I'm inclined to agree with you John but if you drive like that in most of
SoCal you will literally never get to where you are trying to go- at least
until the traffic dies off after 10 p.m.

Cya,
Robert

----- Original Message -----
From: "John Rodgers" <inua@CHARTER.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, January 26, 2006 6:04 AM
Subject: Re: A kid in Honda crunched my 87 syncro yesterday/ body damage
pics

> The General Pulic is comprised of at least some complete idiots!!
>
> This incident, and the multi-vehicle pileups are purely and simply the
> result of running to close to the vehicle in front and to fast
> for the conditions. Simple as that.
>
> I try my best to drive by the 3 second rule. When the car in front
> passes a certain mark along the highway, I adjust my speed so it takes
> the long count of three for me to pass the same mark. On dry pavement ,
> no matter how fast we are traveling, it keeps the distance right  for
> stopping safety.  On wet pavement I step that up to a long count of
> five.  Ice and snow - a whole 'nother matter. Varies with temperature
> and snow conditions. But generally "well back" works.  When some idiot
> wants to "fill in the gap" in front of  me and comes running up real
> fast and then has to put on the brakes -- I let him have the space and I
> back off. I won't argue about his being a complete idiot, I know he is a
> complete idiot!
>
> Regards.
>
> John Rodgers
> 88 GL Driver
>
> Doug F wrote:
>
>>I fortunately survived the experience of having a young 22 yr old dude
>>pile
>>drive his girlfriend's late model Honda accord into the left rear of my 87
>>syncro to westy conversion yesterday afternoon.
>>
>>I was sitting at a stop light that had just changed to green, just put the
>>clutch in and put my 87 syncro into 1st ready to roll, when I heard the
>>loud
>>sound of tires screeching behind me. Looked up in the mirror to see a
>>Honda
>>crossed up and skidding towards me at a pretty high rate. I looked to see
>>if
>>I could gas it and pull to the right to dodge him but I left no room!
>>(stupid me) I said in my head "here it comes....and here goes my bus" then
>>"WHAM" and he bounced off me and into the center turn lane which he was
>>trying to steer into, but lacked the driving experience to take his foot
>>off
>>the brake during a skid, to steer.
>>
>>Its a 35mph blvd and he was likely doing 50-60 before he realized the cars
>>ahead were "stopped" at the green light. (according to witness)
>>He left a huge skid mark on the blvd and I estimate he hit me going 25 to
>>30mph.
>>His Honda was a total I believe
>>
>>My syncro has 15s with 215/75s so it sits up pretty high.
>>The Honda went under my bumper to a large degree.
>>In looking at the damage to my van. It looks like the main impact was
>>placed
>>square on the SA trailer hitch corner where it enters the frame of the
>>vanagon. The blow pretty much exploded my late fiberglass bumper I had on
>>the rear of my 87. The hitch seems to not be bent only the tabs for
>>mounting
>>the bumper to it were bent.
>>It destroyed  bumper and ripped the rear apron and rear fender shirting
>>pretty badly.
>>
>>He completely tore his plastic bumper and support metal off of his car and
>>both ended up sticking out my fender well like a fishing poles. It
>>destroyed
>>the whole right front of his car buckled the hood and pushed the radiator
>>carrier back into the engine. His right front wheel was broken loose from
>>the chassis.
>>
>>I was very surprised to see that it didn't bend the frame member tube on
>>my
>>left side that the hitch bolts into. It "seems" to be intact.
>>Vanagons are tough. I was also lucky he was not in a Lincoln Navigator
>>btw!
>>
>>My taillight and metal behind it and the whole lower corner of my bus is
>>tweaked. It looks like a clip will have to be welded in as well as left
>>rear
>>fender skirt. It will never be the same as it was. The exhaust system also
>>took a blow.  He may have struck the rear wheel but it tracks true and the
>>wheel runs true. Alignment certainly in order.
>>
>>Any tips on dealing with insurance co's on getting properly compensated on
>>an old classic bus, parts avail on factory sheet metal, etc would be
>>greatly
>>appreciated.
>>
>>I felt bad for the kid, he was not wearing a seat belt, even though the
>>air
>>bags deployed he cut his head badly, he was driving on a suspended with
>>warrants, just had a baby in Dec. had his hip hop music blaring when his
>>car
>>was crashed and some folks were yelling at him about turning that sh*t
>>off!
>>I hate it too, but is was not the time or place to worry bout it imho.
>>
>>Here's some pics of my rig  and a video link of a CRAZY series of crashes
>>on
>>a freeway in L.A. about a 7 car pile up. It shows just how easy it is for
>>folks to get mixed up into it and how unsafe it is to be on the freeway
>>stopped.
>>
>>
>>Be careful out there and watch out for the "other guy".
>>
>>Peace
>>Doug
>>
>>Pics:
>>
>>http://users.ca.astound.net/dougfayne/crunch1.JPG
>>
>>http://users.ca.astound.net/dougfayne/crunch2.JPG
>>
>>http://users.ca.astound.net/dougfayne/crunch3.JPG
>>
>>http://users.ca.astound.net/dougfayne/crunch3.JPG
>>
>>http://users.ca.astound.net/dougfayne/peoplearenotpayingattention.wmv
>>
>>
>>
>>