Top Toy is Dead

[Top Toy]

Today marked the end of an era for me. Out for a breakfast cruise with a ZR-1 buddy on a cool, beautiful morning and lost it in 3rd gear coming onto a 4 lane. Broken collar bone and hip. Glass imbedded in my head. Car is toast. Totalled.🥺. Feeling blessed to be able to write about it.

I always said they would bury me in that car. Almost got my wish today. Going to miss that car.[emoji17]1063110632

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[We Gone]

Sorry to read this, Very glad your alive. You can always replace the car.

[randy ransome]

Someone was just posting about cold tires and cold road don't mix.
Glad you're going to recover....could of been Much Worst.




:proud:

[DRM500RUBYZR-1]

You are right feeling Blessed and lucky.
As bad as it was, certainly could have been worse.
You will be in my prayers for a complete and speedy recovery.
Rest and recover.
We often forget that these toys we care so much about can do things like this.
Always drive like your life depends on it.
It does.
Again, you are in our thoughts and prayers.
:cheers:
Marty

[owwdee]

So sorry to hear this. Been there. Glad you are still with us.

[Roadster]

Glad you survived the crash....there can always be another Top Toy.....and you're still here....that's the most important part of the equation....hope you have a speedy recovery....:)

[billschroeder5842]

Wow- what I shame. I'm glad you are going to be okay.

[Top Toy]

Thanks everybody! Yes, cold tires on a cold concrete road with extra HP were a bad cocktail. Happened so fast I have no recollection of the details. But thank goodness the 26 year old air bag worked like it was supposed to. The high frame rails also saved me. Slid into a tree sideways on the drivers' side. EMS said it caved in my door 18". Wish there were a way to strip the unobtainium parts and drive train before it goes to the crusher. Tow truck operator said he'd never seen a such a clean wreck when he looked at the bottom side. Be careful out there gents!

[Karl]

Thank God you are still alive.

When I purchased my 18" Nitro street drag radials I am almost certain there is a warning/disclosure about not driving on the street under a certain ambient temperature.

You can always get another car.

Get well soon!

468whp is a lot on the street.

Maybe your car will be auctioned off. Seems to have quite a few good parts left.

[dredgeguy]

Count your blessings, glad you can write about it. When going to cars and coffee yesterday morning it was 39 degrees and I could feel the tires were not so sticky. Heal up and the next one will be as good or better.

[lfalzarano]

Glad you’re safe. And sorry for your loss of a nice Z. Maybe you can buy it back at auction and sell off the parts and buy a C8. They have all season tires on them. Now get well!


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[SpeedSmith]

Get well soon! And I agree, there has to be a way to get at least the drivetrain out of the car. Good Luck.

[garyhugo]

Wow,sorry for your loss.Have a speedy and full recovery. Seeing the photos reminds me of how fortunate I have been. I may slow down.

[Top Toy]

As every Z owner knows, our cars' rears want to kick to the left when we lose traction and I was able to reduce that a lot with the addition of "C" beam plates but I always considered it part of the car's personality that made it so much fun to drive. I had one other semi-serious excursion a few years ago at an NCM track event but, hey, gotta expect a little excitement when you're pushing to the limit.

I was so used to the rear kicking out under acceleration that my reflexes handled it without even thinking. This one, though, happened so quickly and to such an extreme that I had no time to react or correct. Kind of reminded me of a time several years ago when one of our cars drove into the wall at Beech Bend during one of our gatherings. Bottom line - be very careful when pushing these cars. I don't regret any of the fun I had with this car but should have been more careful under the conditions I was driving. My car was making around 550 HP at the crank - many of our big bore/stroke cars put out much more - but that's a huge increase over the performance level designed in from the factory. So, learn from my experience and be very careful. Save a life!

And now let me get back to filling out the order form for a C8 ZO6. 😆

[LGAFF]

Why crush it? Insurance carrier will sell it... or even offer it back to you as a buyback

[Top Toy]

Why crush it? Insurance carrier will sell it... or even offer it back to you as a buybackWill be calling the insurance company today to explore the options. Thanks!

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[RichS]

Wow Dennis sorry for your loss! Glad your still here to talk about it. I think all these cars once we mod them, we kind of get immune to the power and they seem tame. Get well soon!

[32valvZ]

Wow... glad youre recovering.... Sorry bout the whole deal!

[conesare2seconds]

Sorry about the car, glad you are okay.

[BlackZR1]

Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
We met a couple years ago at Carlisle. i told you of my upcoming project to swap in a 4:10 diff and you recommended those C-beam plates you mentioned.
i followed your advice.

[RussMcB]

very sorry to hear this. looks like a hard hit. Like everyone else, glad you weren't hurt worse.

In an attempt to make you feel better, ...

Most of us have had great cars in our pasts we no longer own. We have great memories from having owned them. We've moved on to new, different cars and started making new memories. You'll heal and will likely have more cool cars in your future.

And, there's a good chance your drive train will live on, either to help another ZR-1 survive (or improve!), or maybe it will end up in a cool hot rod.

Hoping for fast mending.

[cvette98pacecar]

Cold old tires even worse, dont pay attention to how much tread you have left on your tires, Pay attention to if the rubber is hard or not.
I am glad I didnt read about another ZR-1 brothers passing. You can buy another car. Im glad your still with us.


Jeptha Kolb bought 555R a couple years back for his Z, his comment was the tires would get hard before they were worn.

[z proud]

Best of luck on a speedy recovery,
We’re almost neighbors, don’t believe we ever met!
If you need anything let us know, you should be able to retain the car on a salvage title. You would have parts for your next one, or pars for the community.

[Vette73]

Oh man....Met you at carlisle a few years back....Im so sorry to hear this...Hope you have a speedy and healthy recovery ...

[Vette Guy]

Important part of the ZR-1 was you.

Consider saving your ZR-1, and we can find another ZR-1 for you as a donor for your drivetrain.....

Glad you made it through. Wish you a speedy recovery. Let us know what we can help with.

Regards,
Mark

[Top Toy]

Thanks so much Mark! Your thoughts are very much appreciated. A couple friends were going to check out the car today. I should have a better idea soon re what may be salvageable and have floated the idea with the insurance company. Hope something can be worked out.

You're right - that car has been a highlight of my life since the day I took delivery on December 31st, 1992. And not so much because of the car itself (although I always considered it very special) but, more importantly, because of all the lifelong friendships made as a result of owning it. I sincerely appreciate everything you and the rest of the Registry team have done to keep The Legend alive. You're impacting a lot of lives in a very positive way!

Was able to take my first steps today with a walker and am thrilled!

[Young1]

I am so sorry that happened to you and your one owner Z. I trust rehab goes well for you. It is going to be tuff and awkward. I feel with you. I broke knee, hip and elbow on on left side in 07. I got around in wheel chair going backward with one foot pushing and steering! Gotta keep moving. I am sure something will work out to get you into another Z. I am glad she sacrificed herself to surround you and keep you inside. Thank you Dave McLellan and team.

[Top Toy]

Update on the condition of the car... A friend looked at it today and, AMAZINGLY, started it a few times and rocked it back and forth in gear! Back up and brake lights even work! If anybody has an interest in a 33,000 mile '93 drive train, 550 CHP stock short block motor, 4.10 gears, let me know.

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[Pete]

Dennis sorry to hear about your accident.
Thank god your ok.
Get well soon.

Pete

[G8nightman]

Interested


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[Thomas ZR-1]

OMG I`m sorry to hear that but most important: you are ok! Get well soon and remember: this car saved your life...25 years old. During winter time there is enough time to find another ZR-1 that fits for you. Best wishes from Germany!

Thomas

[tomcat]

Hello,

I agree with the last comment. Their are plenty of nice ZR1's for sale with sweet prices. Get well soon.

Manfred E...............
91 black #906

[Ccmano]

Wishing you a speedy recovery and hopefully you can move on to a new ZR-1 in the future. A lesson for all of us at all times, particularly this time of year with the changing temperatures.
H
:cheers:

[Paul Workman]

Wishing you a speedy recovery and hopefully you can move on to a new ZR-1 in the future. A lesson for all of us at all times, particularly this time of year with the changing temperatures.
H
:cheers:

Yeah, BUDDY! Maybe 50+ added HP due to cool temps, compared to hot/humid summer, and add cold summer tires on cold pavement - even w/ "only 510HP" the Z is like driving on wet pavement...squirrelly as if riding on plastic tires!!

I love a little frisky bursts in a straight line when the temps get close to freezing, but come an S-curve etc., gotta reign then horses in BIG TIME[-X. The short wheel base on these cars, once you loose traction combines with the power to spin these cars is a way you (I at least) never expected! (Ain't that right, Dominic??) 500+ HP is bad enough. I can only imagine what 600+ would be like;)

[Top Toy]

Yeah, BUDDY! Maybe 50+ added HP due to cool temps, compared to hot/humid summer, and add cold summer tires on cold pavement - even w/ "only 510HP" the Z is like driving on wet pavement...squirrelly as if riding on plastic tires!!

I love a little frisky bursts in a straight line when the temps get close to freezing, but come an S-curve etc., gotta reign then horses in BIG TIME[-X. The short wheel base on these cars, once you loose traction combines with the power to spin these cars is a way you (I at least) never expected! (Ain't that right, Dominic??) 500+ HP is bad enough. I can only imagine what 600+ would be like;)Really wish I had some recollection of what went wrong at the moment I lost traction but my brain has completely shut out any memory of that. The only thing I'm confident of is that I was in 3rd gear and punched it when I was straight on the highway. Guessing it completely lost traction at that point and the back end whipped out faster than I could react. The rest is history, as they say. Again, be careful out there all my fun loving friends!

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[XfireZ51]

Yeah, BUDDY! Maybe 50+ added HP due to cool temps, compared to hot/humid summer, and add cold summer tires on cold pavement - even w/ "only 510HP" the Z is like driving on wet pavement...squirrelly as if riding on plastic tires!!

I love a little frisky bursts in a straight line when the temps get close to freezing, but come an S-curve etc., gotta reign then horses in BIG TIME[-X. The short wheel base on these cars, once you loose traction combines with the power to spin these cars is a way you (I at least) never expected! (Ain't that right, Dominic??) 500+ HP is bad enough. I can only imagine what 600+ would be like;)

Yes Paul, thank you for reminding us all again.

My situation was same time of year. Only had a ported top end and headers at that point. Had Z06 wheels with the runflats on them. Big mistake particularly in cold weather. Watched a bunch of videos of C6 Z06s pivoting left to right on tracks and hitting walls w those tires. Fortunately I was on a track w no one in the next lane. Started losing it once I hit second gear. The car actually started crabbing towards the left and I could see I was going to kiss the wall. Started correcting which had the car pivot from left to right, but left rear corner touched the wall. That slowed the car down sufficiently to have the tires bite with my nose pointing diagonally towards the other lane and so I was launched towards that guardrail, climbing it. Then coming back down onto the track. The exhaust and C beam saved my legs and my helmet saved my head as it shattered the acrylic targa top.
I recall wondering if this was the way I was going to die. Not today. [-X

[jss06c6]

Thank you Lord, for protecting Dennis! May he enjoy Your healing hand and recover completely, both physically and emotionally.

Our cars are gifts to enjoy, but are replaceable. Our time here is fixed. A reminder for all of us to keep our priorities in line. Enjoy life, but remember what's most important.

Now, heal up and get back in the seat!

Glad you are not too seriously hurt. Testament to our ZR-1!

Steve

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[Top Toy]

Yes, I believe He had a guardian angel watching over me! Looking at photos of the row of trees I went through, it could have easily turned out much differently. So thankful to still be here and be on the mend! I graduated from the hospital to a rehab center and am now walking with a walker!

Thanks everybody for your prayers and support! This is an incredible community of enthusiasts!

[Z51JEFF]

And now let me get back to filling out the order form for a C8 ZO6. 😆

Good to hear your doing better. Can’t beat a new C8.

[rush91]

Thank the Lord you are alright, and able to post this.....as many have said, things can be replaced. But your friends and family can't replace you.

[Top Toy]

We went to the scene of the accident on our way home from rehab today and found this. Literally the only piece of the rear hatch that survived. Thought it was a bit ironic. Long live the Registry!10706

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[WARP TEN]

We went to the scene of the accident on our way home from rehab today and found this. Literally the only piece of the rear hatch that survived. Thought it was a bit ironic. Long live the Registry!10706

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Great find! Save that as a souvenir. Maybe have someone encase it in a cube of plastic. Hope your recovery is going well. -Bob

[haber rj]

Just reading about your misfortune so glad that you are on the path to recovery best wishes for a speedy and full recovery.

[appelen]

.


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[JThomas]

Thoughts and prayers for you Dennis. Glad to hear you are healing. Wishing you a full and speedy recovery.