road trip gone bad... - LotusTalk

nvrblu · 09-29-2007, 03:27 PM

I drove through Durango and across the mountains to Boulder two days ago. Yesterday, I was hit by a motorocycle while I was making a left turn. The other guy crossed a double-yellow to pass me and a few other cars... I turned left... he slammed into my left rear wheel.

Toe link is broken, wheel is damaged, and the rear clam is messed up behind the tire area and a few scratches across the top of the tail.

The guy on the bike got up and walked to the side of the road by the time I got out of my car. He was cited for wreckless driving.

My car is at Denver Ferrari & Exotics at the moment... I'm stranded in Niwot, CO. I plan to get the car into drivable condition and have it shipped back to AZ for repairs.

It was a great trip until 1:25 PM on 9/28/07.

I caught a few photo of the damage, the rider, and his 1978 Kawasaki KZ1000.

I have limited internet access... more to come when I get back home Monday or Tuesday.

nvrblu · 10-01-2007, 11:58 PM

I just flew home from Denver a couple of hours ago. I had my car towed to Ferrari of Denver to have it checked out. The damage is repairable. The motorcyclist's insurance company seems to be doing what they can to satisfy me and get my car back on the road. They're going to ship it back to Arizona for repairs so I don't have to fly back to Denver to drive it home... the weather by that time could make it a very dangerous trip.

Here are some photos I shot with my cell phone camera...

First... damage to my Elise.
Second... scene of accident. I was making a left turn. The wet spot is fuel from his bike. I helped him lift it so he could roll it to the side of the road.
Third... clutch housing was the worst damage on his bike.
Fourth... the biker... refused medical exam (was wearing helmet and leather jacket). Physically, he was probably okay. No injuries to anyone?

holmz · 10-02-2007, 12:00 AM

Shame about the trip - but all things considered - everyone came out pretty good.
I could have been a bit worse...

nvrblu · 10-02-2007, 12:06 AM

Two days earlier... I had a really nice drive from my home in Mesa, AZ, up to Durango and then across Wolf Creek Pass. I reached the pass right at sunset. This photo is from about 10 miles below the pass on the west side. I had already seen several deer and a couple of elk very close to the road.

nvrblu · 10-02-2007, 12:09 AM

Here's another photo looking to the west. The sun had just set.

holmz · 10-02-2007, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nvrblu

Two days earlier... I had a really nice drive from my home in Mesa, AZ, up to Durango and then across Wolf Creek Pass. I reached the pass right at sunset. This photo is from about 10 miles below the pass on the west side. I had already seen several deer and a couple of elk very close to the road.

I drove across the 89(?) a few times... Once in tec-nos-pos I saw (one of) the beautiful women I have ever seen in the gas station there.

But the photo looks similar to the area near Chama - which is quite picturesque in a more scenic way. I just can't recall if wolf creek pass is the one that the toltec RR goes up or not.
It is all beautiful country though.

nvrblu · 10-02-2007, 12:16 AM

The drive to the top of the pass was fun... speed limit was 45 but there was no traffic. I was able to run around 4000 to 4500 rpm in 4th all the way to the top. I just kept a very close watch for wildlife. When I came over the top of the pass, I was awed by the rising Harvest Moon -- it was just coming up over the mountains to the east. I pulled off around the Wolf Creek ski area and took a couple of photos. It was too dark to stop and take more photos on the way down, but I could tell the east side was really beautiful... it followed the creek down a very windy road and passed through a couple of tunnels and snow sheds.

nvrblu · 10-02-2007, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by holmz

I drove across the 89(?) a few times... Once in tec-nos-pos I saw (one of) the beautiful women I have ever seen in the gas station there.

But the photo looks similar to the area near Chama - which is quite picturesque in a more scenic way. I just can't recall if wolf creek pass is the one that the toltec RR goes up or not.
It is all beautiful country though.

I did the Cumbers & Toltec RR trip about 15 years ago. I think it's about 50 or 60 miles ESE of Wolf Creek Pass.

ajp33 · 10-02-2007, 05:33 AM

Sorry to hear your news but glad both of you are OK.

I hope your baby gets repaired really soon.

Cardinal · 10-02-2007, 06:48 AM

At least you are OK.

I like how the motorcycle driver looks like a puppy who just got caught messing on the rug.

RoadDad · 10-02-2007, 07:31 AM

I'm glad everyone's ok.

nvrblu · 10-02-2007, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cardinal

At least you are OK.

I like how the motorcycle driver looks like a puppy who just got caught messing on the rug.

I don't know what was going through his mind as I saw him walking slowly across the road. I asked him if he was okay but he didn't speak. A Boulder County Sheriff's vehicle arrived within a minute of the accident -- just happened to be driving by. A few minutes later I started talking with the guy and he said "I kept saying to myself, don't turn left, don't turn left...". The officer told us not to talk to each other. My passenger overheard the guy ask the officer if he could leave because he was on his way to sign closing papers on a house. The guy on the bike was definitely having a bad day

SKYVUE · 10-02-2007, 08:48 AM

Steve,

It could've been a lot worse, it will turn out ok. Let us know what happens with your Elise. It's good that you are physically OK.

It's too bad that the lower rear clam is a separate part that can be replaced easily. Unfortunately, it may be time for a new rear clam. If I was redesigning, there would be inexpensive rear and front panels made of high impact plastic that can be easily replaced. The structural bumpers would be underneath. The new panels would take a beating for bumping a concrete parking stop, driveway scrapes, 5 mph impacts etc. But nothing can help a larger vehicle (SUV, 18-wheeler or a Sherman tank) that hits the Elise

Great photos, epecially the rising moon!

--Hal

dasmoofler · 10-02-2007, 09:38 AM

That dude looks like the killer guy in Fargo. Could have been much worse.

iwilson · 10-09-2007, 03:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nvrblu

Here's another photo looking to the west. The sun had just set.

That photo is scary

It triggered a vague memory of when I drove my S1 Elise across the US on my way to New Zealand in 2005.

A bit of digging revealed this photo

From this post http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/show...&postcount=193

Weather conditions weren't the best when I crossed the pass....

shay2nak · 10-09-2007, 01:25 PM

i'm glad you're ok and that you didn't spin around and hit something else from the impact.

charliex · 10-09-2007, 01:28 PM

sorry to hear about the crash, glad everyones ok, nice scenery though.

nvrblu · 10-09-2007, 02:15 PM

I had my car towed (flatbed) to Ferrari of Denver about 40 miles south of the scene (FoD is a Lotus dealer). That was a Friday. It was picked up the following Tuesday by Klode's Salvage and stored on their lot. It sat there until Thursday when I was picked up by Accelerated (auto transport company). When I checked yesterday (Monday) the transport was still in Colorado to pick up more cars. When I called Accelerated, they said expected delivery to Scottsdale (I'm have repairs done by Scottsdale Lotus) would probably be Wednesday or Thursday.

Man! Two weeks before repairs can even be started!!! I hope there's not additional damage done during transport.

John · 10-09-2007, 08:54 PM

Damage looks near identical to mine... good luck with your repair!

nvrblu · 10-10-2007, 04:57 PM

My Elise is now at Scottsdale Lotus. I just got back from there. I unloaded the stuff I left inside (too much to carry on a plane). They had already received the new rear clam. I should have my car back in about 2 weeks

Some time during transport, though, additional damage occurred. It's not bad as far as I can tell, but it's something I feel should be fixed. I'm guessing that it happened when the car was transported by Klode's Salvage to their storage area before it was picked up by Accelerated for transport to Scottsdale.

The accident damaged the rear clam on the left side. When I saw the car today, the right side was also damaged.

I've been very careful and didn't have a single scratch on the front clam. Now it is scratched! The front lip is scraped down to the fiber. I speculate that Klode's winched it onto a flatbed without using any additional ramps. Perhaps the new rear clam damage was from strapping the right-rear wheel to the back of the truck???

Who should be responsible for this from my perspective? The insurance company who hired Klode's?

09-29-2007, 03:27 PM	#1 (permalink)
nvrblu ... _ . ..._ . Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 3,386	road trip gone bad... I drove through Durango and across the mountains to Boulder two days ago. Yesterday, I was hit by a motorocycle while I was making a left turn. The other guy crossed a double-yellow to pass me and a few other cars... I turned left... he slammed into my left rear wheel. Toe link is broken, wheel is damaged, and the rear clam is messed up behind the tire area and a few scratches across the top of the tail. The guy on the bike got up and walked to the side of the road by the time I got out of my car. He was cited for wreckless driving. My car is at Denver Ferrari & Exotics at the moment... I'm stranded in Niwot, CO. I plan to get the car into drivable condition and have it shipped back to AZ for repairs. It was a great trip until 1:25 PM on 9/28/07. I caught a few photo of the damage, the rider, and his 1978 Kawasaki KZ1000. I have limited internet access... more to come when I get back home Monday or Tuesday. __________________ Steve -- '05 Laser Blue, Biscuit, Sport/Touring, Starshield

10-01-2007, 11:58 PM	#2 (permalink)
nvrblu ... _ . ..._ . Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 3,386	I just flew home from Denver a couple of hours ago. I had my car towed to Ferrari of Denver to have it checked out. The damage is repairable. The motorcyclist's insurance company seems to be doing what they can to satisfy me and get my car back on the road. They're going to ship it back to Arizona for repairs so I don't have to fly back to Denver to drive it home... the weather by that time could make it a very dangerous trip. Here are some photos I shot with my cell phone camera... First... damage to my Elise. Second... scene of accident. I was making a left turn. The wet spot is fuel from his bike. I helped him lift it so he could roll it to the side of the road. Third... clutch housing was the worst damage on his bike. Fourth... the biker... refused medical exam (was wearing helmet and leather jacket). Physically, he was probably okay. No injuries to anyone? Attached Images __________________ Steve -- '05 Laser Blue, Biscuit, Sport/Touring, Starshield

10-02-2007, 12:06 AM	#4 (permalink)
nvrblu ... _ . ..._ . Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 3,386	Two days earlier... I had a really nice drive from my home in Mesa, AZ, up to Durango and then across Wolf Creek Pass. I reached the pass right at sunset. This photo is from about 10 miles below the pass on the west side. I had already seen several deer and a couple of elk very close to the road. Attached Images __________________ Steve -- '05 Laser Blue, Biscuit, Sport/Touring, Starshield

10-02-2007, 12:09 AM	#5 (permalink)
nvrblu ... _ . ..._ . Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 3,386	Here's another photo looking to the west. The sun had just set. Attached Images __________________ Steve -- '05 Laser Blue, Biscuit, Sport/Touring, Starshield

10-02-2007, 12:16 AM	#7 (permalink)
nvrblu ... _ . ..._ . Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 3,386	The drive to the top of the pass was fun... speed limit was 45 but there was no traffic. I was able to run around 4000 to 4500 rpm in 4th all the way to the top. I just kept a very close watch for wildlife. When I came over the top of the pass, I was awed by the rising Harvest Moon -- it was just coming up over the mountains to the east. I pulled off around the Wolf Creek ski area and took a couple of photos. It was too dark to stop and take more photos on the way down, but I could tell the east side was really beautiful... it followed the creek down a very windy road and passed through a couple of tunnels and snow sheds. Attached Images __________________ Steve -- '05 Laser Blue, Biscuit, Sport/Touring, Starshield

10-02-2007, 12:00 AM	#3 (permalink)
holmz Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Antipodes Posts: 625 Images: 5	Shame about the trip - but all things considered - everyone came out pretty good. I could have been a bit worse...

10-02-2007, 05:33 AM	#9 (permalink)
ajp33 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Sunny Pittsburgh Posts: 672	Sorry to hear your news but glad both of you are OK. I hope your baby gets repaired really soon.

10-02-2007, 06:48 AM	#10 (permalink)
Cardinal Ex and future Lotus owner Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Metro North Boston Posts: 4,036 Images: 8	At least you are OK. I like how the motorcycle driver looks like a puppy who just got caught messing on the rug.

10-02-2007, 07:31 AM	#11 (permalink)
RoadDad perfututum futūtor Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 6,032	I'm glad everyone's ok. __________________ "Really, you want to maintain a semblance of professionalism since you represent Lotus. Me... I don't need to. Bite me." -Randy

10-02-2007, 08:48 AM	#13 (permalink)
SKYVUE SKYVUE Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Thousand Oaks, CA Posts: 2,132 Images: 1	Steve, It could've been a lot worse, it will turn out ok. Let us know what happens with your Elise. It's good that you are physically OK. It's too bad that the lower rear clam is a separate part that can be replaced easily. Unfortunately, it may be time for a new rear clam. If I was redesigning, there would be inexpensive rear and front panels made of high impact plastic that can be easily replaced. The structural bumpers would be underneath. The new panels would take a beating for bumping a concrete parking stop, driveway scrapes, 5 mph impacts etc. But nothing can help a larger vehicle (SUV, 18-wheeler or a Sherman tank) that hits the Elise Great photos, epecially the rising moon! --Hal __________________ --SKYVUE Resident Astronomer '05 Saffron Elise,SOLD! '07 CaymanS

10-02-2007, 09:38 AM	#14 (permalink)
dasmoofler Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: SE WI Posts: 3,088	That dude looks like the killer guy in Fargo. Could have been much worse.

10-09-2007, 01:25 PM	#16 (permalink)
shay2nak I <3 chicken, I <3 liver Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Land of da 1000 Oaks, CA Posts: 15,056	i'm glad you're ok and that you didn't spin around and hit something else from the impact. __________________ save ~10 lbs gain 1 hp EQ: Y=(190X) / (1984-X) where Y is (HP) and X is (lbs) '07 EXIGE S * MY CAR ** VIDEOS! '08 ACURA TSX 6-speed http://www.makeNYNYagain.com

10-09-2007, 01:28 PM	#17 (permalink)
charliex OSX Black hat Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Las Vegas , NV Posts: 9,935	sorry to hear about the crash, glad everyones ok, nice scenery though. __________________ Black Exige S - http://goth.am 265 Mule / Elan M100.ECU Tuning, http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39660 West Coast Lotus Meet - Las Vegas - November 6-9 2009 http://www.westcoastlotus.com/

10-09-2007, 02:15 PM	#18 (permalink)
nvrblu ... _ . ..._ . Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 3,386	I had my car towed (flatbed) to Ferrari of Denver about 40 miles south of the scene (FoD is a Lotus dealer). That was a Friday. It was picked up the following Tuesday by Klode's Salvage and stored on their lot. It sat there until Thursday when I was picked up by Accelerated (auto transport company). When I checked yesterday (Monday) the transport was still in Colorado to pick up more cars. When I called Accelerated, they said expected delivery to Scottsdale (I'm have repairs done by Scottsdale Lotus) would probably be Wednesday or Thursday. Man! Two weeks before repairs can even be started!!! I hope there's not additional damage done during transport. __________________ Steve -- '05 Laser Blue, Biscuit, Sport/Touring, Starshield

10-09-2007, 08:54 PM	#19 (permalink)
John :panic: Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,795	Damage looks near identical to mine... good luck with your repair! __________________ 05 "Elixige" w/ Stuff - FOR SALE 07 Mazda 3S - 4-wheeled commuter 99 YZF-600R - 2-wheeled commuter

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10-10-2007, 04:57 PM	#20 (permalink)
nvrblu ... _ . ..._ . Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 3,386	My Elise is now at Scottsdale Lotus. I just got back from there. I unloaded the stuff I left inside (too much to carry on a plane). They had already received the new rear clam. I should have my car back in about 2 weeks Some time during transport, though, additional damage occurred. It's not bad as far as I can tell, but it's something I feel should be fixed. I'm guessing that it happened when the car was transported by Klode's Salvage to their storage area before it was picked up by Accelerated for transport to Scottsdale. The accident damaged the rear clam on the left side. When I saw the car today, the right side was also damaged. I've been very careful and didn't have a single scratch on the front clam. Now it is scratched! The front lip is scraped down to the fiber. I speculate that Klode's winched it onto a flatbed without using any additional ramps. Perhaps the new rear clam damage was from strapping the right-rear wheel to the back of the truck??? Who should be responsible for this from my perspective? The insurance company who hired Klode's? __________________ Steve -- '05 Laser Blue, Biscuit, Sport/Touring, Starshield