<VV> (VV) Flat Sixes on the Prairie PCCA (kinda long and rambling like this title) EVEN MORE

[Joe Robbins]

Yes folks, the PCCA event was better than advertised. My day started at 9:00
giving me plenty of time to make the 80 mile trip to Springfield for the
11:00- 3:00 Car Display part of the event. Well at 2:30 when the Flat Bed
dropped my car in the lot..... Do I know how to make an entrance! I was the
recipient of a Tech Session on harmonic balancer replacement. I made it half
way and lost a belt, turns out I wasn't as prepared as I thought, I didn't
have the special wrench to get the idler loose. Being the paranoid type I
did have several PCCA members cell phone numbers so I called and told them
what had happened and I was going to limp back home. Not to worry, I talked
with Mike Hall and he and Bill Pierson took off from the host site and made
the 40 mile trip to rescue me and DaVair. They said "we'll follow you", OK
sounds good and away we go, for about 6 miles that is, the harmonic balancer
separated and I shut it down on the side of the road. I have Hagerty
insurance and their roadside assistance program. A bit like what I have
heard On Star is like, they stayed on the line and told me when the flat bed
would be there. The truck picked the car up and we made it to the show, what
a way to make the show.  Tim Mahler had a new part and the puller so by the
time I got there the plan was set. I didn't even know they were going to do
it until I got there and they went at it like it was cold and raining or
something, oh that's right it was.  The part would be changed in the lot at
the hotel. Bill and Tim set out and in less than an hour in the cold wet IL
weather, DaVair was under his own power again. I can't say thank you enough
to all the great folks at PCCA, they are like a big family and they'd do
anything to help a person in need. It was a weird day to say the least, and
I even shared the hard luck award with an UV that had problems as well. If
you are close to Central IL. don't miss this event next year. I hope that
I'm not the rolling tech session though. 

Thanks again to everyone that was there helping me in hour of need.

Joe Robbins



-----Original Message-----
From: virtualvairs-admin@corvair.org [mailto:virtualvairs-admin@corvair.org]
On Behalf Of John Miller
Sent: Sunday, May 02, 2004 8:13 PM
To: virtualvairs@corvair.org
Subject: <VV> (VV) Flat Sixes on the Prairie PCCA (kinda long and rambling
like this title)

  My wife and I just got back from Springfield, Illinois. We attended the
PCCA
May Car Show> Flat Sixes on the Prairie >Prairie Capital Corvair
Association's
weekend affair.
  It rained....drizzeled....the wind blew and blew....it was cold....the sun
peeked out for a couple hours early this morning and then it rained and
hailed
on us.....The Corvairs were cool, the people were super nice, the food was
great, the prizes were abundant. We would have to say all in all we had a
great weekend!
  At one point one member attending had a harmonic balancer go bad on the
road.....it was simply great to see how these Illinois' club members dug
into
that motor compartment and got it back on the road in short order....did I
mention it was raining?
  We especially liked the Rally in the Hailstorm! A first for me and Chris!
Even better....we had a nice picnic lunch after the rally.....I am telling
you
guys need to pay attention the next time these PCCA people put an event
together!! Well worth the drive!!!
   We headed back around 1 pm.....using my best rally skills  we werent able
to find our way back to the highway home (my compass was broke...I never ask
for directions....and heck did I mention it was RAINING!!!!) Around 3 pm we
got on the Berlin, Ill. road and started making headway.
   On a  bit sadder note, just outside a town (I think Pleasant Plain?) A
1994ish ford taurus rolled on a corner just ahead of us. This was sort of a
3
point roll and  ending on its wheels, facing the way it came. We pulled off
on
the opposite side of the road  and I ran over to see if anyone was hurt. The
one occupant, driver, had tumbled out the drivers door. I didnt see any
major
bleeding although she had several cuts head to toe. She seemed somewhat
aware
of what happened but wasnt able to move much. I realized all I could do was
cover her to keep her warm, hold her hand. and keep her from moving till the
paramedics arrived as I feared she had some broken bones. She seemed to be
going limp and passing out ever so often which seemed an eternity till the
sirens arrived.
  Anyway the paramedics got her apparently stabilized and took her to
Springfield Memorial. Her name was Shawna McCoy...probably in her late 20's.
If anyone can find out if she is going to be ok that would be great to
know.(please say a prayer for her)
  It occured to me as we were pulling away in our Corvair...I wonder how
many
people thought we had something to do with this rollover.....nah! it's the
Midwest and there are no Green Party members for hundreds of miles....!!!


                                   Thanks for listening, thanks PCCA
                                    John & Chris Miller
                                    Iowa
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