When The Wheels Come Off

[Thumper]

Wow! Glad that you are ok, chris.

[Chris]

I was just about to take the old hagg for a spin, she's been standing for about 2 weeks. YOU BOYS MAKE ME WANNA CONTINUE DRIVING THE AMERIKAN CAR

Oh Chris, for the lenses, just got back from galavanting around the country to find a well wrapped parcel.

Pleasure

Wow! Glad that you are ok, chris.

Thanks Thumper.

[jmvv]

Picture this. Saturday afternoon late August 1979. I am driving my dad's 1972 Chev Constantia V8. I have my new girlfriend in the passenger seat. My friend Corrie Nel is driving my Ford Capri 1600 GT (in immaculate condition) that I had just purchased for R200 with a blown motor. I have the Capri on a tow strap and was taking it to my folk's place in Johannesburg to await resurrection (Another story)

The V8 Chevy does not even feel the Capri behind it, I have my hands full (literally) and we are tootling past Zwartkops Raceway at about 120 kph without a care in the world. Just past the turnoff towards Voortrekker Hoogte, Benita asked "Where does that wheel come from?" as a 13" Rostyle overtakes us on the left, hits a rock and bounces into the military grounds next to the road.

All I see in the rearview mirror are two eyes, about the size of 15" subwoofers in the palest face you have ever seen. I realise that I can't brake and let the car coast to almost standstill before pulling off the road (about 1 km)

We get out of the car to check out the damage. Corrie is shaking like a breakdancer on E all the while spouting profanities like there was no tomorrow (Which is peculiar as he was in the seminary of their church, studying to become a minister)

Fortunately, because the Capri's engine was out, the suspension did not dig into the road and create more damage.

We could not recover the wheel as it was in the military grounds and it was the time of the "Groot Gevaar". We were not too keen on getting shot for Ford parts.

We fitted the spare, pirated nuts from the remaining wheels and made it home safely.

Today, 30 years later, everytime we drive past Zwartkops, my wife cracks up as she remembers the wheel and Corrie's "groot skrik".

[Blitzkrieg]

...Try driving at 120KM/H past Zwartkops today and you'll end up dead in the bush

You can't beat the adrenaline rush in those moments - regardless if it's a snapping A-frame or loose wheel

[lowlight]

My beetles left front wheel came off in rush hour in Beatrix street Pretoria around the corner from church street.

[Sambabus]

Quite right Blits,......I had the left front wheel on my board come off a few times,