Event Coverage Clarence misfortune; 10/15/2025

wow so close glad to see you are ok someone was watching over you from the top

 

Oh no! That ****s but glad you guys are ok.

 

You're so right. If cir***stances had been slightly different BJ and I could be in ICU or a box.

I tell folks that God takes care of me when I'm not watching out for myself; and He does a much better job of it.

 

It will all be good at Lloyd's next year, nothing to worry about but bug splatters

 

Glad that the two of you are ok . Looking forward to seeing Clarance back on the road .
Was woke up in the early morning once by a county sheriff. We had cattle on the highway. Dad and I got them called back into the pasture. Found several broken wires in the fence . Repaired them by headlight and went home . Next morning we went back and drove around the pasture where we found a set of duals off a semi trailer.

 

Holy cow Mike! That makes me nauseous, just thinking about all the labor you put into it. Glad you are ok.

 

Keep us posted on how things go with the insurance company. All the years I’ve been driving cl***ics, customs and hot rods, I’ve never had to file a claim. Curious to hear if it’s a breeze or a headache dealing with the insurance company.

 

Mike, seeing Clarence being damaged makes me feel sick, I know how hard you worked with the build, I'm also extremely happy the Good Lord was watching over you guys, Clarence was looking good and will once again. good luck my friend. HRP

 

Thanks everyone for your best wishes and good vibes.

Yes, Clarence will live to see another day. Right off the bat I know that my comprehensive will be covering the damage with $1,000 deductible. So I'm gonna be out at least $1K. If that's all it costs me, I'll be very pleasantly surprised.

I'm registered for SK-500 next May and plan to be there.

Let me say, though, that I have several good friends battling cancer, one going downhill fast with dementia, and some others with various maladies. In the grand scheme of things I'm more concerned with my friends' health than I am about this hunk of steel. It is true that I've owned Clarence for 52 years and have put hundreds (thousands???) of hours into him, but he's still not the most important thing in my life. I'm in good health (for a 74 yo geezer), all of my family is in good health, we have a roof over our heads and food in the 'fridge. All is well at the Atchley ranch.

Again, thanks for all the well wishes. I really appreciate all of the time you folks have taken to read about and comment on Clarence. Many of you I've never met face-to-face, some I have, but I consider all of you friends. I'm betting that had I been injured and laying in an ICU somewhere that many of you would converge on my shop and rebuild Clarence for me.

As corny as it sounds, I love you all like family.

 

Sorry to hear about this but glad you are both safe, will look forward to seeing you at the stay kat 500 next year.

 

Years ago I was driving a smallish car down a divided highway just after dark, when I saw a strange shower of sparks about a mile away in the oncoming lane.
As it got closer I could see it was a truck towing a trailer that had lost a wheel, but the guy just kept obliviously driving, grinding away whatever metal was now being dragged along the road.
I just had time to think, "what a *****" before I saw a wheel and tire come into my lane, right in front of my car. The darn thing just bounced up again, over my car hood and into the trees.
I guess God likes me better.

 

This is a testiment to you in that your friends are far more important than your long time hot rod, prayers for your ailing friends and for you & your family in tne future. HRP

 

Fuuuuuuuuu*k

 

The way it came and got them a 2nd time.
What nochop said.....
Mike

 

You nailed it, Mike!

 

Sorry to see Clarence take a hit like this!
I'm glad you're ok Mike. Best wishes on getting your cool ol' panel back in shape!

 

Some of you mentioned earlier that you would keep an eye out for F-1 sheet metal. If you run across any would you please contact me? I know that fenders aren't going to be available in original Henry sheet metal, as they are mostly rusted beyond help. But a hood, grill, and the sheet metal above and below the grill are still out there. All of this stuff is now available in repop but if I can save a couple bux utilizing used parts that would help offset the $1K deductible I'm going to have to shell out.

PM here or
smatch22@outlook.com

Thanks.

 

And they will probably fit better than most repop pieces

 

Exactly. I'd rather have fixable original sheet metal than brand new junk.

 

Wow, Thank God you guys are alright! That really stinks that due to someone else's lack of maintenance and inspection that happened. Clarence will be as good as new with some TLC. Be Well

 

I put out a feeler down in Dexter, Mo. I know there were a few pickups there last time I went back home.

 

Too far away and a big truck as well but the sheet metal looks decent and my guess is that it could be had for way less than asking.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplac...place_top_picks&referral_story_type=top_picks

 

Dang Mike! Getting back on the HAMB after a few weeks off with company in town and seeing this. Thank the Good Lord you are both OK. Glad the parts are available and your painter is willing to take it on and get you back in shape. Blessings all the way around

 

Dave,

Firstly; thanks.

Secondly; I fully expect to see you next May in Dewey where Sherry and I will be in Clarence.

 

A complete panel truck popped out of a garage up the street from me a couple of weeks ago. I'm not sure exactly what year it is. I've lived here for 26 years and had seen the owner out and about many times but had never seen the truck before. I think it went right back in the same garage. I can stop by and ask about it but it was all there from the looks of it, not parts.

 

About 10 years I'm heading north on the infamous Sagtikos Parkway and see a Jeep on the gr*** missing the entire LF wheel and hub. Then I notice there is no traffic going south... not good.

Well, everything south was stopped. It looked like a demo derby. The Jeep's missing wheel/hub/brakes jumped the median. I could see at least one car it struck. The pile up was about 10 cars deep.

 

Hello,

Your sedan delivery was one of the best modifications. As a former sedan delivery owner, I like well finished hot rods and this is/was one. Wow! Glad to see/hear that you are safe and ok. That would scare the Cra….a out of anyone. But, think about how glad no one convinced you to put a Moon aluminum gas tank on the front. Whether for looks or actual functioning gas tank.
Ha! Or in real lifetime:
An insurance company's nightmare...


Jnaki

Stay healthy and perhaps, a little repair is in the future after one’s heart rate comes down to normal. Hope to see the sedan delivery back on the HAMB. After your heart rate comes down, a new thread can start on the tear down and repair project… YRMV

 

Here is a pic of Clarence leaving my domain heading to the body shop. I don't know how long it will take them to make it right again but the next time the public sees it it should look just like it did a month ago. I've done a LOT of research into vendor supplied reproduction parts. It looks like everything I need is available. I hope that the horror stories I've heard about repro parts needing tweaking in order to fit doesn't happen this time.

b-t-w; I didn't do the body work or painting a few years ago when it got made over. About 30 years ago I and some of my friends took adult ed body cl***es at a local tech school. What I learned is that I really **** at body work and that I hate doing it. A VERY talented man did the body work and paint 5 years ago.