I crashed my car, its a right off.......
Discussion
First of all I want to say thanks and a real big sorry to Dave (cockneydave PH, previous owner), Mark (MAC1) and mark and Chris Woodward (original builders).
I had the car just over three weeks and after looking and saving for two years I finally had the car with all the trimmings that I always wanted. After doing some work on the car on a sunny Saturday me and my mate (passenger) went for a drive to some round abouts near where I live to practice some cornering. As I was travelling coast bound on the A2 under the M25 at about 70mph middle lane the steering come off its QR boss making me loose all steering. I veered across the fast lane and after slamming on the brakes I hit the central reservation at about 60mph. It ripped the front right wheel clean off which in turn hit the front upright of my roll cage and over the top of our heads leaving a small nic out of the top of my crash hat. We span 360 spraying bits of car all over the road. Luckily We hit no other cars and no one ploughed into the back of us.
We had only minor cuts, bruises and aches but other than that very lucky. I am obviously devastated about this and still cant believe that something more or less out of my control has happened. I understand that I should of rechecked or triple checked the QR boss but I had been moving the car all day and had driven 4 miles before it happened on a straight bit of road. I had a track day booked 4 days later at Brands which had to be cancelled.
Adrian Flux (KGM insurance) have been very nice to deal with allowing me to dictate how and where the car goes for repair but the assessor decided it to be a CAT B right off and they have taken the car. I managed to get a few 'choice' bits from the car but a lot more is reuseable. I could try and trace the car which would be hard but I dont really even want to see it anymore its too upsetting. I have been fully paid out and with the other parts to be sold will not be out of pocket. I was very sceptic that the insurance would give me a service but infact I am very happy with them and would use them again. I would still rather reverse time about 5 weeks and this never of happened.
So as it stands I have some parts to sell (Willwood brakes, Digidash, savage switches, power commander, mirrors and harnesses) which will go in classifieds soon but the main problem is I cant get insurance. I have now 4 accidents. 2 non fault and two fault. I also have a SP30. I’m 27 with no years no claims due to company car. I have tried all the companies in this months kit car mag an only one quoted me £1200 for the same car, the others wont touch me. I really want this car and have the money waiting: http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1202087.htm
But im not paying 1200 for insurance. Any advice or help would be grateful. Here are some pics any way:
In its true fine looking form:
After the accident:
Thanks again for your advice and I hope to be part of the kit car world again soon...
I had the car just over three weeks and after looking and saving for two years I finally had the car with all the trimmings that I always wanted. After doing some work on the car on a sunny Saturday me and my mate (passenger) went for a drive to some round abouts near where I live to practice some cornering. As I was travelling coast bound on the A2 under the M25 at about 70mph middle lane the steering come off its QR boss making me loose all steering. I veered across the fast lane and after slamming on the brakes I hit the central reservation at about 60mph. It ripped the front right wheel clean off which in turn hit the front upright of my roll cage and over the top of our heads leaving a small nic out of the top of my crash hat. We span 360 spraying bits of car all over the road. Luckily We hit no other cars and no one ploughed into the back of us.
We had only minor cuts, bruises and aches but other than that very lucky. I am obviously devastated about this and still cant believe that something more or less out of my control has happened. I understand that I should of rechecked or triple checked the QR boss but I had been moving the car all day and had driven 4 miles before it happened on a straight bit of road. I had a track day booked 4 days later at Brands which had to be cancelled.
Adrian Flux (KGM insurance) have been very nice to deal with allowing me to dictate how and where the car goes for repair but the assessor decided it to be a CAT B right off and they have taken the car. I managed to get a few 'choice' bits from the car but a lot more is reuseable. I could try and trace the car which would be hard but I dont really even want to see it anymore its too upsetting. I have been fully paid out and with the other parts to be sold will not be out of pocket. I was very sceptic that the insurance would give me a service but infact I am very happy with them and would use them again. I would still rather reverse time about 5 weeks and this never of happened.
So as it stands I have some parts to sell (Willwood brakes, Digidash, savage switches, power commander, mirrors and harnesses) which will go in classifieds soon but the main problem is I cant get insurance. I have now 4 accidents. 2 non fault and two fault. I also have a SP30. I’m 27 with no years no claims due to company car. I have tried all the companies in this months kit car mag an only one quoted me £1200 for the same car, the others wont touch me. I really want this car and have the money waiting: http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1202087.htm
But im not paying 1200 for insurance. Any advice or help would be grateful. Here are some pics any way:
In its true fine looking form:
After the accident:
Thanks again for your advice and I hope to be part of the kit car world again soon...
Edited by Bi22le on Thursday 24th September 16:11
and glad your ok.ShXX glad you ok.. I had a mnr with a zx9r engine in they are so driveable & make you want to DRIVE them i had a few close ones then decided to sell it on after a few months and a few close shaves with speed cameras (31 mph in a 30)
Im just glad your ok & the cage done its job however i missed mine a few weeks ago when the brighton speed trials was on...
Its is replacment is a Harley Davidson vrod nightrod
Im just glad your ok & the cage done its job however i missed mine a few weeks ago when the brighton speed trials was on...
Its is replacment is a Harley Davidson vrod nightrod
This is definatly an add for roll cages! Side inpact and roll over is one thng. Big bits of debris can also be deflected. QR bosses NEED TO BE CHECKED. Mine was a Willwood hex style. It is a tight fit and slides along way down the shaft before clicking in. I noticed it was hard to put on so made sure that I would never "just quickly attach" and alway double check it. I though I had done this that day but I could not of done. No defect or broken bits found. It just come straight off in my hands. One of the worst feelings in the world..
I dont hold the boss responsible but its not the best of designs.
I dont hold the boss responsible but its not the best of designs.
Wow, you were very lucky. Good job it was only the car that was damaged and that the insurance claim was quite painless.
I’d try and get the cheapest thing possible to insure and run that for a few years to build up some no claims and get another BEC.
Was there anything wrong with the boss? I have just fitted a Mountney Snap Off boss that locks on with a key so even if you knock the release it should still stay on. Even so, I will go home and make sure all the bolts are done up tightly.
I might be interested in your Wilwoods. Are they for use of the Sierra uprights and how much do you want for them?
I’d try and get the cheapest thing possible to insure and run that for a few years to build up some no claims and get another BEC.
Was there anything wrong with the boss? I have just fitted a Mountney Snap Off boss that locks on with a key so even if you knock the release it should still stay on. Even so, I will go home and make sure all the bolts are done up tightly.
I might be interested in your Wilwoods. Are they for use of the Sierra uprights and how much do you want for them?
That could have been me..... Last weekend I drove my mates Caterham Superlight R home off the Ferry from Zolder. In a rush as all the cars rolled off, I quickly stuck the steering wheel on ( never having done it before, I wasn't even the one that took it off ) and it did not feel right to me. it would not pull off, but it would not go solid either, there was a lot off play in it. I made sure I was constantly gently pushing on it. When we met up off the motorway i found out it was not on properly at all, and was lucky. I know of a Fury which was destroyed in similar circumstances to yours. I would never have a quick release boss. There should at least be an ignition cut rigged up so it will not start unless a contact is made. You were a very luck boy. Glad you survived.
Cheers for all the support peps. I didnt realise this is a common mistake. I will not make the mistake again but I have a horrible feeling someone else will. Im glad it didnt happen while going into a round about or off the other side of the motorway. So many possiblities bare not thinking about. I do feel lucky though. I bought £10 of lottery tickets due to my luck and won £10. I put £10 back on and won another £10. I put another £10 on and won....
nothing!!
Sums up the accident really. I was lucky but not quite lucky enough for it not to happen!
Thanks again for your help.
Oh and I have decided not to buy the other car. I could afford the insurance but feel I should lick my wounds over winter and get excited about a different car!
nothing!!
Sums up the accident really. I was lucky but not quite lucky enough for it not to happen!
Thanks again for your help.
Oh and I have decided not to buy the other car. I could afford the insurance but feel I should lick my wounds over winter and get excited about a different car!
Bi22le said:
Cheers for all the support peps. I didnt realise this is a common mistake. I will not make the mistake again but I have a horrible feeling someone else will. Im glad it didnt happen while going into a round about or off the other side of the motorway. So many possiblities bare not thinking about. I do feel lucky though. I bought £10 of lottery tickets due to my luck and won £10. I put £10 back on and won another £10. I put another £10 on and won....
nothing!!
Sums up the accident really. I was lucky but not quite lucky enough for it not to happen!
Thanks again for your help.
Oh and I have decided not to buy the other car. I could afford the insurance but feel I should lick my wounds over winter and get excited about a different car!
Normally i would never suggest waiting to buy a car if you have the cleared funds, but your right... i have been toying with a few more tweeks for my car, but as winter draws ever closer i am becoming ever so more cautious. I just fitted a nice air intake and it encourages me to drive faster for the noise nothing!!
Sums up the accident really. I was lucky but not quite lucky enough for it not to happen!
Thanks again for your help.
Oh and I have decided not to buy the other car. I could afford the insurance but feel I should lick my wounds over winter and get excited about a different car!
, silly i know, but only on the straight bits 
You where very lucky with the outcome of the crash, the fact that it occured where and when it did was very fortunate, these things can be life changing i suppose, and maybe you'll be wanting a VXR8 in 6 months..... Or a Z-cars Mini....best of luck with it all,
Gwiz
Feel for you on this one, wrote a kit car I had off last year myself. Took the insurance payoff and banked it for the time being. May yet do another kit but for the time being the money stays in the bank. Given the current economic climate seems easier than suddenly finding myself out of work, then trying to sell an unusual car .
It was a CAT B write off. I think this means that although I can change all of the broken parts for new ones it means there will be too many different parts to call it the same car. The build cost in parts only was about 8K. That is being over cautious with things like drive shafts and engine. I cant buy it back and use it as a track day car as it is a CAT B. You have to have a salvage liceince to get the whole car.
Blimey, very very lucky.
Shame but as they say s
t happens.
It is one reason I wouldn't fancy a seven type vehicle on the road, not enough around you for protection.
Don't let it put you off kits though, there's some very strong, still good fun kits out there, i'm currently doing a T5 conversion into a Phantom GTR, that should be awesome fun, and still safe
Shame but as they say s
t happens.It is one reason I wouldn't fancy a seven type vehicle on the road, not enough around you for protection.
Don't let it put you off kits though, there's some very strong, still good fun kits out there, i'm currently doing a T5 conversion into a Phantom GTR, that should be awesome fun, and still safe
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