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Every competitors worse nightmare - hit in the trailer
jeffw - 15/8/17 at 03:48 PM

Travelling up to Curborough on last Friday pm on the M25/M3 junction I had a RTC while stationary. A lady in a Honda CRV drove (at some speed) into the back of my trailer causing extensive damage to the Phoenix and wrecking the trailer.

The ladies insurance company has admitted liability and my assessor has decided the trailer and racecar are a total loss. As this is classed as goods in transit and not a vehicle I'm pursuing the insurers for the full value of replacements for the car and trailer totalling some £53K according to my assessor. My Range Rover tow hook is bent as well so will need replacing and the Phoenix has chassis damage as well as requiring a complete, custom body.

Sad times.





HowardB - 15/8/17 at 03:57 PM

oh no, that is a disaster,. so sorry to hear

At least there is an admission of guilt and it wasn't a large lorry that tail ended you.

Is this the point that the Phoenix will rise from the ashes as an Arion S2?

wishing it a speedy recovery

:/


jeffw - 15/8/17 at 04:16 PM

This is the point I buy a Norma M20F I think


HowardB - 15/8/17 at 04:19 PM

hmmm,... the Norma M20F looks interesting but not as mean as the Phoenix with the wide body kit!

I am sure that Steve can do wonders with the chassis,....


Charlie_Zetec - 15/8/17 at 04:24 PM

Wow, looks like she was really going some! Sorry to hear the news. Makes me nervous to think that people don't give 100% concentration whilst driving.... since passing my motorbike test some years back, it's really made me aware of everything going on around me. Fingers crossed for a speedy payout, and new toy on the road!


jeffw - 15/8/17 at 04:26 PM

There is a lot more to it than just the chassis, there is £ 000s of labour to make a complete body for it and move everything onto a new chassis as well as the parts. The gearbox/prop/diff will need rebuilding as the car was in gear and strapped down on all four corners, the force wheels are oval, all 16 rose joints need changing out at £100ea, it needs a new exhaust at £2K and so on.


djtom - 15/8/17 at 04:29 PM

You may end up doing ok out of it if the insurance company allow you to buy back the wreckage at a favourable rate - can't see a huge amount from the photos but assuming the front end of the car is ok, then there will be an awful lot of salvageable bits worth a lot of money, including that rather nice engine...
Can't see the ins company wanting to deal with punting that on to the trade as its quite a niche car, so ask them for a price. You may be surprised.


loggyboy - 15/8/17 at 04:47 PM

Shouldnt have to worry about buying it back if its classed as contents/goods.


jeffw - 15/8/17 at 05:00 PM

This ....

I am told by someone in the know that is will be goods in transit and not a vehicle as such so they pay replacement costs for the trailer and car while not requiring you to buy it back.

The front it pretty mashed as well so there would be a lot of work to get it back together.


Charlie_Zetec - 15/8/17 at 05:21 PM

quote:
Originally posted by jeffw
This ....

I am told by someone in the know that is will be goods in transit and not a vehicle as such so they pay replacement costs for the trailer and car while not requiring you to buy it back.

The front it pretty mashed as well so there would be a lot of work to get it back together.


Be careful with certain terminology, as when it comes to "goods in transit", it may place a limit on value (in does in terms of transporting goods under Road Haulage Association by hauliers). Not sure how this relates for private/personal transport, but just a word of warning. Here's hoping for a fully-covered payout!


HowardB - 15/8/17 at 05:35 PM

The force wheels are oval!!! She was driving at you? That is some serious damage list.


mark chandler - 15/8/17 at 06:17 PM

Terribly bad luck Geoff

I gues the car became the sandwich between two heavy cars, hope you. get it sorted quickly to your satisfaction.


luke2152 - 15/8/17 at 06:19 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Charlie_Zetec
quote:
Originally posted by jeffw
This ....

I am told by someone in the know that is will be goods in transit and not a vehicle as such so they pay replacement costs for the trailer and car while not requiring you to buy it back.

The front it pretty mashed as well so there would be a lot of work to get it back together.


Be careful with certain terminology, as when it comes to "goods in transit", it may place a limit on value (in does in terms of transporting goods under Road Haulage Association by hauliers). Not sure how this relates for private/personal transport, but just a word of warning. Here's hoping for a fully-covered payout!


Surely makes no difference at all if you're not at fault because its not your policy paying. You could be completely uninsured (other than third party cover) and the other persons insurance has to make things right. Just hope they can agree on a value.


jeffw - 15/8/17 at 06:59 PM

Yes, her insurance is dealing with everything.


ian locostzx9rc2 - 15/8/17 at 07:09 PM

I really hope you get good outcome to this as I've heard some horror stories about limits on payouts for goods in transit .

[Edited on 15/8/17 by ian locostzx9rc2]


gremlin1234 - 15/8/17 at 08:36 PM

from and insurance company point of view, this is quite a small claim, - ie no personal injury etc


Nathsx - 15/8/17 at 09:31 PM

Fingers crossed things work out!

At least she was insured as bad as it sounds


blue2cv - 16/8/17 at 07:40 AM

Make sure you get tow car rear end inspected, may have chassis damage if tow equipment bent


tims31 - 16/8/17 at 10:35 AM

Wow, gutted for you Jeff. She must have been going some and that was some impact to cause that damage.

Hope you get it sorted okay


Andy B - 16/8/17 at 12:56 PM

So sorry to see this Jeff - sustaining damage on track is hard enough to swallow but on the highway makes a far bitter pill.
Hope you get sorted sooner rather than later and looking at the impact and having spent years cutting people from wrecks, the only positive to draw is no-one is seriously injured
Best regards
Andy


loggyboy - 16/8/17 at 03:36 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Andy B
So sorry to see this Jeff - sustaining damage on track is hard enough to swallow but on the highway makes a far bitter pill.



I dunno, at least someone else is paying for the repairs when its off track!


richardm6994 - 16/8/17 at 04:08 PM

OMFG!! What a crying shame!!!

All that work and effort after the fire now down the drain! Not only was she an awesome weapon, she looked bl00dy gorgeous doing what she did best. I really hope to see the phoenix rise again, but I can imagine it must be hard to find the enthusiasm given she's only just gone back together!

I know you're pretty well sorted for most things, but if you ever need any help, machining, fabricating etc....please just give me shout mate.


jeffw - 16/8/17 at 05:53 PM

Thanks for the kind thoughts (and offers of help), I'm genuinely touched. I haven't realised how many people like(d) the car until this has happened.

At the moment it is looking like a total loss so I'll wait and see what her insurance want to do. There is a possibility it could be reborn as a Cyana but I suspect, if it is written off, I will move to something like a Norma M20F or a Radical SR8.

12 years of my life in one car and it all gets snatched away by someone being inattentive....sad days.


jeffw - 16/8/17 at 05:56 PM


jeffw - 16/8/17 at 05:58 PM

3 secs faster than I'd ever been round Combe before...last recording of the car really.



[Edited on 16/8/17 by jeffw]


bi22le - 16/8/17 at 06:16 PM

I would think more people than you realise really liked your car, and this is a really shame.

Remember; Faster, lighter, stronger.


richardm6994 - 16/8/17 at 07:30 PM

Watching those videos with a sad smile!
She wasn't just a car, she was an engineering masterpiece.

I'm sure your next endeavour will be just as interesting and fantastic!!

[Edited on 16/8/17 by richardm6994]


mackei23b - 17/8/17 at 08:01 AM

As said before. I really liked the look of the car and it clearly went very well to, a great shame. But on the bright side new beginnings....


Jenko - 17/8/17 at 08:57 AM

quote:
Originally posted by jeffw
Thanks for the kind thoughts (and offers of help), I'm genuinely touched. I haven't realised how many people like(d) the car until this has happened.




'How many people like(d) the car'!!!!!!!!........I've been having naughty dreams about it since that bodywork was done!...

[Edited on 17/8/17 by Jenko]


bonzoronnie - 17/8/17 at 10:12 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Jenko
quote:
Originally posted by jeffw
Thanks for the kind thoughts (and offers of help), I'm genuinely touched. I haven't realised how many people like(d) the car until this has happened.




'How many people like(d) the car'!!!!!!!!........I've been having naughty dreams about it since that bodywork was done!...

[Edited on 17/8/17 by Jenko]


Me too.
Glad I am not the only one.

Love the car, it's on my to die for list.

Very sad to read of its sad demise


jeffw - 17/8/17 at 10:18 AM

The insurance companies assessor is coming out this pm so we will see what the results of that are.


Shooter63 - 18/8/17 at 09:00 PM

Being a mercenary git, who will own the rights to the salvage when it's written Off?

Shooter


luke2152 - 18/8/17 at 11:18 PM

If you were 5th overall what the bleep was first?! You are bloody moving


jeffw - 19/8/17 at 05:16 AM

We only got one timed run before the rain came and I was 5th but less than 1 sec off the 3/4th place guys. I wouldn't have caught the Single Seater which was FTD but should really have been 2nd overall.


jeffw - 19/8/17 at 05:17 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Shooter63
Being a mercenary git, who will own the rights to the salvage when it's written Off?

Shooter


You can be a mercenary git somewhere else. I will not be discussing that with anyone as I don't want to see parts of my car appearing else where.


Furyous - 19/8/17 at 10:43 PM

I've been following this car for years, getting excited every time you post an update. It's a car I show to friends when we're talking about the Fury. I watch the track videos with amazement at how capable it is. It seems like it's only been a couple of months since you got the mean looking bodywork finished. And now it's been destroyed because of some idiot. Not because you pushed a little too hard while using it properly. It happened in stationary traffic.

I personally feel gutted about this, and I've never even seen the car in person.

This is the kind of thing that terrifies me about my Fury. It's not the best, but I've dedicated so much time and effort to it that I would hate for some idiot to wreck it. If someone wrecks a tin top you get your insurance pay out and buy another, but insurance can't replace time.


HowardB - 20/8/17 at 08:31 AM

I concur, I only saw the car for real at Steve's place before the awesome body kit, it was/is a beacon in the community, and often when I say I have a Fury, I reference it's performance to your car Jeff,. a youtube of the Brighton speed trials never fails to impress.

There is a long and proud history of car rebuilds on here, mine included, having said that - I am not sure that I can imagine how truly upset this must have made you.

fingers crossed for the right resolution


jeffw - 20/8/17 at 09:36 AM

Again, thank you for the kind words.


Pat_T - 20/8/17 at 09:55 AM

Really sorry to hear this Jeff, I've always been really admiring this car and your performances with it and was looking forward to finally meeting you at the Brighton Speed Trials in a couple of weeks!

Norma is a good shout, have you also looked at Juno's? I used to work there/build/run them and can vouch for them being incredible bits of kit!



all the best.
Patrick

[Edited on 20/8/17 by Pat_T]


jeffw - 20/8/17 at 09:58 AM

Hi Pat

Sorry I'll not be there

I am looking at all the VdeV type cars but there seem to be very few Junos around compared with Ligier or Norma.


alfas - 20/8/17 at 05:41 PM

i hope the insurances in Uk are not like the rest of europe:

trailored vehicels are declared as "goods", hence they are not covered by their value unless you have made a seperate transport-insurance.

car insurances can be made in 3 ranges over here...dont kow how it is in UK:

1.liability
2. partial coverage (glass damage, hail damage or if the car gets stolen)
3. full coverage (covers all, even if the damage /accident was caused by yourselves)

with some insurances , depending on the wording of the contract, no.3. might cover the value of the car on the trailor.