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Crews succeed in retrieving classic El Camino from irrigation canal
Yakima Herald-Republic ^ | 5/18/16 | Mai Hoang

Posted on 05/18/2016 5:39:50 PM PDT by mdittmar

YAKIMA, Wash. -- The Roza Irrigation District will turn on several irrigation pumps this morning after water in a portion of the Roza Canal reached sufficient levels following the extraction of a classic vehicle Monday.

The 1970 Chevrolet El Camino had been in a concrete-lined portion of the canal since May 7, when it rolled away from the garage of a home near Moxee.

By the time officials had completed the extraction and had begun refilling the canal — around 12:30 p.m. Monday — water levels had receded to about 1 foot where the car was retrieved, near State Route 24.

The water level had receded to the same level farther downstream near Konnowac Pass, said Roza Irrigation District Manager Scott Revell.

The Roza Irrigation District stopped diverting river water into the canal about 6:30 a.m. Monday and waited for several hours for water levels to recede before sending crews to extract the vehicle at around 11:30 a.m.

As crews pulled the vehicle out of the canal, a backpack fell out and headed downstream. Crews were able to retrieve the backpack, which had a wallet and other possessions of the 73-year-old man who owned the vehicle.

Workers extracted the car to prevent it from being pushed down into a siphon and lodging in the canal, which would have caused a restriction in the water flow, Revell said.

He won’t know definitively whether the car caused any physical damage to the canal, namely the sealant, until crews work on the canal after the irrigation season ends.

“We didn’t see any obvious damage,” he said.

Early on May 7, the owner of the 1970 El Camino was pushing it out of his garage in the 300 block of High Point Landing when it started rolling backward. The vehicle rolled over him as he tried to stop it, breaking his leg.

The car then went down a hill and into the canal. Despite his broken leg, the owner was able to walk and get help. His vehicle was found in the canal later that day.

As of Monday afternoon, Revell did not hear many complaints from users in the irrigation district about the shutdown.

“I think they had a little bit of lead time to adjust and the rain (over the weekend) made it that much easier,” he said.



TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Hobbies
KEYWORDS: automotive
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To: yarddog

We know a rancher that had a brand new pickup wash down a flooded creek. The dealership fixed it, took a while and cost him some real money but he was self insured so cheaper than junking the truck. He bought it to be a ranch truck so didn’t get it re-painted and it looked like a sand blasted wreck...people would always have to ask why a truck so new looked so bad.


21 posted on 05/18/2016 6:19:47 PM PDT by Tammy8 (Please be a regular supporter of Free Republic !)
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To: johniegrad

“El Camino” is Spanish for “The Camino.”

I suppose that means El DeBarge translates to The DeBarge.


22 posted on 05/18/2016 6:24:24 PM PDT by Rastus (#NeverHillary)
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To: mdittmar
WOW

Thats a shame.

Hope the old guy is ok.

Bet that car was worth quite a few bucks.

23 posted on 05/18/2016 6:32:45 PM PDT by pandemoniumreigns
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To: JoeProBono

454. My folks had a 72 buick lesabre with the 454 wildcat engine in it. You could be a leadfoot without even trying.


24 posted on 05/18/2016 6:33:54 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: Secret Agent Man

My memory may be going but when I was growing up in the 60s Buick had a 455. I think Olds did too and they were totally different engines.

Also totally different from the Chevy 454.


25 posted on 05/18/2016 6:38:48 PM PDT by yarddog (Romans 8:38-39, For I am persuaded.)
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To: BinaryBoy
Half car, half pickup truck, all crap.

Back in the early 1970s my boss bought one of those. Brand-new black 1970 El Camino SS, his first new car. It was a lemon. In the 2 years he owned it, it spent more than 18 months in the shop getting fixed for one thing or another. For instance, the roof leaked. When the Chevy shop opened the roof they found a wrench was left inside from the factory. The paint kept going bad and was repainted several times. The engine had numerous breakdowns, as did the transmission and rear end. My boss ended up suing General Motors, and won his lawsuit. He took to compensation and bought a foreign car, pledging to never again buy an American car.

26 posted on 05/18/2016 6:43:46 PM PDT by roadcat
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To: mdittmar

Not exactly on topic, but one of my little girls was attempted to be grabbed by a guy in what she described as a guy in a “car truck”.
Fortunately she screamed so loudly that a grocery guy heard her scream as he was carrying out groceries and ran towards them and the guy took off.
Later he was caught trying to grab another girl and the car-truck turned out to be a-—yep, El Camino.


27 posted on 05/18/2016 6:53:34 PM PDT by bog trotter
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To: wally_bert

I had the opportunity to drive a 65 Ranchero (years ago) 289 4 speed ... just like the El Commode ... light in the ass and would light the tires with very little prodding ... Hard Braking was interesting as well.
The El Commode that I had was the one with the square headlights. It was in the family for probably 15 years ... I replaced the Engine twice, had good steel, no rust... it was a good car.
(Gave it to my brother when we started having kids ... not kid friendly)


28 posted on 05/18/2016 6:58:59 PM PDT by TexasTransplant (Idiocracy used to just be a Movie... Live every day as your last...one day you will be right)
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To: yarddog

I just know about the Olds 442, didnt know about a 455. I only heard of the 442 and the 454. I had family that had cars with both of these two. The 455, if it was an earlier engine, was before my time.


29 posted on 05/18/2016 7:03:24 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: Secret Agent Man

There was a time in the mid 60s to maybe 68 in which the 442s seemed to be the dominant muscle care at least where I lived.

It had a 400 cubic inch engine. The 4-4-2 stood for four barrel carburetor. Four speed transmission and dual exhaust.

Those 442s were beating the SS-396s, and GTOs too.


30 posted on 05/18/2016 7:09:31 PM PDT by yarddog (Romans 8:38-39, For I am persuaded.)
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To: Rastus

It translates as “the road” or “the way”.


31 posted on 05/18/2016 7:29:01 PM PDT by Coronal
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To: mdittmar
Crews succeed in retrieving classic El Camino from irrigation canal

It's refreshing to read something positive about Crews.

32 posted on 05/18/2016 7:31:35 PM PDT by Barnacle (Thank you... Thank you very much.)
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To: yarddog

Thanks, i forgot about the 4 banger.


33 posted on 05/18/2016 7:33:30 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: johniegrad

A friend in high school had an early 70’s El Camino. Loved riding to the beach sitting in a lounge chair in the back beside the beer cooler.


34 posted on 05/18/2016 8:43:50 PM PDT by Rebelbase
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To: mdittmar

To much el camino hate on this thread! I loved my 68 el camino. It had a 4 speed with a turbocharged 350 with nitrous oxide to eliminate turbo lag. It was like driving on ice!


35 posted on 05/18/2016 9:06:04 PM PDT by US_MilitaryRules (The last suit you wear has no pockets!)
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To: Rastus

” “El Camino” is Spanish for “The Camino.” “

Kelso!


36 posted on 05/18/2016 9:11:29 PM PDT by PLMerite (Compromise is Surrender: The Revolution...will not be kind.)
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To: PLMerite

Yep! Busted!


37 posted on 05/18/2016 9:22:32 PM PDT by Rastus (#NeverHillary)
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To: mdittmar

I owned a 1980 El Camino, silver with an eagle decal on the hood. I believe it idled at 50mph. :) A bit of gas and it flew. Handled great and stuck to the road like glue.

Not that I ever exceeded the speed.


38 posted on 05/18/2016 9:42:54 PM PDT by Duchess47 ("One day I will leave this world and dream myself to Reality" Crazy Horse)
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