Ooops - I am crap at driving

[Nevin]

Put my Chim into a bush this evening at a reasonable speed and needed the AA to come and pull me out.

Will need the whole front end rebuilt and probably a full respray. Wicked.

UNfortunately was also giving Rico his first ride in a TVR at the time, which was less than ideal.

[Nevin]

Cheers guys.

Yup, my main concern was that we were both okay as well. Downer about the car, but I can get it fixed and deal with the stone chips.

Also, some little b@stard had keyed it last night as well right down the passenger side, so I should be able to get that dealt with at the same time.

>> Edited by Nevin on Thursday 7th August 08:35

[NEvin]

danielson said:

sorry to hear that Nev, but glad you are both ok..without wishing to be rude, but how did it happen? was it a bit of spirited driving, or completely unexpected?

Er, a bit of a combination of both really.

As I was progressing down a country road at a reasonable pace I happened upon a T-junction with fairly tight but sweeping curves off to the left and right. Starting to scrub off speed for the corner the wheels locked up immediately, which was worrying, so I started feathering and the wheels were locking up with any level of pressure. "Oh dear", thinks I, now progressing towards the corners with too much speed to actually be able to make either of them.

Had to then decide whether putting the car sideways was the best option (decided not), whether to head for the grass patch in the middle of the T-junction (potential for boulders) or which of the three objects on the other side of the junction I should hit.

Opted to avoid the metal gate and wooden gate with steel post and crash headlong into the hedgerow between them, which was quite impressive really, as I only had about a foot on one side of the car and three feet on the other. UNfiortunately car was stuck up on an earth banking under the hedge so couldn't reverse it out.

AA came and pulled it out. Charged me £65 for the pleasure as it was "off the road"

Need to dig out my insurance docs and try and find somewhere to get it repaired. Anyone suggest anywhere reasonable near North London?

>> Edited by NEvin on Thursday 7th August 10:04

[NEvin]

MikeyT said:

Nev, that's unlucky mate - good job you're OK athough and the passenger too ... The car can be repaired, the old humans not so easily ... Mind you, a bit less competition in the classifieds ... Only joking mate

Yeah, well I was planning to put it up for sale next week before I headed off to Moscow, but I guess that won't be happening now. Ho hum

[NEvin]

I won't be mentioning the keying, I'll just be getting the whole lot sorted. Have to see how much it is going to cost at the weekend.

[NEvin]

Ooh Noycey, that sounds like a bit of a nightmare.

Don't think mine will require that, but will find out at the weekend. Its ony really the front "bumper" on mine which is broken.

[NEvin]

rico said:

Hi all. I must commend Nevin for being the calmest person ever after an incident! I was nearly in tears at the sight of such a beautiful car all scratched up. Full marks also for placement. About 12inches to the left was a full new metal gate. About 6 inches to the right was a solid wooden fence post. He could have driven out except the car was on top of a mound with lots of branches broken over. It has not put me off TVRs at all. I'm impressed with their safety aspects. No damage what so ever to the engine bay and as said earlier both of us are fine which is all that matters. We must all take these events as a warning that we aren't immortal and even on bone dry conditions braking isn't straight forward. Oh and a big fck you to all those drivers who just drove straight past whilst two blokes stood next to a crashed car..... Cheers. Rico

Calm in the line of duty, that's me. To a fault. And the entertaining thing is it really winds some people up.

Rico, hope you're okay today.

To those four people who did stop however (apart from the guy in the blacked out BMW, who was highly sus) I extend my thanks. At least someone gives a sh1t. Even the farmer was pretty decent that I had caned his hedge and didn't make any mention of me paying for it. Spot on.

[NEvin]

Have you go the picture of the front bumper available at all?

[Nevin]

nchilds said:

NEvin said: Anyone suggest anywhere reasonable near North London? Don't want to seem facaeticious, but if it's an insurance job the TVR Centre at Arkley (Barnet) would be a reasonable bet. I'm guessing you'll be exceeding you excess on this one whereever you go. The bodyshop they use did a great job of matching my colour when I got a panel fixed just before buying. And that can't be an easy one to do.

Yeah, that sounds like a reasonable suggestion.

Cheers.

[NEvin]

nchilds said:

NEvin said: Anyone suggest anywhere reasonable near North London? Don't want to seem facaeticious, but if it's an insurance job the TVR Centre at Arkley (Barnet) would be a reasonable bet. I'm guessing you'll be exceeding you excess on this one whereever you go. The bodyshop they use did a great job of matching my colour when I got a panel fixed just before buying. And that can't be an easy one to do.

Took it to their bodywork place in Bishops Stortford this morning. Seems like a very professional set up indeed and they were nice enough to give me a lift to the station. (Mind you, they would have picked the car up from London if I had wanted).

Going to take 6-8 weeks though.

[NEvin]

ribol said:

Had the same conversation with Sunninghill about the TVR scheme. Reading in between the lines unless TVRs start spending more time on the road than off it very shortly it will not be worth their while running the scheme any longer. Then we will all get shafted! Ivan

[NEvin]

ribol said:

Had the same conversation with Sunninghill about the TVR scheme. Reading in between the lines unless TVRs start spending more time on the road than off it very shortly it will not be worth their while running the scheme any longer. Then we will all get shafted! Ivan

Sorry, did not mean to crash and not trying to shaft other people's insurance obviously. Not like mine is even remotely cheap now either. Will endeavour to do better in the future.

[NEvin]

Had the quote for the work. £7400 for the cracked bumper repair and respray

Also had approval from the insurance company to go ahead with the work so should be ready in 6-8 weeks

But at least it is getting fixed and it is a type of accident which I will not be having again

[NEvin]

paulsmith said:

PLACE IN NORTH LONDON TO FIX .......sorry to hear you hit a bush!! but for fixing her up.......try.. TOWER VIEW RACE SERVICES, BLACKPOOL HOUSE, 67 WATERLOO ROAD, LONDON NW2 7TS..TEL = 0208 452 6922..good luck!!

Thanks Paul but insurance is paying for it and have heard really good reports about the place it is at just now. If I ever need work done off the insurance though I will give these guys a try.

[Nevin]

Turns out they are replacing the whole front end (which is nice) and respraying the entire car. Think a front end is quite expensive hence the cost.

[Nevin]

Nope, not back on the road yet. They only got the go ahead from the insurers last week and are waiting for the frontend to come in from TVR. Fortunately doesn't really make any difference to me at this point as I am about to go off to Moscow for 6 months.

Would have been nice to have a drive before I went though.

[Nevin]

Rico, flew to Moscow on Monday unfortunately so am stuck here for the foreseeable future. Would have been good to meet up for that drink. Car has now been fixed and is just awaiting painting. Can't wait to get it back, just a shame I won't have much opportunity to drive it until Christmas.

If you have that CD it would give me something to do out here. Can be sent to me at work (Herbert Smith, Exchange House, Primrose Street, London) and they'll get it out to me in the weekly bag.

Cheers

Nev

(P.S. Personal emails won't reach me for a couple of weeks until I get my PC shipped out)