WILD RIDE
How many of you guys have had your mini sideways at 100kph, heaps of opposite lock, foot flat on the throttle, sounds like fun? It can be a little different when you have the front bumper of a 40 tonne semi trailer 600mm from your face when doing this.
To go back to the beginning, I received an obscure phone call on Thursday 10th of April 2008, saying don’t panic but your wife is ok, but she has been involved in a two vehicle accident, ring her mobile phone.
No mobile phone reception – OH CRIPES!
Can’t obtain more details – OH CRIPES!
Relatives heading to accident scene, no details – OH CRIPES!
Get off work and rush to scene, but told wife taken to hospital, car badly damaged – OH CRIPES!
Arrive at hospital, wife in emergency ward – OH CRIPES!
Find wife in stable condition under observation and minor tests – RELIEF!!!
While driving on a quiet country road my wife Colleen, was side swiped by an out of control vehicle on the wrong side of the road. Our Subaru Forester is able to be repaired within 6 to 8 weeks, no harm done, cars can be repaired.
Colleen was very apprehensive about driving from Toowoomba to Brisbane on Saturday morning for an interview with Television reporters on an article about classic car clubs.
Talk about white knuckle fever! I told her it is ok you just sit between myself and Bob Hooper for the trip, and no harm will come to you. What a great day, to mingle with other mini enthusiasts and get yourself on television to boot. Have a guided tour through Channel 9 Brisbane, and say G’day to some celebrities.
Now for a 90 minute run home before dark. Colleen still in white knuckle territory driving through city traffic and back onto the Warrego Highway home. Hope she is finally settling down as we cruise along a four lane highway at a pleasant 95kph.
Coming through Hattonvale, I was about 400 meters in front of Colleen who was driving her 1966 mini van as she witnessed the whole event of me traveling along in our 1972 Clubman GT and having a semi trailer in the right lane take evasive action due to some nutcase slamming their breaks on in front of him. The truck driver did not see me slightly in front and to the left and slammed into my right hand side as he changed to the left lane.
Bang! What the HELL was that? Power still on, opposite lock was enough to spit me out the side as the truck backed off speed.
Fishtail and correction saw us all safely stop beside the road except for the cretin that had bee jabbing his brakes and slowing in front of the semi trailer on several occasions before the accident.
How the hell could a mini and driver survive being shunted down the road almost sideways by a 40 tonne truck at highway speed?
Thank you Mr Issigonis for front wheel drive and a bit of grunt to pull me out of it, as I believe this was the main factors of survival.
By this time, Colleen was white knuckled, knees shaking and tears flowing as she was one of our little pride and joys, as well as me, disappear under the front of the truck.
Anyhow, as I have said before, cars can be repaired.
I feel sorry for my wife and the innocent truck driver who have to deal with emotional trauma of the events that have unfolded. For me, the ability to write these few words to remind everyone just how hazardous our roads can be, has been good therapy, as well as a couple of stiff drinks for medicinal purposes after I had hung up the car keys for the day. For this family to have two major motor vehicle accidents in 3 days has been a remarkable experience.
Look after yourself, drive safe and responsible and appreciate all the good things in your life. I do now, more than ever.
Keep safe
How many of you guys have had your mini sideways at 100kph, heaps of opposite lock, foot flat on the throttle, sounds like fun? It can be a little different when you have the front bumper of a 40 tonne semi trailer 600mm from your face when doing this.
To go back to the beginning, I received an obscure phone call on Thursday 10th of April 2008, saying don’t panic but your wife is ok, but she has been involved in a two vehicle accident, ring her mobile phone.
No mobile phone reception – OH CRIPES!
Can’t obtain more details – OH CRIPES!
Relatives heading to accident scene, no details – OH CRIPES!
Get off work and rush to scene, but told wife taken to hospital, car badly damaged – OH CRIPES!
Arrive at hospital, wife in emergency ward – OH CRIPES!
Find wife in stable condition under observation and minor tests – RELIEF!!!
While driving on a quiet country road my wife Colleen, was side swiped by an out of control vehicle on the wrong side of the road. Our Subaru Forester is able to be repaired within 6 to 8 weeks, no harm done, cars can be repaired.
Colleen was very apprehensive about driving from Toowoomba to Brisbane on Saturday morning for an interview with Television reporters on an article about classic car clubs.
Talk about white knuckle fever! I told her it is ok you just sit between myself and Bob Hooper for the trip, and no harm will come to you. What a great day, to mingle with other mini enthusiasts and get yourself on television to boot. Have a guided tour through Channel 9 Brisbane, and say G’day to some celebrities.
Now for a 90 minute run home before dark. Colleen still in white knuckle territory driving through city traffic and back onto the Warrego Highway home. Hope she is finally settling down as we cruise along a four lane highway at a pleasant 95kph.
Coming through Hattonvale, I was about 400 meters in front of Colleen who was driving her 1966 mini van as she witnessed the whole event of me traveling along in our 1972 Clubman GT and having a semi trailer in the right lane take evasive action due to some nutcase slamming their breaks on in front of him. The truck driver did not see me slightly in front and to the left and slammed into my right hand side as he changed to the left lane.
Bang! What the HELL was that? Power still on, opposite lock was enough to spit me out the side as the truck backed off speed.
Fishtail and correction saw us all safely stop beside the road except for the cretin that had bee jabbing his brakes and slowing in front of the semi trailer on several occasions before the accident.
How the hell could a mini and driver survive being shunted down the road almost sideways by a 40 tonne truck at highway speed?
Thank you Mr Issigonis for front wheel drive and a bit of grunt to pull me out of it, as I believe this was the main factors of survival.
By this time, Colleen was white knuckled, knees shaking and tears flowing as she was one of our little pride and joys, as well as me, disappear under the front of the truck.
Anyhow, as I have said before, cars can be repaired.
I feel sorry for my wife and the innocent truck driver who have to deal with emotional trauma of the events that have unfolded. For me, the ability to write these few words to remind everyone just how hazardous our roads can be, has been good therapy, as well as a couple of stiff drinks for medicinal purposes after I had hung up the car keys for the day. For this family to have two major motor vehicle accidents in 3 days has been a remarkable experience.
Look after yourself, drive safe and responsible and appreciate all the good things in your life. I do now, more than ever.
Keep safe
See the original GT
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