Discussion
I found some ice on Sunday morning.
I was going to meet a chap in Market Harborough, around 8.00am, taking it nice and steady with the temp reading two degrees, must've been doing 50 tops, came out of a double bend and the tail swung out. Nothing too dramatic, I corrected the skid, dropped the revs and expected Mr Grippy to come back, but off it went in the other direction. That was when someone put my world on fast forward. Snaking down the road for a good twenty yards before going into a spin (Tank slapper is a phrase I've just learned). At this point I admit, I just closed my eyes like a wuss and braced myself for impact and uttered an expletive or two for good measure.
Up the opposite kerb, along the verge, into the hedge and bought to an abrupt halt by an innocent little tree, which was lucky, because eight feet away was its big brother which would've been less willing to lie down like the little fella did.
The n/s rear wheel and wing met the tree, lost both tailpipes in the process, rear screen bust into three or four pieces and punched holes in the rear padded section above the bulkhead and the boot lid now opens at the front after both hinges ripped out.
After recovery to a nearby garage, I get a better look at the damage.
Mashed GRP always looks dramatic, so that wasn't too scary, but the n/s rear wishbone was ripped from the chassis - hard little tree! Taking a walk around the car, there are scary differences in panel lines, for example, different gaps below each screen pillar and paint crazing on the rollover hoop which would suggest some chassis distortion.
Sure enough, after having the car taken to TMS for assessment, they've decided it needs a little break by the seaside and S1X OK is off to Blackpool on Tuesday for a proper look-see at the factory.
The prognosis is either a body-off rebuild or a write off. Either way, it looks like I might be without the Tuscan for quite a while. One guy at TMS suggested Feb or March!
I took a heap of photographs (currently on hard disk) and if I knew how to post pics I would.
Any suggestions would be gratefully received.
Apologies for the long post, but once I started, it just came out. Oh, and another thing - there was a full tank of juice!
I was going to meet a chap in Market Harborough, around 8.00am, taking it nice and steady with the temp reading two degrees, must've been doing 50 tops, came out of a double bend and the tail swung out. Nothing too dramatic, I corrected the skid, dropped the revs and expected Mr Grippy to come back, but off it went in the other direction. That was when someone put my world on fast forward. Snaking down the road for a good twenty yards before going into a spin (Tank slapper is a phrase I've just learned). At this point I admit, I just closed my eyes like a wuss and braced myself for impact and uttered an expletive or two for good measure.
Up the opposite kerb, along the verge, into the hedge and bought to an abrupt halt by an innocent little tree, which was lucky, because eight feet away was its big brother which would've been less willing to lie down like the little fella did.
The n/s rear wheel and wing met the tree, lost both tailpipes in the process, rear screen bust into three or four pieces and punched holes in the rear padded section above the bulkhead and the boot lid now opens at the front after both hinges ripped out.
After recovery to a nearby garage, I get a better look at the damage.
Mashed GRP always looks dramatic, so that wasn't too scary, but the n/s rear wishbone was ripped from the chassis - hard little tree! Taking a walk around the car, there are scary differences in panel lines, for example, different gaps below each screen pillar and paint crazing on the rollover hoop which would suggest some chassis distortion.
Sure enough, after having the car taken to TMS for assessment, they've decided it needs a little break by the seaside and S1X OK is off to Blackpool on Tuesday for a proper look-see at the factory.
The prognosis is either a body-off rebuild or a write off. Either way, it looks like I might be without the Tuscan for quite a while. One guy at TMS suggested Feb or March!
I took a heap of photographs (currently on hard disk) and if I knew how to post pics I would.
Any suggestions would be gratefully received.
Apologies for the long post, but once I started, it just came out. Oh, and another thing - there was a full tank of juice!
Unlucky mate, I am sure you will get it all sorted just in time for the nice weather next year.
Posting pics...you need to upload them to a web site and then use the formatting codes (on the left below the smilies)to point to where your pictures are. Or you could just update your profile and post them on that.
Posting pics...you need to upload them to a web site and then use the formatting codes (on the left below the smilies)to point to where your pictures are. Or you could just update your profile and post them on that.
Yup! Ouch!
I had a little braking incident myself recently.
Making progress along narrow country road when parked car oncoming car and cold early morning wet leaf covered road came to play.
I thought. plenty of time to stop. hoof brakes abit. Arse end goes awol towards ditch ( in a straight line?) BANG car gyrates anti clockwise BANG car stops (eventually). I get out no huge damage from above. But both wheels bin eating sileage. look closer under and crumpleds GRP but only under the nose. bstrgddhfgs. GRP not shattered just mildly cracked.. Had tyres checked properly. no damage but the scraped wheels scraped but OK (anyone got some 16" spares?)
This happened at 50 plus a good bit MPH. And they Tusc isn't safe? I think it is.
I had a little braking incident myself recently.
Making progress along narrow country road when parked car oncoming car and cold early morning wet leaf covered road came to play.
I thought. plenty of time to stop. hoof brakes abit. Arse end goes awol towards ditch ( in a straight line?) BANG car gyrates anti clockwise BANG car stops (eventually). I get out no huge damage from above. But both wheels bin eating sileage. look closer under and crumpleds GRP but only under the nose. bstrgddhfgs. GRP not shattered just mildly cracked.. Had tyres checked properly. no damage but the scraped wheels scraped but OK (anyone got some 16" spares?)
This happened at 50 plus a good bit MPH. And they Tusc isn't safe? I think it is.
Thanks for posting the pics, Chris.
It happened on the road between Lutterworth and Harborough between Theddingworth and Lubenham.
It's a nice stretch - when the weather's good.
Recovery was by Badger Motors of Lubenham who did a fine job.
Ironically, a few weeks ago I did two and a half days on HPC's course - wet/icey handling etc., and no, I'm not going to ask for my money back. As you rightly say Beano - worth every penny. Unfortunately, in this instance, there was very little I could do in time.
Thanks, Guys, for the encouraging words.
It happened on the road between Lutterworth and Harborough between Theddingworth and Lubenham.
It's a nice stretch - when the weather's good.
Recovery was by Badger Motors of Lubenham who did a fine job.
Ironically, a few weeks ago I did two and a half days on HPC's course - wet/icey handling etc., and no, I'm not going to ask for my money back. As you rightly say Beano - worth every penny. Unfortunately, in this instance, there was very little I could do in time.
Thanks, Guys, for the encouraging words.
tvrinbfg said:
CentralTVR will turn it around in six-eight weeks for you. Why not try them?
Thanks for the suggestion tvrinbfg, but if TMS don't feel they have a big enough hammer to straighten it out and the factory are happy to look at it, I'd rather it went that route and take longer to get it done. Not doubting Central's abilities, but now the ball is rolling, I'm happy to let it continue.
Looks like I have some time to kill. Now, where's that Playstation?
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