Re: Back from Redbird is a relative term...Back From Red Bird....

Well I made it back to the house about 8PM after visiting at the camp grounds with the others. Crazy Eddie(Aaron) ended up having to drive Tim to Indianapolis to the hospital because Linton couldn't do anything.

I did talk with Aaron about 7:30PM but they had not done anything with his finger at that point. I will let him post the rest because its just second hand from me.

Brad

 

Re: Back from Redbird is a relative term...Back From Red Bird....

[ QUOTE ]
Well I made it back to the house about 8PM after visiting at the camp grounds with the others. Crazy Eddie(Aaron) ended up having to drive Tim to Indianapolis to the hospital because Linton couldn't do anything.

I did talk with Aaron about 7:30PM but they had not done anything with his finger at that point. I will let him post the rest because its just second hand from me.

Brad

[/ QUOTE ]

OK, I took the day off... Is Tim OK?... or maybe less a finger?

Damn, just talked to Aaorn and yes Tim is less a finger..

Wow... You guys don't play well without supervision.

Dale

 

Re: Back from Redbird is a relative term...Back From Red Bird....

Damn I miss the day somebody gives up a finger....

Being so late I won't bother with a phone call, but dang!!

 

Re: Back from Redbird is a relative term...Back From Red Bird....

update?
pic's?

How did he damage his finger?
Smashed between rock and roll cage?

 

Re: Back from Redbird is a relative term...Back Fr

No rocks in Indiana strip mine land from the 50's...
They blasted everything into dust, no equipment to move really big rocks then...

Got his finger between overhead side bar and tree as near as any of us could tell.
Just going down a wash and his line was a little high on left side and he tipped over.
Tree was in the wrong place.../ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif
No ones fault, Could have happened to any one of us...
---------------------

I was afraid Linton hospital was a bad idea, but I didn't want to jinx anything for anybody...
(It's a wonder he didn't get ebola while he was there!)
Anything in Greene county is like playing Russian Roulette, including drinking the water!
It's like being in Mexico, only without the hospitality...
----------------------

Jim Lou took some pictures of the Jeep, but we were too concerned with getting Tim out of there to take pictures of the finger... (you gruesome bastards!/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif)

Aaron stepped right up and got Tim out as fast as possible, and the rest of us slacker types set the rig back up, I think it looked like Jay Sherman drove it out /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif, and the rest of the guys loaded it and drove his truck/tow vehicle out for him.

If you want more details, best wait for Aaron (Crazy Eddie) or Tim himself to post up.
They are the only two that knows what happened after they left the accident site...
-----------------------

I do know one thing, I'm going with 1/4" tubing for my windshield bar and side bars!
Both side bars gave a substantial amount. Good time to rethink cage design!

 

Re: Back from Redbird is a relative term...Back Fr

Toby and I just got in, at least he SHOULD be home by now. The return trip was uneventful, except that stopping the van and trailer on wet asphalt caused a couple pucker-muscle cramps.

The pics of righting Tim's Jeep are in Frank's camera, which I forgot to confiscate when we parted, but this morning I did take this pic of Tim's Jeep on the trailer. About an inch forward of the kink in the left bar is a deep scuff about three inches long in the padding. Apparently as the Jeep was tipping onto the right side Tim grabbed the bar with his left hand to steady himself for the landing. Unfortunately that's where the bar fetched up against a tree. Fortunately he only lost his pinky; had he grabbed a couple inches farther back he could have lost all his fingers.

Which leads me to post an important bit of information:

In SCCA club racing driver schools, one of the practices they teach is that if a crash is inevitible, let go of the wheel and cross your arms over your chest. If a frontal impact drives you into the steering wheel your lower arm bones will absorb a lot of energy as they break, lessening the impact to your chest, which can cause fatal rupturing of the aorta. The action also prevents or at least lessens the flailing about that your arms will do when the vehicle starts flopping around.

Tater has talked to Aaron several times, and might be able to provide more informaton on Tim's condition.

 

Re: Back from Redbird is a relative term...Back Fr

We're home too. Have been for several hours, but it was hard to type while sound asleep. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
It was good to meet JYG and Debbie(?) finally.
No further info on Tim. They were going to run back over to Linton to get Aarons trailer/Jeep and Tim's truck/trailer/Jeep today, so I haven't called them since this AM. I figured they had plenty to keep them busy and would call if anything changed.
Good idea on the crossing your arms technique, Jim.

 

Re: Back from Redbird is a relative term...Back Fr

I made it in about 2pm. -- Mike

 

Re: Back from Redbird is a relative term...Back Fr

I hope Tim's recovery is quick, as it has not been painless. If this happens to any of you make sure the doctor knows what you do for a living. They may not fight so hard to save the finger of someone that does not use his hands making a living. It happened to a friend of mine who was an Electrical Engineer. The doctors decided that he didn't need that finger he'd cut off with a skill saw and did not even bother to attempt to save it.

Note to self... Jeep Cree Column... write another [/i]Install That Roll-Cage[/i] article. You can see how well the factory sports bar held up.

Get those cages installed...

Oh, and when you're doing it, install the Oh my heck bars on the INSIDE of the cage.

 

Re: Back from Redbird is a relative term...Back Fr

Just got off the phone with Aaron.
Tim woke up around 5:00 this morning and the numbness and novacane had stopped doing their job on his hand. Fortunately they got his pain meds filled before going home last night. He popped a couple and has been comfortably numb the rest of the day.
Robyn went with Aaron and is in the process of driving Tim's junk home now.

[ QUOTE ]
INSIDE of the cage

[/ QUOTE ]

There's the big one.
A lot easier said than done, as the natural instinct is to grab the most sturdy thing you can find and if that happens to be the factory bar, or even a nice sturdy full cage bar, well, we all saw first hand yesterday where that can get you.

KEEP YOUR F^@&ING HANDS INSIDE AT ALL TIMES!!!!!!

 

Re: Back from Redbird is a relative term...Back Fr

And while we're on the subject of unfortunate incidents, let me be the first to announce that I felt like a COMPLETE BOZO because I had left the first aid kit in the van. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Fortunately a couple of others had a kit along so that we could clean and dress Aaron's stump.

So there's grist for another column, LEVE. First aid kit - don't leave home without it.

 

Re: Back from Redbird is a relative term...Back Fr

Good point, Jim.
I had mine, but 1/2 of the stuff in there was useless.
So, inspecting and replenishing yearly is now going to be on my PM list.
Some crappy plastic box thrown in the back, with no real thought as to what's in there, doesn't really make for a First Aid Kit just because that's what was printed on the outside.

 

Re: Back from Redbird is a relative term...Back Fr

Sorry to hear about Tim's finger, I was hoping they could save it...
This is supposed to be fun, recovery of injured people and body parts is NOT a good time...

Someone convey our best wishes to Tim.
----------------------

Glad to hear nothing eventful happened after we left...
Debbie was talking about meeting everybody all night and has been most of the day today.
I went to the garage because she was talking about off roading and there was nothing on TV.
Working on my new 'Junk Yard' spring mounts. Don't want to get spanked by EVERYBODY again the next time!/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif

(She's setting here saying, "I cant help it, I had a great time!")

Debbie keeps saying we 'NEED' power steering, power brakes and an automatic trans jeep now... I think I see what's coming!
She heard loud and clear Sweet Pea has her own Jeep, so now I'm on the hook!
Thanks Kathy! This should only cost me about 20 grand or so!/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
-------------------------

We found an excellent Mom & Pop pizza joint about one block south on 159 in Dugger!
Really good pizza, tea so sweet it makes your teeth hurt, and excellent service.
That makes it about 2 miles from the Redbird gate (I don't have a speedo working correctly, always reads 30 to 35 on highway...) and they feed loud, muddy people!

Also saw another little CJ-5 in the weeds south of town I need to go check out...
I like my little runt... Needs garlic though.... Or maybe that was the pizza... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

Re: Back from Redbird is a relative term...Back Fr

We're back. Got home from the "recovery trip" around 5:00pm. Glad Robyn's used to pulling our horse trailer so getting Tim's jeep home wasn't a big deal. Greene County hospital is about as pathetic as Decatur's. They made us take showers before we could go to the "Big City" and sent a smoke signal to St. Vincent's hand center. There's no way that finger was getting saved(imagine splintered bone and hamburger) but damn, I thought things could have moved a little quicker. 2 hours of wasted time there, 2 hours to Indy driving 90 mph, and finally a doctor about an hour later. I'm thinking about sending a fuel bill to Greene County Hospital. Hell, Tim didn't even get the sponge bath that was promised to him. Oh well, it sucks but **** happens. Tim's been a trooper, that had to freakin' hurt and he was cracking jokes the whole way. Hell, I think he was the calmest person at the scene. Oh well, not much left to say.
Aaron.

 

Re: Back from Redbird is a relative term...Back Fr

Glad to hear is going to be OK... it *could* have been worse. Our thoughts go out for a quick recovery!

Now, when JYG said he was going to 1/4" tube I couldn't for the life of me figure out WHY you'd go so heavy... after seeing the pic, I have to say the factory cheese cracker *SUPPORT* bar (it's only there to keep the windshield from bouncing and give the soft top somewhere to velcro!) is NOT an item to base your comparison on! .120" DOM (even HREW) will more than suffice when used for front legs or hoop... the factory bar is like 1/16" (or equally light gauge) tube and not designed to do anything other than what's been stated. But if'n you want to add an EXTRA 400# of high centered weight and can find a bender that won't spew it guts trying to bend 1/4"... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

Re: Back from Redbird is a relative term...Back Fr

I am glad to hear that you got everything back home. It was good seeing you again, even if it was for a short while. It is also good to hear that Tim is doing well -- in good spirts.

I am glad that they let you take showers at the local hospital before leaving. I could only image the two of you sitting in the waiting room with all of that mud covering you. I figured that you would have had a wide berth in the waiting room.

Tell Tim that he might be lucky that he did not get that sponge bath that was promised. It might not have worked out like it does in those cheap movies...

By the way, I might have to stop following you around the trails -- two trips, two roll overs.

-- Mike

 

Re: Back from Redbird is a relative term...Back Fr

wow! I can't believe that bar kinked in like that. did that goe all the way to the floor, or was it one of those that bolts into the dash? best wishes on his recovery.

 

Re: Back from Redbird is a relative term...Back Fr

FN, it wasn't a cage, but a factory piece from the center hoop to the windshield that supports the windshield and, like said, a place for the soft top to tie into. Aaron, I talked to Tater and Sweetpea earlier and got the story on Tim. As I told them, convey to Tim that he's in our thoughts, and Dee & I are sorry it had to happen but wish him the best. Good thing he had good help available at the scene.

 

Re: Back from Redbird is a relative term...Back Fr

If I am not mistaken, that is just a stock TJ spreader bar. It bolts between the "roll cage" and the window frame. I do not think that it goes down to the floor.

-- Mike

 

Re: Back from Redbird is a relative term...Back Fr

It's great that Tim is recovering, still has a sense of humor, and everybody and their junk is back home. Next time let's avoid flops, OK?

[ QUOTE ]
Don't want to get spanked by EVERYBODY again the next time!

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't think you got spanked. For running on slicks you did pretty good. I gave up on my MTs whan they had a lot more rubber than that.

 

Re: Back from Redbird is a relative term...Back Fr

Sorry to hear about Tim's finger. Yikes!

 

Back from Redbird is a relative term...

"But if'n you want to add an EXTRA 400# of high centered weight and can find a bender that won't spew it guts trying to bend 1/4"... "

Do you really think 1/4" is too much?/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
I was actually thinking more in the lines of 1/2".../ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
Come on Caver Dave, don't you know sarcasm when you read it?/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif

The tube bender isn't the problem, we have a 60 ton CNC bender at the company that spits out 1/4" wall tubing all day for suspension 'A' arms, brackets and the like...
It's a lot of WORK doing a cage that thick, and I'm really lazy, so you should know that's not going to happen!!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
Besides, like I've stated before, I suck at welding, so welding that much would be out of my skills set...
----------------------------------

I sure wish that tree hadn't been where it was... makes a thinker out of you REAL quick!

 

Re: Back from Redbird is a relative term...

I surley won't tell my wife about Tim's finger. I'll loose all the Jeep brownie points I've been trying to build up!!!

 

Re: Back from Redbird is a relative term...

Hey Tom. The County Sherriff on the scene was great, J.A. Smith. He was young, looked to be around mine or Tim's age but what a great guy. I wanted to ride in the ambulance with Tim but was told I had to get my truck and trailer off the Redbird grounds first. By the time I had it moved the ambulance took off. Smith told me to load my Jeep up and to then follow him to the hospital, I really appreciated that. Maybe you know him??? Either way he did a great job, one of the few good experiences I've had with cops, HAHA!!!!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif
Aaron.

 

Re: Back from Redbird is a relative term...

[ QUOTE ]
I surley won't tell my wife about Tim's finger. I'll loose all the Jeep brownie points I've been trying to build up!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

I know the feeling.