[BMWCSRegistry] Esoteric question & Favorite Car Story

[JamesChapa at aol.com]

Hmmm, favorite car story that doesn't involve a woman....
 
I'd have to say it was the time I was returning home to Western MD, from  SC, 
via the brand new I-77, circa 1982 or 3.  A beautiful four lane  interstate 
slashing thru virgin land between venerable I-81 and I-95.  Only  about four 
exits, and probably one state trooper covering about 100 miles.   A driver's 
dream.
 
A cool, dark evening, my 13-year old 2002 was humming along, with the road  
to ourselves.  Quietly breaking my groove through the mountains, my  "tanke" 
light lights up.  Exits are few and far between, let  alone gas stations.  It's 
late, it's dark. I start  pondering options, including the sleeping bag in my 
trunk.  
 
Right at that moment when you start thinking you'll have to accept the  
inevitable, I see a gas station ahead, it's light shining in the  distance.  I 
approach, but it's on the other side of the Interstate, with  no way to get there. 
 Except...
 
For the service turn-around that I just blew past.  A quick  decision made, I 
pull over, back up, and evaluate the  circumstances.  Low on fuel, gas 
station right OVER THERE, not a car in  sight.  I double check, spring across lanes, 
and fly right into the  chain that separates THAT SIDE from THIS SIDE.
 
What the hell was that?  Never even saw it, given the lumens my  ancient '02 
put out.  I get out and survey the situation.   The chain has lodged itself 
under that hood, as far as it  can go without breaking the hinges.  But bent 
they were. (Picture, if  you will, how a 2002 hood sits and opens).  I manage to 
get the hood open,  pull the chain out, get back in, and shove it into 
reverse.  BLAM!   Now what the f...?
 
Apparently, I hit the chain so hard, it pulled the posts partially out of  
the ground.  When I backed up, the post speared the driver's side  door, and I 
now have an I-beam 3" from my left knee, pushing thru the door  panel.  I climb 
out the passenger door to survey the situation.
 
Totally freaked by now, I manage to yank the post out of my 2002, drop it  to 
the ground, and finally make it to the southbound lanes.  I double  back to 
buy gas, discreetly surveying the damage as the gas  pumps... 
 
Not much to say after an incident like that, and hard to explain to  somebody 
why I have an I-beam shaped hole in my driver-side  door..    
 
Not a car passed during the whole fiasco.  Somehow, I doubt  I-77 is as 
isolated now as it was back then.  
 
jim
then there was this time on the Amalfi coast...



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