Just returning from business trip with the 928 from Albany NY to Allentown. Decide to go through Poconos, stop by Steve Cattaneo's shop to let him know the rebuild he just finished on my auto is just great. As I'm going through the federal road from Milford PA, Rt 209 that runs along side the Delaware River, all alone going south, just as I'm passing the only Northbound car, a ****ty Neon, crash, something bounces off the windshield and puts a bullseye about 2" in diameter.

I just know it came from that car, couple of hundred yards down the road I decide to flip around and give chase. They took off pretty quick, but I caught them in no time, and in the back seat is 3 young guys, peering over their shoulder, I'm right behind them. As I caught up to them, they decide to put on the right turn blinker to make the next right, I do the same, they go straight. At the next light, they put on right turn blinker, I do same, they shut it off and make the right anyway. I follow. Couple of miles later, I say the hell with it...pull into parking lot to make U turn, see them peering over their shoulder. I decide to pull back out after them about 4 cars behind now. They think I'm gone, go into Wal Mart parking lot to turn around, I show up. They drive through the lot and out the far entrance turning back from where the came. I follow. They pulled into the HS parking lot they had just passed 2 miles back. I continue on pointing at them...

No witnesses, nothing... thank god whatever it was didn't crash through, glass is chipped and flaking...just replaced this windshield three years ago too. Call insurance company tomorrow. they are pretty good, let me pick the glass to install the last time so no cheapie glass installed, hope they do the same again.

BTW, Steve rebuilt my trans, installed the Constantine Clamp, installed rebuilt TT, installed a LSD and changed the torque converter with new one that has about 400RPM higher stall speed. WHAT A DIFFERENCE!!! Anyone rebuilding their trans or having it rebuilt should make this modification!!!

 

Glen,
Man that stinks!

On a positive note, sounds like the car is running great. Are you going to Hershey?

Glenn

 

You don't own a cell phone?

 

Glad you were unhurt! Did you get the license plate?

 

File a police report!

Unless you're one of "those guys" who dislike everything the cops do....

 

Thanks, glad not hurt either, I got the plate number.

Stopped at a State Trooper barracks where I live, not knowing where one was in the area where it happened. They gave me the number of the local trooper station and said probably not much but that it would probably be investigated and a trooper would visit the address that the car is registered to. Called there, after they tell me that there is probably nothing they can do, didn't sound very supportive and they tell me I have to call the Federal Park Police as that road goes through the Federal Park. Call them, offices closed call in the AM.

I plan on calling them this morning and filing a state accident report too as hit and run. I would just love to a state trooper to ring their doorbell ands scare the sh.... out of them. They are lucky I wasn't carrying....I was pretty pissed.

Glenn, yeah car is running great. I still plan on coming to Hershey, bullseye and all.

 

Glen,

Very glad to hear you are okay. Chasing these punks around is a bit dangerous, given their penchant for causing damage, they could have done more to you, luck was on your side.

If ever there is a next time, get their license plate number, get to a phone and call 911 as soon as you can. Let the police handle from there and file a report.

Glad to hear the transmission work is doing well!

Kind regards,
Constantine

 

You should of called 911 or here in Fla, you can call *FHP for the state troopers. Then you could of reported it immediately. The state police would have sent someone out to track them down right away. Or they'd have called the Park police or local cops to investigate right away. Surely by you waiting to contact them came across to the cops as though it wasn't so impt to you to act immediately, so it must not be a big deal. Think of the difference in your voice, attitude and tone & how that would sound to them, between if you'd called right away versus after time passed & you calmed down some? Plus, even if the cops couldn't or wouldn't ultimately do much about it, if the kid's parents were the kind to give a rats rear end, those kids would of not want the cops showing up at their front door.

Any incident on your insurance counts against you even if its not your fault, as your insurance company will put this one on your list of incidences. Could have gone on their insurance instead. Even here in Fla. where state law says they have to pay 100% for windshield replacements, they put it on your list. I saw them on mine a few years ago when my insurance agent friend showed me our list of incidences & they had two windshield replacements on the list.

Oh yeah, glad your shark's drive train is better than new too.

 

I would have been pissed too. No doubt. Glad to hear you're okay.

But to make a statement like the one above, well, it's just plain scary. Are you saying you would have shot at them? Choose your words carefully and keep the road-rage in check. What do you think could have happened if you had shot at them?

 

I know that stretch of road well.. Love to cruise the shark up there..

Sorry to hear about the windshield.

 

Andrew - road rage, that never happens here in the Northeast ....wouldn't have shot them of course

Mel, I have one of the best insurance companies around, NJ Manufacturers. They do not raise rates for accidents, tickets, etc. It's amazing, costs are low, I even get rebate checks back if they have a good year. One year, my daughter totaled her car, my wife ran off an icy road with $5K damage, I get a rebate check! They already agreed to install the factory glass with a good local installer, only have to pay the damn $250 deductible.

Yeah, I should have called 911 immediately, though cell service is spotty in that area and I already had 3 PITA days working on the road and wanted to get home to repack for another business trip. It was fun running after them though

Talking to the troopers indicated that they would only have been able to put a scare in them, as I would have actually seen something launched out from inside their car, kind of hard when we are going 45MPH in opposite directions and not expecting this. I have a call in to the Federal Park Rangers, their dispatcher said they would probably pay a visit if the offenders are from the area.