And he walked away!

Ads912 · Ads912's Garage

Have you ever wondered how safe you would be in your early 911 if you had a serious crash?
A member of the Pelican 912 Board lost his car this past weekend and luckily survived the crash.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/ultimate/Forum6/HTML/000491.html#8

Hey Josh, glad that you are OK!

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Adam White
68 912 Coupe

Fishcop · Fishcop's Garage

Go cash in your chips Josh, you've just used up your luck for this year!

Glad to hear you're alright.

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John Forcier
69 911T

john70t · 10-09-2001, 09:03 PM

Did you have an original equipment seat belt on and if so, how tight was it?
No bruises huh, you have good instinctive reaction.

Milu · 10-10-2001, 12:28 AM

My business partner did as much visual damage to a company owned 3.2 cab when he lost it in the wet at (he says) 110mph, spun and clipped scenery a bit and finally stopped it against an autoroute tollbooth in France. Both him and his girlfriend walked away without a scratch, the car was eventually repaired better than before. The evening we got the car back it was creamed by a monster 4X4 driven by a blind housewife in a restaurant carpark. She triad to drive off but idiot business partner managed to stop her. The car was repaired again and used for a year before it was traded against a Volkswagen Golf Stationwagon without my knowledge. This was instrumental in my selling out my half of the business.

Jdub · 10-11-2001, 06:07 AM

I think I missed something. If I understand the owner correctly, he was wrong-way passing a truck on a narrow road and nearly killed a motorcyclist.

Tell me I am wrong here...!

Jw

josh912 · 10-11-2001, 09:03 AM

I have OEM lap belts on the car. Been wanting to upgrade to shoulder belts but never got to it. It wasn't what I would call tight, but it wasn't loose. As far as passing was concerned, I was passing on a 2 lane highway, with perfect visability for a mile, and I saw no other vehicles coming the opposite direction. I felt that it was 100% safe to pass and so I did. It wasn't until reaching the front portion of the semi when I saw the motorcyle, coming the opposite direction, who also did not see me. This I cannot explain, for him or for me. He held his line, so I swerved and on the story goes.

Pictures are availible at http://www.geocities.com/jkh912/912final/

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Joshua Harrison
Porsche owner at heart

kr911 · 10-11-2001, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ads912:
Have you ever wondered how safe you would be in your early 911 if you had a serious crash?

I wonder where are all these purists who always say: "We do not need those stinking power bakes, ABS, LSD, and airbags..."

wckrause · wckrause's Garage

Well, he went off the road to avoid hitting the motorcycle, and then lost control. I don't think LSD, ABS, or power brakes would have made any difference in those conditions. Also, he didn't have a front impact, but instead the car rolled many times in different directions, so I don't think any kind of air bag system would have helped. His front bumper isn't even bent!

What saved his neck was that the roof didn't collapse, and he was wearing a seatbelt.

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Bill Krause
'79 911SC Euro
MY PELICAN GALLERY

josh912 · 10-11-2001, 11:23 AM

As you can see there was significant front and rear impact, strong enough to set off an air bag. However, I do believe that the airbag would have more likely injured me than save me, in this particular case. ABS wouldn't have helped as a) I didn't have time to hit the brake, and b) my 912 stops pretty darn quick without power brakes and ABS. As far as being lucky, I'm lucky I'm alive, and able to talk to you guys.

I almost forgot, no the passanger door is not ok. It has dents, scratches, and is tweeked very severly. Pictures do lie.

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Joshua Harrison
Porsche owner at heart

[This message has been edited by josh912 (edited 10-11-2001).]

RarlyL8 · RarlyL8's Garage

I know a lot of you preach "track time" in order to enjoy your 911. This example is why I preach "advanced defensive driving classes" for folks who actually drive their cars on ROADS.

I am sorry for the loss of the 912 and glad no one was hurt, but the reaction to meeting the motorcycle was deadly wrong. It could have most likely ended in a head on collision - on the shoulder. Very fortunate outcome.

Elfer · 10-11-2001, 11:48 AM

I might have something to say here that relates to why Porsches are so safe in crashes. Im not an engineer but I do know enough about opposing forces and their effects on the structural rigidity of a car's body. Youve all seen the VW commercial where the guy talks about how safe VW bettles are because they are round and how rounder is stronger. Well, dams are contructed in the same manner and the same theory applies;the walls that retain the water are curved in order to sustain the forces. As we all know, 911 bodies are in fact rounded and therefore could sustain greater impacts than would other manufacturers that use flat panels. Just my $.02.

[This message has been edited by Elfer (edited 10-11-2001).]

josh912 · 10-11-2001, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RarlyL8:
the reaction to meeting the motorcycle was deadly wrong

I've been through advanced driving school and know all about defensive driving. However, that had no effect on my decison. I had a split second to make one of three choices, a)go straight and hit and kill the motorcycle, b)go right and be run over by the semi, posibly hitting the motorcycle, both of us dead, and c)go left and endanger only myself. At the time I first saw him there was maybe 300 feet between me and the motorcycle. (130 mph + 300ft = 1.57 sec) He showed NO sign of seeing me, and did not alter his course. So I swerved to the left. Motorcycle safe. Plus, he had the right of way, so it was my responsibility to avoid him, and in this case save his life. My fault, but everyones alive.

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Joshua Harrison
Porsche owner at heart

JuiceMan · 10-11-2001, 12:10 PM

Did the motorcycle rider come back to check on you?

josh912 · 10-11-2001, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 69-912:
Did the motorcycle rider come back to check on you?

No

Bob Albo · 10-11-2001, 02:21 PM

I am very sorry for your loss and I am glad you were not hurt, I can't beleve the car can stand that type of crash it's amazing!

BOB ALBO

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1980 911 sc

stray15 · stray15's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Jdub:
I think I missed something. If I understand the owner correctly, he was wrong-way passing a truck on a narrow road and nearly killed a motorcyclist.

Tell me I am wrong here...!

Jw

Let me guess, you ride a motorcycle as well? I was thinking the very same thing. At the motorcycle safety course I went through, the instructor informed the class that 90% of all motorcycle accidents are caused by other cars. Its ashamed the biker didn't stop though.

Porsche, through and through
Tim
'83 944

My Photo Page
My Home Page

Reg · 10-11-2001, 06:19 PM

Wow
Good you are ok Josh! Live to own another Porsche.

What about those chrome horn grilles? Are they good?

cabman · 10-11-2001, 06:23 PM

amazing story,
it sounds like you made the best last second decision....

how many times did your car roll over?

sorry to see those damage pictures.

MRM · 10-11-2001, 06:33 PM

This reminds me of the Parts Heaven adds in Pano that show a concourse-perfect Porsche on a flatbed just smashed to bits. The caption says something like "Doesn't a sight like this just make you want to stop for a minute . . . and then ask whether those 16 in alloys will fit my 87 911?" btw, you didn't have leather seats in there did you, Josh?

Seriously, glad both you and the cyclist are both ok. He probably didn't come back because he didn't see anything.

josh912 · 10-11-2001, 09:06 PM

Sorry, no leather seats, just vinyl with cloth inserts and lots of padding, referbished a year ago. But, their sold already. Any other inquiries?

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Joshua Harrison
Porsche owner at heart