Bye bye Lotus...
01 July 2011, 06:16 PM
#1
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Bye bye Lotus...
Well, after 25 years of driving and with a clean licence and zero accidents it happened last night.
Fortunately I was only doing around 50mph (NSL) but a near head-on with a Merc weighing probably 800kgs more than mine didn't bode well for my little Exige.
So, 6 weeks and about 1000 miles and that's it - gone.
I was fortunate in that I escaped with a busted shoulder, multitude of lacerations to my arms and face, good bruising to arms and legs, and had to endure 7 hours at A&E having fibre glass scrubbed (and I mean SCRUBBED!) out of the deep cuts.
Thank Heavens for Morphine.
I still don't remember much of what happened but hey, I'm still here.
http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/h...8/P7010352.jpg
http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/h...8/P7010355.jpg
Fortunately I was only doing around 50mph (NSL) but a near head-on with a Merc weighing probably 800kgs more than mine didn't bode well for my little Exige.
So, 6 weeks and about 1000 miles and that's it - gone.
I was fortunate in that I escaped with a busted shoulder, multitude of lacerations to my arms and face, good bruising to arms and legs, and had to endure 7 hours at A&E having fibre glass scrubbed (and I mean SCRUBBED!) out of the deep cuts.
Thank Heavens for Morphine.
I still don't remember much of what happened but hey, I'm still here.
http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/h...8/P7010352.jpg
http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/h...8/P7010355.jpg
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01 July 2011, 07:02 PM
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Hell's bells !
Glad you are reasonably intact !
Good luck with the recovery, and stay on track with the "toy cars" in the future.
dunx
P.S. Many years ago the local "nancy-boy" hairdresser had an Esprit, he hit a moped and it tore the whole front corner off...
Glad you are reasonably intact !
Good luck with the recovery, and stay on track with the "toy cars" in the future.
dunx
P.S. Many years ago the local "nancy-boy" hairdresser had an Esprit, he hit a moped and it tore the whole front corner off...
01 July 2011, 08:09 PM
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To be honest it's going to be hard to say whos fault it was.
A guy travelling behind the other car told the Police that he saw me come round the bend and then just saw a collision.
He also stated that neither me nor the other driver were driving erratically or fast.
I'll have to wait for the Police to do their investigations before we know who, if anyone, is going to be blamed.
I've just been back to the spot where it happened to find some memorabilia - part of my front spoiler for one, and have noticed the road is appallingly pot-holed and crumbling.
Anyway, I can't believe how badly air-bags can burn!
A guy travelling behind the other car told the Police that he saw me come round the bend and then just saw a collision.
He also stated that neither me nor the other driver were driving erratically or fast.
I'll have to wait for the Police to do their investigations before we know who, if anyone, is going to be blamed.
I've just been back to the spot where it happened to find some memorabilia - part of my front spoiler for one, and have noticed the road is appallingly pot-holed and crumbling.
Anyway, I can't believe how badly air-bags can burn!
01 July 2011, 09:00 PM
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So glad you are OK, that looks like it could have been so much worse if that Merc had gone into you just a few more inches over. Looked like a nice car, hope things work out 
02 July 2011, 08:52 PM
#24
Bugger, I take it from the fact you are posting that you are relatively ok ! sad about the car but glad to see you will still be posting, hope the other guys insurance sorts you out as they should !
03 July 2011, 12:43 PM
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Thanks for the replies and concerns, chaps - appreciated.
So nearly 3 days have passed and I'm feeling more devastated as time goes on (not to mention more pain at the moment).
It has genuinely scared the ****t out of me, and looking at the pics - as I can't stop doing - has certainly put me off having another Lotus.
I know this sort of thing doesn't happen that often but I just can't help thinking what would have been had one of my kids been travelling with me.
It fills me with dread.
The Merc had front end damage - bonnet, wing and the off-side front wheel/suspension was bust but the driver was able to open her door normally and walked out without a scratch.
The major downside and of greater concern to me was that she's apparently 10 weeks pregnant.
I'm not a religious man, but I'm praying for the safety of her unborn baby.
That was my first Lotus and even after the limited time I had with it I knew it was the car for me.
I'm just going to sit tight and wait for the Police and Insurance company to carry out their respective investigations before I decide what I do next.
I can't even at this moment apportion blame on either myself or the other driver as the country lane was quite narrow and, having gone back to the scene to collect a bit of car memorabilia (half the front spoiler) I noticed how very badly the road is rutted, pot-holed and crumbling away from the middle of each lane.
I also have the paranoia of people pointing the finger at 'the man in the flash sports car'.
I know it shouldn't really be, but how many times do we hear it?
So nearly 3 days have passed and I'm feeling more devastated as time goes on (not to mention more pain at the moment).
It has genuinely scared the ****t out of me, and looking at the pics - as I can't stop doing - has certainly put me off having another Lotus.
I know this sort of thing doesn't happen that often but I just can't help thinking what would have been had one of my kids been travelling with me.
It fills me with dread.
The Merc had front end damage - bonnet, wing and the off-side front wheel/suspension was bust but the driver was able to open her door normally and walked out without a scratch.
The major downside and of greater concern to me was that she's apparently 10 weeks pregnant.
I'm not a religious man, but I'm praying for the safety of her unborn baby.
That was my first Lotus and even after the limited time I had with it I knew it was the car for me.
I'm just going to sit tight and wait for the Police and Insurance company to carry out their respective investigations before I decide what I do next.
I can't even at this moment apportion blame on either myself or the other driver as the country lane was quite narrow and, having gone back to the scene to collect a bit of car memorabilia (half the front spoiler) I noticed how very badly the road is rutted, pot-holed and crumbling away from the middle of each lane.
I also have the paranoia of people pointing the finger at 'the man in the flash sports car'.
I know it shouldn't really be, but how many times do we hear it?
03 July 2011, 01:12 PM
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Just wondering, do you think you'd have come off any better in an Atom ?
When I had my single vehicle "bump" back in '95 it took me a year to regain my "bottle", and a further year to contemplate buying a classic Impreza. Don't be surprised if movement in your peripheral vision scares the craap out of you for few months...
I owe my life to the fact that the MK.II. Golf GTI was a solid piece of kit.
dunx
P.S. Speedy recovery !
When I had my single vehicle "bump" back in '95 it took me a year to regain my "bottle", and a further year to contemplate buying a classic Impreza. Don't be surprised if movement in your peripheral vision scares the craap out of you for few months...
I owe my life to the fact that the MK.II. Golf GTI was a solid piece of kit.
dunx
P.S. Speedy recovery !
03 July 2011, 01:56 PM
#27
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I saw on PH your interest in tracking it, so was going to pm you to see if you fancied joining a few of us doing an evening track day at Donington later this month, but I think its a bit beyond an Halfords fibre glass repair kit.
Anyway, hope your shoulder mends soon and your insurance settled quickly.
03 July 2011, 04:32 PM
#29
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is it bad that not even those pics have put me off Elises, heck I'm now on pistonheads looking them(not that i can afford one).
Glad your OK Zip and I hope this accident hasn't put you off owning a car you truely have liked again.
Glad your OK Zip and I hope this accident hasn't put you off owning a car you truely have liked again.
03 July 2011, 05:06 PM
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Is this a stupid thing to ask, but will that be written off?
It must have been the thick end of £40k just 6 weeks ago and was quite a tasty spec. Would it need a new shell or clam or whatever they are called on an Exige or is it a lot worse than that?
BTW Zip, its a good job you weren't around Chesterfield when it happened as the A&E burned down with 15 patients having to be evacuated on trolleys and transfered to other hospitals.
It must have been the thick end of £40k just 6 weeks ago and was quite a tasty spec. Would it need a new shell or clam or whatever they are called on an Exige or is it a lot worse than that?
BTW Zip, its a good job you weren't around Chesterfield when it happened as the A&E burned down with 15 patients having to be evacuated on trolleys and transfered to other hospitals.