[240Z Turbo]

Yesterday was my b-day and the last day I will ever get to drive my car. While trying to impress a friend with 19 psi of boost, I lost control going into a turn in the road. I plowed through a fire hydrant going 60 mph. The car jumped about 4 ft and I left the hydrant about 10 feet behind the car. The car is totalled because of frame damage. The intercooler is split in two along with my radiator. The engine was still running, but leaking oil badly from the pan I think. It sounds kind of pathetic, but I cried and kissed my car. I think my girlfriend was secretly smiling inside, but she said she was sad for me. My 5 year relationship is over. Why Lord, Why???

 

[rob72]

You asked why...here's why !

The reason why is because you were breaking the law and you paid dearly. It's a damm shame anytime a Z is wrecked and re-labeled 'donor car', but to do it out of sheer bragging rights is downright irresponsible. You said yourself you were trying to impress a friend.

Hopefully you're young and still have a college education ahead of you, with no serious damage to yourself. I also hope your ego HAS been seriously damaged, and you will only do something like this again on the autocross track. Like a mature Z adult.

Sorry for the harsh words, but the truth hurts.

> Yesterday was my b-day and the last day I
> will ever get to drive my car. While trying
> to impress a friend with 19 psi of boost, I
> lost control going into a turn in the road.
> I plowed through a fire hydrant going 60
> mph. The car jumped about 4 ft and I left
> the hydrant about 10 feet behind the car.
> The car is totalled because of frame damage.
> The intercooler is split in two along with
> my radiator. The engine was still running,
> but leaking oil badly from the pan I think.
> It sounds kind of pathetic, but I cried and
> kissed my car. I think my girlfriend was
> secretly smiling inside, but she said she
> was sad for me. My 5 year relationship is
> over. Why Lord, Why???

 

[Unknown User]

Hey good talk dad.....

> The reason why is because you were breaking
> the law and you paid dearly. It's a damm
> shame anytime a Z is wrecked and re-labeled
> 'donor car', but to do it out of sheer
> bragging rights is downright irresponsible.
> You said yourself you were trying to impress
> a friend.

> Hopefully you're young and still have a
> college education ahead of you, with no
> serious damage to yourself. I also hope your
> ego HAS been seriously damaged, and you will
> only do something like this again on the
> autocross track. Like a mature Z adult.

> Sorry for the harsh words, but the truth
> hurts.

good talk son....

thanks for the driver's ed lesson. makes me want to watch one of those gory state patrol films. it's called an accident, that's all. when you own a sports car, you have the option of driving it as it was designed to perform, legally or otherwise. this accident could have just as easily happened on a race track. we could all drive like ward cleaver, but life in a volvo would be boring.

 

[greg]

> Yesterday was my b-day and the last day I
> will ever get to drive my car. While trying
> to impress a friend with 19 psi of boost, I
> lost control going into a turn in the road.
> I plowed through a fire hydrant going 60
> mph. The car jumped about 4 ft and I left
> the hydrant about 10 feet behind the car.
> The car is totalled because of frame damage.
> The intercooler is split in two along with
> my radiator. The engine was still running,
> but leaking oil badly from the pan I think.
> It sounds kind of pathetic, but I cried and
> kissed my car. I think my girlfriend was
> secretly smiling inside, but she said she
> was sad for me. My 5 year relationship is
> over. Why Lord, Why???

I'm sorry for you, Jim. You are going to build another one, aren't you? If not you know you can count on me to take some of those parts off your hands. Seriously.
greg
71 240z

 

[greg]

Re: Told you to get that limited slip!!

n/c

 

[Ron]

Re: Hey good talk dad.....

Hey live and learn, one of lifes expensive lessons.Be gratefull nobody was injured.
I,ve got a similar story..
When I was 19 I delivered pizzas . A bright Sept. sunny day. I was driving my
bosses 4 spd Vega GT. (only 3 mo.s old). I was cruising and navagating turns
rather wildly through a ritzy neighborhood. Anyways before I could say
Parnelle Jones ; the sun poked up over the hill; I didn't see the turn in the road,
and proceeded to bounce up and over the curb (about 40 mph) sideswiped a
small tree and ended up on some guys front lawn, the house was on top of the
hill about 60 ft away. Holy **** !. The car had 2 blown tires, smashed front end,
cracked trans housing and crushed oil pan. not to mention the new landing strip
I just created on their lawn. Fortunately everybody was cool and I ended up
just payin for the insurance deductable and my boss got a new car that he really
wanted.

 

[Unknown User]

Whoops !!

I myself try to restrain that extra little bit when showing off to my friends . You push it just a little harder, anyway look at it as an excuse to upgrade and fix all those things you would have done different . Hope we don't see you driving a camaro in another month .

 

[240Dave]

> Yesterday was my b-day and the last day I
> will ever get to drive my car. While trying
> to impress a friend with 19 psi of boost, I
> lost control going into a turn in the road.
> I plowed through a fire hydrant going 60
> mph. The car jumped about 4 ft and I left
> the hydrant about 10 feet behind the car.
> The car is totalled because of frame damage.
> The intercooler is split in two along with
> my radiator. The engine was still running,
> but leaking oil badly from the pan I think.
> It sounds kind of pathetic, but I cried and
> kissed my car. I think my girlfriend was
> secretly smiling inside, but she said she
> was sad for me. My 5 year relationship is
> over. Why Lord, Why???

Similar thing happened to me with my 91 civic. I installed a Integra engine, and ended up rolling over 4 times on the freeway at 100mph. Needless to say I was quite lucky (came close to dying on that one), and my car was totally thrashed. I saved the ashtray as a reminder to me everytime I think of acting that way again. But, that accident led to my Z car, and I am truly grateful to have been able to work on and drive such a wonderful car. If I didn't crash my Honda, I would have never owned the 240Z. Needless to say, I drive a little more careful. I found out that I prefer that the suspension be able to outperform the engine, this way it's alot harder to get yourself in a situation where you can't control the car. For me, my 2.8L 230hp straight six is plenty powerful, yet doesn't get me into tremendous trouble. One thing I learned, is that a well balanced car is the best way to go. Trying to put 300hp in a car is cool, but unless other measures are taken such as good suspension, quality tires/brakes etc... it is a temporary situation. I guess they call this learning a lesson the hard way. Sorry about the loss Jim, but maybe you can recoup more than the ashtray and sell a few things, or even better, build another. Z on brother!!

 

[240Dave]

I know the feeling

> Yesterday was my b-day and the last day I
> will ever get to drive my car. While trying
> to impress a friend with 19 psi of boost, I
> lost control going into a turn in the road.
> I plowed through a fire hydrant going 60
> mph. The car jumped about 4 ft and I left
> the hydrant about 10 feet behind the car.
> The car is totalled because of frame damage.
> The intercooler is split in two along with
> my radiator. The engine was still running,
> but leaking oil badly from the pan I think.
> It sounds kind of pathetic, but I cried and
> kissed my car. I think my girlfriend was
> secretly smiling inside, but she said she
> was sad for me. My 5 year relationship is
> over. Why Lord, Why???

Similar thing happened to me with my 91 civic. I installed a Integra engine, and ended up rolling over 4 times on the freeway at 100mph. Needless to say I was quite lucky (came close to dying on that one), and my car was totally thrashed. I saved the ashtray as a reminder to me everytime I think of acting that way again. But, that accident led to my Z car, and I am truly grateful to have been able to work on and drive such a wonderful car. If I didn't crash my Honda, I would have never owned the 240Z. Needless to say, I drive a little more careful. I found out that I prefer that the suspension be able to outperform the engine, this way it's alot harder to get yourself in a situation where you can't control the car. For me, my 2.8L 230hp straight six is plenty powerful, yet doesn't get me into tremendous trouble. One thing I learned, is that a well balanced car is the best way to go. Trying to put 300hp in a car is cool, but unless other measures are taken such as good suspension, quality tires/brakes etc... it is a temporary situation. I guess they call this learning a lesson the hard way. Sorry about the loss Jim, but maybe you can recoup more than the ashtray and sell a few things, or even better, build another. Z on brother!!

 

[Unknown User]

Re: Let ROB tell us why

> The reason why is because you were breaking
> the law and you paid dearly. It's a damm
> shame anytime a Z is wrecked and re-labeled
> 'donor car', but to do it out of sheer
> bragging rights is downright irresponsible.
> You said yourself you were trying to impress
> a friend.

> Hopefully you're young and still have a
> college education ahead of you, with no
> serious damage to yourself. I also hope your
> ego HAS been seriously damaged, and you will
> only do something like this again on the
> autocross track. Like a mature Z adult.

> Sorry for the harsh words, but the truth
> hurts.

No sympathy at all from Rob the critic! Maybe he should have just bought a Geo Metro to begin with?

 

[rob72]

Re: Let ROB tell us why

> No sympathy at all from Rob the critic!
> Maybe he should have just bought a Geo Metro
> to begin with?

No I have a 240, and would like to keep it in one piece. I am sincerely relieved 240turbo is okay, (he posted didn't he!), but are you all saying that it's okay to risk other people's cars
and lives? I'm not alarmed by the 'race', but the attitude he displayed, 'impressing' his friends
is irresponsible. Don't you agree with that?

I mean if you bought a new gun and 'impressed' your friends by firing a few rounds in the front yard, wouldn't you call that irresponsible?

 

[Unknown User]

I'd like to take a middle ground in this matter. on one hand, losing the car you've been working on is a big blow. but I, also, agree with Rob, sometimes an incident like this teaches you a lot. I'm 22 and used to have a 280ZXT when i was 18, and guess what?! trying to impress some friends(!) I lost control of it while under boost and spun, taking 4(!) cars with me parked on the sidestreet. although it totaled my car to say the least, i also taught me to take it easy with mi current Z.

 

[Unknown User]

Re: Let ROB tell us why

> No I have a 240, and would like to keep it
> in one piece. I am sincerely relieved
> 240turbo is okay, (he posted didn't he!),
> but are you all saying that it's okay to
> risk other people's cars
> and lives? I'm not alarmed by the 'race',
> but the attitude he displayed, 'impressing'
> his friends
> is irresponsible. Don't you agree with that?

> I mean if you bought a new gun and
> 'impressed' your friends by firing a few
> rounds in the front yard, wouldn't you call
> that irresponsible?

You made a very good point. If you are going to show off, make sure you are in control, know what you are doing. For the sake of your car, and other people. Nothing wrong with showing off in my opinion if you aren't putting others at risks. I HATE people that call me an *ss hole for peeling my tires at a light or something, probably cause they are jeleous(sp??) driving their slow, boring cars. I'm sure he must have the sick to his stomache feeling from messing up his car. I know that feeling.

 

[rob72]

Re: Agreed, Leslie ! (n/c)

> You made a very good point. If you are going
> to show off, make sure you are in control,
> know what you are doing. For the sake of
> your car, and other people. Nothing wrong
> with showing off in my opinion if you aren't
> putting others at risks. I HATE people that
> call me an *ss hole for peeling my tires at
> a light or something, probably cause they
> are jeleous(sp??) driving their slow, boring
> cars. I'm sure he must have the sick to his
> stomache feeling from messing up his car. I
> know that feeling.

 

[rob72]

Exactly my point, Stan ! Good for you (n/c)

> I'd like to take a middle ground in this
> matter. on one hand, losing the car you've
> been working on is a big blow. but I, also,
> agree with Rob, sometimes an incident like
> this teaches you a lot. I'm 22 and used to
> have a 280ZXT when i was 18, and guess
> what?! trying to impress some friends(!) I
> lost control of it while under boost and
> spun, taking 4(!) cars with me parked on the
> sidestreet. although it totaled my car to
> say the least, i also taught me to take it
> easy with mi current Z.

 

[240Z Turbo]

Rob, you are a TOOL!

n/c
> The reason why is because you were breaking
> the law and you paid dearly. It's a damm
> shame anytime a Z is wrecked and re-labeled
> 'donor car', but to do it out of sheer
> bragging rights is downright irresponsible.
> You said yourself you were trying to impress
> a friend.

> Hopefully you're young and still have a
> college education ahead of you, with no
> serious damage to yourself. I also hope your
> ego HAS been seriously damaged, and you will
> only do something like this again on the
> autocross track. Like a mature Z adult.

> Sorry for the harsh words, but the truth
> hurts.

 

[Doug Dawson]

> Yesterday was my b-day and the last day I
> will ever get to drive my car. While trying
> to impress a friend with 19 psi of boost, I
> lost control going into a turn in the road.
> I plowed through a fire hydrant going 60
> mph. The car jumped about 4 ft and I left
> the hydrant about 10 feet behind the car.
> The car is totalled because of frame damage.
> The intercooler is split in two along with
> my radiator. The engine was still running,
> but leaking oil badly from the pan I think.
> It sounds kind of pathetic, but I cried and
> kissed my car. I think my girlfriend was
> secretly smiling inside, but she said she
> was sad for me. My 5 year relationship is
> over. Why Lord, Why???

Well, at least you were sober, huh?

BTW, one of the first things they teach you in performance driving school is that the proper approach to a fire hydrant is from the SIDE, NOT the front. That way it is more likely to act as an energy absorber than as something which is gonna destroy your critical motive components. Frame damage should also be less, or at least more easily repairable. You do have some reaction time with which to put a spin into a more controlled state. The same goes for any other object of that sort.

As always, though, the most important thing is to stay alive and uninjured, given the choice.

Doug Dawson
[email protected]

Just say, Been there, done that. I feel your pain, Jim. Etc.

 

[rob72]

Re: Rob, you are a TOOL! - Huh?

If that's an insult, I'll ignore it. If that's a compliment, then thanks. If it's a joke, please explain it for those of us not as hip as you.

 

[240Z Turbo]

Re: Rob, you are a TOOL! - Huh?

It was definetly an insult to you. Maybe it was a lack of maturity on my part or maybe I still have some college left to complete. Don't respond, I have nothing further to say to you!