail bent and pushed into the firewall. Left engine compartment wall pushed in a couple of inches. Front bulkhead lower crossmember pushed in about 2 inches and the bottom of the aluminum radiator is bent too. At least three bent aluminum wheels with the inner right rear rim being the worst - pushed in about 4 inches.

Amazingly, there is no damage to hood and only slight damage to the front fenders where the airdam was mounted. No sheet metal creases at all. Both doors open easily. No discernable rear suspension damage. No apparent damage to the engine or drivetrain.

I'll get pix taken soon and post them to this thread.

The insurance adjuster will probably take a look at the car tomorrow after I get it trailered to the shop that did its minor rust repair work and new paint back in 2004/2005 and is currently doing major rust repair work on my orginal owner ’72.

I'll be needing to get front suspension parts, certainly front control arms and perhaps a new front crossmember (if it can't be straigthened easily), so those of you with such parted-out items please feel free to contact me. Also, if the wheels can't be fixed, I'd like to replace them. The car has 15x7" wheels that come from a Mitsubishi Starion (or so I'm told). I know they are Mitsu parts because they have the three diamond logo cast onto the inside. I'll get a picture of the wheel posted too so perhaps you West Coast boneyard buzzards can be on the lookout for me. I don't think anyone in Ohio would even recall what a Starion was.

More later.

Edited September 9, 2008 by Seppi72

[7277]

bummer.

[ToXIc]

thats just awful

[xray]

We went straight off the turn and got airborne over a 2-foot deep ditch. The car flys fairly well. It doesn't land too well though.

While I'm very sorry this happened to you, I'm glad everyone's OK. And, those three sentences made me laugh and spray coffee on my keyboard. So there's that.

best of luck on the repairs!

[FHPTOM]

Sorry about the car and I hope it can be repaired.

But since I am in the law business and hear similar stories almost daily.

Suggested 35 and you took it at 60. I understand you do these runs all the

time and the corner could be taken faster. But the speed limit is posted to

suggest a safe speed to handle the corner in almost all traffic conditions.

Rain, sun, loose gravel, oncoming traffic and a deer.

Controlled conditions like a track is where you push your car. Public roads are where you take a nice cruise with other enthusiasts.

Tom

[Bruce Palmer]

Sorry about the car and I hope it can be repaired.

But since I am in the law business and hear similar stories almost daily.

Suggested 35 and you took it at 60. I understand you do these runs all the

time and the corner could be taken faster. But the speed limit is posted to

suggest a safe speed to handle the corner in almost all traffic conditions.

Rain, sun, loose gravel, oncoming traffic and a deer.

Controlled conditions like a track is where you push your car. Public roads are where you take a nice cruise with other enthusiasts.

Tom

Tom,

This is precisely what happens every time we have a fun run through the back roads of western Oregon. One group will light out like they are on fire and the other group will take things nice and easy looking at the country side.

The 20th we'll attack Mary's Peak, the highest point in the Coast Range and I'll guaranty there will be people nearing the top when others are just turning onto the road up the mountain. Different strokes..... but somebody's going to get hurt one of these times....

[Zedyone_kenobi]

I've devised and coordinated my local club's (ZROC) so-called "Western Run" in the hills of Logan, Union and Champaign counties in central Ohio for five years now. This past Saturday afternoon, an absolutely clear and dry day, my wife and I were laying out this year's route to be driven this coming weekend.

We were on Logan County Road 29 headed west. I'd never been on this section of road before, but it is reasonably wide and has a good paved surface. We were on the downhill part of the road and had entered a portion having an S-turn warning sign with a suggested 35 MPH speed. The initial lefthand portion was easily taken at, perhaps, 60 with no issues. We were on the straight section before the righthand portion. The sun was directly ahead of us (~5:20 p.m. EDT) and glinting off the road. I saw the entrance to the turn. I also saw what I thought was a deer step out of the woods at the inside entrance to the turn.

I got on the brakes hard. Too hard, it turned out, and the fronts locked up. We went straight off the turn and got airborne over a 2-foot deep ditch. The car flys fairly well. It doesn't land too well though. We were on a flat, heavily weed-overgrown field and moving right along mowing those weeds down. After 100 feet or so, we nosed into an overgrown mound of dirt and came to a stop at about a 30 degree up angle.

No injuries other than an abrasion on my left elbow and both of us with stiff necks from the landing jolt. The car wasn't as lucky.

Front airdam torn off. Lower grill locators torn off. Both fiberglass headlight nacelles cracked. Front bumper distorted somewhat. Left front wheel, strut, etc. pushed back about 6 inches. Left front frame rail bent and pushed into the firewall. Left engine compartment wall pushed in a couple of inches. Front bulkhead lower crossmember pushed in about 2 inches and the bottom of the aluminum radiator is bent too. At least three bent aluminum wheels with the inner right rear rim being the worst - pushed in about 4 inches.

Amazingly, there is no damage to hood and only slight damage to the front fenders where the airdam was mounted. No sheet metal creases at all. Both doors open easily. No discernable rear suspension damage. No apparent damage to the engine or drivetrain.

I'll get pix taken soon and post them to this thread.

The insurance adjuster will probably take a look at the car tomorrow after I get it trailered to the shop that did its minor rust repair work and new paint back in 2004/2005 and is currently doing major rust repair work on my orginal owner ’72.

I'll be needing to get front suspension parts, certainly front control arms and perhaps a new front crossmember (if it can't be straigthened easily), so those of you with such parted-out items please feel free to contact me. Also, if the wheels can't be fixed, I'd like to replace them. The car has 15x7" wheels that come from a Mitsubishi Starion (or so I'm told). I know they are Mitsu parts because they have the three diamond logo cast onto the inside. I'll get a picture of the wheel posted too so perhaps you West Coast boneyard buzzards can be on the lookout for me. I don't think anyone in Ohio would even recall what a Starion was.

More later.

Sorry to hear about your accident, but cars can be repaired people cannot. If you are interested in something other than Mitsu wheels, give me a PM, I think I can help you out.

Just letting you know that your Z friends are here for you.

[doradox]

Good to hear everyone’s OK. Sorry about the car.

Sounds like you have a lot of work to do to get her straightened out. Good luck.

Steve

[bpilati]

Sorry to hear about the accident, glad you're okay. I can imagine how you must feel, but it sounds like there's definite hope for your car. At least it was the front instead of the rear. Good luck with parts. I think I might have a pass strut/control arm assembly for a 72. I'm not 100% about the control arm. Email me, and I'll try and see. I may have a light scoop too. If you buy new wheels you might want to go to 16's. If your budget is tight, Konig's are probably the least expensive. bryan223@cox.net

[AndysPlit]

Any pictures yet?

[Darrel]

Any pictures yet?

Give the man some time! geesh! ;-)

Yeah any pics yet? We are all glutton for punishment.

glad no serious injuries and we hope you put that turn with a warning on the map for the drive.

Did someone mention a track?

www.highplainsraceway.com

A true grass roots effort from 12 amateur car clubs in Colorado. Groundbreaking was aug 15th. We hope to have a full season in '09. Yes the Z car club of Colorado is one of the 12 track OWNERS!!.

[Poindexter]

I'm very glad everybody walked away with no serious injuries, and I'm certainly the last guy to be without fault in my taking chances, driving too fast, taking corners a little too hot, etc...but what I was really wondering is when was the last time anyone ever saw a "suggested" speed limit sign?

I mean no disrespect, and I'm truly sorry you suffered the potential loss/major damage of your car, and I'm the last one to throw stones, since I've certainly had several serious crashes in the past that I contributed to directly.