Baja500 Carnage Pics!!!

[Boston Mangler]

Hey Guys

Here are the pics and details of what happened.

We we coming home from a 4 day weekend in Baja for the 500, we spent most of our time in San Vincente but did quite a bit of exploring along the coast as well, near Erindira.

Anyway, on the way home, about 5 miles north of Ensenada i felt the truck pulling a little bit and making a clunking sound, being the paranoid person i am, i pulled over immediately to check out the situation. What i saw scared the shhheaat out of me. 2 lugs holding my wheel on and the other 4 studs were sheared clear off at the base, no good! Anyone that has come home from Ensenada knows how gnarly the drive is up through those hills with no guardrails or protection.

Anyway, we were only down for about 30mins before another race team pulled over to help! We all agreed we were in the death wish area where we were pulled over so we moved about 1/2 mile north to an opening, here we jacked up the rig, removed the wheel and assessed the situation. 4 of the studs were sheared off at the base and the 2 remaining studs were bent and damaged. Luckily the guys that stopped to help had a generator and a large welder. Due to the time (getting dark) and where we were broke, and lack of spares, the only option was to weld some beads onto the hub, tighten the wheel as best we could and limp home. Luckily the 2 studs that were left were opposites.

Anyway, it was quite a puckering 35mph adventure all the way home! Luckily we got home safely and the repair will begin soon, i am thinking there is some damaged internals as well, time will tell!

Huge thanks to the Vildosola racing guys that came to our aid, spent almost an hour getting us back on the road and following us all the way to Puerto Nuevo to make sure we were ok!! Kudos to them!!!

Here are some pics: (anyone have any spare wheels or front end parts??)

http://www.yankeetoys.org/mangler/IMG_0609.jpg

http://www.yankeetoys.org/mangler/IMG_0610.jpg

http://www.yankeetoys.org/mangler/IMG_0611.jpg

[CLynn85]

Wow that's crazy! Glad you guys made it home safe. Any race pics?

[Boston Mangler]

Wow that's crazy! Glad you guys made it home safe.

Thanks


Any race pics?

Unfortunately No! Was too busy! :D

[+ d]

you're not paranoid...just smart!
glad you made it back safe.

any ideas on how this happened???

[gjackson]

I've had that experience, so I know how you felt. Scared the sheet out of me when it happened to us! Really glad you are safe and were able to extract. It's great that people stopped to help as well.

cheers

[articulate]

Woah, dude! I think this actually belongs in the "Completed Epics" forum. That could turn into a fun forum....

That's nice that some folks helped you out with a welder. That would have REALLY sucked otherwise.

Mark

[Boston Mangler]

any ideas on how this happened???

Well, when i first got the rig and took the stock wheels off to have the MTR's put on i remember needing to stand on a breaker bar (i weigh 250+) to get the lugs loose. A friend that was with us IDed the stud breaks as a "Cone and Cup" fracture due to overtightening. I guess they were weak from the PO and just now finally gave up ghost, after this experience, i will NOT even drive the rig until all 24 studs are replaced with OEM units!

[Boston Mangler]

Really glad you are safe and were able to extract. It's great that people stopped to help as well.

Yes, one of the things that is great about being in Baja during the races is the comradare!

There have been countless times we have pulled over to take pics, get a drink out of the fridge, or just to simply pull out the chairs and relax to a view, and anyone and everyone that passes usually stops to ask if we are ok or if we need help. Whether it is the multi-million dollar race teams or the local farmers, everyone is usually helping each other in one way or another.

Whether its the super rich race teams giving the locals a hand with their farm equipment (i have seen a few different "team" mechanics wrenching on locals gear in their downtime to help out) or the locals pulling out a race truck (or bike) with their stock 2x's risking life and limb to help out total strangers! Everyone seems like family down there during race time! :D

Yes, i am quite thankful to have been helped out of a potentially nasty situation!

And YES, the onboard welder writeup will be coming soon!!! :D There were several occasions that it would have helped us and others this weekend!

[Boston Mangler]

That's nice that some folks helped you out with a welder. That would have REALLY sucked otherwise.


Yes, i was pissed at first thinking how much $ this repair is going to cost then i got to thinking about the big picture!

We spent the night (after the race) in a little hidden spot in the middle of no where 20+ miles from anything. If something would have happened down there we would have been up sheeeats creek. Or even worse yet, is that if i hadnt pulled over to check it and the wheel came off on the 1 in a outside turn with no guardrail, i dont even want to think of those results.

Yes, i bought a lotto ticket the second we got to the US :D

I am in no way shape or form religous, but i think i have to pray to someone for this! Ok here we go: :bowdown: :D

[BajaTaco]

Whoa, that is a hairy stretch of road to break down and pull over on with all of the hills and curves. I'm just glad you had enough room to even pull over at all. That is a freaky break! Didn't Scott and Nathan just go through a similar scenario in Morroco? Very cool that the Vildosola guys helped out. I remember talking to one of their guys for awhile at the pits in Primm and he was a super nice guy.

Kevin, I'm really glad you guys made it back safely ;) Good luck with the repairs.

[datrupr]

Kevin, good thing you had one of these guys near by.




http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i57/Datrupr/paddlestore.jpg


Glad to hear you mad it back safely, that could have been really ugly.

[Brian McVickers]

Wow!
Glad you are safe!

That sure does say a lot about using steel wheels when in remote areas!

[Boston Mangler]

Kevin, good thing you had one of these guys near by.
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i57/Datrupr/paddlestore.jpg
.

That is hilarious!

[Boston Mangler]

That sure does say a lot about using steel wheels when in remote areas!

Huh? About 99% of the wheels done there were alloy, what do you mean by that statement?

[Mlachica]

that's freakin intense. glad you made it back okay and it's nice to hear about all the considerate people willing to stop and help.

[Scenic WonderRunner]

Kevin!

Glad you made it through!!!!!!!:ylsmoke:

Now you really must start the new Thread......

The Life and Times of the one and only....Wild Man Himself...."The Boston Mangler"........!!!!!!!!!!

Sit down......hold on......and shuddup!!!!!....baby!

[Brian McVickers]

Huh? About 99% of the wheels done there were alloy, what do you mean by that statement?

Sorry, made an assumption that they were steel since you were able to weld them. Even more impressive that those guys had a welder that was capable of welding alloy.

My train of thought got stuck in my own little world. My stick welder welds steel but not aluminum so I sometimes forget that it's possible!:rolleyes:

[Boston Mangler]

Sorry, made an assumption that they were steel since you were able to weld them. Even more impressive that those guys had a welder that was capable of welding alloy.

No No No, the wheel is NOT welded to the hub. The wheel was tightened with the 2 remaining lugs and Paul welded a bead on the hub ONLY to preven the wheel from coming completely off. It looks as if the weld is on the rim, but it is actually just in front of it.

[Brian McVickers]

Yep,
I see that now,
good idea

[blupaddler]

Sorry to hear about the carnage man!

Glad that you guys made it back o.k.




I am working tons, but let me know if you need any help. Either in early morning or evening.