TRAGIC EVENT

Gerd,
THAT is heart-breaking!!! If it was my car I would probably be in jail by now for killing the tow driver !!!! I am glad everyone is alright and you are still coming to Morro. I guess now I'll have to buy you a beer and listen to the full tale in detail. See you there.

Dusty

Gerd - YIKES!!!!! The important thing is that you're safe and no one got hurt/killed by that idiot driver's mistake. Bottom line, that car can be replaced - hopefully soon. Its cool that you'll be able to join our Morro Bay caravan (thanks to John S).

Peace - Out!

Is there more to this story??????

IT HAS BEEN SEVERAL DAYS NOW AND I AM PAST THE PAIN AND CAN SHARE A TRAGIC EVENT WITH U. LAST MONDAY I TOOK THE SPEEDSTER TO WORK AND HAD IT OUT FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE I GOT IT BACK FROM JPS. ON THE WAY HOME MY THROTTLE CABLE BROKE.
I CALLED THE AUTOMOBILE CLUB AND THEY SENT A FLAT BED TRAILER TO TAKE IT HOME. THE DRIVER DID NOT SECURE THE CAR PROPERLY AND AS WE EXITED THE FREEWAY IT FLEW OFF THE TRUCK AND I LOST MY CAR.
I WAS IN SUCH SHOCK I DIDNT KNOW WHAT TO SAY. IT LANDED IN FRONT OF A NEW CARRERA THAT WAS EXITING THE FREEWAY AND FORTUNATELY DID NOT HIT OR HARM ANYONE.
ANYWAY THE AUTO CLUB HAS REIMBURSED ME AND JOHN IS LETTING ME USE HIS COUPE TO ATTEND MORRO BAY
OH WELL BACK TO TAXES HAVE A GOOD DAY AND ENJOY YOUR CARS CAUSE U NEVER KNOW WHEN U MIGHT LOSE IT.

ALAN
I DONT KNOW WHAT MORE I COULD ADD
I DIDNT SLEEP FOR TWO NIGHTS :)

Gerd, that is HORRIBLE! Glad no one got hurt; and also to hear your car will be replaced. Time will hopefully help you get by and heal this. Jesus, my adrenalin is pumping a bit from reading about it.

~WB

My God, Gerd! That's awful, but (silver lining) it may expedite that coupe you wanted. Still, that was such a gorgeous car. Could anything be saved (motor, wheels, other)? That's nice for John to loan you the coupe for Morro.

OMG.....that's a disaster!

JHC Gerd!!! That is just sickening. I literally have a pit in my stomach. I'm sooo sorry. Now I feel like an ass for bitching about a dinky chip on my deck lid.
I just don't know what to say? I'm sure John will make you a beautiful coupe. I know that doesn't make it any better but still something to look forward to.

Gerd---how much does THAT suck??? Man--I was so sorry t hear about this loss. At least it wasn't an accident on a highway with you in it---and no one got hurt--that is if the stupid tow truck driver made it away from you!

I hope this has a silver lining for you---maybe that coupe you talk about will ease the pain.

---Jack

Damn Gerd, that IS tragic. Glad you're all OK.

I am so sorry Gerd. That is a nightmare come true.
I loved your car especially with all the new work you had in it.
Truth be told, I modeled my car after yours.
If it turns out that you can't take the coupe to Moro, you can ride with me, and I'll even let you drive part of the way.

Gerd...I never know if I can believe you or not...that being said, you wanted to sell it anyway....now you can build whatever it is you have been itching for....

U KNOW GUYS LIFE GOES ON
CARROLS DAUGHTER WAS IN THE HOSPITAL THAT DAY FOR SURGERY AS THEY BELIEVED SHE HAD BREAST CANCER. GOOD NEWS IT WAS JUST A NASTY CYST, SHE IS ON DAILY NURSING CARE AT OUR HOUSE FOR THE NEXT 10 DAYS. LOSING A LOVED ONE OR SOME ONE GETTING INJURED FROM MY CAR WOULD BE A LOT MORE PAINFUL THAN THE LOSS OF MY CAR. THAT BEING SAID THANK U FOR YOUR KIND WORDS. I WILL BRING A PIECE OF THE CAR TO MORRO BAY SO WE CAN HAVE A GERMAN WAKE FOR IT AND DRINK LOTS OF BEER.

LANE
YES LOTS OF SALVAGEABLE PARTS THAT WILL BE USED TO CREATE MY NEXT CAR

MICKEY
I WOULD BE PISSED ALSO IF MY CAR WAS JUST PAINTED AND THEN MY DECK LID WAS CHIPPED

ROBERT
THANKS FOR THE OFFER BUT I WILL HAVE THE JPS COUP.

VINCE
I SEE YOU HAVENT OPENED THAT BOTTLE OF OBAN YET OR U WOULD BE CALLING ME A BLATANT LIAR :)

I HAVE BEEN BUSY DESIGNING THE NEW CAR THE LAST TWO DAYS AND HAVE GOTTEN SOME GREAT IDEAS FROM JOHN LEADER

Gerd, At first read I thought perhaps you were playing a cruel joke ...however I see that this is not so.

Tow Company is 100% responsible for the replacement..let's say $30k. You have first rights on the car i.e.the salvage amount paid and buy back the car at 20% ( with a insurance salvage branded title).
So that would cost you $6k out of pocket of the car, if there is considerably more than $6k in useable parts I would go for this , use what you need and sell the rest on eBay.

Just think of the speedster you will "design" this time around ....and do use a different tow company next time ~Alan

GERD - can this be an opportunity?
I have a rather large and very detailed file in my computer Speedster folder entitled "Next Time". It's filled with 8 years of thoughts, including many from this forum, about how I might build a better speedster - next time.

Depending on the insurance (Let us know how that goes)is this glass half full or half empty? We are with you.

OK, I get it now. That is why Gerd was asking about that bad-ass green coupe the other day.

Gerd,
Please, please, please tell me you're doin a copy of that car! Holy Crap would that be sweeeeeeeet!

I maybe a little schizo here cuz I went from completely crushed for Gerd to being completely stoked!!! Now I can't wait to see his new coupe! That's the best thing about this site, someones always got something goin on.

MY GLASS IS ALWAYS HALF FULL

GERD, I was thinking as I read your message that this was one of your stunts. But you got me believing that that beautiful car is in a world of hurt. Sorry about the loss, but it will work out great in the long run. I'm looking forward to seeing you in 2 weeks.

Gerd:

Just caught up with this thread after being away from the keyboard for a few days.

Boy! That sucks BIG TIME. Regardless of whether you were thinking of moving on to another car, it still sucks to see your pride and joy wrecked by some doo-fus who didn't know enough to secure it properly.

I see, however, that you're already movin on and planning your next car, using your wrecked one as a strong basis for the next. Good move.

All the best to you in your planning, and hoping to see the results soon. The Summer Cruising season is a terrible thing to waste.

gn

GERD was pretty traumatized right after this incident happened...who wouldn't be?
But, he's got his act together now.
Although his Speedster was a beautiful thing, it was A THING. And things can be replaced.
When you think of how easily someone could have been hurt or killed in this incident, well, GERD's a lucky guy, and he knows it.
The silver lining in all of this is GERD gets to design a new car - a coupe this time. And who among us (like David K said above), hasn't thought of a bunch of stuff we'd do differently the "second time around?" (This coming from a guy who built two very different replicas a few years apart.)
If John at JPS can get crackin', GERD will be back on the road in something new before summer officially arrives.
Should be fun...

DAVID
ANY IDEAS EMAIL ME
MICKEY OH MICKEY IM SMILING
THANKS GORDON AND WILL
WILL THE FAVORITE PIC OF MY CAR IS THE ONE JIM TOOK IN FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE LAST YEAR

Dude my jaw just dropped and I can't beleive that OMG... dude I am gald you're ok and you can always get new stuff! ... hey the good news here is that I am working now TOO! .. Lifes good my freind!

Take care... Speedster "D"

What!! Glad ur ok Gerd. I know the next one will be the coupe you been wanting to get.

Sorry, Gerd.
Sometimes that's just how shit rolls.
I know you as a very positive guy and you have experienced things much worse than this.
Have fun with the re-build and enjoy tormenting Steele through this one, too.
So...a fat boy coupe?

Geez.... this was a scary thread to come across. I'm very sorry your Speedster is gone, but also very glad that you & others weren't hurt or worse! Gerd, it's nice that you look at the glass as being half full!!! Here's hoping the glass will be overflowing soon for you. ... Susie

Gerd...It's just the begining of a new adventure into the "Madness."
I hope everything works out for the best....Truly sorry to see you lose the car though...

Gerd, sorry for your loss.

But I am also optimistic that you will be able to make the car you really want now. Get it going, planning is such fun hassle! I remember second guessing myself with respect to the options I got, lost some sleep that way.

Bummer - I first read and when back 5 times to check post date to ensure it wasn't an April Fools day joke. Unbelievable for sure. Reminds me of unbelieveable bad luck with my son's Subbie parked out front of house for 15 minutes only to be totalled by moving truck from 2 houses down the hill! No one at worked would believ me.

Holy *#@! Gerd, I think I would have had a heart attack seeing my car roll off a flatbed. Sorry for your loss. On the brighter side, I can't wait to see pictures of your next build. See ya at Morro Bay.

Gerd - you've got mail.

I GOT IT DAVID THANK U VERY MUCH

Three days late and a dollar or two short. I just read through this the first time. My condolences also -- this event is just beyond my ability to comprehend it. Tie it down tight at hard points w/ good straps -- how hard can that job be? Just unbelievable. I can't imagine the horror. But an opportunity knocks in all of this, no? Sounds like you will have another sweet ride under you in the not too distant future. Bigger, better, badder than ever. Not exactly how you thought you'd be spending this spring/summer, but by fall, the pain will dim. And make the bloody bastards pay, I say, and pay dearly.

You still fixing to come to Carlisle? Thought I heard that was in the offing -- you and Vince too?

Damn, Gerd! Hope the plans for something new outweigh the loss.
My heart goes out to you, Dude.

OK you dick, you better not show up at Morro Bay in that speedy after all this.....

Good golly Gerd! This is a major downer and I can imagine how heart broken you must have been. It is good to know that nobody got hurt in what could have been a horrendous accident. I'm glad to hear that you are a glass half full kind of guy. Good luck with the new design and I will be looking forward to seeing pictures of it.
Hoss

KELLY, CORY AND JOHN
NEW PLANS ARE GOOD AND THE PAIN IS GONE

VINCE HAVE I GOT A SURPRISE 4 U

Has anyone noticed we haven't seen any pictures of this tragic event? Not to impune Gerd's sterling and well-earned reputation on this forum, but I'm just say . . . .

I heard his car got impounded in a prostitution sting on Hollywood Blvd.