I heartily approve of this post. H J Stuck is the man. Plus his dad was one of the drivers of the infamous Auto Union D-Types. Stuck Sr was a hillclimb master.
Later in the press conference, Renault chassis engineer Hamburglar explained some of the innovations on the new car.
About 10 years ago I was heading home from my girlfriend's place (who now incidentally is my wife). It was about 2 in the morning and I had an hour drive from PA to NJ ahead of me. I made the trip multiple times before and certainly had some close calls, flirting with falling asleep at the wheel. Well, this time I went all the way, so to speak.
Driving my 1991 BMW 318is, about 5 minutes from home on Rt 38E I fell asleep and drifted right. The sound of the airbag woke me up so that I was conscious as the car rolled about 5 times. The Bimmer came to rest on the passenger side at the entrance to an office park. I was still belted in, and the engine was still running. I shut the engine off and unbuckled myself, falling down to the passenger side. I don't remember if I kicked out the window or if it was already out, but I climbed out through the opening.
I freaked out for a few moments but, aside from a bloody left hand, I appeared to be fine. It was about 3 in the morning so there was not much traffic to flag down. Fortunately I had a cell phone for emergencies in the car. I called 911, then my parents and took a seat on the curb. I wrapped my bloody hand with a sweatshirt.
As it turned out the motion of the rolling vehicle ripped all of the skin off the top of my left hand and severed most of the tendons. I had to go through a couple of months of physical therapy but eventually recovered full function of the hand.
The BMW was totaled of course. It ended up looking like a 318amino (E30chero? Bimmerpage?). I still miss that car.
Driving my 1991 BMW 318is, about 5 minutes from home on Rt 38E I fell asleep and drifted right. The sound of the airbag woke me up so that I was conscious as the car rolled about 5 times. The Bimmer came to rest on the passenger side at the entrance to an office park. I was still belted in, and the engine was still running. I shut the engine off and unbuckled myself, falling down to the passenger side. I don't remember if I kicked out the window or if it was already out, but I climbed out through the opening.
I freaked out for a few moments but, aside from a bloody left hand, I appeared to be fine. It was about 3 in the morning so there was not much traffic to flag down. Fortunately I had a cell phone for emergencies in the car. I called 911, then my parents and took a seat on the curb. I wrapped my bloody hand with a sweatshirt.
As it turned out the motion of the rolling vehicle ripped all of the skin off the top of my left hand and severed most of the tendons. I had to go through a couple of months of physical therapy but eventually recovered full function of the hand.
The BMW was totaled of course. It ended up looking like a 318amino (E30chero? Bimmerpage?). I still miss that car.
Yes.
About 10 years ago I was heading home from my girlfriend's (now wife) house at about 3AM. I had made the 45 minute trip from PA to NJ a bunch of times before, and certainly had some close calls momentarily nodding off. But I always made it home. Well, not this time.
I was heading east on Rt 38 driving my 1991 BMW 318is. I dozed off and drifted right, hit the curbing at an office park entrance, which sent the car rolling.
The airbag woke me up so that I was conscious as the car rolled about 5 times. It finally came to rest on the passenger side, facing the road. The engine was still running, and I was still belted in the driver seat. It is amazing how your brain goes into automatic mode in a life-or-death situation. I guess it's the self-preservation instinct.
I turned off the ignition, unbuckled the belt and fell to the passenger side. I can't remember if I kicked out the windshield or if it had already popped out, but I crawled out through the opening. I freaked out for a few moments, then got a hold of myself and assessed the situation. Being in a corporate center at 3AM, there weren't any houses nearby to get help. A couple of cars drove right by. I looked at my left hand which was covered in blood, and grabbed a sweatshirt from the car to wrap it up.
I remembered I had an emergency cell phone in the glovebox, but since the car was lying on the passenger side the glovebox door was jammed. I thought for a moment and went back to the car and ripped open the glovebox, got the phone and called 911, then my parents.
Then, I just sat on the side of the road and waited.
As it turned out, almost all of the skin on the top of my left hand had been ripped off as the car was rolling. I had some severed tendons too. It took a couple of skin grafts and some physical therapy but I was fully functional in a couple of months. All things considered I was incredibly lucky. That BMW was a very well built car - the area around the windshield frame stayed intact. It definitely saved my life, and also kind of debunked the whole "bigger car = safer car" theory. Thank god there was nobody in the back though - it looked like a 318amino after the crash.
So, the lesson is - don't sleep and drive!
"Nothing can correct the stunning lack of incompetence" - which would mean they are really good at delivering the mail?
Sorry - I usually don't pick nits but that one jumped out at me.
Sort of back to topic - I thought it was awesome that Brabus released a line of accessories for a car that isn't (and may never be) in customer's hands.
This thing was more hideous in person. It certainly attracted a crowd there, though. I was surprised it got such a prime spot in Ford's display. Right next to the tuned Lincoln MKS. At least it wasn't yet another custom Flex.
Ray, what did you think of the show this year? It seemed there was a lot less foot traffic than in past years. The number of companies there held steady but they sent fewer people. Still way too much to try to see in a week.
I'll tell you what I'd do if I had a Dodge Texan. Two chicks at one time man.
I love it I love it I love it!
Great Jorb! Joerg!? Joerreggehegh!!?!?!
That's Chavtastic.
I voted nice price. The fact that this car still exists is amazing, considering it was basically a factory drag car. Most of these would have been hacked to death or blown up over the years. The listing doesn't say if it is numbers-matching, which would further justify the price.
Yes, I realize I just said "numbers-matching" on Jalopnik. Normally I hate the fanatic attachment to documentation that some restorations represent, but it is refreshing to see a '57 Chevy that isn't a Bel Air fitted with every factory option known to man (conti kit, chrome tissue dispenser, etc.). Check out the dog dish hub caps!
Why didn't they just ask the guy who drove it there? Or did it drive itself? Now THAT would be something America could be proud of. USA! USA! USA!
That Caddy looks great. Just needs some suspension work and shocks. Brakes, brake pads, lining, steering box, transmission, rear end. Also new rings, mufflers, a little wiring.
@graverobber- It says Loud Pipes Save Lives: Well done, sir. Is Wes going to offer a point-by-point rebuttal of this too?
Man, that kid at :09 is REALLY excited to drive the Camaro.
Must be his first time...
I voted crack pipe at first, but then I looked at the ebay listing with more pictures. [cgi.ebay.com]
This thing is truly in showroom condition! Amazing! You can't get much more malaise than metallic brown and white.
In this Cordoba, I have what I need!
This thing is truly in showroom condition! Amazing! You can't get much more malaise than metallic brown and white.
In this Cordoba, I have what I need!
Godspeed (emphasis on speed) Phil. A great driver, writer, restorer (he won multiple trophies at Pebble Beach), and most importantly - father. A true renaissance man.
Watching Grand Prix tonight seems a fitting tribute.
I was born in Syracuse, grew up in Clay. I think I remember seeing that baby blue Firebird or one of its twins when it was new. If only it was a Trans Am SE. Or a Formula...hmmmmm....
Amazing that these cars survived considering the incredible amount of abuse they receive during upstate NY winters.
@HansStuckJr: Should have been, "In Russia, Unsavory Businessman owns YOU!!!"
My kingdom for an edit button!
Unsavory Russian Businessman owns YOU!!!!
Er...HUMMER!!!
