MTFCA Forum

I went to the Edgerton rock river thresheree on Saturday. I left the house at 6:15 and had a great ride up, about 2.5 hours but around 3 after I made a few stops. I had about 5 cars pass me the whole way, and was 95% on roads with no.lines or gravel. Winsconsin has some nice roads, but not drivers...
I stayed at the show a little later than I anticipated and ended up leaving around 5:20 or so. I got out of town and had to cross the rock river so I could continue my diagonal treck back home. It was either that, or go through the town of janseville, which I didn't want to do. I turned off a small road onto county highway 14 to cross the river and continue south after the bridge. I was driving west briefly across the bridge and was only on the highway for 5 to 800 ft I'd guess. I was stopped waiting to make a left turn (you can probably guess what happened from here) I still had guardrail to my right and I looked in my mirror and saw a white SUV barreling up behind me. I think I tried to move closer to the middle of the road, I had oncoming traffic, and I remember 2 motorcycles and some cars. I couldn't get out of the way and I got hit in the right rear fender area. It must have spun me a bit because I looked up and saw I was facing south with my passenger side to oncoming traffic straddled between both lanes. Thank God the oncoming traffic was a motorcycle, he almost hit me too, I think, and all other traffic stopped. I stalled the car with the force of the impact and I got out myself and made sure the other guy was ok and we pushed the car off the road. Within minutes there were 3 or 4 police cars around and it kind of went from there. The impact bent the right fender, bent the rear wheel, rear radius rod, spare tire carrier, broke the windshield (again) and knocked the radiator forward and pulled it right out of the tie rod to the firewall and pulled the hose off with all of the antifreeze everywhere.
Thankfully, aside from a sore neck I feel ok, but will get to the doctor to make sure. I was able to drive it onto the trailer and get it home that night, we got home around 11.
Once the report and insurance stuff gets straightened out, I will hopefully be able to begin to begin the process of fixing it. I'm worried I probably have rear end, frame, and body damage, but there's not much I can do right now.
I've never been in a crash before and hope to never be in another, god willing.
I learned a few lessons though, even if (in my mind) it wasn't my fault.
1. It can happen to anyone, (including you!) and no warning
2. Sick to your schedule and leave at a good time!

Be safe out there, no matter how vigilant you are, stuff can - and will - happen.

I turned onto the highway off of river road, drove over the bridge and waited for oncoming traffic of 2 motorcycles and a few other cars. The road makes.a jog over the bridge and that's all I wanted to do... This is more or less exhactly where I was when I was hit. Note the guardrail on the right and he could only get over so far, or didn't have time to, I don't know. I was in my lane. This was the view behind me, plenty of straight road to see me, no curves. The sun was setting but still 2 hours of good daylight left. But 'he didn't see me."
My turn signal was on and I had a slow moving vehicle sign...

Man that sucks. Glad you're ok. This is 100% their fault. People go too fast while not paying attention. They don't pay attention.

Hi Austin,
Sure glad you didn't get hurt bad. Covid had people staying at home not driving & staring at screens & I think they can't put down the screens or
drive now! Driving now is like a demolition derby for retarded people. I had to run some errands the other day & had to ice my middle finger to
stop the swelling. I always thought that my age or finances would be why I had to give up my love for antique cars. Now I'm pretty sure it will be
idiots. My wife was rear ended by a guy from Kenya that had no license, insurance, didn't own the car & had not driven until he arrived in the US
2 days before. Yes I payed for that one & the owner of the car filed a claim on my insurance.
Craig.

Austin,
I'm glad to hear that you are not seriously hurt. Sometimes it takes a few days for whiplash or back pain. If that happens, go to the doctor. The insurance adjuster will determine the estimated cost to repair your car and make you an offer. I think that you will need a new radiator from the Brassworks...

They will also offer your some $ for your pain and suffering but they won't call it that.

Good luck

Drive like everyone is out to hit you or do something stupid. Assume everyone will be looking at the car and will never see/understand hand signals or turn signals. Drive like you have no brakes which is true regardless of your brakes as you only have a small square making contact.

Don't be afraid to go out and drive but drive defensive within the limits of your car. The more you drive the more confident you will be. You did nothing wrong. I started out on a T doing what most would never attempt today. Bay area interstates, bridges (golden gate, bay, dumbuttan, ect) Sierra Nevada passes. Some of the most brutal grades (warford, stock T brakes) out there. Yosemite in winter...

Get back on the horse don't be afraid. Its a mishap and not a disaster.

I, too, am thankful you weren’t injured Austin and am sorry your touring was damaged. But I’m afraid our culture is experiencing a decrease in civility and becoming increasingly irresponsible in driving habits. Even Rudy Giulanni was badly injured in a recent rear ender - and he was in a modern auto ! You’re one of a dozen Model T owners I could name thats been in the right but have experienced a wreck. Consequently I’ve annually been more restrictive over which roads I’ll drive my Model Ts. Be watchful out there !!

This may be OT, but.
Hagerty has a program where for a small addition fee on your policy they will ( in case of a claim) pay you the insured amount and you get to keep your car. No buy back like other companies.
If you have them you should look into it.
Glad you were not seriously injured and good luck. Dan

Glad you are OK, and it looks like your car can be saved. It's not uncommon for people to crash into the back of police cars that are stopped on the shoulder with all lights flashing. Many people seem to have no idea what they are doing when driving a motor vehicle, or how serious the consequences of a crash are, even in a "safe" vehicle. Holidays seem to increase the number of fools on the road.

It's good that cops were on the scene quickly.

Thank GOD you are okay. Hopefully. Often injuries don't surface until days even a week later, so yes, go get checked out if you haven't already. Another thing in your favor young man is just that...you're 20 years young! For us old farts it's a different story, we "don't bend" as easily! The car can be fixed, yep you may be looking at a replacement rear axle, etc. time will tell. You know your season is done, so take your time on the forensics of it. Get it fixed good n right. Next year will be better.

I'm glad you survived the accident, your very fortunate as that intersection is extremely dangerous in the late afternoon. Traffic heading west as you were, can be blinded by the sun while climbing up hill from the river. I have a rear axle I'll give you if you need one, I may have a fender as well, I'll have to look.

I'm glad that you are physically OK Austin. The T looks like it will be repairable.

It's odd that the radiator stay rod disconnected from the radiator. I wonder if it only had a thread or two holding it. The radiator appears to be OK.

Be safe out there, no matter how vigilant you are, stuff can - and will - happen.

Exactly right. I have no memory of my wreck, but I know the intersection. It happened to be in a medium-sized town, but it could have been a country road with little traffic or a city street in Chicago. You can avoid interstates, and highways with fast traffic, but the wreck that puts you in the hospital can happen anywhere.

Austin,
Glad to hear you are ok. Parts is parts, many of us have started with worse than that to restore.
At least you are here to rebuild,
Good luck,
Kevin

This is exactly why I’m thankful I live in a rural area with lots of blacktop roads to drive on and maybe on the service road next to an interstate highway. BUT it’s getting to many fast cars and trucks to feel safe lately on the I-35 service roads. Maybe it was a little safer around 20 years ago but not with cell phones, Bluetooth and other distractions that are unfortunately a must for LOTS of drivers when they are running 65 MPH plus!!

We have to ALWAYS REMEMBER that people are driving faster and have less attention to others on the road. Don’t expect them to smile and wave which most won’t.

DO NOT trust people to do the right thing and give you a nice wave when they see you driving a 100 year old car or a MODEL T. People in general don’t really care and just as soon not care about it. ESPECIALLY when you’re slowing them down and itching to pass you.

Remember you always must drive defensively AND ESPECIALLY in OLD AND SLOW ANTIQUE CARS! And yes folks even the most popular antique cars MODEL T’s.

Hi Austin, Glad to hear that you're ok. Hopefully, you will have your car fixed by next season.

Keith

Wow Austin I read your saga, sent a shiver down my spine. So glad you are ok. Hopefully the rear axle is ok. If you end up having to go through it, I have some extra (new) and used parts left from when I rebuilt mine. Hollar if there's something ya need. Heal up buddy

I was hit by a motorcycle many years ago. Could not hardly tell where the cycle hit the rear axle. Made a huge dent in that cycle wheel.

Last year we rebuilt my motor and it was 0.058 out of line. I suggest you pull that engine and measure everything. I am sure there are enough people on this forum that will help you rebuild your car, or supply parts that you might need. Let us know.

Glad to hear you survived all right. How another driver can hit you when you have a slow moving vehicle sign on the back says inattentive driver. I think in WI they still consider you to be 10 % at fault.

p.s. If I did not have to bar tend Saturday, and I knew you were coming up here, I might have joined you. Would have been a good ride.

Wow. Thank you everyone for the well wishes and emails, I really appreciate it!
Currently, I feel good and am waiting to get an appointment so I can get back to work and resume my normal life.
As for the car, that's another story. It doesn't look too bad first glance, but there's a good chance it may be totaled. Either way, I want to keep my T though. The insurance adjuster comes tomorrow, so that promises to be fun. We did some rough measuring on the rear axle and with the wheels as straight as possible, there is about a foot difference between hubcap to hubcap on each side. Not a good sign...
The right radius rod is pretty bent up and the wheel is warped about an inch. As for the rest of the drivetrain, I don't know. The body damage seems relatively negligible, other than the right quarter panel and fender.

Steve Jelf wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 01, 2025 1:04 pm

Be safe out there, no matter how vigilant you are, stuff can - and will - happen.

Exactly right. I have no memory of my wreck, but I know the intersection. It happened to be in a medium-sized town, but it could have been a country road with little traffic or a city street in Chicago. You can avoid interstates, and highways with fast traffic, but the wreck that puts you in the hospital can happen anywhere.

You summed i up well, Steve. Its amazing you survived your wreck, and I got very fortunate I survived mine. It could have been a lot worse. The bad wreck can happen anyehere but it is more likely where you find more people...
Unfortunately little roads are little for a reason. You have to get on bigger roads sometimes no matrer how much you avoid it, unless you want to go way out of your way.

TXGOAT2 wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 01, 2025 12:06 pm

It's odd that the radiator stay rod disconnected from the radiator. I wonder if it only had a thread or two holding it. The radiator appears to be OK.

I've wondered the same. I can't tell that many threads have actually been pulled out or not. Unfortunately I don't have a very recent picture of the engine bay with that rod in the picture, so there is that chance.