While the damage is still being tallied a week after Hurricane Ian tore through the heart of Florida, one thing is clear: the chaos left in the wake of the deadliest hurricane the state has seen in 87 years is the stuff of nightmares. From entire island communities being cut off from civilization, the state’s home insurance market threatening collapse, raw sewage-laced flood water, to infestation with “alligators running around” and “snakes all over the place.” Oh, and street sharks.
Far, far further down the tragedy totem pole is the damage and disruption Hurricane Ian wrecked on the automotive community.
No point in burying the lead. A McLaren P1 died. I have many opinions about this highly publicized casualty. First, it’s the greatest art installation the state of Florida has ever produced. I find it to be a deeply beautiful piece commenting on America’s relationship with capitalism. Second, if you do not possess the intelligence to get in your $1.3 million getaway car and head for higher ground when a category 4 hurricane is barreling toward you, I can only ascertain that you procured such a vehicle through nefarious means to begin with.
Ian and his biblical flooding also washed a pair of 1970 Plymouth Roadrunners off their garaged storage lifts and out into the street, not even having the decency to drop both back on their feet.
As the storm pushed east, Daytona Speedway found itself firmly in its crosshair. Even though Ian had been downgraded to a tropical storm by the time it reached Florida’s eastern coast, it was still clearly potent enough to leave its mark, flooding the infield reservoir and washing away some of the soil that supports the track’s famous high banked corners. Luckily, neither the track surface itself nor the underlying foundation was damaged, according to a track executive.
Even the Germans or Swedes were affected by Ian’s wrath. With the storm tracking north towards Charleston, South Carolina, Volvo and Mercedes, each with plants in the area, were forced to shut down production temporarily. “Due to the potential impact of Hurricane Ian on the greater Charleston area and to focus on the safety of our team members our facility in Ladson, South Carolina, will be closed tomorrow,” Mercedes said in a statement Thursday.
The Ladson factory produces Merc’s Sprinter and Metris vans, the Wanderlustmobile of choice for the insufferable I-sold-my-start-up-and-bought-a-camera 40-something. Volvo’s Ridgeville plant, however, is the production home for the brand’s S60 sedan and XC90 SUV. The two best looking cars in their respective classes according to a survey which doesn’t care for your opinion because it doesn’t matter because only mine does.
Not even the GT4 America Series was safe from Ian’s tirade as the #15 BSPort Aston Martin team was forced to withdraw from the upcoming race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway due to damage sustained during the hurricane.
Whoa boy. Life, man.
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