Close call, but THANKS Austin!

[jdean]

My usually trusty Cobra replica caught on fire in downtown Austin, but with the help of many a violent catastrophe was avoided. A suddenly stuck carb float spilling gasoline caught fire while I was trying to start the car for the third time while cruising 6th street at night with a group of TCC members.

Bottom line was, with the help of many, my car was saved from major damage (or more likely from being reduced to a crispy french fry) and was back running great the same night.

There are too many names to remember to thank but here are some:

- Mike M. for extinguishing the flames.
- Jim J. for using the blanket borrowed from the nearby homeless person to help beat the flames down until Mike hit it with the extinguisher.
- Damon R. for directing traffic
- Dee W. (congratulations Dee and you will get my vote every time!) and
- Brian (Lone Star Cobras) for bringing a trailer down to haul my car back.
- All the group there for sticking with me until we got cleared out.
- Don B. for disassembling, cleaning and putting my carb back together. It needed all the extinguisher powder cleaned out, along with whatever might have caused the stuck float valve. Don B. and Jim W. ....also thanks for bringing in the support vehicle and making it available for all of us that needed tools and advice for the weekend.

For all who helped me, I had equal offers of help and ready volunteers for anything else I needed.

So what could have been a very bad weekend for me turned out to be a fun event thanks to the people of TCC!!

AND....I know there were several other situations this weekend with maybe less dramatic problems that were solved by the same spirit of helpfulness.

[JBCOBRA]

WOW!
Sorry about your problem, but That is a great story. I always enjoy hearing about people coming to the rescue. Americans are truely awesome in a pinch.

[Bill Bess]

It's nice to hear these days....that most people are Good and willing to pitch in and help when the need arises.
Best of luck on getting everything going again, Bill

[Clois Harlan]

I think it is great to be with a group of people that are always there for you? Glad your weekend turned out to be a good one.

Clois

[LuvDaBlues]

Well the story I heard was Jim J actually ripped the blanket out from under the sleeping vagrant to which he rolled down into the storm sewer, and proceeded to beat the flames out with the blanket. Then after burning a hole in the middle of the fabric, charged him $2 for making a serape. All the mean time John was doing his impression of Edvard Munch's "Scream" while he watched his car go up in flames.

Well....that's how I heard it after 11:00 PM and 3 beers

[Mrs 66 Snake]

When I heard that story, I had to wonder if it was the same homeless dude who dissed former President, Dennis Moseley's car a few years back. Stopped at a red light, one homeless guy walks up all impressed. His homeless buddy walks up and says "well, it's not real!"

Getting a burned out blanket back would be karma in action.

[Dennis Mosley]

I'm pretty sure it was the same guy

[jdean]

He sure disappeared from view quickly once he got his donation in hand.........