my lucky day

[ashc]

Well, i had a helluva day yesterday. I went to Canterbury for a job interview, and got it :-) (20k payrise - woop!)

However, it went badly wrong on the way home at 9pm i clearly hit some black ice going at 65 in the middle lane of the M3. I suddenly felt the car sliding bit like aquaplaning, and eased off the accelerator slightly, but the car jumped and spun in an instant, and i twirled 500m down the motorway, bouncing off the central reservation and a few trucks. I counted at least seven crunches! I came to a standstill in the outside lane, engine cut out, saw bonnet crumpled and steam spraying out so pressed the hazard light button and jumped out - few other cars pulled onto the hard shoulder - i dialled 999 on my mobile and dodging traffic ran to the hard shoulder in a fair state of panic. operator said police on their way, and the "slow down 50mph limit" motorway lights came on. Other drivers were slowing down and avoiding my car for a couple of minutes then whump, some woman in a merc estate hit my car at full pelt (?probably 70+) catapulting it 100yards further down the carriageway. If i hadn\'t run to the hard shoulder i would have been squashed! Thank god i got out! Fortunately the woman got out of her car and walked to the hard shoulder with the help of someone who gratefully stopped to help. Her car was destroyed too. The amount of debris strewn over the carriageway was incredible, my car was half the size and unrecognisable. The police though i\'d been hit by a lorry and couldn\'t identify the car at all. Anyway, i dodged requests to go to hospital and spend 6 hours in A&E so the recovery guys dropped me off at Basingstoke train station - i got home four hours ago. Heres a quick snap taken with my crappy mobile, i\'ll upload some proper gory pics when i get to the recovery compound later on. I hope the insurance pays out!

anyway, i\'m still alive, hopefully i\'ll get another rex if the money comes through. I would like to stress that i wasn\'t speeding, swerving, stamping on the accelerator or forgetting about the second turbo when the tail end went, it was absolutely unexpected. Tyres were all new with >5mm tread too. So watch out folks, its icy on the roads! If i get another one, i will be surely a fair weather driver!

This maybe the end - for now,


ash

[ashc]

i\'d like to add that i\'ve got a nice circular purple bruise occupying most of my chest - so much for momos -wish i\'d had an airbag!

[Eddie]

These cars do bite unexpectedly sometimes.

Thats another one to the winter list hope not many more bite the dust this winter.

[fro]

doesn\'t sound like there was much you could do about that.. good job you got out the car in time!

[ashc]

hey dandan - we should start a new club!

//www.mazdarotaryoffs.co.uk

[Red and Single]

Terrible news  :eek  :eek  but good god mate that was a lucky escape !!

It may not feel like it but you are very lucky to be here to tell the tale from the sounds of it !!

It\'s been said many times before, you can always replace a car, but you only get one shot at life :chat

Hope the insurance company gives you a big fat payout and you buy yourself a nice replacement, at least you did a proper job of it and don\'t have to worry about them deciding to fix it !!

[Donato]

You walked away, that the best Christmas present you will get this year! Hope it all gets sorted out relatively pain free.

Well done on getting the job!

[Rotorboy65]

Flippin eck mate sorry to see this post, don\'t think I can stand the bad news of another Southampton Rx7 mangled. Are we jinxed down here? glad mine\'s tucked up safe at the moment. Watch out Rich looks like the odds are against us at this time.

On a better note Ash it\'s good to know you only came away with some bumps and bruises. You could have given me a shout last night for a lift back home. But nice to know you made it home safe.

If you need any help with sorting the car etc let me know and I will try and help out. Hope this is not the end of your Rex ownership mate, try not to be put off after this nasty experience. I remember picking up my car and the seller saying respect the car at all times, soon found out what he ment the first time I took it out in the rain. Think that was my first ploppy pant\'s moment in the Rex :p .

Good luck with all the insurance payout etc Ash. Like I say at least you are ok God bless mate cheers Leigh.

[BlitzBoy]

Glad you got out of that one alive!!!
Must have been surreal watching the Merc slam into your car, something like out of "Final Destination"
Well with your payment you should get yourself an already modded Single Turbo RX

[GeckoGareth]

Glad you walked away mate!

G

[gsb876]

Good job you didn\'t stay with the car as that could have been disaster.

As sad as it is to lose the car its very lucky you are ok as when bouncing off trucks you could have gone underneath them, so count your blessings chap and have a happy christmas.

Hope to see you on here again soon.

Gurj

[ashc]

thanks everyone - i\'ll wait to see what the insurance co turn up with - hopefully a rex-sized amount!

ash

oh and heres the merc

[Ada7]

Good to hear that your ok mate and that everyone walked away. Should of really got checked out at A+E though mate, but thats just me talking
Lets hope your insurance company are good and get everything sorted out quickly.
Well done for getting your new job, im sure that payrise will go a long way to helping sort out a new rex

Adam

[Mark Ide]

Ash
Glad you\'re ok
Does that mean there will be 2 consultants in Kent with RX7s? (when get your replacement, of course )
Regards
Mark

[andyrose]

I\'m speechless................so so lucky you got out when you did