So after 44 years, 7 months and a few days on this earth it has finally happened.
Tearing off half the right rocker = 400.00
Ripping the nose piece = 1200.00
Bending a couple Forgeline wheels = 2200.00?
Hearing your wife say "OH, has Mr. PERFECT finally came down to reallity"? ........... No comment.
In a 50mph hydroplane it's true what they say. Doesn't matter what you do, you will not correct if the road does not want you to. These tires are not meant for rain.
I was doing somewhere between 50 and 60 mph and being passed by an 18 wheeler. Just as he came up to my front wheel the car just flat out started floating. As if I hit ice. Front AND back. Things were in slow motion. I tried it all. Steering and no gas or brake, then a little brake, then a lot of brake and even some middle finger... nothing worked. Even a little gas as I spun clockwise in hopes of getting the car all the way around to be going backward to enter the ditch at a parallel angle to the ditch to minimize damage and potentially NOT flip over and die. There was no room for anything else.
As Bonnie screamed I gave my one liner I always hoped I could. "Well, this is only going to hurt for a second". lol
BUT, I am a true car guy that is for sure. As I realized that there would be no recovering and I gassed it a bit to try and enter the ditch more with the rear to the ditch my life did not flash before my eyes. Nope, not even close. What DID flash before my eyes was anticipating the angle of entry and speed of which I'd be entering this ditch and the spin rotation rate to decide in that moment what might would hit first and where to get an idea of what will be damaged on the car and how bad. Entering the ditch I also remember thinking, 'Wow, this ditch isn't as deep as it appears, I might only get some wheel damage and break a toe rod or something I can fix easy. As we hit and Bonnie was yelling I remember thinking 'I wonder if there is a way to drive out of this ditch, my car is too low to get out'.
As me and the police waited for a tow truck Bonne had a client pick her up. The water, as seen in these pics, was only ab out 2 inches. By the time the tow truck got there is had rose to about 9 inches. Was about to go into the car and I pulled it up onto the cement on one side of the car. When we pulled it out (haven't gotten under it to asses the underneath damage but I'm sure it damaged my diverters at least) the water would have gotten in the car had I not pulled it up onto the wall of the ditch.
Still have to get under it to see what it messed up but will be a claim for sure. I just hope they don't ding me too bad for the Forgelines. One is bent to lose air and the other is rashed up BAD. I am absolutely impressed with the Forgeline wheels. I'm amazed they weren't worse with this heavy car.
Side note ................ The tow truck driver broke the wench cable pulling me out and asked me, and I quote ......... "Jeez, how heavy is that ****ing thing". lmao
So there it is. My perfect record is over. I figured if I messed my car up I'd do it having fun. Instead it's because I'm stupid enough to be driving with Nitto NT05s in the rain.
