fate and rant
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 217
Likes: 1
From: New Jersey
Oldtimer
fate and rant
had to drop off some large plastic bins to my daughter and run a friend around to take care of some of his business. Was gonna use the Vette, but changed my mind at the last minute.
driving on route 70 around Jackson, A guy standing on the right waving his hands wildly caught my attention, which meant eyes off the road for a second. Well he was trying to slow cars down, because he had dumped two 4x4x10's into the middle of the lane. He was standing right next to where the wood was, not ahead of the wood, but close enough that when you looked at him, you missed the wood.
Good thinking, distract the drivers from the road so they don't see the wood. Thankfully I had my mini van, not the vette. By the time I noticed the wood in the road I was already nearly on top of it and could not stop in time, plus I had lots of traffic close behind. the bottom of the chassis still thumped the wood hard, but no damage was done.
My first thought after determining the van was ok was thank goodness I wasn't driving the Vette. Was too concerned about the condition of my vehicle to look back. I did actually look to see if there was a trail of any fluid from me.
like I opened with "FATE".
driving on route 70 around Jackson, A guy standing on the right waving his hands wildly caught my attention, which meant eyes off the road for a second. Well he was trying to slow cars down, because he had dumped two 4x4x10's into the middle of the lane. He was standing right next to where the wood was, not ahead of the wood, but close enough that when you looked at him, you missed the wood.
Good thinking, distract the drivers from the road so they don't see the wood. Thankfully I had my mini van, not the vette. By the time I noticed the wood in the road I was already nearly on top of it and could not stop in time, plus I had lots of traffic close behind. the bottom of the chassis still thumped the wood hard, but no damage was done.
My first thought after determining the van was ok was thank goodness I wasn't driving the Vette. Was too concerned about the condition of my vehicle to look back. I did actually look to see if there was a trail of any fluid from me.
like I opened with "FATE".
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,915
Likes: 10
From: Jesuit Bend Louisiana
I think "failure to secure load" should be an automatic $2,500 fine and revoke of licence for 90-days. Stupid Azzhats that lose their lumber on the highway and cause accidents and possible injury/death. Just as bad as texting while driving.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2010
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From: Hillsborough NC
NC Events Coordinator
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 943
Likes: 3
From: casa conejo california: my casa sue's casa
When the Kids were younger, the minivan(long gone now)was one of the best cars I'd owned. Very practical for the time.
Lowered with 18" centerline wheels and a slightly modified paint scheme, I made it as attractable as a mini van could be. But none the less, it was still a MV.
I called it "The Chick Magnet."
It screamed commitment and women dig commitment.
Lowered with 18" centerline wheels and a slightly modified paint scheme, I made it as attractable as a mini van could be. But none the less, it was still a MV.
I called it "The Chick Magnet."
It screamed commitment and women dig commitment.
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Drifting
Joined: Oct 2011
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From: Olmsted Falls Ohio
St. Jude Donor '12 thru '24
Fate and timing are funny old dogs. As you indicated, you were there at the same time a guy was standing in the road with a load of dumped lumber. If you had been in the Vette you probably wouldn't have been there at that exact moment and nothing might have happened. Think of it this way, the guy three cars behind you came upon the same thing 5 seconds after you did and your actions probably made it almost a non-event for him by the time he got there - you could have easily been that guy because it was only a few seconds.
I've always thought that life is a sequence of events dictated by just such random and some times chaotic episodes. One event leads to a whole other set of events that wouldn't have otherwise happened. That guy 100 feet up ahead at the intersection who never looked your way and crossed in front of you - had you been two seconds earlier your life would have been much more different from that point. Or how about the time you met your spouse or SO - that instant in time dictated a whole lot of what happened to you for some period of time. Okay, time to put the beer down LOL
I've always thought that life is a sequence of events dictated by just such random and some times chaotic episodes. One event leads to a whole other set of events that wouldn't have otherwise happened. That guy 100 feet up ahead at the intersection who never looked your way and crossed in front of you - had you been two seconds earlier your life would have been much more different from that point. Or how about the time you met your spouse or SO - that instant in time dictated a whole lot of what happened to you for some period of time. Okay, time to put the beer down LOL
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 7,604
Likes: 8
From: Belleville Il
Congrats on the good fortune!! It IS amazing on the unsecured lumber situation. Not long ago was behind a pick up at a light that had several sheets of plywood and a bunch of 2X4s,,unsecured!As the light turned green I stayed put for a bit in anticipation of the inevitable demonstration of the laws of physics,,and was not disappointed! As the traffic permitted,,I carefully went around the bozos scrambling out to RELOAD their cargo!! Unfortunately an IQ test is not a requirement for obtaining a drivers license or buying a pick up truck!!
!!
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From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
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The powers that be must have been watching over you when you decided not to take the Vette today. Glad no damage was done to your vehicle.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 284
Likes: 3
From: Rochester New York
I once saw a woman driving a beat up old work pickup with assorted junk in the bed and no tailgate. She was scrambling around the road picking up tools since the tool box in the bed fell out on the (secondary) road. There were sockets and such rolling all over with her trying to pick it all up.
I am **** about securing loads on my truck. My friends are always giving me crap for my overkill.
I am **** about securing loads on my truck. My friends are always giving me crap for my overkill.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 217
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From: New Jersey
Oldtimer
I see I am not alone. Losing the lumber was bad enough, but the way the guy was trying to warn off drivers, did more harm than good.
As i said, when i went to see what he was waving about, it took my eyes off the road thereby not seeing the wood in time to stop.
Not sure I have a better way he could have handled it, except to maybe leave the truck in the road with the four ways on to warn drivers from a greater distance away from the lumber.
"Fickle Hand of Fate" for sure.
Oh and I do like having a mini van, the room spoils you, and it has moved my daughter back and forth to college many times, and has helped friends move furniture, air conditioners, lawnmowers etc etc.
As i said, when i went to see what he was waving about, it took my eyes off the road thereby not seeing the wood in time to stop.
Not sure I have a better way he could have handled it, except to maybe leave the truck in the road with the four ways on to warn drivers from a greater distance away from the lumber.
"Fickle Hand of Fate" for sure.
Oh and I do like having a mini van, the room spoils you, and it has moved my daughter back and forth to college many times, and has helped friends move furniture, air conditioners, lawnmowers etc etc.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2010
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From: Hillsborough NC
NC Events Coordinator
My guy is four feet from nose to butt and nearly 30" at the shoulder. He couldn't even get into my Corvette, let alone sit or lie down. We had two until one passed away a few years back.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 218
Likes: 53
From: RI
People do this all the time, so I'm kind of surprised that the following doesn't happen more frequently.
Years back we had this guy who went to the lumber yard, bought some 8 foot 2 x 4's, rolled down the passenger window, slid the 2 x 4's in so that they rested on the rear window shelf with some of the lumber sticking out the window.
Can you see what's coming, because he didn't.
While driving home the lumber hanging out the window caught on a street sign, rotated against the B-pillar, smacked him in the back of the head killing him instantly.
dan k.
Years back we had this guy who went to the lumber yard, bought some 8 foot 2 x 4's, rolled down the passenger window, slid the 2 x 4's in so that they rested on the rear window shelf with some of the lumber sticking out the window.
Can you see what's coming, because he didn't.
While driving home the lumber hanging out the window caught on a street sign, rotated against the B-pillar, smacked him in the back of the head killing him instantly.
dan k.