14 replies to this topic

[josephsc]

I just got word that a friend of mine was crushed under a car he was working on and passed away this last week. Jack was a VW bus enthusiast, and we shared a storage space in Venice, California. I have a fleet of Porsche's -- and he had a fleet of VW buses -- so we swapped parts and tools. We even thought about dropping a 911 motor in a VW bus one-day. I just spoke to his girlfriend, and apparently, the VW bus he was working fell on him while he was underneath it -- crushing his chest.

In his last will, he wished that he be parted out so that others may live.

Please: properly support your vehicle when you are working underneath it -- and back it up. And remind others to do the same.

[Stephenwz968]

So sorry for your loss...

[flash]

my sympathies

i narrowly escaped this a couple of times - i HATE working on stands - i am frantically trying to figure out a lift before this happens to me - i check and couble check, but still it makes me incredibly nervous

i had an mgb fall on me once and it scared the crap out of me - fortunately it was an empty shell, and i was able to lift it off, but it was luck

as a result of dropping a trannie on my hand while under a car, and severing tendons, i have already had tendon surgery - i figure my number is up pretty soon, so i had better resolve this before it is

[PorscheDude]

My condolences.

I have nearly escaped this myself when I used to work at a corvette shop when I was younger.

I am forever paranoid about working on stands myself. After I set the car on stands I always give a couple of good shoves to be sure the vehicle is secure.

[Mark]

Sorry about your friend.

I usually put wheels under the frame as well even if they are in the way I hope they can keep the car from crushing me.

[PorscheDude]

Good point Mark, I forgot to mention that.

[rhudeboye]

My prayers are w/you and the fam.

This is my biggest fear. My friends make fun of me because I avoid sliding my body under the car when its lifted. I'll stretch my arm outta socket just to drain the oil! Reason being it never looks secure to me! Ramps, stands even on a shop lift I'm not comfortable with being under a car.

[Vaino]

Sorry for your loss. I too had a friend have a jack come down while he was underneath. He got a hot muffler against his face, but his wife got there in time to lift it up before he was crushed. He doesn't do any work on this cars anymore. Scary stuff. This is why I use my ramps whenever possible.

[Anchorman]

A terrible tragedy.

This is one of the reasons I do much less of my own work than I used to. If ramps aren't enough to give me the access I need, I'll try like heck to avoid doing the work (I'll have someone else - my OPC or RSBarn - do it). The only recent exception was earlier this year when I had to do an emergency repair at the track - and the folks helping me insisted on stands plus redundant jacks.

[ds968]

Joe, very sorry to hear of this tragic loss !

Deepest condolences !

[crespo]

My most sincere condolences. My thoughts are with his friends and family. Tragic indeed.

Thank you for the reminder. Much appreciated.

Pablo

[sasilverbullet]

My condolences - how sad...

[doster]

Our thaughts and prayers are with you and his family. VW lovers are a rare breed and as one myself
I regret the loss of another, sorry for your loss.
allways krib up with blocks just in case.

[Scott Collins]

Joe,

I'll keep you and your friends family in my prayers.

-Scott

[Luis de Prat]

This is the most awful news I've read among car enthusiasts in a long time. I'm at a loss for words regarding what a tragedy this is. God bless, and everyone be safe under their cars!

My friends make fun of me because I avoid sliding my body under the car when its lifted. I'll stretch my arm outta socket just to drain the oil!

Unfortunately, more often than not you need to get under there to get the repair done.