Scariest moments
#41
Drifting
for actual scariest times
most involve deer
65mph in clear day light, look down for one second to turn the radio station, look up and there's a buck walking into my lane. Slammed the brakes, went into a slide, to the left, tried to correct to the right, slid right straightened out but too late jumped 15 feet into someones yard.........drove away with a bent front cross member (camry)
driving into a city at rush hour not speeding, and a deer runs through traffic into the side of my accord, deers face slams into the windshield right in my line of site, snot everywhere...dented fender. can still see the see the image of the deers faced smashed on the wind shield....almost the freakiest thing I ever saw
driving in normal traffic deer run out into traffic hits the car in front of me, launches off their hood over top of oncoming traffic 10ft into the woods.....all drove and/or walked away accept the deer, he actually had to be shot....in front of me, since I stopped to help.
simpler stories
no accidents occured
145mph
taking a 10mph ramp at 85
a jeep on a rocky hill on two wheels
my camry's engine throwing a rod and car bursting into flames
cow in the road x2
deer x~15 (close calls)
driving with a drunk that had to speed wouldnt stop and went faster the more you pleaded for your life
I'm done for now, there are so many
most involve deer
65mph in clear day light, look down for one second to turn the radio station, look up and there's a buck walking into my lane. Slammed the brakes, went into a slide, to the left, tried to correct to the right, slid right straightened out but too late jumped 15 feet into someones yard.........drove away with a bent front cross member (camry)
driving into a city at rush hour not speeding, and a deer runs through traffic into the side of my accord, deers face slams into the windshield right in my line of site, snot everywhere...dented fender. can still see the see the image of the deers faced smashed on the wind shield....almost the freakiest thing I ever saw
driving in normal traffic deer run out into traffic hits the car in front of me, launches off their hood over top of oncoming traffic 10ft into the woods.....all drove and/or walked away accept the deer, he actually had to be shot....in front of me, since I stopped to help.
simpler stories
no accidents occured
145mph
taking a 10mph ramp at 85
a jeep on a rocky hill on two wheels
my camry's engine throwing a rod and car bursting into flames
cow in the road x2
deer x~15 (close calls)
driving with a drunk that had to speed wouldnt stop and went faster the more you pleaded for your life
I'm done for now, there are so many
Last edited by Myxomatosis; 09-27-2008 at 12:56 AM.
#42
Senior Moderator
a year ago in two months, I was a passenger in my friends car(front seat) (driver was a female) and it was about 11:30 at night. We were on the way to her house. We were on a single lane road that had a speed limit of 55 MPH and as well only had 1 street-light a mile before the turn, and a bridge coming down before the turn. We had to make a left turn, so she signals and for some reason proceeds to turn when we can see the headlights of a car coming at us. Then I scream out go faster and she stops in the middle of the oncoming lane. The person in the car coming at us swerves out of the way nearly at the last second, and I mean so much at the last second that I can remember seeing the angel eyes clearly. The person swerves and avoids us, but almost runs off the road. She then procedures to drive forward without a care in the world. I was sitting there shaking, the adrenaline was pumping like there was no tomorrow. I was probably trembling for a good minute afterwards. When we got to her house, lets just say I had a pretty heated conversation...
#44
To be fair, I can't recall my scariest moment.
In June 2004, I was traveling by motorcycle up to Alaska with my friend Connie. It was early evening, and in retrospect we should have known better to be riding at dusk. A deer, hidden in the deep grass, jumped out in front of my bike while traveling 65 mph. I hit it directly between the legs. I'm told I basically went from speed to rest in about ten feet, with the bike skidding down the highway for a hundred feet. I'm told the deer died instantly, for which I'm grateful. I have no recollection of the accident, a number of hours leading up to it, or close to two days afterwards.
Connie, a nurse, revived me on scene. She then attended to my injuries as best she could and facilitated the medical evacuation. I was airlifted to a trauma center with life threatening injuries. I suffered eighteen fractures, a five inch skull fracture, and a severe brain injury. I spent a year learning to walk, talk, and write correctly. My surgeries are not yet completed, and still continue to heal to this day.
Yes, I still ride.
Whatever you need Connie. I owe you girl.
Terry
In June 2004, I was traveling by motorcycle up to Alaska with my friend Connie. It was early evening, and in retrospect we should have known better to be riding at dusk. A deer, hidden in the deep grass, jumped out in front of my bike while traveling 65 mph. I hit it directly between the legs. I'm told I basically went from speed to rest in about ten feet, with the bike skidding down the highway for a hundred feet. I'm told the deer died instantly, for which I'm grateful. I have no recollection of the accident, a number of hours leading up to it, or close to two days afterwards.
Connie, a nurse, revived me on scene. She then attended to my injuries as best she could and facilitated the medical evacuation. I was airlifted to a trauma center with life threatening injuries. I suffered eighteen fractures, a five inch skull fracture, and a severe brain injury. I spent a year learning to walk, talk, and write correctly. My surgeries are not yet completed, and still continue to heal to this day.
Yes, I still ride.
Whatever you need Connie. I owe you girl.
Terry
#46
San Felipe is a fun road though. At night its pretty deserted. Even had a lifted Ram try to run me at the bottom of the hill at the stoplight right before the freeways
I'm the same way now though, mostly drive like a grandma.
#47
Where do I even begin. Lets start off by saying my Z28 is the first RWD car I've had, and at the time I didn't even have it for a month yet. And it's also the first car I've had that has NO traction control whatsoever. Alright....
Coming home from Cluck-U in SC I went on the on-ramp to 880. The on-ramp is one of those cloverleaf-looking ones, that starts off at the top of an overpass and ends underneath it. It was deceiving at first because I thought it was an immediate merge onto the freeway... it was raining and I couldn't see the lines very well. I was in 2nd and I slowly laid into the gas when the car rears started spinning and the revs went up. I panicked, let off the gas, then I saw headlights coming up behind me in my mirror, then I got into it again. At this point the car's pointing diagonally towards the shoulder in the slow lane. I didn't know how, but I ended up correcting it by countering, easing on the gas, upshifting
Next up, coming home from school in my Integra, around 6 pm on 280 around De Anza (this was after I wrecked it on Calaveras) Traffic is a bitch and I'm in the lane to the right of the carpool. Just got new speakers, and was fumbling around with the radio (stupid). Look up, a large SUV (Suburban/Tahoe?) enters my lane from the right. Traffic starts picking up, and next thing you know, traffic's clear and I'm going around 50 mph. I'm 5-6 carlengths behind the SUV, then peep down to adjust something. Quick look back up and the SUV seems to have slowed to a crawl, and I'm coming up on it FAST. No time to think, I swerve to the left (very, very stupid) and narrowly miss clipping the SUV.... I overcorrect and dive into the shoulder, then correct again.... my car starts going into a 4-wheel skid. and then I correct again. The tail of my car nearly hits a car in the 2nd lane, STILL skidding then I correct again and eventually straighten the car out, very sloppily. At the end of the skid I was still going 40 mph!!
Look up in the mirror, thankfully there's no cars behind me or in front of me for a good 4-7 seconds distance. Grab my crotch to check for wetness or possibly brown streaks. Thankfully I'm in the clear, but if there ever was a time that I shit myself while driving, that would have been it.
In the 03 TL-S.... was out with some buddies late at night and was on the prowl to get some but was cockblocked. I was fuming afterwards, probably didn't help that I was drinking earlier either. Was flogging the crap out of the TL, 60+ in a 35 then stopped at an intersection. I see the familiar rectangular headlights and nearly crap myself, and hope to God that he didn't see me just do that. I go onto the next on-ramp and as I'm halfway on it, his lightbar comes on and the siren calls out. Shit.
I pull over at the top where there's a merge and a shoulder and pop a breath mint in my mouth. Shut her off, then panic for a few seconds and think to myself, I'm fucked for a few years, but roll my window down and calmly talk to the officer once he walks up. He thought I was going 50, and I play dumb.... "wow, really?" Luckily he was a cool guy about it and ended up giving me the speech and a warning instead of a ticket. I'm in disbelief afterwards, thank the officer like 3 times before he gets back to his cruiser and drive off happier than a pig covered in shit.
and wow some of your guys stories are absolutely insane. Mine mostly stem from stupidity and boredom.
Coming home from Cluck-U in SC I went on the on-ramp to 880. The on-ramp is one of those cloverleaf-looking ones, that starts off at the top of an overpass and ends underneath it. It was deceiving at first because I thought it was an immediate merge onto the freeway... it was raining and I couldn't see the lines very well. I was in 2nd and I slowly laid into the gas when the car rears started spinning and the revs went up. I panicked, let off the gas, then I saw headlights coming up behind me in my mirror, then I got into it again. At this point the car's pointing diagonally towards the shoulder in the slow lane. I didn't know how, but I ended up correcting it by countering, easing on the gas, upshifting
Next up, coming home from school in my Integra, around 6 pm on 280 around De Anza (this was after I wrecked it on Calaveras) Traffic is a bitch and I'm in the lane to the right of the carpool. Just got new speakers, and was fumbling around with the radio (stupid). Look up, a large SUV (Suburban/Tahoe?) enters my lane from the right. Traffic starts picking up, and next thing you know, traffic's clear and I'm going around 50 mph. I'm 5-6 carlengths behind the SUV, then peep down to adjust something. Quick look back up and the SUV seems to have slowed to a crawl, and I'm coming up on it FAST. No time to think, I swerve to the left (very, very stupid) and narrowly miss clipping the SUV.... I overcorrect and dive into the shoulder, then correct again.... my car starts going into a 4-wheel skid. and then I correct again. The tail of my car nearly hits a car in the 2nd lane, STILL skidding then I correct again and eventually straighten the car out, very sloppily. At the end of the skid I was still going 40 mph!!
Look up in the mirror, thankfully there's no cars behind me or in front of me for a good 4-7 seconds distance. Grab my crotch to check for wetness or possibly brown streaks. Thankfully I'm in the clear, but if there ever was a time that I shit myself while driving, that would have been it.
In the 03 TL-S.... was out with some buddies late at night and was on the prowl to get some but was cockblocked. I was fuming afterwards, probably didn't help that I was drinking earlier either. Was flogging the crap out of the TL, 60+ in a 35 then stopped at an intersection. I see the familiar rectangular headlights and nearly crap myself, and hope to God that he didn't see me just do that. I go onto the next on-ramp and as I'm halfway on it, his lightbar comes on and the siren calls out. Shit.
I pull over at the top where there's a merge and a shoulder and pop a breath mint in my mouth. Shut her off, then panic for a few seconds and think to myself, I'm fucked for a few years, but roll my window down and calmly talk to the officer once he walks up. He thought I was going 50, and I play dumb.... "wow, really?" Luckily he was a cool guy about it and ended up giving me the speech and a warning instead of a ticket. I'm in disbelief afterwards, thank the officer like 3 times before he gets back to his cruiser and drive off happier than a pig covered in shit.
and wow some of your guys stories are absolutely insane. Mine mostly stem from stupidity and boredom.
#48
one more.... going to Formula D at Infineon, buddy just picked up his 04 STi less than a month earlier. He's a cool guy, and he happens to be a pothead. He smoked a joint while driving and insisted that he was okay to drive. I'm sitting shotgun and there's medium traffic, but he gets bored or something and starts cutting across all 4 lanes of traffic and back multiple times to get ahead of the crowd. People in the backseat nearly shit themselves, and told him to calm down. Could have been potentially disastrous
#49
Banned
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Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Floyds Knobs, IN
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Heading South on 99 following tanker for miles follwed by another 18 wheeler 100 yds behind us.
Suicide driver heading north in south bound fast lane pulls into slow lane behind us and hits the truck following us head on resulting in a giant fireball.
Sure glad she made her decision to take her life when she did instead of 5 seconds sooner.
Suicide driver heading north in south bound fast lane pulls into slow lane behind us and hits the truck following us head on resulting in a giant fireball.
Sure glad she made her decision to take her life when she did instead of 5 seconds sooner.
#50
all work and no play
Sophmore year in college, had a brand new suzuki gixxer 750, was tailgating a truck (stupid i know) and he had a bunch of household items in the back, well he didnt tie down his mattress well enough and low and behold it came flying out. Luckily it had enough "aerodynamics" if you will and i was able to duck under it, but the car behind me turned sideways and hit another car.
I didnt drive my bike after that episode for a few days.
I didnt drive my bike after that episode for a few days.
#51
'10 Hyundai Genesis Coupe
Here is my story/contribution to the thread,
I just installed the progress sport springs on my TL 27,000mi. on the Odometer with the stock Bridgestones. It was drizzling, but the ground was kind of wet. I was approaching a downhill corner, the speed limit says 25mph, I believe I was doing 35 most likely slower, either way it wasn't that fast because the Jeep Grand Cheroke was behind me the whole time.
Well anyway, my rear right tire losses grip causing my back end to kick out about 35 degrees, there were cars parked on the side of the road and a Chevy Suburban was on the on-coming lane.
The moment it happened I was like "wtf, I'm not even going fast." I remembered how it's better to slowly left off the gas and not hit the brake or else it'll create for a bigger mess.
So I gently move the steering wheel right as I was pointed in the direction of coming traffic and a little over the lane, and then left and then right again. I narrowly missed hitting a car on the side of the road and the on-coming SUV.
I'm pretty sure it was the tires that had an effect, because I installed some new rubber (Yokohoma Avid WS4) a few months later and never experienced anything like that again. Tires and brakes are the two most critical safety devices.
I just installed the progress sport springs on my TL 27,000mi. on the Odometer with the stock Bridgestones. It was drizzling, but the ground was kind of wet. I was approaching a downhill corner, the speed limit says 25mph, I believe I was doing 35 most likely slower, either way it wasn't that fast because the Jeep Grand Cheroke was behind me the whole time.
Well anyway, my rear right tire losses grip causing my back end to kick out about 35 degrees, there were cars parked on the side of the road and a Chevy Suburban was on the on-coming lane.
The moment it happened I was like "wtf, I'm not even going fast." I remembered how it's better to slowly left off the gas and not hit the brake or else it'll create for a bigger mess.
So I gently move the steering wheel right as I was pointed in the direction of coming traffic and a little over the lane, and then left and then right again. I narrowly missed hitting a car on the side of the road and the on-coming SUV.
I'm pretty sure it was the tires that had an effect, because I installed some new rubber (Yokohoma Avid WS4) a few months later and never experienced anything like that again. Tires and brakes are the two most critical safety devices.
#52
dɐɹɔ ǝɥʇ ʇɐɥʍ
What kills me is the reputation this car has earned, as being a complete pile of shit, which it deserves, it is not a Cimmaron and that comparison is unfair. However, the Catera used the same under pinnings the first CTS did, as a garage owner I had ample time to look at both closely and they were more similar then different, aside from sheet metal and a more "american" interior in the CTS, yet people bash the Catera and LOVE the CTS, I never understood that. I guess it did lead the way of the Caddy's we have today, at the time I purchased that car it was the only RWD caddy car in the lineup. It was more German then American, which was part of the problem, the tech's had NO clue how to diagnose the thing or cope with the cars nuances.
#53
gets all the crazy chicks
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Dirty Jersey
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Had a couple of scary moments in my life but this was one I'd never forget:
I'm driving down my street, a 25mph road that people normally do 50mph on in the rain. I don't remember the details since it's been probably 8 years now, but:
I was doing maybe 45mph and had to make a left turn in a couple hundred feet, I started turning WAY early and tapped the brakes. I ended up skidding sideways (car turned in the direction I would be traveling in after the turn). Problem is if I continued skidding I would have flown off the road and down 7-8ft into a ditch, probably totaling my car. I didn't know what to do so I gunned it (car was an automatic), and at the last possible second (i was maybe 1" from flying off the road) my car hit traction and I started going down the road I wanted to turn into.
I'm driving down my street, a 25mph road that people normally do 50mph on in the rain. I don't remember the details since it's been probably 8 years now, but:
I was doing maybe 45mph and had to make a left turn in a couple hundred feet, I started turning WAY early and tapped the brakes. I ended up skidding sideways (car turned in the direction I would be traveling in after the turn). Problem is if I continued skidding I would have flown off the road and down 7-8ft into a ditch, probably totaling my car. I didn't know what to do so I gunned it (car was an automatic), and at the last possible second (i was maybe 1" from flying off the road) my car hit traction and I started going down the road I wanted to turn into.
#54
probably scariest:
I just got pulled over for like 15 mph in a 55 in a rural part of the county. the police officer walked up to the window. i gave him my D.L, registration, proof of insurance i thought i was cooked for sure. just as i handed it to him i heard on the radio came in a heavy 2 car accident with accidents that was maybe 2 miles away from where i was at.
#1. it was in my fire district and me being a firefighter i explained to the cop what happened
#2. he(the county cop) had to get going to the scene. so he just said please slow it down.
I just got pulled over for like 15 mph in a 55 in a rural part of the county. the police officer walked up to the window. i gave him my D.L, registration, proof of insurance i thought i was cooked for sure. just as i handed it to him i heard on the radio came in a heavy 2 car accident with accidents that was maybe 2 miles away from where i was at.
#1. it was in my fire district and me being a firefighter i explained to the cop what happened
#2. he(the county cop) had to get going to the scene. so he just said please slow it down.
#55
probably scariest not close call:
i was headed home from what is now my ex's house. i was messing with my XM radio in my Oddy so i'm not directly looking at the road, this is was a year ago.so corn was finishing up being harvesting so deer are running. i'm running 60-70 mph on a state highway. all the sudden i hear THUMP. I'm freaking out cause i thought i hit someone running or walking on the road side. I'm like if i hit someone they gotta be dead cause how fast i hit them at. so i go out look around for someone or a body. i can't find anyone. i go back to my car thinking maybe i threw him/her forward(from the impact) i look in the grille there's deer hair. then i feel 1000 times better. it was a 10 pt buck i hit. killed it. but damn i was freaking out when i thought i hit a jogger.
i was headed home from what is now my ex's house. i was messing with my XM radio in my Oddy so i'm not directly looking at the road, this is was a year ago.so corn was finishing up being harvesting so deer are running. i'm running 60-70 mph on a state highway. all the sudden i hear THUMP. I'm freaking out cause i thought i hit someone running or walking on the road side. I'm like if i hit someone they gotta be dead cause how fast i hit them at. so i go out look around for someone or a body. i can't find anyone. i go back to my car thinking maybe i threw him/her forward(from the impact) i look in the grille there's deer hair. then i feel 1000 times better. it was a 10 pt buck i hit. killed it. but damn i was freaking out when i thought i hit a jogger.
#56
'10 Hyundai Genesis Coupe
probably scariest not close call:
i was headed home from what is now my ex's house. i was messing with my XM radio in my Oddy so i'm not directly looking at the road, this is was a year ago.so corn was finishing up being harvesting so deer are running. i'm running 60-70 mph on a state highway. all the sudden i hear THUMP. I'm freaking out cause i thought i hit someone running or walking on the road side. I'm like if i hit someone they gotta be dead cause how fast i hit them at. so i go out look around for someone or a body. i can't find anyone. i go back to my car thinking maybe i threw him/her forward(from the impact) i look in the grille there's deer hair. then i feel 1000 times better. it was a 10 pt buck i hit. killed it. but damn i was freaking out when i thought i hit a jogger.
i was headed home from what is now my ex's house. i was messing with my XM radio in my Oddy so i'm not directly looking at the road, this is was a year ago.so corn was finishing up being harvesting so deer are running. i'm running 60-70 mph on a state highway. all the sudden i hear THUMP. I'm freaking out cause i thought i hit someone running or walking on the road side. I'm like if i hit someone they gotta be dead cause how fast i hit them at. so i go out look around for someone or a body. i can't find anyone. i go back to my car thinking maybe i threw him/her forward(from the impact) i look in the grille there's deer hair. then i feel 1000 times better. it was a 10 pt buck i hit. killed it. but damn i was freaking out when i thought i hit a jogger.
#57
Goat is fine. She is already growing her winter coat. I suppose I should post another update soon.
Terry
#59
I drive a Subata.
iTrader: (1)
About 3 years ago, I was driving down the 91E. It was raining very hard that couldn't really see the cars in front of me.
All of a sudden, this brand new Evo 8 flew by me doing probably over 100 mph... I gunned it with no reason... (I was too young) We were racing for probably 20 seconds doing over 125 mph.. Both of us started hydroplaning massively, so we slowed down.
It was the scariest moment for me.
EDIT: It was VERY fun though, if I think about it now.
All of a sudden, this brand new Evo 8 flew by me doing probably over 100 mph... I gunned it with no reason... (I was too young) We were racing for probably 20 seconds doing over 125 mph.. Both of us started hydroplaning massively, so we slowed down.
It was the scariest moment for me.
EDIT: It was VERY fun though, if I think about it now.
#60
I drive a Subata.
iTrader: (1)
One more.
About 2 years go, I was trying to test out my TL's top speed on 5 south (between Irvine to San Diego section). Back then, I drove over 100 mph pretty regularly so it wasn't a big deal going around 120 mph. However, when I maxed out at 153-4 mph, my heart started pounding SO hard that I could literally hear it pounding in my ears. Nothing happened after, but it was an one of the most scariest moments for me.
I rarely drive over 80 mph these days. Getting old, I guess.
About 2 years go, I was trying to test out my TL's top speed on 5 south (between Irvine to San Diego section). Back then, I drove over 100 mph pretty regularly so it wasn't a big deal going around 120 mph. However, when I maxed out at 153-4 mph, my heart started pounding SO hard that I could literally hear it pounding in my ears. Nothing happened after, but it was an one of the most scariest moments for me.
I rarely drive over 80 mph these days. Getting old, I guess.
#61
Evil Mazda Driver
Cliffs at the bottom...
I had come home from high school (I went to a boarding school in PA) after graduating in 2005 and had been going non-stop for the previous four days. In my genius I decided to hold a party when I got home as my friends had all graduated that day.
Now I get a bit anti-social sometimes and I began to feel a bit boxed in so without telling anybody, I went out, got into the Santa Fe (which was still pretty new at the time) and went out for a drive. A good hour went by before anybody noticed I was gone. I got a call from my friend who asked where I was and told me that another friend was leaving and wanted to say goodbye. I told him I'd be home as quickly as I could. At this point I was not anxious or angry. I was actually quite relaxed, or at least superficially I was.
On the drive home, my phone rang again and it cut out. This brought my tension back to the surface. I pulled over to call them back which was the last smart thing I did. Only three to four minutes after the first conversation in which I told them it would be about 10 minutes until I got back, they asked me again when I would get there. And I said, quote, "I'm coming as quickly as I can...I'm trying not to run off the road!" and hung up. Foreshadowing for the win...
Absolutely infuriated, I pulled back onto the road which was still wet from a recent rain. As I made the first turn driving WAY too fast (45 to 50 mph), the car began to oversteer big time. The more I corrected, the more it went out of my control. Finally I had the wheel in full right hand lock and the brakes locked up (no ABS FTL...) and the car began to go across the double yellow line towards a sidwalk curb and a retaining wall. It was at this point I realized the impact was now unavoidable and in the most sensible thought, feared for the chance of airbag deployment and pushed myself away from the steering wheel.
The Santa Fe hit the curb at what I'm guessing was a solid 20 mph but due to the angle of the wheels being turned hard over, rather than coming to a sudden stop, it more or less struck a glancing blow and bounced off. The airbags did not go off and the engine even kept running. As the car slid to a halt in the opposite lane of traffic, my first fear came back to the airbags which I had heard had on occasion gone off after an impact. So I hastily shut the engine off. Coming to my senses, I focused on getting the car out of the wrong traffic lane as I was on a blind corner at dusk. I restarted the car and shifted into drive, trying to figure out how I was going to explain to my dad how I fucked up the wheel on that side. I stepped on the gas and it made the most horrible noise (the driveshaft separated and was whacking aginst the wheel). It was then I realized how bad things were. I put it back in park and tried to open the driver's door. It was wedged shut. So as I climbed over the console, I shook uncontrollably and climbed out the passenger door just as a Mercedes ML came around the corner and pulled over to help me.
I came around the front of the car expecting the worst and what I got was even worse than that. The wheel that had impacted the curb had been shoved back into the wheel well, tweaking the fender and the cladding so the driver door would not open.
I called my dad who called a tow truck and came up to inspect the damage. The man in the Mercedes was very sympathetic and very nice about the whole thing. I'll never forget his kindness. He even gave me his business card and I meant to call him and thank him but never did.
The damage was far worse than it seems here as the impact actually knocked the engine off its mounts. The original estimate of $1,200 balooned to $4,400 by the time it was all said and done. I met the man who did the work and he said the more they pulled it apart, the more broken items became apparent. It was covered by insurance. I paid the deductable and learned a very valuable lesson. DO NOT DRIVE ANGRY...
Cliffs:
Came home
Had party
Left because I felt boxed in
Got called back to the party and pressured to get there quickly
Became irritated and drove angry
Crashed on a corner
Valuable lesson learned
The wheel and fender in question...
And the undercarriage....
I had come home from high school (I went to a boarding school in PA) after graduating in 2005 and had been going non-stop for the previous four days. In my genius I decided to hold a party when I got home as my friends had all graduated that day.
Now I get a bit anti-social sometimes and I began to feel a bit boxed in so without telling anybody, I went out, got into the Santa Fe (which was still pretty new at the time) and went out for a drive. A good hour went by before anybody noticed I was gone. I got a call from my friend who asked where I was and told me that another friend was leaving and wanted to say goodbye. I told him I'd be home as quickly as I could. At this point I was not anxious or angry. I was actually quite relaxed, or at least superficially I was.
On the drive home, my phone rang again and it cut out. This brought my tension back to the surface. I pulled over to call them back which was the last smart thing I did. Only three to four minutes after the first conversation in which I told them it would be about 10 minutes until I got back, they asked me again when I would get there. And I said, quote, "I'm coming as quickly as I can...I'm trying not to run off the road!" and hung up. Foreshadowing for the win...
Absolutely infuriated, I pulled back onto the road which was still wet from a recent rain. As I made the first turn driving WAY too fast (45 to 50 mph), the car began to oversteer big time. The more I corrected, the more it went out of my control. Finally I had the wheel in full right hand lock and the brakes locked up (no ABS FTL...) and the car began to go across the double yellow line towards a sidwalk curb and a retaining wall. It was at this point I realized the impact was now unavoidable and in the most sensible thought, feared for the chance of airbag deployment and pushed myself away from the steering wheel.
The Santa Fe hit the curb at what I'm guessing was a solid 20 mph but due to the angle of the wheels being turned hard over, rather than coming to a sudden stop, it more or less struck a glancing blow and bounced off. The airbags did not go off and the engine even kept running. As the car slid to a halt in the opposite lane of traffic, my first fear came back to the airbags which I had heard had on occasion gone off after an impact. So I hastily shut the engine off. Coming to my senses, I focused on getting the car out of the wrong traffic lane as I was on a blind corner at dusk. I restarted the car and shifted into drive, trying to figure out how I was going to explain to my dad how I fucked up the wheel on that side. I stepped on the gas and it made the most horrible noise (the driveshaft separated and was whacking aginst the wheel). It was then I realized how bad things were. I put it back in park and tried to open the driver's door. It was wedged shut. So as I climbed over the console, I shook uncontrollably and climbed out the passenger door just as a Mercedes ML came around the corner and pulled over to help me.
I came around the front of the car expecting the worst and what I got was even worse than that. The wheel that had impacted the curb had been shoved back into the wheel well, tweaking the fender and the cladding so the driver door would not open.
I called my dad who called a tow truck and came up to inspect the damage. The man in the Mercedes was very sympathetic and very nice about the whole thing. I'll never forget his kindness. He even gave me his business card and I meant to call him and thank him but never did.
The damage was far worse than it seems here as the impact actually knocked the engine off its mounts. The original estimate of $1,200 balooned to $4,400 by the time it was all said and done. I met the man who did the work and he said the more they pulled it apart, the more broken items became apparent. It was covered by insurance. I paid the deductable and learned a very valuable lesson. DO NOT DRIVE ANGRY...
Cliffs:
Came home
Had party
Left because I felt boxed in
Got called back to the party and pressured to get there quickly
Became irritated and drove angry
Crashed on a corner
Valuable lesson learned
The wheel and fender in question...
And the undercarriage....
#63
Safety Car
I think it was the worst car I've ever owned, MSRP on that car when I bought it in 99 was $37k, I would have been much better off with a 328i or C280 back then. The steering was good, the interior was great, but it was painfully slow, 16.5 second 1/4 mile, handled very poorly and as I joked, it was like joint custody between me and the dealership - it was at the dealership nearly once a week to have something fixed. Before the accident it was one more repair away from being lemon lawed, ironically there was another Catera that was always at the dealership being serviced as well, I bumped into the owner one day and their experience mimicked mine.
What kills me is the reputation this car has earned, as being a complete pile of shit, which it deserves, it is not a Cimmaron and that comparison is unfair. However, the Catera used the same under pinnings the first CTS did, as a garage owner I had ample time to look at both closely and they were more similar then different, aside from sheet metal and a more "american" interior in the CTS, yet people bash the Catera and LOVE the CTS, I never understood that. I guess it did lead the way of the Caddy's we have today, at the time I purchased that car it was the only RWD caddy car in the lineup. It was more German then American, which was part of the problem, the tech's had NO clue how to diagnose the thing or cope with the cars nuances.
What kills me is the reputation this car has earned, as being a complete pile of shit, which it deserves, it is not a Cimmaron and that comparison is unfair. However, the Catera used the same under pinnings the first CTS did, as a garage owner I had ample time to look at both closely and they were more similar then different, aside from sheet metal and a more "american" interior in the CTS, yet people bash the Catera and LOVE the CTS, I never understood that. I guess it did lead the way of the Caddy's we have today, at the time I purchased that car it was the only RWD caddy car in the lineup. It was more German then American, which was part of the problem, the tech's had NO clue how to diagnose the thing or cope with the cars nuances.
#64
Drifting
#65
Drinking Beer In
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Portland, OR
Age: 69
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I was doing maybe 45mph and had to make a left turn in a couple hundred feet, I started turning WAY early and tapped the brakes. I ended up skidding sideways (car turned in the direction I would be traveling in after the turn). Problem is if I continued skidding I would have flown off the road and down 7-8ft into a ditch, probably totaling my car. I didn't know what to do so I gunned it (car was an automatic), and at the last possible second (i was maybe 1" from flying off the road) my car hit traction and I started going down the road I wanted to turn into.
#66
Man I got few stories that might entertain you, where some situations got me pretty scared.
Most recent one was last year and that point and time I still had my 2001 Honda Accord, loved that car. We were going to AC from NY for my birthday, it was probably around 1 a.m. . Now imagine this I'm doing around 70 or so not much over speed limit, its really dark I believe it was on AC Highway for those who never traveled to AC from NY its basically two lane road without any lights for most of the part, a ditch and some trees to the left and a shoulder and trees to the right. So its just me and my friend we just bs's about all kinds of stuff, no cars in front of me or behind me, so it's complete darkness its just us doing around 70-75 mph. I’m paying more attention to the left cause that's where the cops usually are. So my friend is telling me a story how he enjoyed going up to AC in his friends Benz and that it take him that long, but by the time he got to AC he's ass and legs were numb. So I'm paying attention to what he is saying and all over sudden he scream out: Looks out it’s a VEAL, so I look at him and I kind of see him pointing at something but can't really see because its really dark, so I’m looking at him like what the fuck is a veal this doesn’t make any sense to what he is saying, I look up a little to the right ahead of us, and it's a big fucking deer standing in the right lane staring right at us. Keep in mind the deer was pretty close from the moment we saw him till the moment we past him it couldn't have been more than 2 seconds. Surprisingly I very comly went into the left lane and basically missed the deers head by inches, it was like in slow motion pretty cool. It did not kind of hit me at first, but man did I realize what could have happen like 5 seconds later. If I would have swerved we could have ended up in the trees or upside down, rolling over few times plus hitting a 500pound deer that was standing higher than the car at 70 mph is no joke. I told my friend you are an ahole, in the moment of crisis all you can come up look out its a VEAL, its not even the right animal a veal is a baby cow. Man but that was scary and funny, we did laugh all thru the weekend, on the way back I asked him to keep an eye for any Fucking VEALs walking around
i got few more, Ill post them later getting kind of late.
Most recent one was last year and that point and time I still had my 2001 Honda Accord, loved that car. We were going to AC from NY for my birthday, it was probably around 1 a.m. . Now imagine this I'm doing around 70 or so not much over speed limit, its really dark I believe it was on AC Highway for those who never traveled to AC from NY its basically two lane road without any lights for most of the part, a ditch and some trees to the left and a shoulder and trees to the right. So its just me and my friend we just bs's about all kinds of stuff, no cars in front of me or behind me, so it's complete darkness its just us doing around 70-75 mph. I’m paying more attention to the left cause that's where the cops usually are. So my friend is telling me a story how he enjoyed going up to AC in his friends Benz and that it take him that long, but by the time he got to AC he's ass and legs were numb. So I'm paying attention to what he is saying and all over sudden he scream out: Looks out it’s a VEAL, so I look at him and I kind of see him pointing at something but can't really see because its really dark, so I’m looking at him like what the fuck is a veal this doesn’t make any sense to what he is saying, I look up a little to the right ahead of us, and it's a big fucking deer standing in the right lane staring right at us. Keep in mind the deer was pretty close from the moment we saw him till the moment we past him it couldn't have been more than 2 seconds. Surprisingly I very comly went into the left lane and basically missed the deers head by inches, it was like in slow motion pretty cool. It did not kind of hit me at first, but man did I realize what could have happen like 5 seconds later. If I would have swerved we could have ended up in the trees or upside down, rolling over few times plus hitting a 500pound deer that was standing higher than the car at 70 mph is no joke. I told my friend you are an ahole, in the moment of crisis all you can come up look out its a VEAL, its not even the right animal a veal is a baby cow. Man but that was scary and funny, we did laugh all thru the weekend, on the way back I asked him to keep an eye for any Fucking VEALs walking around
i got few more, Ill post them later getting kind of late.
#67
What Would Don Draper Do?
i guess mine pales to many of these.
but during my senior year of college, i was driving to houston from austin for the weekend.
it was a friday night, and i was driving on a freeway at around 7:30. typically, it was still busy around that time. it had just rained a lot that day so the highway was still pretty slick.
a car entered the freeway and cut me off. he crossed the solid white line and changed lanes right away instead of waiting to merge into the lane.
since he cut me off, i immediately braked. because the roads were still slick from the rain, my car turned 540 degrees across 4 lanes of highways.
the whole time, i thought i was gonna die because i thought i would hit other cars on the highway.
i couldn't believe how much thought process goes in your mind in just a flash.
amazingly, there weren't any other cars around me when it happened.
by the time my car stopped, it was fully in the opposite shoulder and my sideview mirror was literally 4" away from the wall. my car and i were unhurt.
right when my car stopped, that's when i saw headlights coming near me as the traffic started approaching.
they all slowed down to see me because i was looking in their direction with my lights on. i turned them off and remember just gripping the steering wheel as tightly as i could. the wheel was shaking because i was shaking. i couldn't believe i was alive.
then i waited for the traffic to pass and i got back on the highway.
to this day, i cannot believe what had happened.
----------------------
fast forward a few years. last spring, i was in the car with my gf. and the exact same thing happened.
we weren't only going about 65. but a car that entered the highway cut us off and we spun. this time only 180 degrees but we were in the middle of traffic.
again, amazingly, we didn't hit any cars and stopped in the middle of I-10 towards traffic.
my gf started panicking, and i asked her to get out of the driver's seat so we can switch seats.
a policeman happened to be right behind us and asked if we were ok. then he stopped the traffic so we could turn around and move on.
but during my senior year of college, i was driving to houston from austin for the weekend.
it was a friday night, and i was driving on a freeway at around 7:30. typically, it was still busy around that time. it had just rained a lot that day so the highway was still pretty slick.
a car entered the freeway and cut me off. he crossed the solid white line and changed lanes right away instead of waiting to merge into the lane.
since he cut me off, i immediately braked. because the roads were still slick from the rain, my car turned 540 degrees across 4 lanes of highways.
the whole time, i thought i was gonna die because i thought i would hit other cars on the highway.
i couldn't believe how much thought process goes in your mind in just a flash.
amazingly, there weren't any other cars around me when it happened.
by the time my car stopped, it was fully in the opposite shoulder and my sideview mirror was literally 4" away from the wall. my car and i were unhurt.
right when my car stopped, that's when i saw headlights coming near me as the traffic started approaching.
they all slowed down to see me because i was looking in their direction with my lights on. i turned them off and remember just gripping the steering wheel as tightly as i could. the wheel was shaking because i was shaking. i couldn't believe i was alive.
then i waited for the traffic to pass and i got back on the highway.
to this day, i cannot believe what had happened.
----------------------
fast forward a few years. last spring, i was in the car with my gf. and the exact same thing happened.
we weren't only going about 65. but a car that entered the highway cut us off and we spun. this time only 180 degrees but we were in the middle of traffic.
again, amazingly, we didn't hit any cars and stopped in the middle of I-10 towards traffic.
my gf started panicking, and i asked her to get out of the driver's seat so we can switch seats.
a policeman happened to be right behind us and asked if we were ok. then he stopped the traffic so we could turn around and move on.
#68
Runs on Dunkin
None of my moments are quite as scary as the others buy here they are-
Heading back to my house after dropping a friend off, i stop to turn left up onto my road. Now RT 128 (where I was) is a two lane road with no turn lane so i was stopped waiting for oncoming traffic to clear up. All of the sudden out of nowhere, i hear screeching tires and split second later BAM!! An early 90's Ford ranger plowed into my 1995 Integra. I was in a state of complete shock for a bout 10 seconds, so i continued to slide down the road, until i ht the brakes. A few seconds later, two state sheriffs went by and started helping us. Turns out the guys who hit me had no insurance either. I went to the hospital for x-rays and ended up with minor whiplash. I collected insurance and medical money and used that to buy what is now my old 2.3 CL. The part that made me most upset was his truck had hardly any damage and my trunk was in the backseat. Not only that, but cops let him drive away right after.
Heading back to my house after dropping a friend off, i stop to turn left up onto my road. Now RT 128 (where I was) is a two lane road with no turn lane so i was stopped waiting for oncoming traffic to clear up. All of the sudden out of nowhere, i hear screeching tires and split second later BAM!! An early 90's Ford ranger plowed into my 1995 Integra. I was in a state of complete shock for a bout 10 seconds, so i continued to slide down the road, until i ht the brakes. A few seconds later, two state sheriffs went by and started helping us. Turns out the guys who hit me had no insurance either. I went to the hospital for x-rays and ended up with minor whiplash. I collected insurance and medical money and used that to buy what is now my old 2.3 CL. The part that made me most upset was his truck had hardly any damage and my trunk was in the backseat. Not only that, but cops let him drive away right after.
#69
story 1. was driving my 01 montero sport on a snowy night back to west chester university...rt 202 was the street i was on, it had been snowing for a while so rt 202 was mostly wet/slushy so i took it out of 4wd and cruised in the left lane behind a truck...while i'm behind this truck i notice he steps on his breaks slightly so i do the same, as i do this my truck fishtails and my car was slightly sideways...two passenger side wheels caught some pavement thru and the car jerked the opposite way, causing the truck to jump on two wheels for a second, corrected that with a slight turn to the wheel and when they other side of the car came down, i hit the center divider...luckily 100 % of the impact was on the plastic bumper cover, no fender/hood or anything...scared the balls out of me
story 2 (dumb one). i was in my 01 CL-S, lowered, icebox and headers...this time im on the belt parkway, coming up to the gas station that sits in the middle of each direction (few miles before the bridge)...i was probably doing somewhere around 60-70 mph (which anyone can tell you that drives it frequently is a normal speed when no traffic)...so im in the left lane coming over a little bridge on the belt, looking down for my ez pass, as i look up TRAFFIC IS STOPPED DEAD at the foot of the small hill i was on...slam the breaks, and reflexes made me veer to the right...THANK GOD, there was no one there and traffic was moving quicker in the middle...while i swerved, i think i must've missed the completely stopped car in front of me by a solid inch, no lie...i'm not the smartest guy out there, dont really wear a seatbelt too much and sometimes drive a little faster than others but most of the time completely aware of what im doing...it happens to all of us, but anyway i realized how close i was to hurting myself/others and had to pull over b/c i was bugging out, opened the windows and tossed my cookies, got back on the road and kept it in the middle lane going with the flow of traffic...flame if you want, i am the first one to admit my mistakes when they happen
story 2 (dumb one). i was in my 01 CL-S, lowered, icebox and headers...this time im on the belt parkway, coming up to the gas station that sits in the middle of each direction (few miles before the bridge)...i was probably doing somewhere around 60-70 mph (which anyone can tell you that drives it frequently is a normal speed when no traffic)...so im in the left lane coming over a little bridge on the belt, looking down for my ez pass, as i look up TRAFFIC IS STOPPED DEAD at the foot of the small hill i was on...slam the breaks, and reflexes made me veer to the right...THANK GOD, there was no one there and traffic was moving quicker in the middle...while i swerved, i think i must've missed the completely stopped car in front of me by a solid inch, no lie...i'm not the smartest guy out there, dont really wear a seatbelt too much and sometimes drive a little faster than others but most of the time completely aware of what im doing...it happens to all of us, but anyway i realized how close i was to hurting myself/others and had to pull over b/c i was bugging out, opened the windows and tossed my cookies, got back on the road and kept it in the middle lane going with the flow of traffic...flame if you want, i am the first one to admit my mistakes when they happen
#70
Corn-Fed Mule
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: All Up In Dat AZZ...Beotch!
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Two quick stories...
1). Riding in a '89 Honda Accord LX (with a whole 98 hp) with my two friends coming back from Atlanta late one night. Friend driving is pretty much stupid for no particular reason and suddenly realizes that he is supposed to get with his girlfriend that night...forgot all about it. He decides to take rural Hwy 212 back to Milledgeville (fewer cops) and proceeds to open up the poor Accord. If anyone's familiar with this stretch of road, there are stop signs just over the crest of hills in several spots. We're doing an indicated 105 mph on downhill stretches(about as fast as 98hp will pull 2800lbs of car and 700lbs of human) on this freaking dark-azz road and blasting through the freaking stop signs without letting up! I mean, we had at least different 5 chances of a log truck rolling through those intersections and taking us out. Just outside of the city limits, there is a long sweeping curve...just before this curve, he was trying get as much as he could from the little 2.0L and he reached 100mph before he had to let up. Unfortunately, he let up too late and in the 1st quarter of the curve...back end breaks loose and we started spinning. I have no idea how many times we spun because I closed my eyes at that point. All I heard was "Ahh S**T" from the back seat and grunts from the drivers side as we spun. Absolutely amazingly, we winded up backed into the treeline with one of the wheels on the hood and the muffler right beneath my door...burned my leg getting out. Friend was freaking out about the beating he was going to get as this was his 3rd car he had wrecked in a year. I actually kissed the car.
2) 96 Pathfinder...just left the dealership from getting the timing belt/accessory belts/tune up done ($800). Had new BFG All-Terrains installed the day before and new Manik brushguard the prior week ($1100 total). Driving down Matlock Road in Arlington, Tx after the dealership visit and looked down just for a second to reprogram ONE station into memory. Looked back up and I'm into the back of a pickup truck! Didn't even have a chance to take my foot off of the accelerator....dude's head hit the rear glass of his truck and knocks the pane out of the sliding rear window. I was horrified sitting there seeing him with his head hanging out. He was fine 10 minutes later and was walking around. Pathfinder totaled without even an airbag deployment...insurance co. blames the brushguard for blocking the sensors. Oh well...total loss..
1). Riding in a '89 Honda Accord LX (with a whole 98 hp) with my two friends coming back from Atlanta late one night. Friend driving is pretty much stupid for no particular reason and suddenly realizes that he is supposed to get with his girlfriend that night...forgot all about it. He decides to take rural Hwy 212 back to Milledgeville (fewer cops) and proceeds to open up the poor Accord. If anyone's familiar with this stretch of road, there are stop signs just over the crest of hills in several spots. We're doing an indicated 105 mph on downhill stretches(about as fast as 98hp will pull 2800lbs of car and 700lbs of human) on this freaking dark-azz road and blasting through the freaking stop signs without letting up! I mean, we had at least different 5 chances of a log truck rolling through those intersections and taking us out. Just outside of the city limits, there is a long sweeping curve...just before this curve, he was trying get as much as he could from the little 2.0L and he reached 100mph before he had to let up. Unfortunately, he let up too late and in the 1st quarter of the curve...back end breaks loose and we started spinning. I have no idea how many times we spun because I closed my eyes at that point. All I heard was "Ahh S**T" from the back seat and grunts from the drivers side as we spun. Absolutely amazingly, we winded up backed into the treeline with one of the wheels on the hood and the muffler right beneath my door...burned my leg getting out. Friend was freaking out about the beating he was going to get as this was his 3rd car he had wrecked in a year. I actually kissed the car.
2) 96 Pathfinder...just left the dealership from getting the timing belt/accessory belts/tune up done ($800). Had new BFG All-Terrains installed the day before and new Manik brushguard the prior week ($1100 total). Driving down Matlock Road in Arlington, Tx after the dealership visit and looked down just for a second to reprogram ONE station into memory. Looked back up and I'm into the back of a pickup truck! Didn't even have a chance to take my foot off of the accelerator....dude's head hit the rear glass of his truck and knocks the pane out of the sliding rear window. I was horrified sitting there seeing him with his head hanging out. He was fine 10 minutes later and was walking around. Pathfinder totaled without even an airbag deployment...insurance co. blames the brushguard for blocking the sensors. Oh well...total loss..
#72
Disinformation Terminator
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: NorCal
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Most of my scary stories were as a passenger, not a driver. I'll save those for another thread.
As a driver, one stands out. I was going north on 280 just north of San Jose back up to SF in my 1995 Golf.
I was going through a section where there is a lot of off-ramps to streets and other freeways.
I'm doing about 70 and look down to change stations on the radio, and when I look back up and there are cars STOPPED in my lane, the second one from the right for some damn reason. All other lanes are moving at regular speed.
I had about 1 second to jink left, then right, to avoid impact. Thankfully I was able to do it, and proceeded up the road with my pulse hammering at about 190.
If I had spent just 2 more seconds looking at the radio, I would have pounded the last car in that line at full speed, probably killing myself and anyone in that other car.
Gives me the heebie-jeebies just thinking about it even 10 years later.
As a driver, one stands out. I was going north on 280 just north of San Jose back up to SF in my 1995 Golf.
I was going through a section where there is a lot of off-ramps to streets and other freeways.
I'm doing about 70 and look down to change stations on the radio, and when I look back up and there are cars STOPPED in my lane, the second one from the right for some damn reason. All other lanes are moving at regular speed.
I had about 1 second to jink left, then right, to avoid impact. Thankfully I was able to do it, and proceeded up the road with my pulse hammering at about 190.
If I had spent just 2 more seconds looking at the radio, I would have pounded the last car in that line at full speed, probably killing myself and anyone in that other car.
Gives me the heebie-jeebies just thinking about it even 10 years later.
#73
failhard.
I'm new to Utah, so naturally I had to find locations while driving. Normally I'm very careful about it, but it only takes one mistake to kill you. I was trying to find this guitar shop driving around a part of Taylorsville near I-15, going about 40-45 mph. Nearing an intersection, I saw it was green so I figured I wouldn't worry about it changing in a flash and started zapping my eyes everywhere looking for the store. I look at the light again, the motherfucker's red. Slam on the brakes and narrowly missed another driver who luckily slammed on his brakes as well. I apologized profusely and backed up, embarrassed and all. Heart was beating pretty hard after that.
#74
Suzuka Master
I know most of you guys love teh meets because you get to meet your AZ buddies but is every drive down there so fast?
#75
dɐɹɔ ǝɥʇ ʇɐɥʍ
#77
.... .... .... ... ....
My scariest situation.
I will never do this again:
Speeding apprx. 140 on the Beltparkway
2 AM
No traffic
Cops pulled me over...
I'm black. That was the worse night of my life. You guys could draw a conflusion from there.
#78
slobalt defender
Scariest moment i've had...it was in my old '03 TL when I was 17. Just had some fresh tires put on it. It was lowered with some koni's and h&r's and a full set of sway bars so it was pretty stiff but I loved it. I was crusing at 70 with moderate traffic on a 4 lane freeway. There was a semi truck behind me in the middle right lane and one paralell to me in the far right lane. I was in the middle left hand lane. There was a car slightly ahead of me in the middle right lane...my bumper was at his back door, and various other cars behind and ahead of me.
The car slightly ahead of me in the middle right lane apparently wants in my lane, which I didn't realize until he was already halfway in my lane about 2 inches from hitting me. I was blasting music and not paying attention, but when I saw him so close to me, i jerked the wheel to the left out of instinct. My TL went into the far left hand lane, then the back end started to fish tail and slid out to the left, i try to correct it but it's too late. I move 90 degrees and slide into the middle lanes, taking up both of them. I'm going in the direction of traffic, but still sliding sideways. My brakes are locked up, smoke is coming off my new tires, they are squealing very very loud. I'm looking straight out my windshield and the semi truck in the far right lane is now perpendicular with me. To my right, and looking at oncoming traffic, the other semi truck is present as well as many other cars. Finally after what seemed like a lifetime, and after many thoughts had passed, my car comes to a stop...still taking up the center two lanes sideways. Traffic around me is stopped, except for the far right lane since the semi didn't stop and neither did the cars behind him. I gather my senses quickly and accelerate to the right hand shoulder. I'm shaking and trying to gather myself...noticed that the guy that changed lanes into me and started this whole ordeal was stopped as well. He comes out of his car as do i, offers me a cig, and compliments me on my driving skills to not hit anybody including him. I sat on the shoulder for about 10 minutes trying to gather myself, and once i stopped shaking I drove off.
Not sure how I was able to come out of that without anybody hitting me, but it was by far the scariest moment I've had.
The car slightly ahead of me in the middle right lane apparently wants in my lane, which I didn't realize until he was already halfway in my lane about 2 inches from hitting me. I was blasting music and not paying attention, but when I saw him so close to me, i jerked the wheel to the left out of instinct. My TL went into the far left hand lane, then the back end started to fish tail and slid out to the left, i try to correct it but it's too late. I move 90 degrees and slide into the middle lanes, taking up both of them. I'm going in the direction of traffic, but still sliding sideways. My brakes are locked up, smoke is coming off my new tires, they are squealing very very loud. I'm looking straight out my windshield and the semi truck in the far right lane is now perpendicular with me. To my right, and looking at oncoming traffic, the other semi truck is present as well as many other cars. Finally after what seemed like a lifetime, and after many thoughts had passed, my car comes to a stop...still taking up the center two lanes sideways. Traffic around me is stopped, except for the far right lane since the semi didn't stop and neither did the cars behind him. I gather my senses quickly and accelerate to the right hand shoulder. I'm shaking and trying to gather myself...noticed that the guy that changed lanes into me and started this whole ordeal was stopped as well. He comes out of his car as do i, offers me a cig, and compliments me on my driving skills to not hit anybody including him. I sat on the shoulder for about 10 minutes trying to gather myself, and once i stopped shaking I drove off.
Not sure how I was able to come out of that without anybody hitting me, but it was by far the scariest moment I've had.
Last edited by Hockeyman; 10-15-2008 at 02:34 AM.
#79
The ICEMAN
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: York, PA
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Some of your stories are crazy.
The scariest moment that I have been in the car, was as a passenger. I had no control over the situation. I was riding with one of my friends who absolutely sucks with directions. We were cruising along at about 50mph in a 45mph zone. I know that there is a four way stop coming up, and I see that my friend hasn't slowed down yet. I figured he is a maniac and will just mash the brakes for fun (not fun, stupid) when getting close. As it turns out he didn't remember it was there we cruised right through the intersection cars sitting at all sides. I almost crapped my pants. He didn't even realize what had happened till I told him and he looked back to see cars stopped at the intersection.
Other than that just a bunch of idiot drivers cutting me off badly while driving a Class B truck. Accidentally downshifting into 2nd in my RX7 around a corner on the highway going 35 because it was raining so hard, to my luck we didn't spin out somehow.
The scariest moment that I have been in the car, was as a passenger. I had no control over the situation. I was riding with one of my friends who absolutely sucks with directions. We were cruising along at about 50mph in a 45mph zone. I know that there is a four way stop coming up, and I see that my friend hasn't slowed down yet. I figured he is a maniac and will just mash the brakes for fun (not fun, stupid) when getting close. As it turns out he didn't remember it was there we cruised right through the intersection cars sitting at all sides. I almost crapped my pants. He didn't even realize what had happened till I told him and he looked back to see cars stopped at the intersection.
Other than that just a bunch of idiot drivers cutting me off badly while driving a Class B truck. Accidentally downshifting into 2nd in my RX7 around a corner on the highway going 35 because it was raining so hard, to my luck we didn't spin out somehow.
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The Designer
Join Date: Mar 2005
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My stupid / scary moment.
Story 1:
I was a pretty new driver and took out the family Ford Taurus wagon for a "spin" with a friend. I took it out on a very snowy and icy day (stupid to begin with) and on the way back on a side road I gave it way too much gas. I just barely missed a head on collision with another car, skidded, missed a parked car, hit the curb onto a snowbank and the car went on it's left two wheels with the right two off the road. When the car came back down it made a big "bang" sound and when I got out to check I had cracked the left front rim in half.
Story 2:
Friend took his antique (early 90s) BMW 6 series out for a spin. There is this street here called Amity that you have to see to believe. Its a large hill with two big long dips that make your stomach drop and a very short downhill end that goes right into a busy offramp from a highway. Well he gunned it hitting over 70mph on the hill, stomach dropped, I think I turned white, and on the uphill he got air on the car and I thought we were going to land right in traffic.
Story 3:
Was at a stop light minding my own waiting for the light to change 5 minutes from work. It was an off ramp to a highway. Light turned green everything seemed cool, started to make my left, and slow motion a snowplow T-Bones my car on the drivers side. He ran the red light. I could see it coming last split second and nothing I could do. The blade of the plow hit my window line and my wheels, pushed my car around 15 feet and all the windows shattered at once into my face. There was even glass embedded into the steering column. Left with 2 herniated disks in my neck and the scary though of what if the blade went through my window...
Story 1:
I was a pretty new driver and took out the family Ford Taurus wagon for a "spin" with a friend. I took it out on a very snowy and icy day (stupid to begin with) and on the way back on a side road I gave it way too much gas. I just barely missed a head on collision with another car, skidded, missed a parked car, hit the curb onto a snowbank and the car went on it's left two wheels with the right two off the road. When the car came back down it made a big "bang" sound and when I got out to check I had cracked the left front rim in half.
Story 2:
Friend took his antique (early 90s) BMW 6 series out for a spin. There is this street here called Amity that you have to see to believe. Its a large hill with two big long dips that make your stomach drop and a very short downhill end that goes right into a busy offramp from a highway. Well he gunned it hitting over 70mph on the hill, stomach dropped, I think I turned white, and on the uphill he got air on the car and I thought we were going to land right in traffic.
Story 3:
Was at a stop light minding my own waiting for the light to change 5 minutes from work. It was an off ramp to a highway. Light turned green everything seemed cool, started to make my left, and slow motion a snowplow T-Bones my car on the drivers side. He ran the red light. I could see it coming last split second and nothing I could do. The blade of the plow hit my window line and my wheels, pushed my car around 15 feet and all the windows shattered at once into my face. There was even glass embedded into the steering column. Left with 2 herniated disks in my neck and the scary though of what if the blade went through my window...