Bad Day on I-295

[mooreken]

On my way to by brothers place in Fernandina I saw that traffic was slowing down. So, I gave the o'l raise the arm and wave to all to show I was slowing down.
As we were almost stopped, I heard the crunch of sheet metal, then I felt the impact in my car on the left rear. This spun me 90 degrees directly into the side of the Pickup truck to my left. This spun him around 180 degrees and gave me an opening to drive into the infield or median to you none circle track racers would say.
I have to admit that it did bring back old memories and mussel memory from all the crashes back in my circle dirt track days.

I've attached some photos and a crude drawing (I can paint cars, I can't draw) of how things went down.
The car a fault has Direct General insurance (I'm sure you have seen the ads) I'll post the progress as I contact them. If I don't like how I'm being treated, I'll make a State Farm claim and let them handle Direct General I'll just pay the deductible and hope they get it back for me.

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There is not frame damage that I can see. A little core support damage pushing the hood hinges back the rest is all fiberglass work and removing windshield, side pipes, and things for the paint. And of course painting and laying out the stripes.
I have no physical issues which is a good thing. I don't even think it will feel all that bad in the morning.
Ken

[Tom Wells]

Ken,

Glad you're OK!

The Cobra definitely looks distressed

Tell me the at-fault driver wasn't on the phone!

Let me know if I can help in any way,

Tom

[mooreken]

Tnx Tom. My gut feeling is that he was. He is Hispanic and hurt his hands, most likely from holding a phone. I don’t have the detail police report and I guess it really doesn’t matter.

[spl310]

Damn, that sucks. The good news is that you are OK. The car is stuff, and stuff can be repaired or replaced. There is a Factory 5 body for sale for a reasonable price near the Villages - it may be a source for repair sections.

[mooreken]

Thanks for the referral, I have already reached out to Randy Hunter in Ocala. He is the supplier who built the basic kit. He still has the molds and will make me a section from the middle of both fenders forward.

Ken

[mooreken]

When I built the Cobra I bought Vintage knock off wheel kit. As I recall all 4 was around $2600 in 2010 or so. Including the lug drive pins spindles and knock offs.
The replacement wheel now is $980.00 plus 40 shipping.

[Tom Wells]

Ken,

That's good news about Randy Hunter being able to get you the piece you need!

What's odd is that Todd Conklin used to own one and wanted to find Randy but couldn't. Can you share the contact information - if that's OK with Randy?

Tom

[mooreken]

When I upgraded my differential I called for some advice on the carrier frame Dana 35 to 44. At that time he said he was building again.
When I called this week while he said he still has the molds and didn’t say he wasn’t building I had a feeling that he might has stopped again.
Anyway here it the number I have

Randy Hunter
352-425-6238

[mooreken]

The Cobra just got more complicated. Seems the offending driver had no insurance after all, policy was cancelled.

So now I’m dealing with State Farm. And like most thing’s now days the human element is being removed. The want to do it by me sending them pictures of the damage. That might work for normal cars not so much for a car made out of mail order parts.
Ken

[FCCCAdmin]

Ken,

This is probably an absurd question but that's not going to stop me!

Have you thought about going through Reflections - at least on the insurance estimate? Or is that not cricket?

Tom

PS: Thanks for the Randy Hunter info. I'll pass it along.

PPS: Kay reminded me we had to take pictures last month of Kay's car damage (don't ask) and text them to State Farm. After that, they came up with an estimate and sent us a check. When we took the car in to have it repaired the estimate got upped - twice - as the shop revealed more damage. Each time State Farm went to the shop to verify and approve the new estimate. The final price came out to about 4X the original.