Caferacer

I should clarify, most embarrassing moment with the Porsche. My most embarrassing moment of all time was when I knocked my Ducati over while washing it in front of the Sicilian social club on my block back in the '90s. The old guys just wondered why on earth somebody would do that...

This past Saturday was like any other Saturday, a soccer tournament and a middle school graduation. No problem, I have a Porsche. I got up extra early to wash and wax the car and to just have a little quiet time before all hell broke loose. Then I loaded up the 8 year old and the 15 year old and had a spirited drive out to Flushing Meadows park. When I parked on a busy street I made an exception and let the 8 year old de-car on the traffic side since I was there to monitor. He is well trained and like the rest of my kids uses the old trick I learned at Air Assault School whereby you place your hand on the fuselage as you circle the aircraft, er car. This keeps infantry men from walking into rotor blades and kids from straying into traffic. It works well unless the 8 year old's hand is covered in maple syrup/banana/god knows what. Being obssessed with my new car I could not leave the handprint on the haunch of the car and reached into the back seat for a cloth whereupon I proceeded to headbutt the rain gutter. Undaunted, I started to clean the smudge when I noticed that I was now bleeding on my Carrera. I confess, I got all the blood off my car before tending to my wound. Now I am headed to the home office in Detroit this week where in the past I have shown up with shiners from Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and bicycle accidents. Thankfully I did not need stitches and the swelling has gone down. It's a nice little gash though. And this is why I need to keep clear of the gearbox for now.

On a positive note, I managed to Vaseline my Fuchs today without injury...
Before:

Caferacer

After:

User 4221

I'll have to try the vaseline trick.... It must help with the anodized portion.

GothingNC

Ouch !!

My wife knocked herself out for a few seconds doing the same thing with her old 72 Beetle about 20 years ago, had a nice shiner on her forehead from the rain gutter.

Maybe helmets should be required at all times

ivangene

ok so glad you are OK first....

second, I used Rejex on my Fuchs a year ago and they still look fantastic! (never tried vasaline)

3rd...its a car, it gets dirty. Cleaning enroute is a peeve of mine like using one of those window washing wands at the pertol station to wash ALL the windows...the only dirty window should be the front and unless you are on a road trip, clean it at home proper


sorry off me box - funny story

whalebird

No need for embarrassment. Sounds like a good balance of family/self/lifestyle involvement which is admirable. Don't sweat the smudges...thanks for sharing.

Marc Gelefsky

Ow.... fuuny... but painfull.

Years ago when changing a brake light switch on the master cylinder in the frunk I blasted my head on the hood latch while getting out... drew some blood

No HTwo O

Funny, well written story.

Caferacer

Thanks for the comments. I am certainly not obsessive about clean cars. I wash my Explorer about once a year. I just really enjoy the look of this car when it is spotless and until I learn more of the basic maintenance, cleaning provides a great bonding opportunity. Of course, unlike most of your cars, mine lives outside and inevitably gets dirty just like everything else in NYC.

Ed Hughes

Do you know how many times Ive hit the crown of my head standing up into the latches on both hoods? Then there was the time on my creeper when I rose up to a seated position and laid my forhead directly into an axle on the way up-knocked my neck out on that one. I'll out-klutz anyone. Ask my wife, she packs a medical kit for me when we go on vacation.

It's always good when we can laugh at the escapades.

Caferacer

Thanks for the sympatico Ed. I do try to not take myself too seriously and to learn from life's little lessons. This one came through loud and clear and I think whalebird put it succinctly, "don't sweat the smudges."

I am looking forward to getting back from this business trip, seeing my kids, and opening the box from Pelican with with my copy of 101 Projects. Since my budget may now be targeted at the gearbox I will strive to do the brakes myself. I know I can get plenty of help here.

Ed Hughes

Brakes are a snap, you'll do fine with some help here. A good confidence builder, IMO.

ofishbein

You can get plenty of advice here. Help would cost you beer.

User 4221

Harassment and opinions are free of charge

Ed Hughes

My .02 is ALWAYS free!