What is the world coming to when you cant even enjoy your car because crazy people are on the road?

I have always been a little on the paranoid side taking my coupe out during weekend nights, but my good-friend came to visit last weekend and we took it out Saturday night. We went to an up-scale bar (by the way saw some fellow corvettes). Had a good time and didn’t worry about my car. We left at 2 in the morning and car still looked nice and pretty were I parked her. My friend and I hopped in and took off to the frontage road to get onto a highway to head back to the house. We were stopped at a light on the frontage road and were the only ones around. All of a sudden out of no where this car comes next to us on the right side and this guy is screaming waving his hands out of his car. He was definitely being obnoxious. It seemed to me like a drunk that wanted to fight. The light turned green right away and I thought to myself that I just need to get away from this guy because he seems angry at something (I hate conflict, especially someone being unpredictable). I accelerated out pretty strong to leave him in the dust. I stopped accelerating at 55 and I see him in my rear view mirror going about 80 or 90 and is catching up quickly. I thought that I would hit my brakes and he will fly right by (like Top Gun style I guess). Well, he did go right by but he saw me go on my brakes and so he did the same. Oh great I really pissed this guy off. At that moment I saw the on-ramp to my left about 150 yards away so I pressed on the accelerator and the back starts to slip from under me. I quickly realize that I was on the only water on the road due to a broken sprinkle on the right side of the road. I tried to gain control but I was at the mercy of my car. We nearly missed the concrete wall on the right side of the on ramp then swerved to the left and plowed through a curb on the left side then swerved once more to a stop that left us exactly perpendicular on the on ramp. Then somehow rolled back and hit the left side concrete wall on the on ramp. I drove off of it and took the nearest exit. Inspected my car. The driver side wheels were cracked and my new exhaust that I put on last week was bent in and the paint was flexed and scuffed on the rear right butt. Repairs will cost me about 1.5 to 2 grand. I am so thankful, it could have been worst. Much worst. I was lucky. I learned a great lesson that night. Learned to respect my corvette’s power even more. My friend told me that he thought the guy just wanted to race. If I knew that I would have not even accelerated out. I can now see how racers get in serious wrecks.

 

Damn... it;s one of those feelings you don't wanna have ever again, ya know? Not having control of the car and all...

 

Similar thing happened to me last week, although I didn't experience damage, as you did. It was my first "learning experience" in my Corvette. I wasn't racing, but I did take a corner too briskly. My *** end swung out, I overcorrected, and the *** end swung back the other way. I ended up going sideways down my lane with my back tires in the grass on the side of the road and my front tires in my lane, perpendicular to the direction of the road. All of this was happening while heading toward a tree. Luckily, I lost enough speed to stop before actually coming in contact with the tree, and luckily, there wasn't a curb between the road and the grass. I was only going about 30 when I lost control, so it taught me that "it doesn't take much". I had competition mode on, and was accelerating a little too hard. I was very lucky that nothing got damaged and that I didn't get hurt during the process. Needless to say, I won't be doing that again anytime soon.

I'm sorry to hear about your experience, but I'm glad to hear that you are alright.

 

that sux
I hate people like that

 

Glad your ok, gotta be careful!

 

i am glad you made it alright, but i think you could use this.
http://www.popularmechanics.com/auto...s/1268961.html

 

With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility
That is something I live by. Thats the reason they dont make it easy for a 16 year old to drive a vette. I was scared of my Hennessey Venom Viper it was so fast. Now that my vette is faster, I will drive it even more careful.
Be safe.
Jon

 

Good to hear no one was injured. Be careful out there.

 

Paragraphs are our friends.

Seriously, glad you weren't hurt or anything. Take your ride to the right place and you'll never know it happened. Good luck with the repairs.

 

It's great that nobody got hurt. Paint and car parts can always be fixed.

I always get these crazy drivers, weekday or weekend, day or night. I just ignore them and tell myself, they are not worth the gas and tires. When they see you're not interested, they'll go away.

 

never drink and drive not even a glass thats my moto...this beast is hard enough to control when completely sober let alone after a few drinks...glad no one was hurt...repairs can be easily done and not noticeable if done at a good repair shop

 

I like the driving school idea


Most people that end up in trouble on the road have a lack of training. If you burn your dinner your not going to give up cooking, your gonna do some homework.

Choosing to not learn leaves you at a disadvantage when you encounter a situation when you need to do emergency manuvers to avoid a dangerous situation.

This is an excellant oppurtunity to take a Solo 2 driving class... the ones where you drive around the cones in a large parking lot. This will teach you what your car will and will not do. Learn the limits of the car in a safe manner... see what the car feels like when the back end slides, so it doens't scare you to death if it happens on the road... you will understand whats happening and what you should do to correct the situation.

Our driver training in this country is severly lacking. My 16 year old WILL drive the Vette, and will be trained to do it... so I don't have to worry. I will know that I armed my kids with the knowledge to protect themselves.

 

Sorry about all the damage to your car. There are some nut cases out there and you just never know what they will do. Hope you can get the car repaired to where it looks good as new.

 

I learned in my old C4 that these things, particularly when modded, can get away from even an experienced driver in a heart beat.

Glad to hear you were not hurt, the vette can be repaired.

 

I appreciate all the inputs, ideas, and support. This forum is great! I will definitely consider taking a driving school. I took my vette to Corvette Specialist located in San Antonio and they are doing a terrific job. Great people down there that do great work. They already painted the rear and looks brand new. Perfect color match.

 

With the teacher

 

 

Theres just a lot of crazy people out there!

 

I drive 700 miles a week to and from work and I've learned to ignore idiot drivers. I'll admit I didn't always, but for my own safety and sanity I had to do something to cope with my commute. Teaching myself to ignore and avoid them seems to work. I definitely have more tolerance then when I was younger. Don't abuse your property or risk your life to prove anything to anybody, plus people seem to enjoy confrontation even when they're dead wrong.

Good Luck

 

Yes, lots of crazy people out there, spinning out of control and damaging their car and what not. Good thing no one got hurt.