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Fifty50Plus · Posted: Tue May 25, 2010 8:01 am Post subject: 924 Race car project delayed

A funny thing happened to me on the way home from the race track a few weeks ago.

Actually not funny at all. I lost 90% of my driver's gear but managed to save my Martin guitar. The FD took almost 20 minutes to respond and I just about lost the trailer and 911 race car. New car project on hold while I fight with the insurance company.
Chuck
_________________
1979 924 NA race car H-Prod SCCA
1982 924 NA race car - Sold
1981 924 Turbo sold
1982 924 Turbo sold
1972 911 E race car - traded for Cayenne Diesel
1975 914 1.8 Building for H-Prod SCCA

ideola · Joined: 01 Oct 2004 Posts: 15550 Location: Spring Lake MI

Man, what a year, Chuck. First the episode with the truck, now this?!

924guy · Posted: Tue May 25, 2010 10:49 am Post subject:

wow , that sucks. doesnt look like the propane tank cooked off though, ive seen them much much worse...it wont buff out, but you will at least.

glad everyones okay, and on the upside, you get to pick out some new gear!
_________________
Eric
78 924
82 931 SE "smokey"
99' VehiCross
Y2K Honda Insight
http://www.cardomain.com/id/924Guy
Performance by Pasha

emoore924 · Joined: 13 Apr 2004 Posts: 2822

My, that really went up. I'm an RV guy too. Any ideas yet what happened, if you can share it...??

Fifty50Plus · Posted: Tue May 25, 2010 12:41 pm Post subject:

Driving down the highway, two miles from home and the ignition cut out. Lost turn signals and anything else involved electrically. Dead sticked to the side of the road and smoke started coming from the dash. I jumped out and saw a fire in the engine compartment - too big for my puny 2 lb fire extinguisher. Called 911 and reported it and had to argue about where I was located (2 miles from the firehouse). Ran back in and grabbed the guitar and a bag of clothes. Tried to go back for drivers gear and the whole thing was filled with thick black smelly smoke (like LOST). Then I had nothing to do but take camera photos. The FD finally came by on the opposite side of the road and kept going. They had to go another 5 miles to turn around - then they got caught in the traffic jam.....
The good news was I got a ride home in the back of a state trooper's car - while the neighbors were having a christening party and the street was jammed with guests

I just sold the 356 on-line a couple hours ago so that will pay for another tow vehicle (Ford duelly diesel) but still no word from the insurance company. Last week they said they were "processing my claim" - very non-committal as to whether they were going to come through with any reimbursement or not.

Oh yes, I almost forgot, I had to pay $1500 for "environmental disposal" plus $500 for towing before they would haul off the burned out hulk.

_________________
1979 924 NA race car H-Prod SCCA
1982 924 NA race car - Sold
1981 924 Turbo sold
1982 924 Turbo sold
1972 911 E race car - traded for Cayenne Diesel
1975 914 1.8 Building for H-Prod SCCA

924guy · Posted: Tue May 25, 2010 10:44 pm Post subject:

most RV's had shoddy wiring right out of the factory from my experience. between the car wiring, and the house wiring, lots of potential problem points with bad connections from the start eventually failing.

ive seen more than a few that came factory with literal birds nests of wiring under the dash. add a few years to that, and a dropped hot wire from a bad soldier or connection, and its poofsville. that being said, i've rewired a few, at least partially. once even on the side of the road whilst gators croaked and bugs the sized of birds buzzed me, at night of course, ugh..

Yep, i want another one, despite it all they're awesome to have. Just gotta put the battery disconnect in reach of the driver...
_________________
Eric
78 924
82 931 SE "smokey"
99' VehiCross
Y2K Honda Insight
http://www.cardomain.com/id/924Guy
Performance by Pasha

924RACR · Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 2:05 am Post subject:

Oh, god, my condolences... can't see the pic from work, but sounds horrible enough...

_________________
Vaughan Scott
Webmeister
'79 924 #77 SCCA H Prod racecar
'82 931 Plat. Silver
#25 Hidari Firefly P2 sports prototype

TJC · Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 2:24 am Post subject:

Wow...glad your're okay.
_________________
'95 BMW 318i/5 ..."Pearl"
'87 Porsche 944 NA... "Liebchen"
'02 Porsche Boxster..."Sunbeam"
'04 BMW X3..."Xander"
Still on the Prowl!

www.ttrs1.com

emoore924 · Joined: 13 Apr 2004 Posts: 2822

Fifty50Plus · Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 5:57 am Post subject:

The motorhome was a 1985...NWS. So I didn't have anything but liability on it. My homeowners insurance covers the contents of the motorhome (hopefully) minus a deductable. My homeowners insurance also had a clause about after fire disposal so I'm trying to invoke that for the $1500. I'll let you know.
Chuck
_________________
1979 924 NA race car H-Prod SCCA
1982 924 NA race car - Sold
1981 924 Turbo sold
1982 924 Turbo sold
1972 911 E race car - traded for Cayenne Diesel
1975 914 1.8 Building for H-Prod SCCA

TJC · Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 8:03 am Post subject:

Let me preface this reply by first saying that it is no way meant to influence in any way how anybody should insure their property, each of us have their own reasons for what they do. However I would like, if I may relate our experience with an engine fire.

That being said, about a year and half ago my wife and dauaghter were on their way to school in our little '81 VW Westy when she smelled smoke...she was about a half a mile from home. The computer wiring started to fry and caused an engine fire. After stopping the vehicle and getting my daughter out of the way she proceded to extinquish it. A neighbor called me and I came down with a larger extinquisher and the fire was put out. We have comprehensive and collision on all of our vehicles, and the insurance paid for having the engine rebuilt as well as taking care of cosmetic issues from the fire. Had the Westy burned to the ground, they would have totalled it and paid us off in full.

My reason for bringing this up is, in our situation we really can't afford a total loss so we carry the extra coverage. This may not be feasible in everyone's case, but in ours it sure paid off. We also opt for low deductibles...$250.00. We have our reasons for doing this, and some may think it's crazy to do so, but you never know what's going to happen these days. And no, I don't now, nor ever have worked for an insurance company!

Again I am sorry for your loss and am glad that you were not hurt.
_________________
'95 BMW 318i/5 ..."Pearl"
'87 Porsche 944 NA... "Liebchen"
'02 Porsche Boxster..."Sunbeam"
'04 BMW X3..."Xander"
Still on the Prowl!

www.ttrs1.com

931Owner · Joined: 14 Feb 2009 Posts: 352 Location: Chicago NW Suburbs

Dude! Thank goodness you're OK.
Talk about priorities glad you got the Martin.
Hopefully the insurance works out for you. All those fees are something to take into account when we insure our vehicles.

I had an Alfa catch fire with a full tank of gas (18 gallons) on my wife so I can kind of relate.
Reminds me I need to replace the extinguishers in all the cars again.
_________________
1980 Turbo
-too many cars and too many motobikes

924guy · Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 9:27 pm Post subject:

im still having a hard time with that "disposal fee"...from the looks of it, a few more minutes burning and theyd of only needed a broom anyway...
i guess they get you any way they can, and of course it adds insult to injury.. ah well...
_________________
Eric
78 924
82 931 SE "smokey"
99' VehiCross
Y2K Honda Insight
http://www.cardomain.com/id/924Guy
Performance by Pasha

Grenadiers · Posted: Fri May 28, 2010 11:06 am Post subject:

The older RVs, and we have a '93, have really bad wiring. Ours is a cummins pusher diesel, everything is in the back. But, looking at the semi-rusted out battery tray, with rubber battery tie-downs, there are about 6 non-factory wires connected to the battery from POs. Yikes! 2 years, and 6000 miles later, it's all still connected! We left it back in NM, and will have a go at the wiring when we get back there this fall. Sorry about your loss, a little wake-up call for me.
_________________
'83 944 Track car.
'88 924S Track car.
'89 944 Turbo
2004 Winnebago Vectra monster RV
2012 Jeep Wrangler
2014 Kia Soul
2001 Ford F350 powerstroke

Fifty50Plus · Posted: Wed Jun 02, 2010 4:18 am Post subject:

Insurance update....
Homeowners insurance agreed to replacement value for my drivers gear but said no to the disposal fee.
I just bought a diesel dually P/U and am now looking for a slide in camper.
Chuck
_________________
1979 924 NA race car H-Prod SCCA
1982 924 NA race car - Sold
1981 924 Turbo sold
1982 924 Turbo sold
1972 911 E race car - traded for Cayenne Diesel
1975 914 1.8 Building for H-Prod SCCA