Off-Roading with my Marauder

[greggash]

Marauders are just not setup to handle in wet grass.

Last Sunday I was the casualty before the install of Magindat's ProCharger kit.

Here is the scoop: it was raining, and I had just entered I95 at Ft.Pierce going north. It was like glass, every one was being very careful (except me I guess).
I was one of 4 cars, back right, the car started to hydroplane and started going towards the other cars. First thought was try not to hit the other cars (long story, I hit a house once), the car swung wildly left then right, butt end first off the road, down a little slope and across about 100 yards of wet rutted up grass, doin 360's along the way. It was just a sea of green.

The car came to a stop by hitting a fence with the rear quarter panel first, then the driver door and finally the front fender. All the real bad damage is on the passenger side.

As Magindat put it, another 2 feet it was in the canal.

here is a link to a directory of pictures taken just after the accident:

http://www.frazled.com/~gregg/jpegs/PICT0177.JPG

just increment the picture number, up to 205, some picture numbers are missing, have fun

[ChiTownMaraud3r]

http://www.frazled.com/~gregg/jpegs/PICT0194.JPG

That one shows his car's greatest damage.

Good to hear you got out fine, with no airbags popping. Lets hope they can repair that good as new.

Keep it careful out there guys, part of me dies when I see things like this...:(

[Shora]

I'm happy that you are ok.

Looks like you are running the KDW2s in the rear. Do you think that they have anything to do with it? Are they worn out? Are you using the KDW2's for the fronts as well?

Anyway, I was suprised to see the engine bay get so messy but I know that you Marauder will look better than new with your future paint job.

[MM03MOK]

Oh my! I'm glad you're OK, Gregg!

[greggash]

I'm happy that you are ok.

Looks like you are running the KDW2s in the rear. Do you think that they have anything to do with it? Are they worn out? Are you using the KDW2's for the fronts as well?

Anyway, I was suprised to see the engine bay get so messy but I know that you Marauder will look better than new with your future paint job.

they were an older set of kdw2s , I feel they contributed
Front I have nitto

the mud was deep and the grass was tall, so it flew into all sorts of places.
I had to pull the dry grass from between my headers so it wouldn't catch fire.

Thanks for the well wishes

[Shora]

they were an older set of kdw2s , I feel they contributed
Front I have nitto

Contributed to the hydroplaning because they were worn or just because they suck when wet.

This is a wake up call to those of us who need new rears are delaying buying them because they are on back order.

[knine]

Ouch! :bigcry: Glad you're O.K.

[OneBADLsE]

Poor car...Glad you're alright though!

Looks like the tow truck is stuck in the mud tryin to get you out!

[RCSignals]

wow. Glad you are OK. Sorry this happened.

Almost the exact thing happened in 2002 to an early 300a a guy took on a test drive from a local dealer. Wet road, lost control went off road and spun out like that.

I wonder if traction control would have made any difference?

[Aren Jay]

What ever happened to those rain tires. Continental and Goodyear used to make them, they had a deep grove down the middle it looked almost like two tires on each rim.

Hydroplaning means you are in a four wheel drift, the best thing to do is slow down, without using your brakes and try to steer your way down the road. Honk your horn while you do this. It helps get other cars out of the way.

Never put your brakes on while drifting. Drive slower, Pay attention and hope it doesn't happen to you.

Same thing works with black ice. Except the grass isn't wet, it is frozen and covered in snow.

Good to see that you were not hurt and your Marauder is not totalled.

[snowbird]

Bad luck but glad you're OK and the car look easy to repair. When we loose a heavy car like ours, they go deep in the bushes before rest.

[fastcar]

Delete center cap looks kind of neat...

fastcar:confused:

[03blackvegas]

New quarter time, thats sucks!!!!

[RoyLPita]

Gregg,
I'll send you what I took for your gallery.

[Bluerauder]

I wonder if traction control would have made any difference?
Ouch !! :( Sorry to hear about the damage to your MM, Greg. Glad that you were able to keep it right side up and that you weren't injured. That's the important part.

As for the question about traction control, I suspect that it would have tried to help; but even it has its limits on overcoming the Laws of Physics. Once the back end started to come around, he was just along for the ride. On wet grass, he'd get little to no braking action since friction would be close to zip.

At slower speeds, T/C can help alot and has saved my butt at least once when the back end stepped out about 12-18" on an oil slick turn at about 25-30 mph. I came off the gas in a hurry and T/C was on the job almost immediately and allowed me to straightened the MM out without incident. I feel that another 5 mph faster or another 0.5 seconds slower off the gas and the ending would have been much different. I knew it was close due to the heart pumping and the adrenalin boost.

Since Greg was hydroplaning, I suspect his speed was 60 mph or more. His front tires should have been clearing much of the rainwater out of the way as they passed. Worn tread on the rears just made the job harder for the rears to find road surface. At this point, just touching the brakes would tend to make the rear end come around. T/C would not be much help once this started to happen since neither rear tire would be able to brake without touching the road surface.

IMHO. This story had the best possible outcome. :D Minimal damage and no injuries. That's why I replace my rubber whenever they get in that questionable tread zone. When the MM starts to feel a little "loose" in the turns, new tires are not far behind.

[Hotrauder]

Gregg, I am so sorry to read and see this thread. Rich had made a reference to a casualty but I never suspected. I hope that all the damage is as superficial as it appears. We wish you the best with this. If there is anything I can do please make sure that I know. Dennis

[magindat]

Yep I mentioned a casualty. It wasn't my place to tell G's story...

Now that it's here, what a scene. Criss-crossed ruts through deeps boggy Florida pasture grass. Marauder under a tree. Tow truck got stuck pulling him out. Bigger tow truck pulled out the little tow truck. We had it dragged to my place and did a damage/safety assessment and got it road worthy.

For a while, I was like the hell with the install and let's get Greg calmed down and drivable. Well, that happened and in true friendship style, the install continued 'till midnight, when to all out delights, the car fired right up.

IT was an intense day of high's and low's and at the end we all saw what each other was made of. I feel privileged and honored to have friends of this caliber!

Here are some more pics of the scene and some at the house. Greg, call me any time about any thing. I wouldn't mind making a run down there to check the work, either (seeing as I've been through it -though much worse!).

http://www.magindat.net/SSM/members/greggash/IMG_0078.jpg
.......increment IMG_number by one.......
http://www.magindat.net/SSM/members/greggash/IMG_0105.jpg

The Unstoppable SSM.... :beer:

[MarauderTJA]

Truly sorry to hear about your mishap Greg. Good to hear that you were OK.

[Raudermaster]

Damn! Sorry to hear man, glad you're ok though. You know though, I have to admit, with my new KDW2's, they do spin a lot on wet pavement, without even getting into the throttle really. Odd?

[HwyCruiser]

Greg, sorry to hear about the accident. You know when you're in the deep weeds when the tow-truck has to get winched out too. Been there.

I wonder how much mismatching the tires front and rear had to do with the spin out. I was concerned with running the Nitto NTs in the back and KDWS in the front that they felt like they were fighting each other sometimes on wet roads. Now I have the NTs all around and they've done great so far.

I hope you get her fixed up good as new soon.

[MACFORD88]

Sorry To Hear That.but As Long As Youer Ok.

[MM_BKK]

Sorry to hear about your mishap. I'm glad you're ok. Cars can be fixed a lot easier than human.

What a heart breaking story. :cry:

[jdando]

Ouch! Sorry to hear about the accident and see the carnage.

Glad you are okay.

jeremy

[ImpalaSlayer]

Delete center cap looks kind of neat...

fastcar:confused:

you aint right lol. that sucks man hope shes back on the road again soon

[BigCars4Ever]

That's all repairable. Not like the damage I did when I lost it on the turnpike on wet roads. Guard rails don't give much. New quater welded on, fender and door skin and it's be as good as new.(Only the passenger side will be painted better...feakin factory paint)

[SID210SA]

Glad to see you are Okay.....that is the first pics of a wrecked Marauder where one of the exhaust outlets didnt stay straight.....

[ckadiddle]

Geeesh....glad you are ok Gregg. I have had KDW2s on all four conrers the last couple years. No problem in the rain, but I drive like I am on oiled glass when pavement is wet. If I spin a little, I just take my foot off the gas and the rears grab hold again.

[greggash]

Just wanted to say Thank You to everyone for the well wishes.

The car is finally going to be worked on.
The watts link is bent and the rear end is moved over about 2 inches, some new parts and time on the frame straightener, good as new
All 4 wheels are to be refinished (one may need to be replaced)
So far the bill is about 7500
And it will have a factory paint job from a local ford dealer, all work guaranteed for life. (and they know I am keeping it)

Gregg

[magindat]

Sounds like you are in good hands...

Hope you get it back soon!!!!

BTW, I have your wiring. John's bringing your speaker to Atlanta. Pieces are cut for the box.

Ready when YOU are!!!!

[Blackmobile]

BTW, I have your wiring. John's bringing your speaker to Atlanta. Pieces are cut for the box.

Ready when YOU are!!!!

With Gregg's MM going into the shop, I'm going to Atlanta in his place. So if John is bringing his speakers to Atlanta, I guess you want me to bring them back to him. It would be better to pick them up on the way back to avoid and damage to them in transit.

ED

[magindat]

With Gregg's MM going into the shop, I'm going to Atlanta in his place. So if John is bringing his speakers to Atlanta, I guess you want me to bring them back to him. It would be better to pick them up on the way back to avoid and damage to them in transit.

ED

Sounds good to me!!!!

[Bradley G]

I spared myself the carnage shots.
I also do my best to resist gaper's on the roadways.
(not from a lack of concern)
Glad to hear you were not injured Gregory!
Good luck on the repairs!
Good news!
No more complaining of poor factory paint!
Great to see Marauder brotheren sharing your pain!
I do too!
I had a deer hit weeks after, getting the Marauder.
Thanks for sharing!