GTO CRASH another classic bites the dust in minnesota

[LoneStar Mopar]

Ouch! People don't realize that these cars don't have the handling and braking of modern cars; some have to learn this the hard way.

[Ghoste]

these telephone poles are killers,.. shouldn't they be weakened at the base so a car hitting them sheers them off?..
I'm thinking there should be a spec. that some poles "give" to allow a auto through... Just thinking aloud here... 

I took one out in my young stupid past and it definitely sheared off.  I slid sideways through that thing and snapped it like a twig.  It was my father's 73 Ranchero with a swapped in 351 Boss and I struck it just behind the driver's door.  The quarter panel of the box was a little (ahem) crumpled and my father "sold" the Ranchero to me just a few hours later.

[PocketThunder]

these telephone poles are killers,.. shouldn't they be weakened at the base so a car hitting them sheers them off?..
I'm thinking there should be a spec. that some poles "give" to allow a auto through... Just thinking aloud here... 

I took one out in my young stupid past and it definitely sheared off.  I slid sideways through that thing and snapped it like a twig.  It was my father's 73 Ranchero with a swapped in 351 Boss and I struck it just behind the driver's door.  The quarter panel of the box was a little (ahem) crumpled and my father "sold" the Ranchero to me just a few hours later.

         "sold it to you"  I bet!        you break it you bought it son!   

[Ghoste]

Yeah, except his sales approach was a whoooooooole lot more agressive. (I recall a chair getting smashed in the kitchen)

Things are fine now 30 years later and I often tell him that it was his fault for sending a 16 year old out in a 351 Boss equipped car with all forward weight distribution.  My mother also likes to remind him of how he tried to jump a ditch with his fathers car when he was 19 or 20.  <- to my father

[LeadfootBob]

Oh man.... Did that to a '66 Dart GT once, at least you get nice scars out of the deal!
Seeing lots of "soft" lamp posts and poles around here now, basically a thin lattice of steel rebar that folds over the top of the car when you hit it at speed.

[Mike DC]

ouch.  

The whole "thrown from the car" concept never ceases to amaze me.  I can't believe some of the openings these guys get flung through.  They're usually torn up but it amazes me that they don't get hurt a lot worse in that process.






It's also scary how often those older body shells get ripped off their frames in wrecks.  Look at the LR wheel here: 



If I was racing one of those things, I really don't think I would want the rollcage bars passing through the floors and welded to the frame.  IMO it looks like they would be better off just welding the cage bars to the general area of the frames, but doing unibody-style plating on the floors of the body shells for the attachment points.  
 

 

[Road Dog]

I think the lack of a pillar on these cars doesn't help.

[472 R/T SE]

I seen that on moparts.  Except they said he didn't make it.

[Charger-Bodie]

Here are some pics of a 68 GTO in a similar situation.....Supposedly going over 100 mph. Its not bent up nearly as bad as that Judge though.

This happened a couple years ago , after a car show. It was about 8 miles from here.

[moparstuart]

I seen that on moparts.  Except they said he didn't make it.

You never know i just got it as an email , who knows the real story .  Hey paul go check it out ?
   

[Landonsrt]

Well at least he survived.  There goes the Judge! There goes the Judge!!! Everybody look out cause there goes that judge!

[472 R/T SE]

FWIW.  More reading if anyone wants to.

http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=5443410&page=0&fpart=3&vc=1

http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=5450870&page=0&fpart=1&vc=1

http://forums.performanceyears.com/forums/showthread.php?t=608961

Shane

From the GTO site thread....

It appears he was passing cars in a 35mph no passing zone when oncoming traffic forced him to swerve.... the wrong way. Witnesses said he was going at least 75mph...

35mph and that much damage is a stretch, I would bet the eyewitnesses are closer to the impact speed judging from the damage...

[mauve66]

i think he was going the right way and since the car hit the pole a little off center, the car piroutted around the pole so its now facing the wrong way
he could of had an axle break and the car just turned into the pole, happens when you have high HP, sorry, forgot it was a poncho

i think he did it for the insurance money in this economy, nobody wanted to buy a poncho

[69bronzeT5]

Like I said on Moparts, being a major GTO fan...that kicked me right in the balls. Seeing the crashed black '68 too made things even worse!

[mikesbbody]

Yeah a kick in the balls is right! the 69 is my fav sad to see  I'm glad it wasnt the Charger though 

[PocketThunder]

i think he was going the right way and since the car hit the pole a little off center, the car piroutted around the pole so its now facing the wrong way
he could of had an axle break and the car just turned into the pole, happens when you have high HP, sorry, forgot it was a poncho

i think he did it for the insurance money in this economy, nobody wanted to buy a poncho

If thats the case then there should be tire tracks in the grass.?..??

[ZSmithersCharges]

From another website.

"I work for the State Fair Police and the driver of the GTO died from the accident later on that night. They figured the car had a problem with the suspension and a tie rod end or something snapped and made the car take a hard left into a tree (taking the tree down) and then into the pole. That was what the witnesses said that happened."

Got this from http://www.bangshift.com/forum/index.php?topic=14896.30 Who got that from the GTO forums? Idk sounds official 

[GPULLER]

On the last page of that same site a person claiming to be the drivers cousin said this:

To all of you people making these HORRIBLE comment/remarks. Why don't you show some respect. My cousin happened to be the driver involved in this accident. Would you say such horrible things if it was your relative??? Think about how you would feel if the roles were reversed. No he is NOT dead, and sure as hell is lucky to be alive. He sustained MAJOR injuries that will plague him for life, so TRUST me he is paying dearly for this accident. He is also torn up about losing HIS, not DADDY'S beautiful car. To those of you that actually have a heart and have wished him well, I thank you. To the others, whom obviously do not value human life- YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED!

Double

[moparstuart]

  it is wild how these stories get out of hand ?  who knows what is truth or fiction .

[ZSmithersCharges]

Oh well, whatever the truth of the matter is I hope he's not dead and makes a full recovery.

[FlatbackFanatic]

  I've tried to find out about the accident, but can't find anything.

[451-74Charger]

I had an rear arm tear out of a rusty framerail once, which hapend to make the car take an immediate right turn. I was lucky that there were no other cars around as it went up on 2 wheels and almost rolled when the driveshaft dug in hard.

I say that unless you really look at every square inch of these old cars, you dont know what corrosion, fatigue is lurking anywhere structural.

Heck, i love old cars, but..... I am supprised more aren't having major accidents, especially if people like HLPAG and others just paint over paper thin metal.

In England, the garage goes down the structural areas of the car with a pick like hammer and if it penetrates the metal, the car does not pass and cannot be driven on the road. They also check joints for play and rubber for splitting.

[moparstuart]

I had an rear arm tear out of a rusty framerail once, which hapend to make the car take an immediate right turn. I was lucky that there were no other cars around as it went up on 2 wheels and almost rolled when the driveshaft dug in hard.

I say that unless you really look at every square inch of these old cars, you dont know what corrosion, fatigue is lurking anywhere structural.

Heck, i love old cars, but..... I am supprised more aren't having major accidents, especially if people like HLPAG and others just paint over paper thin metal.

In England, the garage goes down the structural areas of the car with a pick like hammer and if it penetrates the metal, the car does not pass and cannot be driven on the road. They also check joints for play and rubber for splitting.

I saw that on a english car program called wheeler dealer ( on HD theater channel )  they had rebuilt a suzuki samari and they got it inspected it was turned down for rust and they could only drive it on private land for fun .

[dkn1997]

Totaled but not destroyed.   less than a year ago.   

[ZSmithersCharges]

Totaled but not destroyed.   less than a year ago.   

That yours? I would buy that right now