Monther Nature hates me I swear!

It's been 100+ degrees & high humidity out here lately, which I guess is typical this time of year. It was about 6:30 and I was just finishing up a tranny rebuild for a 92 TT.

Off in the distance, you could hear thunder, so Hans and I braught in all the seats & interior carpeting which were just cleaned. Rain begins shortly there after, and I go back to work. Typical thunderstorm, no big deal...

Right...

As I crawl back under the Stealth, the rain starts comming down harder and the wind really starts to pick up. So, I get back out from under the car and make my way for the door to shut it. I make it to the door and then, lightning strikes in the parking lot almost knocking me on my ass.

Moments later it starts to hail.

At first it was the pea sized stuff, but it quickly began to grow to ice cube size. I darted for my keys, and ran out the door into the storm. The winds were about 60-75mph which was enough to knock down a tree into the street and make the power go out.

As I'm running to my car, hail is pelting me on my face & upper body. One hit me so hard, it left a mark on my forehead.

Finally make it to the car & get inside. All I could hear was ice pelting the glass roof and winds/rain were so loud, I could not hear the car alarm from the silver VR4 (which had rod knock and died down the street) parked next to mine. The windows were so fogged, I could hardly see. I fired up the car, cranked the AC defrost, and peeled out in reverse.

I then nailed 1st and floored it. I had to drive all the way to the other side of the building where we pull the cars into the garage.

The first turn went smooth until I went from pavement to gravel, then the car just bounced off the redline (no traction). Falken Aztens are not that great in the rain to begin with, let alone on gravel.

I let off the gas a little until traction was regained, and raced towards the second turn to the back side of the building. I knew the car wasn't going to hold the turn, so I cranked the wheel early and stayed on the gas which kicked out the rear end. The car spun 180 degrees while at the same time drifting sideways across the parking lot.

Hans was in the drivers seat of the 98 and had just started the motor and looked up to find me drifting sideways in front of him across the parking lot.

Once I was straight on with the door, I got on the clutch which immediately stopped the drift. I had missed the door by about 4 feet, but was still able to turn to the right and get the car inside.

How I managed to avoid hitting anything is a miricle, especially considering the windows were still fogged.

We were only able to save my car, the 98 VR4 and the yellow Stealth I have for sale in the classifieds. Unfortunately, we weren't able to get a couple customer cars inside before they got damaged (they weren't driveable). Only a couple dings though, nothing too serious. We are going to talk to the body shop next door and see if they will cut the owners a deal (we may fix them for free).

The storm only lasted 10 minutes, and the power returned shortly after. The next round of storms are about to begin so I'm just going to chill here for now.

that's freekin crazy man. We had storm warnings yesterday for possible hail, but we didn't get any. Probably the same storm system eh? Hope it settles down over there.

A

I love the priority, save our cars! OK, is there time to save the customers cars? No? We'll they'll have to take one for the team then. Hehe.

I'm pretty sure we sent that storm your way, same one that knocked a tree onto my shed. Although no hail thank god as I have no garage.

You haven't seen the end of it though, the locusts are on their way.

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San Marino Red - Honda 3KGT VR4 For the win!

If they moved under their own power, I would have moved them into the garage. No way am I pushing one of these pigs in durring that massive catastophy.

Your story about getting your car in the shop ASAP, drifting around corners etc... and not worrying about the customer cars first reminds me of the episode of Sienfeld where there was a fire and George pushed all the kids out of the way so he could get away from the fire.

For you it was get my fricking car inside, screw the others until I know my car is safe. Funny part is that I would do the same exact thing.

Bunk

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93 3000 GT VR4

Wow... I really don't know what to say. There were 3 of us in the shop, and 3 cars that could move under their own power. Maybe I should have let someone else drive my car in.

I'd have run out side in full hockey goalie gear, and blocked the hail from the customers cars until the storm stopped or death. which ever came first.


or if the ice cream truck would have floated by I would have stopped to loot it...

mmmm... dreamsicle.....

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Bad decisions make good stories.
Look at it! LOOK AT MY @SS AND TELL ME IT'S PRETTY!

I would have at the very least taken a baseball bat or crow-bar to their car so they could claim some sweet insurance money. Sheez, your priorities are whacked!

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San Marino Red - Honda 3KGT VR4 For the win!

If that's the case, we could just smash the windows and have them claim theft/vandalism.