928 probably saved my life
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928 probably saved my life
Sunday morning about 5:50 AM left Van Nuys for a track day at Willow Springs. Spent the night at my daughters. Just got on the 405 north bound when after a few miles notice what looked like headlights next to the center divider/car pool lane pointed my direction but not moving, no emergency lights or anything but there is lots of construction and night time road repair near there. I was still rolling about 70 mph in the center lane as I passed the vehicle, still dark out.
Suddenly out of the corner of my eye I saw something in the lanes directly in front of me and quite close. Whipped a two lane change corrected and passed by a multi car accident in the ONLY open lane. There was a bunch of glass in that lane but got by with out hitting anything. Just past the accident several cars had pulled to the side of the freeway, no doubt calling 911.
That accident had happened shortly before I got there, no lights on the wrecked cars, no emergency vehicles , nothing ! Just thankful that the 928 handles so well ! That was real close. Still do not know what kinds of cars were involved because I really never SAW them. Other people headed to the track later said they were delayed, only one open lane, and one car was heavily damaged on both ends.
Then had a GREAT day at the track ! Set a new personal best lap time and was driving like there was no tomorrow!
Suddenly out of the corner of my eye I saw something in the lanes directly in front of me and quite close. Whipped a two lane change corrected and passed by a multi car accident in the ONLY open lane. There was a bunch of glass in that lane but got by with out hitting anything. Just past the accident several cars had pulled to the side of the freeway, no doubt calling 911.
That accident had happened shortly before I got there, no lights on the wrecked cars, no emergency vehicles , nothing ! Just thankful that the 928 handles so well ! That was real close. Still do not know what kinds of cars were involved because I really never SAW them. Other people headed to the track later said they were delayed, only one open lane, and one car was heavily damaged on both ends.
Then had a GREAT day at the track ! Set a new personal best lap time and was driving like there was no tomorrow!
Been selling Twinkies on Ebay,
have some extra cash right now.
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have some extra cash right now.
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From: Working the street corner for $$$
In my experience, when your number is up, it's up. No particular car, fortune, or amount of good will turns off the "time's up!" buzzer. We can try to skew the odds in our favor, but it still comes down to timing IMO.
Glad you're OK!
Glad you're OK!
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From: Greensboro, NC
Glad you are okay Jim!
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
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From: Southern Alberta, Canada
had a similar event when on a motorcycle.....we were first to a serious head on and it was a dark country road............years ago long before cell phones.........haunts me to this day.
glad you avoided the carnage Jim
glad you avoided the carnage Jim
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Three Wheelin'
Joined: Mar 2011
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From: Columbus, OH
Did you have to change underwear at the track? Glad your OK... Sounds like fog was involved...?
I had a similar close call yesterday (thankfully not nearly as scary). I was slowing for a tractor-trailer that slowed in front of me when a BMW decided he'd cross over between us NOW... He probably didnt even see me cause he was on a collision course with my right front fender. I had already down-shifted to 3rd so I just threw her over hard to the left and stomped it - my car leaped over the left lane onto the berm in a split second and around the offending BMW before he knew what was what... Any other car and I would have creamed him in the driver side door at 60 mph... it wouldnt have been pretty.
I had a similar close call yesterday (thankfully not nearly as scary). I was slowing for a tractor-trailer that slowed in front of me when a BMW decided he'd cross over between us NOW... He probably didnt even see me cause he was on a collision course with my right front fender. I had already down-shifted to 3rd so I just threw her over hard to the left and stomped it - my car leaped over the left lane onto the berm in a split second and around the offending BMW before he knew what was what... Any other car and I would have creamed him in the driver side door at 60 mph... it wouldnt have been pretty.
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From: Stockton, CA
Congrats on making it out unscathed....your 928 too....
I had a similar experience last week.....I was driving "at work" in a VERY non-928...I was distracted by a possible scantily clad woman (or not) and the genius in front of me decides to turn left WITHOUT using the middle (suicide) lane....so she stops in the driving lane.....I frantically hit the brakes.....quickly realize that ISN'T gonna work...so I swerve towards the square curb...somehow fit in between the curb and the car and don't hit either..... yes I checked my drawers after...
I had a similar experience last week.....I was driving "at work" in a VERY non-928...I was distracted by a possible scantily clad woman (or not) and the genius in front of me decides to turn left WITHOUT using the middle (suicide) lane....so she stops in the driving lane.....I frantically hit the brakes.....quickly realize that ISN'T gonna work...so I swerve towards the square curb...somehow fit in between the curb and the car and don't hit either..... yes I checked my drawers after...
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Apr 2010
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From: Sacramento, Ca.
From Brian's post above:
I had a similar experience last week.....I was driving "at work" in a VERY non-928...I was distracted by a possible scantily clad woman
Brian,
Were you cruising Wilson Way?
I had a similar experience last week.....I was driving "at work" in a VERY non-928...I was distracted by a possible scantily clad woman
Brian,
Were you cruising Wilson Way?
Last edited by Jim Devine; Sep 13, 2012 at 08:11 PM.
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From: Friday Harbor, WA
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From: Oman
Jim,
Good to read you got away unscathed. I was not so fortunate in my late S4 6 years ago but if you are going to have a big one this is the car to have it in.
I was not so fortunate in that some tw*t on a mobile phone pitted me as I was passing him. Unfortuantely being on a bend and me getting on it I initially thought it was just the back end stepping out- it was but in the other direction. We are talking milli seconds here but by the time my senses had recognised and reacted to what was happening I had recovered the situation but literally ran out of road and hit the bridge parapet at around 70mph at a very steep angle. At least I went down fighting with my foot on the throttle right until the last second. The irony being that if I had panicked or braked I would probably have come out of it better. I have always felt guilty for not being able to protect my baby better but amazing how time accelerates when things are going pear shaped.
I was KO'd, the impact fractured my L1 vertebra and my much loved 928 was well totalled but the cabin was perfectly intact and the door opened like normal. I sure hope no one on the list has to experience this but rest assured if you do you are in the best hands.
Regards
Fred R
Good to read you got away unscathed. I was not so fortunate in my late S4 6 years ago but if you are going to have a big one this is the car to have it in.
I was not so fortunate in that some tw*t on a mobile phone pitted me as I was passing him. Unfortuantely being on a bend and me getting on it I initially thought it was just the back end stepping out- it was but in the other direction. We are talking milli seconds here but by the time my senses had recognised and reacted to what was happening I had recovered the situation but literally ran out of road and hit the bridge parapet at around 70mph at a very steep angle. At least I went down fighting with my foot on the throttle right until the last second. The irony being that if I had panicked or braked I would probably have come out of it better. I have always felt guilty for not being able to protect my baby better but amazing how time accelerates when things are going pear shaped.
I was KO'd, the impact fractured my L1 vertebra and my much loved 928 was well totalled but the cabin was perfectly intact and the door opened like normal. I sure hope no one on the list has to experience this but rest assured if you do you are in the best hands.
Regards
Fred R
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Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Canada
Glad you're ok. Did you give make a faint smile when you realized that because of the great handling you got away clean? Sometimes I say a quiet thank you to god and then give the steering pod/dash a slight rub in appreciation, as in "good girl".