Woe is me !!

[neilryland]

Aaarrrgggghhhhh !!!!

Some S.O.B. backed off his drive straight into my path at lunchtime today - reckon it's a write off. Ripped off front nearside wheel completely along with hub and half the suspension, stove in the bonnet side, bent the bonnet, cracked the nose cowling in several places, destroyed the grill, bent the steering rack & ripped it off its mountings, vapourised the nearside headlight & indicator and bent the bumper. Also the engine / gearbox has gone forward about 2 inches (ripped the mountings apart).

Think the chassis is ok though - so if it is written off, I've got first call on salvage (reckon I could get it useable again in a couple of weeks).

So I don't think I'll be attending Stoneleigh this year - first I've missed since 1985. I would only get depressed on seeing all the others !!.

Might see if I can post some pictures later - if the forum will let me.

[amalgamated users from prior forum]

Re: Woe is me !!

Message originally posted by: Sue Roedel (MOC Editor)
Neil! That must have been some speed he was going? Poor you! I sympathise greatly. I had the opposite. Two weeks ago I backed off MY drive and damaged my car on some stupid woman's people carrier. Majorly less damage though. Going for 50/50. More in the next mag.

Good luck - it's do-able. Nothing is impossible. Today I took my car to a guy to have a look at mending the damage I did. It goes in the day after Stoneleigh.

I understand about getting depressed seeing other cars. If you can get it roadworthy, come up with it and park next to mine!

PS. Pics can be posted as long as they are 200k or less.

[neilryland]

Re: Woe is me !!

Still a problem with the forum Sue, tried to upload some pics - all around 130kb each and it ignored my post completely.

[tymill]

Re: Woe is me !!

Neil and Sue, really sorry to hear about the damaged cars. I hope to hear that you're uninjured, though, as that's obviously very important.

Regards,
Ty

[amalgamated users from prior forum]

Re: Woe is me !!

Message originally posted by: Won't say
Wait a minute...

It's the front of Neil's and the back of Sue's...

Could this be the start of the first 'cut and shut' Marlin?

[dogoncrazy]

Re: Woe is me !!

Neil
My son sent his roadster to Marlin in Crediton to be repaired after damaging nearside front suspension, bending front of chassis rail ,and both outer and inner wing.All done on insurance[Adrian flux] Car was as good as new when finished so don't lose hope.Hope the driver of the other car got a good ear bashing,I don't even want to think how I would react if it happened to me!

[amalgamated users from prior forum]

Re: Woe is me !!

Message originally posted by: Sue Roedel (MOC Editor)for Neil Ryland (Midlands)
Pics of Neil's damaged car :-( Awful.......

Neil says "Doubt I will make Stoneleigh, Insurance companies take there time - even when I have a letter from the "other persons" insurance which admits liability. So I won't have my Roadster fixed driveable in time for the show - as I said in the thread, this will be the first I've missed since 1985."

We'll be thinking of you Neil.

[amalgamated users from prior forum]

Re: Woe is me !!

Message originally posted by: Lee Hunter
Hi Neil,
Very sorry to hear about your car the those pictures bring a tear to my eye. I remember when my car go damaged a few years ago i was totally gutted however it came all good in the end and its good as new. keep onto the insuance company and good look.

Regards
Lee

[neilryland]

Re: Woe is me !!

More Woe !!!

It's gonna be at least another week before a decision is made by Insurance Co / assesor etc.... seems these people won't be rushed - unless it's the other way round of course and they want something from you !!!!.

Of course there is the unavailability of certain parts to consider - bonnet side and an alloy wheel for starters - these haven't been made for 20 years. (although I do have a solution if I repair it).

[dogoncrazy]

Re: Woe is me !!

Neil
CONTACT ME I HAVE INFO THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST! Tel 01332 753000 or Alison.hogg2at ntlworld.com

[amalgamated users from prior forum]

Re: Woe is me !!

Message originally posted by: Lee Hunter
Neil,
When my car got damaged Marlin repaired it, however they contacted YKC in those days and YKC got the body panel supplier to send Marlin the parts direct i would imagine Aquila cars can do this for you. Speak to Steve Himsworth
Regards
Lee
ps if you are struggling for suspension parts I may have what you need

[neilryland]

Re: Woe is me !!

Lee, you are probably thinking off a Marina based car - mine is not one of those. It's a "Hybrid", there were very few of these made, using Triumph front & Marina rear, and none for about 20 years anyway.

There is no shortage of Triumph suspension parts (most I already have as spares anyway).

The problem is the bonnet sides & cowling & Alloy Wheel and chassis. The bonnet sides are different to the Marina variant and would have custom made. The cowling can be repaired anyway as it obviously glassfibre.

The alloy wheel is a problem - I have never seen these on any other vehicle. People say they are MGB - they aren't !!, others say they are STAG - they aren't !!. They are 6J X 13 polished alloy and irreplaceable at the moment. This would mean a complete set of 5 (from insurance point of view).

The chassis could not be replaced as again it hasn't been maded for 20 years (I can jack it though).

The last thing is - I don't want anybody else working on it - I built it 22 years ago, I know how it's put together so I will fix it !!.

PS. Trying to upload picture of how it looked a month ago to see if picture upload problems has been fixed.

[jon_cox]

Re: Woe is me !!

Neil,
Your wheels were standard fit on the early Caterham. You have just missed a set on ebay 300104639181. They come up quite often. Visit their club and ask if anyone has a spare. http://www.blatchat.com/

[amalgamated users from prior forum]

Re: Woe is me !!

Message originally posted by: Mike Young
I have a new unfinished hybrid kit with rebuilt 6 engine give me a ring 01296 748254 Mike

[neilryland]

Re: Woe is me !!

Agreement finally reached with Insurance Co, they give me ?2300 & the car, the car is not written off by the Ins Co (this could save a lot of hassle).

I will be fixing it.

Just got to fetch it back from the other side of Birmingham now.

John, thanks for that info on the wheels.

Bonnet side is now the 1st issue to investigate (I do have a solution though - but it involves changing both side to keep them the same, this is also the simplest & cheapest option).

Maybe the work can begin this weekend if I can get hold of a trailer in time.