My foray into Mx5's

[taminga16]

On December the 7th 2008 whilst travelling home from a three day motorcycle trip with three other blokes (whom I had dropped off minutes before) I was travelling through a slow (2nd gear) decreasing radius right hand bend (dry road, wet shoulder) when I encountered a silver dual cab 4wd ute travelling in the opposite direction, as our vehicles closed I noticed the driver lift his head and look at me, he fixated and proceeded to chase me across the road, moving as far to the left as I could proved futile as he kept coming, just as I thought I was through him his vehicle caught the R/H bar end weight and brushed me onto the shoulder (still upright), two valve BMW twins do not make a great deal of HP but talk about torque. I must have rolled the throttle on somewhat because the moment that the rear grabbed the bitumen we high sided and ended on the road and then off and into a rather large drain full of water( there were 5 impact points on the helmet), whilst I was lying in the drain with water running into the neck of my jacket and out of the ankle of my all weather pants I heard the car stop and reverse (relief, knowing that there was a possibility that I would not be seen from the road and that it is a minor road of infrequent use) I vaguely recall the driver sticking his head from the window and then roaring off at speed not to be seen again. Five weeks in a sling treating a smashed right Clavicle and ongoing treatment to my hip and foot only to be told that the Collar bone treatment was unsuccessful and that surgery would be required left me feeling about as ordinary as I was whilst lying in the drain full of water. Post surgery I was desperate to get back out and decided to purchase an MX5 at the first opportunity, but only to fill the gap until I could ride again and then I would sell it, I looked at several and settled on a classic red NB8A and instantly fell under it's spell,
I will not go into detail, it would be preaching to the converted, but it did put me back into the wind, put a smile on my face and introduced me to a lot of beaut people, enthusiasts and not.
In the middle of all of this having regained some of my fitness I decided to purchase a replacement motorcycle as my beautiful BMW R100R Classic was a total loss, I found a very nice R1150R and snapped it up still convinced that I would just sell the car. A picture tells a thousand words so I have added a few that will spare you anymore of my drivel.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/2s ... directlink
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/-I ... directlink
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/cO ... directlink
http://picasaweb.google.com/taminga16/2 ... 1539713330

I took delivery of the NC 2 last week. And that is not the end of it.

Greg.

[StanTheMan]

Holy moly.....I've been witness to several bike accidents.....not personally involved. But it doesn't make it any easier...let alone what the biker is going through.

at least this story sounds like it has a good ending.

Happy motoring.

[Guran]

Goes to show how careful you have to be on the road. You never know when some knobhead will be coming for you! A mate of mine recently highsided his bike at Eastern Creek and had similar injuries. Those ribs take ages to heal. And 20 years ago I had the displeasure of spending two months in hospital with a smashed femur and other injuries after my car was hit head-on by another car that veered across two lanes into my path. Those events change your life!

[taminga16]

Thanks Stan,
The second round of surgery in early October seems to have everything sorted out and I am now able to focus on getting back into condition. I have never bothered with names for cars in the past although when the kids were young we had a camper that was always called "Betsy" (I think that it was about the memories that it provided), and other cars along the way never rated beyond "are we there yet/ or take me to ...." the NB was just the little red car but now I have had the urge to name this car.
She is "ELISA".
Greg.
P.S. I would like to thank cheyneX5 and Pamex for the gift of the Voodoo gear shift knob, I was a little wary initially but I fitted it yesterday and it's brilliant. FETH (Falls easily to hand) shortens the shift a little and the crinkle black finish sits well with the leather. Is this a "Mod" and am I now on the road to ruin? (I do have a couple of things on the way and will keep everyone posted).

[CheyneX5]

We are glad you like it greg! It really does look brilliant in your new car

[sliq]

well done to cheynex5 and pamex for the knob - good to know you got other forumites who look after your interests

[trader]

Love that colour!!

[PUR157]

There's a special Hell waiting for that ute driver... sickening...

But very glad to hear you're back into health and fell in love with the MX5... the bug bites hard doesn't it? She's a beaut

[93_Clubman]

Good to hear a happy ending to a very unfortunate story. It's [edit] low-life [end edit] morons like this driver that put many off getting back on a bike, myself included. Don't suppose he called 000, & assume he didn't volunteer himself to police, & has been unable to be identified since?

[taminga16]

Thanks Clubman, in answer to your questions,the answers are as follows NO,NO and NO.
The thing that hurt the most was the loss of the motorcycle, I had decided that we would spend the rest of our days together, it was one of the very last carburettor equiped BMW's to come into the country (1996), lots more soul than the EFI model that I have now and it still looked like a motorcycle should.
Greg.

[93_Clubman]

you're perhaps a little too gracious in your loss, but one must get on with life as you've done.

only had one European bike - a Bultaco Frontera 250 trail bike - all the rest were Japanese & mostly MX bikes - perhaps that's why I have an MX5!

[taminga16]

Hi, After a little prod from neilhr and BRT, I thought it a good time to bring this thread up to date. I still have my MX-5 and grin like a petrol pump everytime I drive it, sit with it in the garage and even when I stare vacantly at a framed image that I have in my office, along the way I have made it a little more my own with things like a Roadster II muffler (from GWR), chrome filler cap, brake master cylinder brace and most recently a pair of adjustable sways (thanks franjae), footwell lighting (there is a primer in the electics threads) this mod is would be a great asset to CARDIGAN WEARERS everywhere, a couple of stone chips and a tiny carpark dent in the drivers door that will be repaired as soon as I have time.
I am still riding the motorcycle and have done a bit to getting it breathing better at both ends as well as a mild flash, thrown out a near new pair of Michelin sport 2's (a good tyre but not for me) and replaced them with some current Metzeler's which providve a more neutral feel and seem to be wearing a little more evenly.
I have not been to the Garage Caf'e for a while and hope to get down early in the New Year but I have seen Hotrodders recently as he is teaching me to fly gliders and that really is a whole new thing. I am currently celebrating the birth of my fourth grandchild, Emma born on Friday 28.12.12, a sister for Liam and Lily and cousin to Will.
Recently I suffered some damage to one of my rims after hitting a pothole and a as such the fitting of my new tyres has been delayed until the wheel repairer is back from holidays, as soon as they are on I am planning a midweek visit to Allansford at the western end of the GOR .
It is beaut to be involved in a community such as ours and is interesting watching people come, stay and sometimes go (maybe those few just don't get it, and forget to leave their ego's at the door) a true testament to the quality of our wonderful resource is to note the lack of age barriers and the length of time for which some of us have been involved, that we are ever contributing, the way in which we look out for each other both here and privately, how we deal with the oddities that forums can unearth and so on.
I will endeavour to post some images as soon as I receive my BRT sticker and purchase a new cardigan.
Apologies if I sound like an old man,
Best for the New Year and stay safe.
Greg,

[neilhr]

What an incredible story Greg. While I'd really love to ride a bike myself, it's stories like these that keep me happily in my MX5 shell. I am glad you are doing well now and look forward to some photos of your car and bike.

[taminga16]

taminga16 wrote:
The Barge is on stands while a wheel that was beaten in the street is spending a week in Ballarat having a scan, massage and a skin treatment and as so I have taken the opportunity to install the new front sway (finally,I hear Arty call). When I removed the bar I noticed that the end links were a little stiff, removed and lubed them with some spray Lanoline by carefully inserting the straw under the top of the dustboot and then worked the grease through by rotating the joint a full 360 deg it has freed them up nicely and is a task that I will include on my regular list. The wheel should be back on Tuesday and then along with it's twin will spend a day in Bendigo being fitted with new outer garment, back home and onto the car so that the other pair can be outfitted as well, can't have them going out in odd coats nor working against each other so an alignment F&R is also planned, so much for not having a spare. It would have made the whole process so much easier.Greg.

UPDATE. Finally got the wheel back from the health farm and I must say it looks as good now as it's unblemished sisters, dropped two wheels of to Bridgestone in Golden Square early yesterday and picked them up in the afternooon in new garments and looking far better clothed than not, fitted them to the car after dinner and shot back into Bendigo this morning, walked for an hour, less time out to view a BRZ in the Subaru showroom (quite unusual, I thought) the trim appeared a little smarter than the 86 although it was a time ago when I drove one, back to the outfitters to pick up the car just in time to see the Tech drive off, which was nice as it gave me the opportunity to hear the exhaust from the otherside .
After completing my business for the day it was a fairly quiet drive to Castlemaine for a late lunch and time to allow the tyres to cool before dumping some air and then taking it out for a damned good thrashing, and I am pleased, the bold tread assists in the tyre turning in a lot quicker than the 050's and has put a nice edge on it all.
I would like to thank Rod at "WHEELS" in Ballarat and in particular Graeme Jenkins and his staff at Greater City Tyre and Auto Golden Square and I cannot forget my mate Aaron who picked up the wheel when my chances of getting across to Ballarat before Friday next were nil.
Greg.
Now were did I put that pink cardigan?

[KevGoat]

lol ... I had a read through the thread, then took a couple of looks again before I realized the time gap!! Hope those injuries have healed up well. Having damaged my back 22 years ago, I know how painfully enduring these things can be

I was never a motor cycle or convertible person. But since having acquired my NA about 17 months ago, I now fully understand the appeal!! Don't think I'll get to riding bikes (despite my best mate's constant attempts ), but I'm completely hooked on the MX. Luckily, my wife is equally hooked