Thank God there are still nice people in this country!

[pwd72s]

I recently learned there are still good people in the world. Earlier today, Cindy nailed a curb in her Camry. Look like a ruined right front wheel and destroyed tire. Dunno if there's suspension damage, but probably needing an alignment after a hit hard enough to do that damage. Somehow, she made it to the local gas & choke Chevron from the Safeway where she nailed the curb. Remember when they were "service" stations? HA!

Anyway, went to the garage. wiped the accumulated dust off the Mustang's glass. It hasn't turned a wheel since last sept...but did fire right up since I've kept the battery charged, and the tank filled with "pure gas"...91 octane no alcohol mixed with Sta-Bil. Believe it or not, her '16 Camry actually came with a donut spare, scissors jack, and a lug wrench. Of course, had to empty the trunk to get to it. Hey, that's better than Ford did with the Bullitt, eh? In it, I went to a wrecked-em yard, bought all that from a wrecked '17 GT.

So, the lug wrench was a stubby little thing...couldn't loosen the lugs with it. Ah-HA..in the Mustang I carry a 16" 1/2" drive breaker bar with a 6 point Impact socket on a short extension. Luckily, Toyota and Ford used the same lug size. So, struggling, found the jack points for the scissors jack, got the wheel off. Used the 12V air pump I brought to pump up the donut...and that's when he walked up...a hero named Tom..a service tech for an industrial compressor Co. About 30 years old, biceps bigger than my legs. He finished the job...I got his card. He doesn't know it yet, but he's going to get a gift certificate from this town's best restaurant. He refused when I offered to buy his gas, wouldn't take any money. My God, he was a welcome sight to this 80 years old guy with a host of medical issues...My old body was running out of gas...damned close to empty. Can't believe how quickly I tire these days.

Monday, a search to see if Toyota still sells the aluminum optional wheel for her car, then to the tire shop we use for a replacement michelin tire....probably will need to order it, but should still be available, since I bought it maybe 5 months ago.

[Steve Carlton]

What will Cindy’s punishment be?

[herr_oberst]

That was terrific of Tom to lend a hand, and generous of you to buy him a tasty meal for his effort.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by Steve Carlton

What will Cindy’s punishment be?

A hug and a "**** happens...this is far from the worst that has happened to us."

We've been married over 49 years...What?

Definitely, this Tom was...terrific!

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

A hug and a "**** happens...this is far from the worst that has happened to us."

We've been married over 49 years...What?

Definitely, this Tom was...terrific!

Was Wonder Dog with him?

[Baz]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

He doesn't know it yet, but he's going to get a gift certificate from this town's best restaurant.

Don't do a restaurant - make it Walmart or a local grocery chain.

Gives him/them more flexibility on using it.

[pwd72s]

^Good idea. I'll talk it over with Cindy...makes sense, though. These days, anybody would appreciate a C note off their grocery bill.

[pete3799]

My wife did the same thing back in May. Hit a curb coming out of the bank drive-up window and flattened the right front.
She pulled over next to the bank and started digging in the trunk of her VW Passat looking for the jack. While she was fumbling with the jack a guy drove up and put the spare on for her.
There are some good folks around still.

When i checked the tire/wheel i expected to find a ruined wheel but luckily just the tire was toast.

[pwd72s]

Pete, you lucked out. Outer rim of her optional aluminum wheel was gouged pretty badly...don't think it would still hold air. Found one on Toyota parts site...luckily, priced not a lot higher than the Michelin it's shod with. I'll be on the phone Monday...

[stevej37]

I had a no-start problem with my Ranger about 8 years ago. I was 15 miles from home and was under the hood trying to figure it out.
A guy in a small car stopped and asked about helping and if he could give me a lift home. He drove the 15 miles and he wouldn't accept any money at all. He said someone else had helped him one time and he loved to pass it on.

Now, I look for anyone with their hood up to see if I can help.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

A hug and a "**** happens...this is far from the worst that has happened to us."

We've been married over 49 years...What?

She does stuff now just to get you outta the house

You both got lucky Paul

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by KC911

She does stuff now just to get you outta the house

You both got lucky Paul

Good Karma, right? Steve knows it...what goes around comes around.

[Tobra]

With us, my wife is the nice one.

Pretty sure that is the deal with Cindy too.

It is not rocket surgery

[Dan J]

The world is full of nice people The azzholes just get all the airplay

[speeder]

Originally Posted by Dan J

The world is full of nice people The azzholes just get all the airplay

That's right. I still stop to change tires for people with flats, been doing it all my life. I don't think it's unusual. But I'm glad that PWD got some help when he needed it.

Why has the Mustang been sitting for almost a year? Did I miss something?

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by Dan J

The world is full of nice people The azzholes just get all the airplay

... and run for office

[LWJ]

This is a great story. Makes my day. Yes, there are lots of nice folks around.

[GH85Carrera]

As my wife and I were walking into Petsmart I saw a 5 foot tall 90 pound woman wrestling with a large bag of dog food. I just said please let me do that and I put it in the back of her car. She thanked me and I said your welcome and continued into the store.

Of course in TV and movies women that size can whip two or three 300 pound professional bodyguards with a few kicks and knock the bodyguards 10 feet back.

[1990C4S]

I'm suspicious. Wife was out on her own and suddenly 'Tom' just shows up...

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by speeder

That's right. I still stop to change tires for people with flats, been doing it all my life. I don't think it's unusual. But I'm glad that PWD got some help when he needed it.

Why has the Mustang been sitting for almost a year? Did I miss something?

I help ladies with a flat. Any healthy guy that drives should be able to change his own tire. I was at a gas station and heard some 16 or 17 year old screaming into his phone "dad, you have to come change my tire now!". I just shook my head. My dad you have just laughed and told me to change my F**ing tire myself, then hung up.

The road our neighborhood empties out to is a very rural 2 lane hilly tree lined road. I often drove three miles and saw no other cars or trucks. I was coming home and saw a very unusual site, a "lady" is a tight very short mini skirt and wild revealing top. She just looked like a hooker or a party girl from the night club. This was on a Saturday morning. She was standing in her high heels next to a dude in his 60s Mustang with his head under the hood. I stopped and went back to see if I could help.

Evidently he had been hooning around and trying to speed shift, and the shaft that holds a bell-crank for the clutch cable had popped off. He was struggling to get it in place with no luck. I helped push and pull the bell-crank back into place, and he could drive again. I looked at that chick and once again the though of hooker came to mind. He fired it up, and drove away and a normal pace.