Listers,
Let my blunders serve as a warning to you, make sure you have a fire
extinguisher and good insurance.
Tonight my Tiger burned. Fortunately myself and my young son escaped harm
but my car did not.
Coming home from a pleasant evening drive, I believe, a valve cover gasket
could not hold the load causing oil to spill on the header which was wrapped
with Thermo-Tec Header Wrap and somehow it ignited. We pulled over after an
incredible amount of smoke poured out all around the car. After pulling my
son out I opened the hood to see the driver side engine compartment engulfed
in flames. Four or 5 minutes later the passenger compartment caught on fire.
The fire department took a leisurely 15-20 minutes to arrived douse the
flames.
Even in the dark I could see everything non-metal in the interior is
gone...all the glass...wiring...gauges...seats...carpet...dash board...even
the aluminum steering wheel melted away...it's bad...real bad....I don't
know if I want to even look.
It will be a total loss to me since I still have 1/2 filled out insurance
forms for Hagerty Insurance still sitting on my dresser, I never got full
coverage on the car (this stuff happens to other people not me? right?
that's what I told myself) and I am not in financial shape to rebuild. More
than likely the reminants will be parted out since it will be the only way
to recoup any money from my investment.
So tomorrow I will go with heavy heart to the yard where the car now sits
and see in daylight the extent of my misery...it took me 22 years to get a
Tiger and 18 months later it's now all gone...
So fill out that damn insurance paperwork tonight and mail it in...carry a
fire extinguisher at all times...and if I never see a wrapped header again I
will be a happy man.
Paul
_________________________________________________________________
On the road to retirement? Check out MSN Life Events for advice on how to
get there! http://lifeevents.msn.com/category.aspx?cid=Retirement
Check out the new British Cars Forum:
http://www.team.net/the-local/tiki-view_forum.php?forumId=8
|