Best dead on the road saves, Getting home stories Options

[r_towle]

What are some of your best “getting it home” repairs?
Those side of the road breakdowns you will never forget?

I have a few…
One of the best was when a buddy and I were heading up north to ski country and the throttle cable broke on my vw beetle. I got out, sat sideways on the rear bumper and I was the accelerator while he drove us up off the highway to a gas station….then bike cable and some clamps, fixed.

914 broke the cable at the local autox , about 10-15 miles away.
I tied that sucker off at 3500 rpm’s with my shoelace and drove home
I was given some wide eyes at a few lights and stop signs….but it worked.

[rick 918-S]

Just one of my many advantures:

Sandy and I were heading to Hershey in the Alien for a 914 gathering. Driving thru Chicago on the elevated freeway in the far left lane. The freeway is rough as a washed out gravel road. Hit a pot hole. It shook the car so hard the wire to my coil fell off. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/yikes.gif)

I am coasting in the left lane about 75 mph. Can't step on the brakes or slow too fast. No shoulder to my left side.

I saw an opening and cut right across 4 lanes of rush hour traffic right onto an off ramp. I lost too much momentum to make it off the ramp so I pulled over on the narrow shoulder to the right.

My right side tires were touching the concrete barrier and my left side tires were on the white line. I popped the lid. slid up on the trunk from the right side and found the issue. I plugged in the coil as semi trucks were rocketing passed. The wall of wind rocking the car with the force of a derencho. I jump back in and fired that bitch up and got the hell out of there.

That was only one of my mis-adventures in Chicago... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)

Earlier in the day in the downtown area I was in stop & go traffic. My clutch cable was stretching and the clutch was starting to grab everso slightly..... I was depressing the pedel as hard as I could to the floor. Once again attempting to find a way out of the left lane. When I had the chance I managed to move over and get off the freeway. I ended up in a neighbor I knew I would not be safe in. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) I started thinking about what I would need to undo the jamb nut and adjust the cable. I spotted a large black topped school yard that was completely fenced with an opening I could drive thru. I drove to the furthest part of the yard from the opening in the fence. I jumped out and pulled my tool bag out and grabbed the two wrenches I always have just for this type of issue. This was the fastest clutch adjustment I ever did. With a clutch that would now release I hunted for the shortest route back to the freeway.

[Quinn Moore]

Just one of my many advantures:

Sandy and I were heading to Hershey in the Alien for a 914 gathering. Driving thru Chicago on the elevated freeway in the far left lane. The freeway is rough as a washed out gravel road. Hit a pot hole. It shook the car so hard the wire to my coil fell off. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/yikes.gif)

I am coasting in the left lane about 75 mph. Can't step on the brakes or slow too fast. No shoulder to my left side.

I saw an opening and cut right across 4 lanes of rush hour traffic right onto an off ramp. I lost too much momentum to make it off the ramp so I pulled over on the narrow shoulder to the right.

My right side tires were touching the concrete barrier and my left side tires were on the white line. I popped the lid. slid up on the trunk from the right side and found the issue. I plugged in the coil as semi trucks were rocketing passed. The wall of wind rocking the car with the force of a derencho. I jump back in and fired that bitch up and got the hell out of there.

That was only one of my mis-adventures in Chicago... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)

Earlier in the day in the downtown area I was in stop & go traffic. My clutch cable was stretching and the clutch was starting to grab everso slightly..... I was depressing the pedel as hard as I could to the floor. Once again attempting to find a way out of the left lane. When I had the chance I managed to move over and get off the freeway. I ended up in a neighbor I knew I would not be safe in. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) I started thinking about what I would need to undo the jamb nut and adjust the cable. I spotted a large black topped school yard that was completely fenced with an opening I could drive thru. I drove to the furthest part of the yard from the opening in the fence. I jumped out and pulled my tool bag out and grabbed the two wrenches I always have just for this type of issue. This was the fastest clutch adjustment I ever did. With a clutch that would now release I hunted for the shortest route back to the freeway.

you have b*lls of steel for driving the Kennedy on the inside lane (or Stevenson, whichever). or any lane, kudos!. I was an install tech and on the road in Chicago for quite few years. 80mph+ is the minimum non rush hour. ill admit it would be blast though.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

Qm