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Yes, I had another incident with my car on the 3rd day of the new job I just started here in Arizona. I was about 1000 feet from the exit to get to my job, and was following behind a cement truck at about 55 mph. I was getting ready to exit when I saw a shadow under the truck, and a couple of seconds later realized it was a 10" round mini boulder that the truck had just passed over. I did everything I could to try to avoid it, but had a car to the left, nowhere to go on the right as there was a ditch on that side, and ended up hitting the rock dead center on my front bumper. My car was hopping around as this thing was working its way underneath my car, and what seemed like hours later finally shot out the rear of my car into the lane next to me where I saw a Honda or Toyota fighting the same problem I'd just gone through.
My car is now at Classic Gold Auto Center in Tempe on recommendation from forum members HOXXOH and SixAddict. I managed to limp the car to my work as it was only about a half mile off the freeway, and I didn't even notice anything wrong on the gauges until I stopped at a red light and the temp gauge started shooting up. By the time I parked the car it was near the danger zone on the temp gauge, and had it towed to the shop. I had to pull the car out of the parking garage at my job later that day because the tow truck would not have been able to make it past the clearance bars, and as soon as I parked it outside I noticed the smell of burning oil.
When I checked under the hood once I'd first parked it yesterday morning I noticed the radiator was crushed, the fans were whining, but not spinning, and the radiator cover was broken from its mounting points, which tells me the radiator cage was damaged as well. After talking to one of the shop owners the floor pans on one or both sides are most likely damaged, the exhaust is probably damaged as well, and it's also possible that the trans, gas tanks, and rear end could also have been hit. Considering what this car has already been through, and the possible amount of damage that this mini boulder caused to the underside of my car, I'm worried that come Tuesday when the adjuster shows up to inspect the car that he will end up totaling it. I have literally spent hundreds of hours over the past 3-1/2 years building and polishing this car to show winning condition, and am dreading to see my labor of love turned into a salvage vehicle. Here are some pics of the little I could get without having the car on a lift:
Last edited by Corvette_Ed; 07-13-2019 at 07:32 PM.
Just got home from a very nice drive from the shop. Had a motorcycle cop cruise up next to me in the HOV lane and slow down to take a really good look at my car before he sped up to head on his way, and had a guy in a heavily built Challenger pull up next to me and give me a thumbs up. The headers sound incredible. I actually turned my radio down on the way home just so I could listen to them roar!
Wow, that sounds like some major damage. Hopefully you'll get the outcome you want with your insurance company.
Where did this happen? Were you on the 15? I need to drive clear of that area.
I was on 17 two exits north of 101. The rock had to have just been dropped by a truck or there would have been a major traffic jam from people trying to avoid it. Just my luck that I was the first to hit it.
Damn, that sucks, I almost had something similar happen to me with a chunk of firewood about 6" in diameter and about 18" long that fell out of someone's vehicle and was laying in the middle of the lane I was in, the pickup truck ahead of me passed right over it, and luckily I saw it in time, and had enough room to swerve around it. I could only imagine the damage that would of done, especially if it got kicked up on its end while under my car. For that reason I now always try to give myself plenty of room between myself and the car ahead of me, so I can see things like that sooner.
It's telling you to turn it into a track car. Pick up a Kia as a DD, and I bet nothing ever happens to it. Nothing beside you dying of boredom while driving it.
If they offer to total it take the money and run.. You need an armored tank on the highway anymore. If you spent all this time polishing it to show car condition why are you driving it every day?
Damn, that sucks, I almost had something similar happen to me with a chunk of firewood about 6" in diameter and about 18" long that fell out of someone's vehicle and was laying in the middle of the lane I was in, the pickup truck ahead of me passed right over it, and luckily I saw it in time, and had enough room to swerve around it. I could only imagine the damage that would of done, especially if it got kicked up on its end while under my car. For that reason I now always try to give myself plenty of room between myself and the car ahead of me, so I can see things like that sooner.
It sure does suck. I also always try to drive with plenty of room around me, especially in front. Of course as soon as you leave a little space in front someone just has to get in that space.
It sure does suck. I also always try to drive with plenty of room around me, especially in front. Of course as soon as you leave a little space in front someone just has to get in that space.
Absolutely true, but all you have to do is slow down a little to regain the space. It's certainly the better option than getting upset; it's just not worth it.
I make a point when to give plenty of room for anyone in front of me, especially trucks. I remember a car in front of me kicking up a tire tread from a semi right in front of me, it sure dinged up the front of my Camaro. It occurred to me to be much more careful on my motorcycle. Today I ride with lots of space in front me. Unfortunately with increased speed enforcement it's much harder to drive away from traffic and much more of a challenge keeping distance in traffic and not having someone to take your space. And of course, I notice the police being among the worst of offenders.
If they offer to total it take the money and run.. You need an armored tank on the highway anymore. If you spent all this time polishing it to show car condition why are you driving it every day?
Because I want to enjoy driving my car, and not just watch it sit at car shows. Before I moved to Arizona I used to take it to the drag strip too. I bought my car to enjoy it, which I do as often as possible.
Last edited by Corvette_Ed; 07-14-2019 at 01:39 PM.
I make a point when to give plenty of room for anyone in front of me, especially trucks. I remember a car in front of me kicking up a tire tread from a semi right in front of me, it sure dinged up the front of my Camaro. It occurred to me to be much more careful on my motorcycle. Today I ride with lots of space in front me. Unfortunately with increased speed enforcement it's much harder to drive away from traffic and much more of a challenge keeping distance in traffic and not having someone to take your space. And of course, I notice the police being among the worst of offenders.
I had plenty of room between me and the truck, I just didn't have anywhere to go to avoid the rock. There was traffic to my left, and a ditch to my right.
Because I want to enjoy driving my car, and not just watch it sit at car shows. Before I moved to Arizona I used to take it to the drag strip too. I bought my car to enjoy it, which I do as often as possible.
I'm with you, I love driving my car. S**t happens, sorry it happened to you.
The shop I took the car to will be doing its own inspection tomorrow to determine what they see as the damage done to the car before the insurance adjuster shows up on Tuesday. I'll post up their findings tomorrow after I get home from work. I just wish I was working hours that would allow me to take pictures once they have it up on the lift.
Last edited by Corvette_Ed; 07-14-2019 at 10:18 PM.
07-13-2019, 07:31 PM
Is this the end of the YOU LUZE Corvette?
