A moment of silence for a car I truly loved

[Tonybest]

So this is where it ends with my M Coupe. This car that was assembled on my birthday in 2008. It died doing what it and I loved doing the most. Lapping days.

I hit a cement wall that was lining the left side of the track at Calabogie (after kink before turn 2) I was going about 170 km/h and lost control of the car, and after 3 steering corrections, went and hit the wall nose first.

Damage is limited to front suspension and everything forward of that. Engine is still intact, but Hood, bumper, lights, and radiator stuff are squished. Mostly cosmetic stuff + front suspension and radiator. 2 airbags on driver side were also activated. Maybe a slight bend on one side of the frame.

As for the driver, I had installed half cage, racing seats and harness, + Hans device this winter, so I came out with a small bruise on my right hand and a huge bruised ego.

The insurance adjuster has deemed the car as total loss. He has evaluated damages to 37,000 CDN$. The body shop guy says it is too high in his quick appreciation, but still even if it was 27,000 CDN$, I wouldn't fix the car.

Now just waiting for the amount the insurance will pay me (replacement value) and going to start looking for another car. It's gonna be hard to go from this car to anything else I can afford...

I am happy that I was protected with my safety mods. I am happy the insurance is not making a fuss. I am happy I was able to enjoy this car from brand new (purchased the last available one in Canada) from March 2009 till now. I am happy I progressed so much with my track events with this rewarding car.

For sale I will have:

a set of OEM rims with tires
a set of OZ UltraLeggera rear tires still good (Rcomp Nitto NT01), front tires pretty much done, but I have unpacked brand new NT01s for the fronts
two racing bucket seats (OMP) with seat belts
an indoor BMW car cover
embroided ///M carpets
probably will have extinguisher and bracket that installs on the floor (passenger side)


I will post these things next week.

[itdnwiwbp]

Really sorry to hear this. Glad you're ok.

[Huz-Z]

Sorry to hear about your car but I'm glad you were not injured. Let's hope somebody buys you car and properly restores her.

[donoman]

That's cool that your insurance covers trackdays. Is that a special insurance policy?

[gas-can]

Just glad you are ok. Car's replaceable- you aren't!!

-gc

[3002 tii]

Glad to hear you are ok man, good thing you had safety hardware installed before the season. Any pics of the carnage?

[yousefnjr]

RIP

[v3.2mc]

sorry.

[fullerra]

Aww man, this is not what I like to see. Hearing of things like this half wants to make me pack up the helmet. I'm glad to hear you're okay. A moment of silence is definitely an order

[Greddy2000]

I am very surprised insurance is covering damage due to track use, you must have had special insurance for such mods and events? I know my regular daily driving insurance will not touch any claim from tracking. Glad to hear your ok, which is most important.

[inTgr8r]

Glad to hear that you are OK Tony!!!!!!!!!

Sad that your car didn't make out so well though.

[MZHammer]

Glad to hear you walked away relatively unscathed. Sorry about the car.

[Finnegan]

I'm so sorry to hear this Tony!

Been in a similar situation in my past. PM sent.

Some cars just rust away, or stay unused in a garage, never getting miles or dust. Yours had a chance to really live. And it protected you well. Small solace, but hopefully some nevertheless.

[Tonybest]

Originally Posted by itdnwiwbp

Really sorry to hear this. Glad you're ok.

Thanks . I highly suggest (I should order you guys) to use proper safety equipment for track use.

Originally Posted by Huz-Z

Sorry to hear about your car but I'm glad you were not injured. Let's hope somebody buys you car and properly restores her.

Not sure who would, but there's a great S54 in there that is barely scratched

Originally Posted by donoman

That's cool that your insurance covers trackdays. Is that a special insurance policy?

Nothing out of the ordinary. When i shop around, I always ask the question: if I do High performance Driving education (HPDE) events where no timing devices are used and we have proper instructors on site with some classroom, will they cover me? and I'd say I got 2 that said no, but I did find some that said yes. And they arent small companies either.

although I was soloed for the better part of the last 3 seasons, I always took the liberty of grabbing an instructor for 2 sessions every day. Different perspectives and make sure I don't get bad habits. In the case of this accident, I had an Instructor from Maine with me...

Originally Posted by gas-can

Just glad you are ok. Car's replaceable- you aren't!!


-gc

Absolutely!

Originally Posted by 3002 tii

Glad to hear you are ok man, good thing you had safety hardware installed before the season. Any pics of the carnage?

Yes. I will update later with pics but not just yet.

Originally Posted by yousefnjr

RIP

first thing I did when I got back home.

Originally Posted by v3.2mc

sorry.

Thanks.

Originally Posted by fullerra

Aww man, this is not what I like to see. Hearing of things like this half wants to make me pack up the helmet. I'm glad to hear you're okay. A moment of silence is definitely an order

This is too much fun to pack up. But I will probably jump in the Chumpcar thing next year. There will be my adrenaline rush.

Originally Posted by Greddy2000

I am very surprised insurance is covering damage due to track use, you must have had special insurance for such mods and events? I know my regular daily driving insurance will not touch any claim from tracking. Glad to hear your ok, which is most important.

Thanks. But read one of my above response for the insurance thing. My mods were camber, and safety stuff. no performance anything.

Originally Posted by inTgr8r

Glad to hear that you are OK Tony!!!!!!!!!

Sad that your car didn't make out so well though.

Gutted! But hey I will carry on.

Originally Posted by MZHammer

Glad to hear you walked away relatively unscathed. Sorry about the car.

I am so thankful for the seats, harness belts and Hans

Originally Posted by Finnegan

I'm so sorry to hear this Tony!

Been in a similar situation in my past. PM sent.

Some cars just rust away, or stay unused in a garage, never getting miles or dust. Yours had a chance to really live. And it protected you well. Small solace, but hopefully some nevertheless.

Finnegan, I really appreciate your PM. I also appreciate your knowledge and the learning curve we both have had with this car and track events throughout the years. Although you are on the other side of the continent, I feel we have a little connection. In fact all owners of these cars, that post here are great, this community rocks.

[KevinM]

Tony,

I don't know you personally but am so sorry to hear about the loss of your car and so glad you hear you were not seriously hurt.

Probably best that the car is totaled - allows you to move on and get what you want.

[Finnegan]

Originally Posted by Tonybest

Finnegan, I really appreciate your PM. I also appreciate your knowledge and the learning curve we both have had with this car and track events throughout the years. Although you are on the other side of the continent, I feel we have a little connection. In fact all owners of these cars, that post here are great, this community rocks.

I couldn't agree more with that last sentence!

I'm glad the PM was of help, and I feel the same connection. Quite a learning curve with this car--but the car is the reason I ever ended up on the track. It pushed me into car control, AutoX, and track events. What I learned, and continue to learn driving it, is just how much I have to left to learn, and how much focus it requires to drive well. Something I'm very happy it did and does for me.

It's good to see you're staying in the game, even if another direction (Chumps). But hey, once you're hooked on this thing, you're kind of hooked!

Let me know if you ever get out to the west coast. More than happy to let you put the E36 though its paces at Thill.

[dorifto88]

I'm sorry to hear about the car as well, but I am glad you are ok. I wish you the best of luck.

[Small Yellow]

Sorry about your lost and glad you are okay. Hope the next car will serve you well!

[Aries326]

Sorry to hear about your car. I'm glad no one got hurt.

How much would it cost to swap out an N52 for a S54? At least your car's engine can breathe life into a non-m. I can't imagine it would take that much custom work.

[Quickid]

Glad you made it out alright!!!

[OleSport]

Mama NO!!! Glad your ok though.

[007MCoupe]

So sorry to hear this news Glad you are ok though.