Today was a BAD day in the 28 day history of my Vette ownership Not looking for sympathy here, just to share my unfortunate event so maybe it wont happen to you guys. Although, YOU GUYS are way smarter than me and wouldnt make the mistake I made.
Found I had a bent left rear spindle, so on advice from the tech board, made arrangements to run it over to Pacific Corvettes in Tacoma to have the spindle (and a few other odds and ends) fixed. OK, I was in a hurry, it was getting late, and the headlites dont work...so wanted to get over there with plenty of daylite, and it was raining like heck anyway. Ipulled the Vette out of my garage, and since I dont carry a garage door opener in the Vette, I hopped out to run in and hit the button on the wall. Anybody care to guess where this is going??? Well anyway, since the Vette is the ONLY auto tranny I own, I slipped it up into NEUTRAL (go ahead flamers, lock and load) and set the (marginal) parking brake. My driveway turns into a pretty steep hill, from a level area just outside of the doors. Needless to say, as I came out of the garage, back to the Vette, I saw the car beginning to roll down the hill. Tried to catch her, but she quickly gained speed. LUCKILY...the wheels were slightly turned to the left from exiting the garage, otherwise, straight down the driveway into a neighbor's living room....but the Vette made a nice left turn, right into a 60 ft Douglas Fir. The fatal (not really) blow occurred just right of centerline, pretty much demolishing the bumper, right headlite, right fender, and probably the hood. Though the only hood damage I see is the right hinge was ripped from its mounting on the hood itself. No engine/radiator damage that I can see! Even the headlite vacuum system looks pretty much intact (maybe it will work now!!)






Pretty FREAKIN NICE, HUH????? What a dumbs@%t I am, yea I know it. Shoulda put 'er in PARK, shoulda pulled harder on the parking brake, shoulda not been in such a hurry...shoulda, shoulda, shoulda!
Anyway, its fixable, insured, and hell, I needed a new bumper, front grills, and my headlite vacuum system replaced anyway!! And...I'll be able to report on USAA's famed customer service! A few years ago a lady pulled out in front of me in my Range Rover, head on collision, $10k damage to the Rangie, USAA didnt blink. This time it was MY carelessness, so we'll see.
Moral...USE the PARK position!!!! Just thought this would provide some interesting reading!! Now time for a six pack or 2!!!
Cheers!

 

NNNoooooooooo...

Aw Man..

Ben B.

 

Man that sucks. It reminds me I need to adjust my parking brake.

Good luck with the insurance.

 

Makes me sick to look at....You seem to be taking it better than I would. I could do the same thing sooo easy. I don't keep an opener in the Vette and have the same driveway, but mine would roll into the HOUSE!

 

So sorry to hear! No flaming, you obviously feel bad enough. Best of luck restoring her to former glory and beauty!

 

Sure makes that left rear spindle problem seem pretty insignificant!!!

 

Oh Sheet......man that sucks!

 

So by the time you get it all back together you should be pretty schooled up on the inner workings of a C3, good luck

 

We all make mistakes. Fortunately it's repairable and nobody got hurt.

Good luck getting her back on the road

 

Glad you are OK. If it makes you feel any better I do the exact same thing all the time...pull out of garage, set brake and then run in and push the button...no more! Actually, when I'm in the '82 I put it back in park (she's an auto) but in the Z I do what you've done...and Zs have a history of the parking brake slippping - (note downward slope of driveway in pucture below) "driverless Z has date with curb" - yikes! Why the hell don't I just get another door opener? Note to self...get another door opener!

 

Makes me cringe , just looking at it
Hope all goes well with the repairs.
The important thing is nobody got hurt

 

Sorry to hear of your bad luck. I feel your pain.
At least no one was hurt but sorry your baby got smacked up.
Similar incident happened to original owner of my 68: his wife grabbed grocery bag off seat, car was in inclined driveway with motor off, she thought it was in gear (4 speed), accidentally bumped shifter with bag, knocked it out of gear and into neutral, car rolled down driveway with driver door open and sheared the door off as it passed a telephone pole.
Stuff happens.
Good luck getting it fixed up and back together again.
Kurt

 

Wow, that really blows

 

If money can fix it


It's not a problem


glad everyone's OK

 

Honestly, I think that could happen to anyone who is use to only driving a stick shift. I did something similar the first week I got a car with an auto(I previously drove a car with a stick for two yrs). I parked the car went in to my house.....I came out and the car would not start or even turn over. I got my father to come out and take a look. He told me to take the car out of drive and put it in park so it would start. So I understand where you are coming from. I know it doesn't really make you feel better about your vette, but don't feel like the only one.

And really sorry to hear about your vette.

 

Did you make it over there before dark?

Just kidding, a few days and a few and you will be

 

So sorry! That really makes me sick. Good Luck with the Insurance.

 

sorry.....every so often theres a thread of the stupidest thing you ever did in your vette....one guy after a paint job backed the car out of the garage with the hood open......one guy backed it out with the door open......one guy at the inspection station with a crowd of people admiring the vette drove away right over the concrete tire bumper barriers...so join the club

 

Ouch big time

 

Thats terrible good thing you have good insurance... now you need a nice chainsaw