...in 1981.... at 4:00 pm in the afternoon....
I'm headed southbound on the highway... in the slow lane.
(that puts the Sun on the passenger side of the vehicle.)
While conversing with my passenger... out of the corner
of my eye I see something rising up the front bonnet of my car.
As I returned from a quick glance at my passenger, what I realize
is on my hood is the shadow of the tractor trailer that is in the middle lane.
(to my left - more easterly position than I)
HE'S COMING OVER ON US! screams my companion.
My only option was to change lanes UNDER the truck. There was no shoulder
on the bridge. well.. maybe 15" from painted line to the wall)
With only minor scraping of the aluminum trim on top the windshield frame,
on the underside of the trailer... nothing was touched.
By this time, my 6'5" passenger was completely off the seat down into the
footwell.
There were finger marks broken completely through the top of my ...what was then
less than a 1 year old brand new 1980 Triumph Spitfire dashboard top where he
had
dug in fear. (although he hates me to repeat it, but yes, he also soiled my
seat!)
The point of all this??
Any mismatch in vehicle shape and size, bumper contact alignments, amount of
metal
between you and the other guy, attention span of the other guy... all doesn't
matter.
What matters is that YOU are paying attention.... and drive under the
assumption that
you are completely invisible. You must assume that every idiot is about to plow
into you.
...just my .02 YMMV
Paul Tegler wizardz@toad.net http://www.teglerizer.com
OBie - '73 BGT - daily driver
http://www.teglerizer.com/mgstuff/ob_description.htm
Punkin' - '78 Spitfire - corner ripping screamer
http://www.teglerizer.com/triumphstuff/spit78.htm
Lil' Greenee - '73 RWA Midget - lady killer
http://www.teglerizer.com/midgetstuff/index.html
-----Original Message-----
From: Banbury, Terrence <Terrence.Banbury@dnr.state.oh.us>
To: Laura Gharazeddine <Laura.G@141.com>; 'Jeff McNeal' <jmcneal@ohms.com>
Cc: spitfires@autox.team.net <spitfires@autox.team.net>
Date: Monday, March 13, 2000 3:00 PM
Subject: RE: CRASH!-'79 Spit parts car for sale
That is true. No substitute for sheer mass.
Now a sidebar about those "damned big SUV's". This rant is not aimed at
anyone; it is just something that boggles my mind. What about the thousands
of semi-trucks, UPS delivery vans, RV's, dump trucks, buses, and all the
other larger vehicles that have been on the road for decades. Aren't they
"dangerous and unsafe" for the smaller vehicles out there? Should they be
banned? Ok I'm done. It comes down to people's attitudes. I try to
remember that the Expedition driver up ahead there, just might be driving
his Spitfire tomorrow. (So far, Jeff and I are the only ones I know that
own both vehicles. Hey, let's start a club. No, no, no,...I'm only
kidding.)
Terry Banbury
Mk III
> ----------
> From: Jeff McNeal[SMTP:jmcneal@ohms.com]
> Sent: Monday, March 13, 2000 2:24 PM
> To: Joe Curry; Laura Gharazeddine
> Cc: Banbury, Terrence; 'Winnie Olmer'; spitfires@autox.team.net
> Subject: Re: CRASH!-'79 Spit parts car for sale
>
> Just a word of advice. The big cars always win. The bigger they are, the
> wider the margin. I have my Spitfire parked in the garage next to our
> Expedition and I almost shudder when I glance over and see that the top of
> the tire on the Ford is nearly as tall as the top of my door on the
> Spitfire!
>
> Cheers,
>
> Jeff in San Diego
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Joe Curry <spitlist@gte.net>
> To: Laura Gharazeddine <Laura.G@141.com>
> Cc: Banbury, Terrence <Terrence.Banbury@dnr.state.oh.us>; 'Winnie Olmer'
> <who@sover.net>; <spitfires@autox.team.net>
> Sent: Monday, March 13, 2000 10:30 AM
> Subject: Re: CRASH!-'79 Spit parts car for sale
>
>
> >
> > Such is life in LALA land! That is why my son hasn't driven his Mk2 in
> > a while. He whips in and out of traffic in his Jetta Wolfsburg edition
> > like there is no tomorrow. Can't do that in a Mk2 Spit. He wants me to
> > bring it to Arizona and put a big engine in it.
> >
> > Barry, are you up for a challenge???
> >
> > Joe
> >
> > Laura Gharazeddine wrote:
> > >
> > > Ditto, I always drive around with my headlights on.
> > >
> > > On the other hand, Friday, coming back from lunch, I was signaling to
> move
> > > over to the exit lane (so as to not have to drive 5 miles out of my
> way
> at
> > > 1.79 a gal!) and the S*F*UV would not let me over no matter what I
> did.
> I
> > > looked up and saw the driver-and she looked me right in the eye!-and
> kept
> > > going! I would say that in the area I live in, 8, maybe9 times out of
> 10,
> > > they do see me-we make eye contact, but the drivers here are sooo
> arrogant
> > > that their attitude is "I have the right, I'm better than you-!@#$
> you!"
> > >
> > > Talking to friends from L.A.-they agree with my assesment of OC
> drivers.
> > >
> > > I used to have a Maverick-but I had to get rid of it because people
> were
> so
> > > rude to me-the moment of realization came when I was trying to exit
> the
> > > freeway and a grey haired 'grandma' -wearing a Chanel suit driving a
> Jag
> > > Vanden Plas-flipped me the bird!
> > >
> > > Anyway, I use my headlights, my horn, and I'll yell-Hey!-but some of
> these
> > > people think they have the god given right to be there, and you don't!
> > >
> > > Laura G.
> > >
> > > Vita brevis est: rapide agite, vigore strigate!
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: Banbury, Terrence <Terrence.Banbury@dnr.state.oh.us>
> > > To: 'Winnie Olmer' <who@sover.net>
> > > Cc: <spitfires@autox.team.net>
> > > Sent: Monday, March 13, 2000 7:38 AM
> > > Subject: RE: CRASH!-'79 Spit parts car for sale
> > >
> > > >
> > > > That seems to be the most often used excuse by poor drivers...."I
> didn't
> > > see
> > > > them!" It is true for motorcycles especially. I drive with my
> lights
> on
> > > in
> > > > the Spit. I might even add a few more up front just to get their
> > > attention.
> > > > A high mounted (temporary, is possible, I suppose) rear brake light
> is
> a
> > > > good idea too. Driving a '60's car in the new millennium is risky
> > > > Terry Banbury
> > > >
> > > > > ----------
> > > > > From: Winnie Olmer[SMTP:who@sover.net]
> > > > > Reply To: Winnie Olmer
> > > > > Sent: Sunday, March 12, 2000 1:44 PM
> > > > > To: 'Graham Stretch'
> > > > > Cc: 'List Spitfires'; 'List Triumph'
> > > > > Subject: RE: CRASH!-'79 Spit parts car for sale
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Thanks for the sentiments. Hopefully someone picks up whats left
> of
> the
> > > > > Spit
> > > > > and can give it a second life in another car. It's a strange
> feeling
> to
> > > > > not
> > > > > really bum out about losing the Spit. While I wish I still had
> it..
> > > > > especially so close to Spring... I am simply so thankful to have
> come
> > > out
> > > > > of
> > > > > it OK that I'm counting my blessings. It makes me "weak in the
> knees" to
> > > > > look at how caved in the driver door and windshield are. I have no
> idea
> > > > > how
> > > > > I came out with a few cuts and a badly bruised side. Just bruises!
> I
> > > dont
> > > > > get it! The "Triumph Gods" wanted me to finish the TR6. It's not
> my
> time
> > > > > yet. When I can figure out how to get a picture of it on line it
> would
> > > be
> > > > > very sobering to others to take a look. My lesson learned is..
> drive
> > > with
> > > > > my
> > > > > lights on at all times!! Just like motorcyclists do to be more
> visible.
> > > In
> > > > > all my cars actually. Especially with all the "cell phone while
> you
> > > drive"
> > > > > drivers out there. Maybe I'll paint the 6 dayglow tie-dye. Austin
> Powers
> > > > > TR6?
> > > > >
> > > > > Take care
> > > > > Winnie
> > > > >
> >
> > --
> > "If you can't excel with talent, triumph with effort."
> > -- Dave Weinbaum in National Enquirer
> >
>
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