File this one under "oops."
Tad, our newest employee, joined us for the $2000 Challenge over the weekend to learn about our world.
After we got back from the GRM track day yesterday, he was talking about how he was looking at early Isuzu Troopers as a versatile daily driver. I didn't want to unhitch my truck, anyway, so I said "I've got one! Let's take it to give you a ride back to your hotel!"
It was filthy and had been sitting for nearly a year, but it started right up and we hit the road. And it drove great, or at least as good as an early Trooper normally drives, right up until the fuel pump died.
At least Tad got to learn about this aspect of our hobby, too. Still debating if he should learn about dropping fuel tanks before his flight home tomorrow....
Tom Suddard said:
At least Tad got to learn about this aspect of our hobby, too. Still debating if he should learn about dropping fuel tanks before his flight home tomorrow....
But of course. If you can't make yourself ALLLllllmooost late for a flight because you were chaining a fuel pump, are you REALLY a car guy?
On the bright side, I finally got to drive the Lightning to go rescue you.
In reply to Nicole Suddard :
Dust anyone? 
Welcome, Tad, to the joys of classic cars! 
P.S. - The Lightning has made for a great rescue truck.
Ah, it makes sense now.
I saw Tad all weekend and thought he worked for the track.
Congrats on the new job! Congrats on passing the car rite of honor.
Any car guy learned years ago about breaking down. He knows the joy....
This is kinda like when my wife and broke down at the same exit as AAA’s national HQ.
In reply to David S. Wallens :
Were you a member? If so how long did you wait for assistance?
Yeah, we’re members. We were in our CRX: lowered, supercharged, the usual. I had a bad ground and simply couldn’t tighten the battery clamp enough to get us operational. We were in a bank parking lot at the end of the ramp off I-4.
I called AAA and, when I gave the operator our location, there was a slight pause.
Yes, I said, I can practically see your building for here.
The wait wasn’t too bad. The tow truck operator showed up with a regular tow truck, not a flatbed.
Next time, he said, tell them you need a flatbed. He (slowly) towed us to the yard where a flatbed met us. He swapped the CRX to the flatbed for the tow back to Ormond Beach.
I dropped AAA after about two decades because 1) they left me stranded with a dead Cadillac last summer and 2) Hagerty assistance.
So, did Tad make an offer for the Isuzu as it sat dead on the side of the road? That's the best time to strike!
What has Hagerty’s response time looked like?
In reply to David S. Wallens :
I haven't tried it yet myself, but it can't be any worse that "sorry, turns out we can't do anything, good luck" after four hours or so of back and forth. They're probably both just calling local tow companies on your behalf, it's not like they actually maintain a fleet of their own.
I ended up calling an Uber home and returning with my own truck.
docwyte
UltimaDork
4/10/24 12:05 p.m.
In reply to David S. Wallens :
Hagerty will no longer tow anything but the cars that they cover, they used to cover all the cars in your household, if you paid for them. I've called Hagerty twice, once for a jump start, which they never showed up for (!!) and another time for a tow, and their response time was going to be 6-8 hours. So I've gotta say, I was less than impressed for those two times.
Now that they won't tow the other cars in my household, I guess I'm going back to AAA.
Tad seems like a solid dude. He was only slightly frightened of us, which is a good sign of situational awareness.
In reply to QuasiMofo (John Brown) :
Yes, it was very nice having Tad at the event.
Also note with Hagerty that you need to add the $70 drive club to get towing. They took it out of the insurance coverage package. Many people don't realize this.
In reply to Tom Suddard :
I'm picturing a Hollywood moment with you saying in a Clint Eastwood/tough guy voice, "welcome to the world, dude."
Add a bonus point for uttering that after taking a long draw off a cig. It'd be the height of cool. 😎 
In reply to Shadeux :
Nah, I'm always overly cautious driving large vehicles, and that thing is HUGE.
Coniglio Rampante said:
In reply to Tom Suddard :
I'm picturing a Hollywood moment with you saying in a Clint Eastwood/tough guy voice, "welcome to the world, dude."
Add a bonus point for uttering that after taking a long draw off a cig. It'd be the height of cool. 😎
like the end of Escape from LA?
It's a rite of passage, really.
Isn't that the initiation? Old car broke down waiting for a tow truck? Seems about right.
In reply to bmw88rider :
You know, come to think of it, my first weekend here on staff, I had to deal with a broken car....
