st st bonnet hinges, and....

[Griffinr]

Tyre grip can reduce dramatically with age, mine were only 4 years old when I had a similar event but thankfully missed the more solid bits of scenery. Yes, I was a bit heavy on the load pedal but I hadn't realised how bad the tyres had got till I drove on the new ones.

[magpies]

Maybe time to fit a wide open hinges system. There is a thread on here somewhere.

[mk1fan]

Details can be found in this thread. Read on past it though as on of the figures is wrong and corrected.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[Kitchski]

Got a set of bonnet hinges here which I was keeping as spares, but you probably need them more than me!

[themee]

Glad your ok Andy and hope not too much damage done. Could have been a lot worse,other traffic involved etc.....

[AutoAndy]

Thank you guys...overwhelmed by the good feeling and offers of help/parts...even though it was my fault (apparently that's an insurance term).

I have a body shop recommended by Matt Smith who can quote to the insurer and hopefully repair the GRP bits and sub-contract the mechanics to him...so it should be better than before I crashed it...I hope they can put the stripes back on after repainting!

I might not need the hinges after all...I have yet to look properly in day-light, but they may be OK, just actually ripped out of the GRP

The tyres are Avons, note sure of manuf dates, but I got them in 2010 and they have 5mm tread left (a little more on the fronts )

[v8s4me]

AutoAndy said:

..... tyres are Avons, note sure of manuf dates, but I got them in 2010 and they have 5mm tread left (a little more on the fronts )

Again, similar to me. Aging tyres, rubber a bit hard, heavy rain, slippery surface, too much right foot, too little skill (but not in your case of course) and the same result...



I think mine was a lot worse from your description so chin up/. Just think of all the shinny new paint

[geappleton]

Hi if you are still looking for s/ steel hinges I have take over from Norman and are manufacturing them . IF you want a set pm me.

Graham

[Griffinr]

AutoAndy said:

The tyres are Avons, note sure of manuf dates, but I got them in 2010 and they have 5mm tread left (a little more on the fronts )

Its really the compound that provides the grip, the tread just clears the water to allow the rubber to work.
I noticed before my incident that I was getting front wheel lockups in the wet in "normal" driving but just put it down to slippy roads. Since having the new tyres (Dunlop) I get no lockups unless really trying.

[Longers]

Nightmare for you Andy

Same thing happened to me early in the first winter with my first S way back in 1997... In addition to your bonnet problems I also demolished a complete front corner - buckled a wheel, suspension trashed, rad, etc. It was almost a write off back then when S2 values were nearer £10k!

Hopefully yours will soon be sorted

[Top Gear TVR]

andy is this A11 travelling North near the 'Stag'?

http://thumbsnap.com/f/zyPZVDoj

[AutoAndy]

Top Gear TVR said:

andy is this A11 travelling North near the 'Stag'?

http://thumbsnap.com/f/zyPZVDoj

Yep...watch out for dowse spill ages there!!!

[Top Gear TVR]

I saw a another car spin there recently - cobra

[AutoAndy]

And....... I'm back in the room...!



...car repaired..the bonnet has never been so good!

Had to get the tyre pressures down from 40psi to 25 and it drove much better...and had to test it...obviously



Now need some events to get to for December ....any ideas

[phillpot]

AutoAndy said:

Now need some events to get to for December ....any ideas

Fancy a decent Breakfast?



Good to see tyou back on the road Andy

[glenrobbo]

Welcome back Andy

I notice that your wrists have grown quite hairy during your lay-off. If I were you I'd trim them a bit

[magpies]

welcome back Andy

40 psi is a bit high! can't think of a car that would need that much!

[Scoobimax]

Great news Andy - you need a EuroTour to look forward too next year now.

[glenrobbo]

magpies said:

welcome back Andy

40 psi is a bit high! can't think of a car that would need that much!

The 40psi would go some way to prevent flat-spotting of the tyres if the car is stood for a long time without stands.

[v8s4me]

Made the steering nice and light though didn't it?

Good to see you back on the road, well done