PSA: Don't leave classic car owners stranded

"Big Bubba Ray" (eganward01)
09/28/2014 at 18:30 • Filed to: None

I was on my way home from work on Friday afternoon and I noticed there was a bit more traffic than normal. I was headed west on Clayton road (see google map with awesome drawings below) and cars were backed up about a quarter mile. I wove my way around a lot of the traffic and when I rounded the slight corner, I saw what was causing the jam. A guy driving a MGA MKII had stalled his car out and was blocking a lane.

The black arrow signifies where I was headed, the red dot is the MGA.

Cars continued to drive around this guy and nobody even rolled a window down to offer him a hand. He was visibly frustrated and the car just wouldn't start. I pulled around right in front of him, turned my flashers on and ran up to his car to offer assistance. Apparently there was something wrong with the ignition in the MGA and the car refused to start back up. I offered to give him a push so we could try to bump start it, but he decided to roll it into the nearby Schnucks parking lot.

When I was talking to him and trying to figure out options of how/where to move the car, we nearly got hit about three times by inattentive and impatient drivers. One lady in particular almost ran into the MGA because she wasn't paying any attention. I don't know how she didn't see us.

It pissed me off that nobody was willing to help this guy out. It took me no more than two minutes to jump out of my car and push his into a parking lot. The guy was extremely thankful that I had stopped and given him a hand.

My point: if you ever see a stranded classic, go ask if you can help in any way! We as gear heads need to help each other out whenever possible. If I was ever stranded while driving the Datsun, I would hope that somebody would give me a hand.

DISCUSSION (16)

JR1 > Big Bubba Ray
09/28/2014 at 18:49

Kinja'd!!!

Bandit > Big Bubba Ray
09/28/2014 at 18:51

When I stalled the 46 international I was driving literally every single person (about 12 people - even a man on a bike) offered to help... Except the man who drove by in a really nice Dodge Viper. One guy lived down the road and helped me push the truck into his garage where we worked on the fuel system till it ran perfect. People in my area in general are helpful to a kid stranded on the side of the road.

Big Bubba Ray > Bandit
09/28/2014 at 19:03

Dang, people around you are far friendlier than folks in St. Louis!

Ramblin Rover - The Vivisector of Solihull > Bandit
09/28/2014 at 19:50

I imagine the fact that the K screams I AM A BIG CLASSIC AND SO BIG YOU CANNOT IGNORE ME HA HA doesn't hurt.

offroadkarter > Big Bubba Ray
09/28/2014 at 20:13

1. An inoperable british sports car? Never!

2. People are dicks

tromoly > Big Bubba Ray
09/28/2014 at 20:21

Agreed, very well said.

FJ60GatewayDrug > Big Bubba Ray
09/29/2014 at 01:16

A little while back, I was walking back from classes when I spotted a Porsche 356 pulled into a driveway. Of course, I was obligated to check it out... turns out, it had broken down along the street, the older guy I assumed was also checking it out was in fact the owner who had just bought it and was taking it on it's shakedown run after it had been cleared by the shop, and it was now in the way of someone trying to leave work for the day. I got to help him push it through an intersection and into a nearby parking lot, then chat with him for a bit.

Beautiful car. So light and easy to push, it was incredible. I had no issues pushing it up to a full run from a dead stop. He gave me his card, but it may not be fixed in time for winter... he said he'd give me a ride in it, though. Here's hoping.

Big Bubba Ray > FJ60GatewayDrug
09/29/2014 at 01:26

Good for you for helping out! Whenever I see someone driving a classic, I make sure to go talk to them about it. You never know what could happen.

Hopefully the guy gives you a ride sometime!

FJ60GatewayDrug > Big Bubba Ray
09/29/2014 at 01:39

All I wanted was to see if it was actually a 356 or if I was taking crazy pills again. Turned out to be the real deal, and the owner even let me put my greasy proletariat mitts on it. It was a pretty good night.

It's always great to see someone driving a classic. I hope it's back on the road soon... he was a really nice guy (although a bit stressed that night, understandably so) and I'm sure it's a better looking car in the daylight and without a grad student providing the power. At least we stuck to the air-cooled, rear-engined theme!

samssun > Big Bubba Ray
09/29/2014 at 03:15

Nicely done. Looks like you're about 10 miles from where I went to high school. Ever been to the Bentley/exotic dealer in Chesterfield valley? Address is "One Arnage Blvd".

thebigbossyboss > offroadkarter
09/29/2014 at 06:35

Something something lucas something

thebigbossyboss > Big Bubba Ray
09/29/2014 at 08:08

I don't leave any car owners stranded. I will jump anybody/everybody, and do so occasionally.

I'll never forget when a guy in an S class (of all cars) jumped me in my 14 year old Sienna.

Big Bubba Ray > samssun
09/29/2014 at 11:53

I have been out there! Really cool place, but I don't think they're fans of broke 23 year olds who obviously can't afford their cars poking around the place haha

samssun > Big Bubba Ray
09/29/2014 at 14:56

Well maybe this will be more your style if you're ever in the area: Kehrs Mill Rd cuts through from the Chesterfield Valley area to Clarkson Valley and Manchester/100. But there are a couple of fun roads that split off of it.

Kehrs Mill Rd & Strecker Rd is a detour I used to take, with a 90 degree right over a bridge to a mini Laguna Seca corkscrew turn — looks like they may have repaved it and there are more houses than I remember so be careful. Or straight at the bridge takes you from Strecker to Valley Rd, which is also fun. Both put you out at Clayton Rd. Shepard Rd is another turn off Strecker you can try (didn't take it much):

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Wildw…

Big Bubba Ray > samssun
09/29/2014 at 15:59

Oh, I am very familiar with that road. Shit tons of fun. First time driving that route you posted was in an Audi S4. Totally unforgettable.

My ex girlfriend used to live out at St. Albans and occasionally I would take the long way home on Ossenfort Road just off of Highway T. Super hilly, curvy, quick blast that let out in the Chesterfield Valley.

Once I throw new suspension on the Datsun, this is gonna be very high on my list of must drive roads!

samssun > Big Bubba Ray
09/29/2014 at 18:20

Awesome, spent my high school years tearing down both in my old Accord. The Valley route had a bump before what I think was a little mini bridge that would let you get air around 40-50mph, and after they repaved it my buddy got too aggressive and ended up off road.

The big double turn on Strecker from south to east and back south had that big elevation change is what reminded me of the Laguna corkscrew...very fun once I got my Z but I was always worried about deer.

Only drove out by St. Albans a few times, but I lived right off Wild Horse Creek Road, so the Babler detour that ran parallel to 109 was a familiar trip along with some of the random side streets around there.