Upcoming car accident, with photos

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So some of you may recall I'm a demolition derby type of guy. Well, at the last minute I slapped a car together for the demo tonight (Tuesday) at Lebanon Valley Speedway, as part of the "Eve of Destruction" event.

http://www.simons-rock.edu/~dcollin/cartop.jpg

That's an 84 Accord hatchback. Somehow I don't think it's going to last that long, but I'll be going full tilt bozo in the meantime.

http://www.simons-rock.edu/~dcollin/mecar.jpg

Note the sweet forward-swing on the hood. Feels like I'm going to crash a Delorean.

http://www.simons-rock.edu/~dcollin/brendan.jpg

My teammate, Brendan, with his big block demo car (72 T-Bird)

http://www.simons-rock.edu/~dcollin/kitties.jpg


And some cute kitties for good measure.

Wish me luck. Results and hopefully photos to follow.

NT

[lucas9000]

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http://www.simons-rock.edu/~dcollin/cartop.jpg


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get a brain morins

[nothumb]

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get a brain morins

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NH

For a minute I thought you were referring to my autastic lettering skills.

NT

[Shajen]

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http://www.simons-rock.edu/~dcollin/kitties.jpg


And some cute kitties for good measure.

Wish me luck. Results and hopefully photos to follow.

NT

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Ok, this was completely random. I laughed.
Sounds like a blast man. Have fun, be safe. Well, as safe as you can, anyway.

[Mark H]

Advice from an old demo driver.
1 keep your nose clean [protect that motor]
2 Play to win [its more fun to get the last hit]
3 have fun
Mark

[wacki]

good luck nothumb.

[jakethebake]

Good luck! Be safe.

edit: i hope you're not one of the numerous 00tiots that deems health insurance unnecesary.

P.S. Didn't your friend have a part in Deliverance?

[bosoxfan]

You should fix up that old school bus and crash that into stuff.

[tbach24]

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You should fix up that old school bus and crash that into stuff.

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I agree.

Good luck and be safe!!

[-Skeme-]

Pretty small car for a derby.

[Boris]

That T-Bird looks like a beast. throw some concrete in the trunk.

[jakethebake]

Results?

(I thought about this thread while watching Grandview, U.S.A. last night...then Jamie Lee Curtis took her top off and I forgot all about you.)

[jakethebake]

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Results?

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how'd ya do, nothumb?

[bosoxfan]

It's been 3 days maybe it didn't go so well. I hope he doesn't have to change his name to noarm or something.

[masse75]

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http://www.simons-rock.edu/~dcollin/mecar.jpg

Note the sweet forward-swing on the hood. Feels like I'm going to crash a Delorean.


NT

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Well, with the Irish theme, you should call it "Gerry Cooney." Hit it once and it falls to pieces.

[jakethebake]

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Well, with the Irish theme, you should call it "Gerry Cooney." Hit it once and it falls to pieces.

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Gold!

[Cumulonimbus]

Oh I thought it was a Mexico theme.

[zokbarjazz]

anyone else starting to get worried?

[Talk2BigSteve]

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anyone else starting to get worried?

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I was just thinking the same thing /images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Steve

[masse75]

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Oh I thought it was a Mexico theme.

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Obviously not. Do you see a Virgin Mary statuette on the dash?

[TimM]

GL and watch out for the Malachi crunch.

[masse75]

Great obscure Happy Days reference. Where's Pinky Tuscadero when we need her? Or her little sister, Leather?

[TimM]

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Great obscure Happy Days reference. Where's Pinky Tuscadero when we need her? Or her little sister, Leather?

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Holy [censored], someone got one of my obscure references. /images/graemlins/grin.gif

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Okay, well, I thank you all for your concern, I was not gravely injured. It was a somewhat disappointing night in comparison to my strong showing last time out but a good time was had by all nonetheless.

Everything was going fine beforehand. Here's a shot taking hot laps around the junkyard.

http://www.simons-rock.edu/~dcollin/hotlaps.jpg

Unfortunately, when I got to the track my battery crapped out as I was waiting to pull into the pit area. SOP is to put a new battery in the car (or have a battery you use for demos if you do a lot) and take it out at the end, but since this car seemed to have a good battery we skipped that. Bit me in the ass. I spent most of the night looking around for a solution.

What I ended up doing was jumping the car right before the event and doing my best to avoid stalling out. Not the best plan, but at least I got to run.

Here I am on the track as they were lining us up. Note the lack of firesuit, which they always give me [censored] about but never actually stop me from running.

http://www.simons-rock.edu/~dcollin/ontrack.jpg

No I wasn't wearing a seatbelt. Makes it that much harder to jump out of the car if it catches fire.

Anyway, I got a good start off the wall and some shots in, but took a big hit from a Subaru station wagon early on, stalled out and that was that.

Here's me looking apologetic about going out so early.

http://www.simons-rock.edu/~dcollin/knockedout.jpg

Chicks dig it when you put their names on your car and then smash it. Especially when they're drunk.

http://www.simons-rock.edu/~dcollin/lilycar.jpg

My buddy Brendan fared pretty well in the big block demo. The big issue in that was that a Chrysler Imperial was allowed to run. These cars are typically banned from these small-time derbies because they are basically tanks and near impossible to knock out. Well Brendan took it personally that this guy weaseled his way in and apparently hounded him and crippled him with a nice shot to the front end.

He lost a tie rod early on, making steering very tough. Then he lost his shifter which he had built into the floor and was actually reaching through the panel to shift by hand. Yeah, he's a tough guy. Finished around the top 5 in his division.

Here's a team photo.

http://www.simons-rock.edu/~dcollin/postdemo.jpg

Sorry if I have disappointed you, OOT, I will do better next time.

NT

[zokbarjazz]

great trip report

[tbach24]

That sounds like a lot of fun. Where do you do this?