September 2007

Pit Stop

A couple of friends and I were on our way back from Loudon, New Hampshire from the Nextel Cup race. We were in my friend’s father’s 1 ton Ford camper. We were cruising down the interstate at about 75 mph when we heard a loud noise and the camper just shook violently for a split second. We got it slowed down and we pulled off to the shoulder of the road only to find the left rear outside tire was shredded and had taken some of the plumbing with it. We located the spare tire only to find no jack or lug wrench in the vehicle. We talked about calling someone like AAA, but no one had a phone. Then I came up with an idea . . .



I took my Leatherman Wave off my side (I never leave home without it), pulled out the regular blade and poked it ever so gently through the blown tire’s sidewall. After I made the incision, I pulled out the serrated blade and started cutting the sidewall around the rim. After I got all the way around I proceeded to cut the other side of the tire, being careful not to poke through the only good tire left on the inside. I cut all the way around that sidewall and pulled the shredded tire off the rim. We loaded everything to the right side of the vehicle and drove the rest of the way home with 3 tires on the rear and one empty rim still attached!!!



Ryan L.

Lincolnville, ME