I’m normally not a long-winded person….. this will be, by far, the longest post of mine you’ll read on the boards. But this post deserves the effort, so here we go-

Hello, my name is Troy, and I’m a Bonneville-a-holic. I’ve been addicted for 6 years or so…… and I don’t think I will ever break the habit.

Well, I guess it’* time for an intro/bio. I’m Troy….. age 38, a programmer/data analyst, have 3 kids(+ another on the way), a great wife, and have been driving Bonnies for 6 years or so. The first was mine and my wife’* 98 SSEi…… known now as “Lifesaver”. The car was metallic burgundy with gray leather and T-stars and kicked some serious ***! It was a head turner, and a heck of a car to drive. We bought it used back in the spring of 2001 with 52k on it. Only real issue was a flaky instrument cluster that we never did get squared away, but no biggy. I knew to put gas in it every 300 miles. I loved that car….. had a strange affection for it, but really never understood why. Until…….

October 17th, 2001-
At this point in my life, I RARELY, if ever, wore a seatbelt. I’d say less than 15 percent of the time. Lucky for me(I don’t consider it luck…. More like fate), I buckled up that day as I left the house.

On the way to pick up the wife and my newborn daughter from the hospital, I was cut off by a 2-ton truck who skidded into my lane while I was traveling 60 mph and ended up t-boning him in the back axle/frame. I had enough time to slam the brake pedal to the floor while trying to cut the wheel to the left in an attempt to miss the truck, but I had no chance. The last thing I remember seeing prior to impact was the leading edge of the flatbed trailer coming at my face….. then WHAM!!!!

Next thing I know, I’m in this fog…… smoke has filled the vehicle, and I’m numb…. No feeling whatsoever, and I’m not breathing. My first thought is that I’m dead. But as the smoke clears and people start to try and get me out of the vehicle, I realize that I’m alive, and have had the wind knocked out of me by the impact with the truck and the airbag. Well needless to say, that was the quickest I had ever recovered from the wind being knocked out of me. With me fearing that the car is about to catch fire, I decide to try and get out of the vehicle….. first mistake! I try the door handle with my left hand, and immediately feel a burning sensation in my shoulder…. Broken clavicle from the seat belt. The door doesn’t open….. it’* hung up. I yell at the people gathering to try and get the door open, as there’* steam coming from under the crumpled hood.

They cant get the door open, so I decide that I’m getting out by crawling into the back seat and going out through one of the back doors which were working. As I try to move, I realize that I have a broken right femur…. And decided that I wasn’t moving until I saw flames since it was starting to hurt pretty badly. I ended up having to be cut out of the vehicle so to speak by the fire department, as they had to sever some sort of bolt in the door jam to get the door open. It was strange to be in the emergency room getting worked on in the same hospital that my wife and newborn are awaiting my arrival to pick them up two floors above me!

To make a long story short…… 2 surgeries later(first for the femur repair, then another 2 weeks later for a heel reconstruction and ankle fusion) here I am with 10 pounds of titanium in me(femur rod and 6 screws), The car saved my life, without a doubt. If I wasn’t hooked on Bonnies prior to that point in time, I sure was after that day.

Within a year of the accident, I purchased both a 97 SSE (aka the “parts car”- that my wife ended up wrecking two years later on I-40 in a nice spinout after being cut off by someone) and my current 97 SE which has most of the interior out of the SSE installed in it….. it’* my current daily driver.

I found BC through a Google search for of all things, how to route the serpentine belt!! My car is missing the sticker. Another board had a link to a Car Domain page that had given credit back to BC, and the rest is history.

This place had been a huge help in many ways for me and my car….. with the biggest obviously being the hooking-up with Pat and Bill(remote assistance) to swap the interiors between the SE and SSE late last year. It’* amazing how people here will go so far out of their way to help out other members. It’* like having an extended family. A truly special place and community.

Thanks BC…… may the community and it’* members live long, prosper, and enjoy life since it can be taken away from you in an instant. Hug your loved one’* and make sure a day doesn’t pass that you don’t tell them how much they mean to you.

Take care all…. And see you on the boards.
Troy

Built like a tank really has it'* meanings for each of us.

Good thing your Bonne gave her life to save yours or you wouldn't have been able to watch your newborn grow up or spend time with the rest of the Bonne addicts around here

thats some story Troy, glad you found and are still with us.

I almost have that much weight in my leg....not yet though

That sounds pretty nasty and scary..I've never been in a life threatening car accident before.

loved that read

No, Hans... You just fell off a freakin' hill...

Great(?) story, Troy. Glad you are still around and found us to tell it. Bet you buckle up now, huh?? I was a cop, and had to see too many people that didn't.

I hear ya...... I dont think that I would have survived it in many other vehicles. The Bonnie held up pretty damn well all things considered.

If I can get my hands on the pics, I'll post a few. I showed the newspaper with the story on the front page to Pat when he was here doing all the work on the SE... he too thought the car did it'* job. Lifesaver!!

Funny thing I left out of the story....... as the fire department get'* there, the first guy gets on the door handle and snatches on it feverishly to try and get it open. The second guy comes around the opposite end of the vehicle and asks the other if he'* tried hitting the power locks button. The first guy said he would have, but the battery was 20 feet down the road. :?

I'm glad on both accounts also......

It'* not said enough IMO how much we, the users, appreciate what you and the other mods/admins do to keep this pace going. It'* a thankless job(I know from experience).

What'* up with your leg, O' master of the parts locator?

Thanks Haro...... it was fun to actually have to think a bit when posting for a change.

I have a horrible memory...... but for some reason that period in time seems to be stuck in my mind..... go figure.