<VV> Corvairs really are "unsafe at any speed", even sitting still.

[JRVIDRINE at aol.com]

Folks,

Actually that's not true, it's the owners who can be unsafe.  I just wanted 
to pass on a mishap that happened to me last Friday evening (April 15th) while 
working on my 62 Monza Coupe.  Hopefully this will be a safety alert to the 
group.  My purpose in working on the car was to get it ready for a trip the car 
club I belong to was taking today (April 23rd).  They were driving up to 
Forrest Hill, LA to visit a sawmill museum with a working steam boiler, engines and 
machine shop which supported the enterprise.  They were also having antique 
tractors and cars there.

While I was working on the car I was using a "creeper."  You know, just like 
the one you probably have.  I've always been aware they pose a danger and made 
it a practice when not using it (whenever I wasn't on it), to roll it under 
the car.  Anyhow, I had rolled it under the car but, either not far enough 
under the car, or my little terrier dog (who loves to lay on the padded cushion) 
may have gotten on it which could have moved it.  

In walking from the rear of the car to the front my left foot stepped on the 
creeper.  It went out and I came down on my right ankle like a ton of bricks 
(or at least 230 lbs worth).  I knew instantly that I had fractured the ankle 
and sure enough that is the case.  I will be in this cast for at least 5 more 
weeks and the worse part is not being able to finish the work, missing the tour 
and suspending work on the Corvair until I heal up.  

In the future, I will never leave a creeper horizontally on its wheels unless 
I'm laying on it.  If I'm not on it, it will be standing on it's end on the 
wall or on it's hook on the wall (which is where it goes when the job is done). 
 Just wanted to pass this on in the hope that it will perhaps keep one of you 
from suffering the same mistake.

Randy Vidrine 
62 Monza Coupe
Branch, LA