Thankful to have been able to see my niece/nephew over the holidays.

[Steve Dallas]

I've been pretty busy through the holidays, so this has been my first chance to post this. The good news is, I came out pretty much uninjured. A scratch on my neck and a slight lump on my jawline.

I had flown out to Ohio to pick up my new Blue Barchetta, had driven across the country to LA on 40, then north on the coast highway.

I was driving north up Route 1 past San Francisco a couple of days before Christmas, and it had been raining pretty heavily there for the last week. I was passing a car that was doing well under the speed limit (he was doing 40 in a 55), and hit a small patch of standing water as I was almost past him, doing 55-60 (speed limit 55, long straight w/passing zone). Rear end went slightly out to the left and I overcorrected because I didn't want my rear end to hit the car I was passing. That started 4 ever worsening oscillations of the rear that I couldn't recover from. Left the road looking out my drivers side window at a fence and god knows what behind it. Essentially went sideways into about 40+ fence posts ending up in some brush and bushes. Left airbag had gone off, Onstar came on asking if I was ok, and I ended up crawling out the passenger side.

The guy I had passed had stopped, and we waited about 15 minutes for the fire department to show and another 45 minutes for CHP. I'm thankful that my car hadn't gone 2 degrees more to the left which would have left me wrapped around a tree.

I had spent the first half of the day driving in those conditions with zero problems with traction. Even though the tires don't have a lot of tread for rain, they still (up until the accident) had been holding up well traction wise as I was being smooth with the throttle and never mashing the pedal...even during the pass (combination of slight throttle & standing water = bad news). My biggest concern had been cold weather on I5 through the Siskiyous, as snow & ice don't mix with the Sport Cup tires.

Found out yesterday they will be totalling the car. On the bright side, I'm alive and was able to spend Christmas with my family.

Here's the car 4 days prior when I picked it up



And, the NSFW pictures.

[CapeCruisin]

Oh man... glad you're okay and were able to spend the holidays with your family instead of the alternative. I'm surprised that was just a total (to my very untrained eye), but I'm sure that parts to repair are quite expensive (OEM).

[Steve Dallas]

Originally Posted by CapeCruisin

Oh man... glad you're okay and were able to spend the holidays with your family instead of the alternative. I'm surprised that was just a total (to my very untrained eye), but I'm sure that parts to repair are quite expensive (OEM).

They were saying $61,000+ in damage...

[polizzio]

Wow, that sucks. But you're ok......and a car can be replaced.

[CapeCruisin]

Originally Posted by Steve Dallas

They were saying $61,000+ in damage...

Oof. Are you thinking about purchasing another Stingray or is that a question being asked too soon? Glad the car protected you that well.

[Steve Dallas]

Originally Posted by CapeCruisin

Oof. Are you thinking about purchasing another Stingray or is that a question being asked too soon? Glad the car protected you that well.

I had sold my Stingray 2 months ago in preparation to get this new car (Z06) (I had it 4 days, and was driving it back from the dealership in Ohio).

I'll be starting a search for a new one fairly soon. Trying to find a Laguna Blue Z06 witht he Z07 option in the U.S. is tough. I'll likely get another one, however a ZL1 isn't out of the question.

[CapeCruisin]

Originally Posted by Steve Dallas

I had sold my Stingray 2 months ago in preparation to get this new car (Z06) (I had it 4 days, and was driving it back from the dealership in Ohio).

I'll be starting a search for a new one fairly soon. Trying to find a Laguna Blue Z06 witht he Z07 option in the U.S. is tough. I'll likely get another one, however a ZL1 isn't out of the question.

Ahh gotcha - thats rough that you only had the Z for a couple days. Not trying to take you down memory lane this soon, but how big of a difference was the Z06 from the Z51 you had? Once you go boosted you never go back, huh? Haha.

Maybe be patient for a couple years and be first in line for a C8? Would a mid-engine Corvette be up your alley?

[Steve Dallas]

Originally Posted by CapeCruisin

Ahh gotcha - thats rough that you only had the Z for a couple days. Not trying to take you down memory lane this soon, but how big of a difference was the Z06 from the Z51 you had? Once you go boosted you never go back, huh? Haha.

Maybe be patient for a couple years and be first in line for a C8? Would a mid-engine Corvette be up your alley?

Nah...I'll be getting another Z06 when all the insurance stuff is done. I may just order it this time so I don't have to drive it cross country, though I'm heading to a dealership out here I deal with, and they are going to help me search for another on the Chevy system.

The boost is nice...it's one of the reasons I wanted the Z06. Handling was impressive out east where the temps were 60 and roads dry. Had the car for 4 days. Went through a day of dry weather driving from Dayton, OH to Durham, NC. Spent 2 nights there to visit a friend, then set out on I40 to cross the country to L.A. Went from Durham to Santa Rosa, NM on the first leg, then a shorter day to Pahrumph, NV to check in with Ron Fellows.Performance Driving School, about discount for buying the car. Then drove up the coast to Half Moon Bay. Rain started the next day...and around noon I got in the wreck near Sea Ranch. Had to take a taxi to Santa Rosa where I was fortunate they had direct flights to Seattle.

Hmm...I just realized if I buy another, I'll get two discounts to Ron Fellows. That's a positive!

[swizlstik]

Glad you made it out ok!

[Donald]

Wow glad you're safe.

[cornerspeed92]

......dude!

[CapeCruisin]

Originally Posted by Steve Dallas

Hmm...I just realized if I buy another, I'll get two discounts to Ron Fellows. That's a positive!

Two positives actually!