5 second long 560SL scariest driving experience ever

[donbryce]

The missus and I decided to take a quick trip stateside for a few days...grab what nice weather is left before it turns....a beautiful 3-day top down tour through northern Maine, to the Owl's Head Transportation museum and back home.
So on the return leg, on secondary route 9, a well paved 2-laner, we were maintaining a normal average 60 - 80mph and were approaching a big 'ol gravel dump truck on a straight section. My father's advice came to mind...stay well back of those things, they kick up all kinds of debris...so I did, for once, ease off instead of getting on it's rear to attempt a pass.
Suddenly, off the back of this thing comes a rock the size of a softball... it bounces right - left - left - right...Holy Crap, brakes on, quick turn right - left - I hear the tires squeeling as the beast slaloms over into the left oncoming lane and back (no oncoming thank God), then over to the shoulder....and WOW, We Missed it completely!!
I don't know when I've ever been so grateful to be behind the wheel of a driving machine that can be manouvered like that like it was glued to the pavement at 60mph.

[michakaveli]

Glad to hear no one was hurt.

[dugald]

Glad everything worked out ok.
I am surprised you couldn't brake to a stop before you reached the boulder.

[hersheylala]

Thats a Benz for ya.. I does what needs to be done!
Stay Safe!

[rowdie]

In a previous life I have seen bad things resulting from the same. Glad you were prudent and managed to avoid harm.

[Gurunutkins]

good advice from your dad! some of those loads are just poorly placed and a real danger to following cars> Glad you were all OK
cheers
Barri

[sublettd]

Got one better than that...at least to me. ha!

My wife and I were driving back to Florida from Baton Rouge on I-12 (in the SL), where it intersects with I-10 coming east from New Orleans. We were driving 70-75 and the car in front of me threw up a piece of asphalt at least two inches thick and probably 6" x 8". I was probably a couple car lengths in trail and had no time to brake or swerve.

The asphalt skidded on the hood, hit the windshield right dead in the center and flew over the back of the car. As I saw it fly up and hit the hood, I flinched and ducked my head to the left as much as I could. I saw the entire windshield flex when it was hit, but the windshield didn't crack. In fact, it didn't even chip! The fact the windshield stayed intact was remarkable.

I still haven't figured out how that chunk of asphalt got airborne.

Hooray for safety glass!!!

[mgburg]

This is scarry...

Yesterday, I was heading accross state to Elkhart Lake, following my GPS's directions around construction detours and such, when the dumptruck, 3 cars in front of me (real cars, not distance...I was even FURTHER back), flipped over onto its right side while attempting (!?!?!?!) to make a left turn from a right-banking curved road...the first car behind the dumptruck was just passing the truck on its right side...I just about ***** my pants thinking I was about to witness a severe case of automotive-toothpaste! The truck hit the pavement, ALL THE GRAVEL he had went spilling out and shoved that car onto the shoulder of the road. The second car hit its brakes and the gravel about the same time...he looked like the "General Lee" just about to launch over the "pile" and the 3rd managed to just slide into the 2nd's rear end and only crack his paint on the bumper. (Wouldn't you know it...the 3rd was the rattiest car of the three). I was far enough back that no one should have been able to smell my pants.

Truck driver got a severe case of belt rash (The rash probably wouldn't have been too bad if he didn't weight 300+lbs.!), the first car's left side (driver's door on back) and rear left corner looked like someone had shot a stop sign with buck-shot from a non-penatrating distance (no glass breakage, but the inside probably didn't smell too good...guy driver was like "WTF!!!????" and then he seemed to settle down when he realized it could have been MUCH worse). The other two were decorations...I don't think they had insurance...at least the 3rd car didn't even give me the hope that the driver even had a valid license...I'm just glad I wasn't involved other than being a witness. A HazMat team had to be called in for the spilt diesel fuel from the dumper. Probably a BioHazMat team should have been called in for the mess that was probably in the front seat of the first car...

I was thinking of maybe getting a little "detailing" myself...but I'm OK.

During the whole thing...I never remembered my camera until I was almost at my destination!!! Damn it!!!

I guess I was in "surval mode" 'til the andrenolin (sp?) wore off...

[nunya001]

I hate to admit this, but I am so used to driving up high in an f350 that driving my 560sl is a little scary - then I read your story and realize I should be scared.

[lupin..the..3rd]

Originally Posted by donbryce

I don't know when I've ever been so grateful to be behind the wheel of a driving machine that can be manouvered like that like it was glued to the pavement at 60mph.

You should try a late model Porsche. It's just like that, but at 160 mph.