Cascade Crew

Alphius

Those of you who went to Cows probably heard my dilemma about which car to keep, the 94Z or the 84Z. Well, that decision was made for me, and I learned a couple important lessons along with it.

I was driving on an unfamiliar road at about midnight Saturday night, going faster than I should have been going. I was taking my girlfriend home from another friend of mine's graduation party. After a rise, the road I was on dips down and intersects the inside of a banked corner on the main highway. At 70+ MPH, going across a banked corner acts very much like a jump, and I had not enough time to slow down enough to maintain control of my car.

I know this was a very very stupid thing to do. I know I am lucky to be alive, as well as my girlfriend. We are both unhurt, although slightly sore. I understand the possibilities of what I oculd have done, and how bad it could have been. And I am oh-so-thankful that it turned out as luckily as it did.

I went across and over the banked corner riding the brakes very hard, which sent me flying into the air with the back end of the car pointing up. I remember seeing the road rush by through the windshield, and knowing that I was totally screwed. The front end touched down first, and sent the bumper flying. The rear end then slammed down, bursting both rear tires and bending my rear wheels pretty badly. I ended up sliding sideways, and went off the road, slamming the passenger side of my car into the tree at a very high rate of speed. I snapped the axle and brake off that side of the car, and it flew away into the woods. Had to go digging for that one.

Anyway, here's some pictures. If there's one bit of advice I could give anyone who drives like me, it would be to slow down and don't do anything this stupid. Always be absolutely sure you can keep control of your car in any situation, and given any unforeseen intersections with major highways. Be careful.

iansane · Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 11:23 am Post subject:

Whoa.

Sounds like it's time to put an LT1 in the 84Z.

Schultzy89GTA · Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 11:24 am Post subject:

Ouch! Glad that you both are ok.

-Schultzy

91RSVert · Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 11:29 am Post subject:

aaron_sK · Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 11:43 am Post subject:

Holy cr*p Gabe, that looks bad. Good to hear that you and your girl walked away from it though. Shocked

Jenn · Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 12:12 pm Post subject:

WOW! Thankfully you both could walk away.....

I knew you were a little on the crazy side Wink

blue89 · Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 1:32 pm Post subject:

Wow man. That looks almost exactly like the donor car i got my LT1 from but on the other side. Axle ripped out, tree, stuff destroyed, weird. How the heck was she okay since the tree went through the door right at her head??? You better get to a chiro and do lots of stretches my man. Dead serious about that.

cameron7710 · Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 1:42 pm Post subject:

dam man that sucks,glade ur ok tho

Xophertony · Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 7:32 pm Post subject:

Glad you guys are ok...
condolences on the car. at least you have a sweet engine to put in your 84z.

Al Hasse · Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 7:37 pm Post subject:

I'm glad you guys are OK. That looks like a pretty nasty wreck.

WS6FORMULA · Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 9:07 pm Post subject:

wow holy crap im sorry dude i thought my wreck was bad

im glad your ok

it sucks wreckeing the car that you love

im feelin the same way man

Twilightoptics · Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 9:14 pm Post subject:

chevymad · Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 9:16 pm Post subject:

This is the same way I "decided" to keep my 68 velle, instead of the nicer 71.. I didnt quite do the # on it you did.. but a farmers fence did enough..

Alphius · Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 10:32 pm Post subject:

Thanks guys. I'm so glad and lucky and thankful that we're both OK...

Not all bad though, I do still have a sweet car Wink

I don't really have the time to LT1-ize my 84 though, and the 84 has always felt faster anyway, so I'm pretty sure I'll be happy with what I've got. Now I just have to finish paying that green one off Embarassed

I'm trying to sell the whole car as a package. If anyone knows someone who needs/wants an LT1/4L60E that runs great... Wink

http://seattle.craigslist.org/oly/pts/720984676.html

Here's a great picture of my 84 so you can see what I have to work with... Very Happy

jakemk8706 · Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 11:02 pm Post subject:

i dont want to sound like a jerk...but man that story was awesome!!!!

Quasi-Traction · Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 5:35 am Post subject:

Holy shat gabe!
Shocked

I'd say you and your lady are lucky to be okay. There is always the possiblity that you or your lady might feel some residual pain from the accident in the next couple days here. As hard and costly a lesson it is, at least you're coming away from this in good shape and with some good perspective.

Still sucks about the 94Z man.