Road Warrior Photographs

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Amskeptic
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Road Warrior Photographs

Post by Amskeptic » Mon Aug 17, 2009 8:14 pm

That is my left front tire track at impact. I was half on the shoulder, but she had panicked and took my escape route. Note how close the crest of the road is to the point of impact.
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This is her Mitsubishi Eclipse, rear axle torn off. The fire chief said she was more critically hurt but I do not know the extent. She was conscious and apologetic:
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My bus ended up on a barbed wire fence up an embankment:
This is the bus at the impound:

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Footwell:
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Outside view:
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At the impound yard, engine started right up, all lights (save left front) and tachometer still worked.
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Fire chief said we were lucky. She was doing about 65 or so, no braking marks noted, I was doing between 45 and 50, but had hit the brakes as I swerved right. Even so, the force of the crash was violent enough to bend my rear seat just from the small plastic toolbox and boxed cylinder heads from Riverside, they were packed in tightly enough that they did not have room to shift, they just bent the seatback. My big toolbox hit the partition behind the passenger seat.
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So I am heartsick. But there was some effective crash engineering. Quadratruckseite and I were marvelling at how this thing worked in the crash with those frame rails participating mightily to give me another day:
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This was the wrong end to a great car.
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BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles

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whc03grady
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Post by whc03grady » Mon Aug 17, 2009 8:25 pm

Where did this happen?
Ludwig--1974 Westfalia, 2.0L (GD035193), Solex 34PDSIT-2/3 carburetors.
Gertie--1971 Squareback, 1600cc with Bosch D-Jetronic fuel injection from a '72 (E brain).
Read about their adventures:
http://www.ludwigandgertie.blogspot.com

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Post by Quadratrückseite » Mon Aug 17, 2009 8:34 pm

Here's a few more pics.
After a great day resurrecting my bus:
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Getting ready to go:
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Last pic of the Road Warrior, on the way (about 30-45 min. pre-crash):
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Kind of hard to see, but the force of the crash threw the stuff in the back into the rear seat, bending it.
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"The bus is the real talisman. It's the thing that runs through all of this history. It's not a thing anybody owns or controls. No matter how peeved you get with people, the bus always makes your heart jump. Everybody was attached to it."
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Post by pjalau » Mon Aug 17, 2009 9:14 pm

Ouch. It hurts to look at it. Here's a pic of the Road Warrior doing what it does (did) at Maupin a year back.

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Here's hoping that I'll never see mine in the same condition.

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Post by Amskeptic » Mon Aug 17, 2009 9:37 pm

pjalau wrote:Here's hoping that I'll never see mine in the same condition.
I used to think that we have more control over our outcomes than I do now. I could not second guess that girl's wild panic. Her last swerve probably saved my life.
Colin
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles

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Post by Bookwus » Mon Aug 17, 2009 9:45 pm

Hiya CK,

Good to see you with a smile on your face. Even though you must have a lot of mixed feelings right now.

Any chance at all of saving the Bus?

There is something to be said for German engineering.
I have cancer.

It does not have me.

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satchmo
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Post by satchmo » Mon Aug 17, 2009 10:16 pm

I just saw this post. Those pics give me a sick feeling, Colin, especially the one with the headlight bucket infringing on your feet and legs. Reminds me of my own accident.

The bumper metal looks like aluminum foil. It is lucky she had a small and low car, so the bumper and frame rails could do their duty.

I am glad you are okay. I hope the young lady who hit you is okay too.

The Road Warrior will be missed. It is the end of an era.

Tim
By three methods we may learn wisdom:
First, by reflection, which is noblest;
second, by immitation, which is easiest;
and third, by experience, which is bitterest. -Confucius

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tristessa
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Post by tristessa » Mon Aug 17, 2009 10:21 pm

Holy isht. Amazing, both in how well it took the crash -- the fact that you're still among us and relatively unscathed -- and how everything behind the "B" pillar looks unscathed on the driver's side.

.. stretched Bus?
Remember, only YOU can prevent narcissism!

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Post by zblair » Mon Aug 17, 2009 10:43 pm

Looking at those photos made me cry. Wow.

After seeing these photos, I am just so grateful you are alive and okay Colin. Even with the hospital bracelet still attached to your wrist there. It really does just take a second for life to change forever.
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Amskeptic
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Post by Amskeptic » Mon Aug 17, 2009 10:52 pm

zblair wrote:It really does just take a second for life to change forever.
And I think it has.
Colin
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles

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Ryno
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Post by Ryno » Tue Aug 18, 2009 4:36 am

christ man. thank goodness you're OK. Scary.
Ryan

1985 Westfalia

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Post by bretski » Tue Aug 18, 2009 6:50 am

:pale:

RIP, Road Warrior. :salute:

...and to you, Colin: Celebrate the wonderful mystery of life that we were discussing just a couple of days ago. If ever there were a timely conversation...

-Bret

PS - Where exactly did the wreck occur?
1978 Deluxe Westfalia - "Klaus"

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Post by daninghram » Tue Aug 18, 2009 7:31 am

Colin you were lucky, glad to see you walk away from that.
the other car shows how serious this could have been, driving to the right may have saved you from being hurt.
You kids get off my lawn

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hambone
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Post by hambone » Tue Aug 18, 2009 7:36 am

Hard not to start bawling at work... :pale:
Thank god you survived.

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fancy pants
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Post by fancy pants » Tue Aug 18, 2009 8:05 am

Oh man, Colin. I am so relieved that you are OK. I am in shock...
John
76 Bus - Riviera
81 Mercedes 300TD
05 Golf TDI

Gone but not forgotten:
1972 Bus
1973 Squareback


We are not going to stick anything that dirty down in your hole - Colin, 6/30/2010

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