Rough Day at Willow Springs, 1960

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Did you tell this butthead he just ran into Santa's car and Santa's insurance company knows who's been naughty?

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Cory, glad you're OK !  It looks worse than it is, graft a right fender, some misc. fiberglass work, bumper and brackets & lights.... I've fixed worse......

Dang. Glad you're alright. The car can be fixed.

Perhaps he was just one of the 23.9 million people who viewed your YouTube weather gaff and just wanted an autograph?  So sorry to see this, but very happy you weren't injured.  I'm certain your speedster will be back together in no time, looking even better than before.

Ouch!  I feel your pain, Cory, but I'm also glad you (unlike me) stayed far away from the steering wheel with your face.  You wouldn't want to frighten the folks during a weathercast.

Glad you weren't hurt.

The car can be fixed.

Good attitude Cory. I’m sure you’re upset at the time, but I’m  glad you’re OK.

Bummer indeed!  Glad you are okay and still have that TV Weatherman smile.

I encourage all to install dash cameras in case the "perp" isn't so honest.  I love to watch the Russian YouTube dash cameras.  I'm learning Russian that way!

That B&W shot should be in the calendar next year.

@Marty Grzynkowicz posted:

That B&W shot should be in the calendar next year.

It should. It's a great shot.

That sucks the big one.

So many incompetent drivers out there, and all their cars are made of metal.

Glad you had a good witness, contrasted to a witless driver.

I’m very sorry to see that. I can relate. It’s a heartbreaking feeling.  For me this car is an emotional project, so when it gets f@cked up, it really bothers me.  But it’s fixable.  I always use damage or breakdown to make upgrades!

Last summer my dad hit mine with his RV. I was standing by and watched the entire thing. It was traumatic.  I sent it to Greg and got everything done that was on my laundry list, the biggest of which was relocating the dash switches to stock positions.  It still hurts to think of it crippled in the moment, but it’s better than ever now!!!

Yours will be too.

Regarding insurance, you are probably already planning this but choose a shop that will fight for a full repaint.  

The B&W shot is money!

The damage doesn't look that bad at all.  Glad your ok @Cory McCloskey
-=theron

And that ladies and gentlemen, is why so few derive the real ones ....

Boys, I knew you’d feel my pain. (Perhaps I’ll torture myself further by trying to add overriders to my new bumper! 😆)

The shop I’m going to use is pretty close to my house, so I hope to stop in frequently – I’ll give you photo updates so that we can all see the magic.

Onward!

@WNGD posted:

And that ladies and gentlemen, is why so few derive the real ones ....

I used to think the same way. I spoke to a guy about racing his 250GTO and questioned why would he do that?

His response was: cars are meant to be driven. It doesn’t matter if it’s a Toyota or a 250GTO, they are repaired all the same.

I don’t understand the argument that a speedster is too valuable to drive.  In retrospect, a real speedster isn’t all that expensive ($300-450k?)  Parts are readily available.  The mechanicals aren’t that complex.

Drive the darn cars.  Enjoy them.  And if you’re too scared or nervous, sell it.  Better off investing in other avenues.  

What everyone has said, Cory; major bummer, yes, but you're ok and your beloved Speedster can be fixed.

@Kevin - Bay Area posted:

I used to think the same way. I spoke to a guy about racing his 250GTO and questioned why would he do that?

His response was: cars are meant to be driven. It doesn’t matter if it’s a Toyota or a 250GTO, they are repaired all the same.

I don’t understand the argument that a speedster is too valuable to drive.  In retrospect, a real speedster isn’t all that expensive ($300-450k?)  Parts are readily available.  The mechanicals aren’t that complex.

Drive the darn cars.  Enjoy them.  And if you’re too scared or nervous, sell it.  Better off investing in other avenues.  

I agree generally but I guess that's why I wouldn't have a 300-450K car because I'm sure going to drive whatever I own and those particular vehicles aren't much fun to be driven hard and put away wet.

@Cory McCloskey posted:

Boys, I knew you’d feel my pain. (Perhaps I’ll torture myself further by trying to add overriders to my new bumper! 😆)

The shop I’m going to use is pretty close to my house, so I hope to stop in frequently – I’ll give you photo updates so that we can all see the magic.

Onward!

You sir, are the man.

@Cory McCloskey

DANG, Cory! Such a bummer to have your little pride & joy banged up after all the care & effort to keep it looking nice. I feel your pain.

On. our way to a West Coast Cruise a few years ago, I was in an accident in my previous VS Speedster that totally smashed the front end to pieces. Ginny & I just had some bruises and continued on our way to the West Coast Cruise.

Wishing you best of luck in getting your car whole made whole again, my brutha!

P.S. - in that black & white pic, you kinda look like Steve McQueen sitting there.

@Cory McCloskey

Wow, Cory - That really sucks.  But as others have already said, YOU are OK and the car can be fixed.  This also gives you the opportunity to get those little niggling things fixed that you've been thinking about getting to for a while, right?  And I've been to Phoenix in July/August and you wouldn't want to drive it then either, so if there was ever a good time for repairs, this is it.  

Good luck getting everything fixed, Mr. McQueen, hopefully in time for the Autumn rides up to Oak Creek Canyon or lunch in over Sedona!

Those towel rack-over riders look cool but seem as rare as hen's teeth.  Apparently they were an option starting in 1956 (in US)?.

Hate to see these pictures even if they are, as someone said: "the money".  I hope the repairs go well. As to over-riders . . . I've never been convinced. Looks like just something else to get bent and need replacing, vs something that might actually prevent any damage.  Maybe they help with a gentle nudge in a parking lot, but out on the road, not gonna help much, IMHO.

Corey, tough one! As said in previous posts, you're OK and the car can be fixed, a very good thing.  I can't remember who said it, but, "In life the ups and downs are annoying but inattentive jerks are PsIA.  Please post pics when fixed. 

Agree with everyone cars can be repaired, happy that you are unharmed @Cory McCloskey.

As for the overriders. From what Carey told me they are nearly impossible to get. Mine were made by Grey Eagle and the gentleman who did the work passed away. They also were ridiculously expense.. but worth it.

When I lived in PA the Machine Shop I used often was two blocks from me. Because I had nothing to go by except Towel Bar photos, "Randy" and I made a rough set heating schedule 40 PVC pipe then bending electrical conduit as a solid " template". In addition to making the radius look right, the other issue was the fasteners that would have to be inside the pipe ends. The idea I had was to fabricate a set from aluminum tubing and attach that with expansion plus from inside the bumper.....A few beers and we decided to shelve that adventure.......

@Cory McCloskey posted:

Boys, I knew you’d feel my pain. (Perhaps I’ll torture myself further by trying to add overriders to my new bumper! 😆)

The shop I’m going to use is pretty close to my house, so I hope to stop in frequently – I’ll give you photo updates so that we can all see the magic.

Onward!

Glad you’re ok… The more I drive the more I pause before leaving an intersection… always someone running a light …just happened to me in Florida in March…

Here is a crazy story … coming down I81 3 lanes past Fredericsburg early morning… I suddenly see a tumble weed … no it’s not a tumble weed it a couch chair rolling and coming at me at 75mph… I swing over one lane and back and miss it completely… not sure if anyone behind me hit it but scary… then I move up and we find a guy with a trailer one tie strap flapping in the wind and the other couch … driver totally oblivious!  

Cory! You and your car will rise again. Still, painful to see, even if also artfully conveyed.

What a blow to morale! Glad you’re ok.

when it comes to rebuilding fiberglass parts like this, are there specific shops that are qualified to do the work? I assume you'd have to look around or send it off to VMC for the body work?

Boat repair, specialty Corvette restoration shops come to mind.

@Alan Merklin posted:

Cory, glad you're OK !  It looks worse than it is, graft a right fender, some misc. fiberglass work, bumper and brackets & lights.... I've fixed worse......

Wow, Alan!
I'm always amazed that any wreck can be resurrected, let alone something THIS ghastly.
Seeing this, I'm not worried at all...

@Kevin - Bay Area posted:

Perhaps he was just one of the 23.9 million people who viewed your YouTube weather gaff and just wanted an autograph?  So sorry to see this, but very happy you weren't injured.  I'm certain your speedster will be back together in no time, looking even better than before.

HA!  Kevin, if he was, he never betrayed the slightest knowledge of my immense fame!  LOL

@Lane Anderson posted:

Ouch!  I feel your pain, Cory, but I'm also glad you (unlike me) stayed far away from the steering wheel with your face.  You wouldn't want to frighten the folks during a weathercast.

Lane, your face still looks just as the Lord made it!

@Sacto Mitch posted:

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Did you tell this butthead he just ran into Santa's car and Santa's insurance company knows who's been naughty?

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Oh, I've got his number, and his stocking is going to be VERY heavy this year...

@WOLFGANG posted:

Bummer indeed!  Glad you are okay and still have that TV Weatherman smile.

I encourage all to install dash cameras in case the "perp" isn't so honest.  I love to watch the Russian YouTube dash cameras.  I'm learning Russian that way!

"I'm learning Russian that way!"  LOLOLOLOL
Yes, a dashcam would've made it a lead pipe cinch...  @PaulEllis has recommended the same thing.

@Marty Grzynkowicz posted:

That B&W shot should be in the calendar next year.

Thanks, Marty!  It'd be a "departure," for sure!

@Teammccalla posted:

I’m very sorry to see that. I can relate. It’s a heartbreaking feeling.  For me this car is an emotional project, so when it gets f@cked up, it really bothers me.  But it’s fixable.  I always use damage or breakdown to make upgrades!

Last summer my dad hit mine with his RV. I was standing by and watched the entire thing. It was traumatic.  I sent it to Greg and got everything done that was on my laundry list, the biggest of which was relocating the dash switches to stock positions.  It still hurts to think of it crippled in the moment, but it’s better than ever now!!!

Yours will be too.

Regarding insurance, you are probably already planning this but choose a shop that will fight for a full repaint.  

Great advice, Team!  They'll already have to paint about half the car, anyway...

@Bob: IM S6 posted:

That sucks the big one.

So many incompetent drivers out there, and all their cars are made of metal.

Glad you had a good witness, contrasted to a witless driver.

Yes, the eyewitness was KEY.  We'll see if my attacker's insurance company will cave to the witness' account of the matter.