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MG MGA - MGAguru.com struck by lightning

For those who haven't heard yet, my house was struck by lightning Saturday evening, blowing a small hole in the roof with a little smoulder. Fire department made the hole much larger for inspection, but used only a hand can with a littel water, no hose, so not much fire or water damage. The roof is well on the way to healing via insurance and general contractor.

The lightning blew out all the external phone wiring, half of the internal wiring, most of the phone equipment, and my computer. Surge protectors on the power jacks didn't help because the jolt came through the phone lines and modems. Phone service was restored on Monday, internal wiring repaired on Tuesday. I was RadioShack's best customer for a few days, buying first a cell phone, then three house phones, an answering machine, and a fist full of line filters. Local stores supplied new driveway lights and timer/transformer, a new computer and modems. Looks like I still need a new printer and scanner, but at least I'm back on line.

No other electrical equipment damaged and no structural damage. The MGA with an attitude was tucked away in the garage on the farther end away from the lightning strike, so that's safe too, an nobody hurt.

Toughest part of recovery is configuring the new computer and reloading all the data. I nave a data backup a few weeks old, and anything important in on a couple of web servers. Better yet, the old primary hard drive is okay, so I just plugged it in and transfered most of the data to the new machine. Having been through a computer transplant before, I suppose this will take about three weeks for full recovery. There is sa silver lining. For my $500 deductible I get a new roof on half my house, and a new computer several years more advanced than the old one.

Welcome back, world.

Barney Gaylord
1958 MGA with an attitude
http://MGAguru.com
Barney Gaylord

Barney,
Sorry for your loss but glad to hear the damage was minimal. We'd hate to lose such a valuable resource! Many local people were not so fortunate and lost their homes and every thing else, cars included, in the recent flooding.
Cheers and good luck.
GTF
G T Foster

Barney,
I can echo GT's comments. I am glad you came out so easily.
mike parker

Very much pleased the site will live on and your property will be repaired. Configuring the new machine can be a pain, but it sounds like you have everything under control.
Tom

Barney, I'm glad no one was hurt and that you are ending up on the positive side of the equation!

Welcome back.
Tysen

Hi Barney---just glad to hear that you are ok and donnt need any a rebuild or repairs.

Regards
Mike
mike bane

Hi Barney

Nice to know you are OK, but what have you been up to that you haven't told us about? How have you been straying from the path of righteousness - looking at TRs or MGBs or blondes, or calling Ian an Australian ....?
dominic clancy

Hi Barney. Glad that you were able to come out of the ordeal largely unscathed. Can lightning really strike twice in the same place? What are the odds? Cheers, Glenn
Glenn

What have I been doing? As always, answering tech questions and constantly tweaking the MGAguru web site. Not a lot of driving this year, as I have taken on a major project.

Since early April most of my spare time has been occupied scanning and posting past issues of newsletters on the club web site for historical record. See here: http://www.chicagolandmgclub.com/driveline90/
The first issue posted in text with startup of the web site is August 1998. I started scanning and posting with the July 1998 issue working back in time. Currently back to Jan 79 with about 18 months to go. After that I have to find about two dozen missing issues. The early issues are thick booklets 40 to 100 pages each and slow going. This will take another month or so, effectively eating up most of this year's driving season. This lightning delay isn't helping, but I'm persistent, so it will get done eventually.

Last night I bought a new HP laser printer (15 pages per minute) to replace the dead one. Also a new flat bed scanner, as he old one is not compatible with the new computer. Fingers crossed that insurance will pay for these things along with the new computer (already approved).
Barney Gaylord

Bad luck Barney, but sound like you've done alright out of it all though.
Too many metal car parts must have attracted the lightning...
Nice work scanning all those Chicago magazines too.

Keep up the good work.
Mark.

Mark Hester

While many of us rely on your great site for a wealth of information, we are more concerned for you and your family. Glad you guys are safe!

The new project is yet another great resource for classic car enthusiasts. Thanks for your hard work.

The driving season here is Japan is coming soon. Not much going on in the summer. Just too hot and way, way too many traffic jams. We can handle the heat, our cars are another story.
Tommy

Barney

Ditto to all the above comments. Now lets see the new "computer with an attitude" really light up the web. Your help and knowledge is irreplacable.

Ralph

Ralph H .

Barney is being modest. In addition to all he had to do with the lightning strike, he was at a club members garage most of yesterday helping to pull the engine/transmission to diagnose an oily clutch problem. After we had the engine out and separated from the transmission, Barney gave us a tutorial on trans/shifter inspection, repair, seal replacement, etc. I learned a lot, Thanks Barney!

George

G Goeppner

Barney, glad to hear you and your home are safe!
I deal with lightening strikes several times a year and my advice to you is to leave the insurance claim open for a full year! You will find many small electronic devices failing you as time goes by. Your microwave, stereo, doorbell, furnace, and many such items tend to get damaged but still function for a while. Keep an eye open and let your agent know you plan to keep that "open list." It'll cost you a small fortune otherwise!
Jeff
Jeff Schlemmer

Barney-
As everyone else has said, we're so greatful you and family are safe, everything else can be replaced ,albeit ,a hassle..Again, we all appreciate your expertise and passion for LBC's...i'm off to Uk, italy ,Paris for two weeks, hope to visit Abingdon and possibly Hi- Gear in Derbyshire...I just purchased the %-spd conversion from Moss ...looks to be a quality unit, drove one in gatlinburg and was very impressed..
All the best, hope all sorts out for you
John Coryea
John coryea

Barney,

glad to hear nobody was hurt, and I'm sure your bible of a site will rise from the ashes soon.

It just goes to show that God must be a SUV driver ;-)

Grant
G Hudson

This thread was discussed between 29/07/2006 and 02/08/2006

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