+1 in the high speed deer slalom, close...I think it stayed in the box. Options

[trackbird]

On my way home from my parents house tonight, somewhere in Maryland (and 200 miles from home) I found that someone had set up a "deer slalom" in the middle of the interstate. I made it through, but I wound up +1 for my efforts. I almost missed it, I'm pretty sure it stayed in the box......

"On the road of life, there are passengers, there are drivers, and there are deer!"

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[trackbird]

The light still works....for now.

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[Absolut Speed]

I often wonder the percentage of people in the midwest that hit a deer in their lifetimes. Hopefully the bill doesn't add up too fast.

[KeithO]

I'm glad you got away unhurt and the car doesn't look too bad. I am all too familar with deer and what they can do.

[Mericet]

Ouch! Glad you and Mrs. trackbird is OK.

[Teutonic Speedra...]

Bummer. I swerve around deer here in NJ on a regular basis. You should see the damage my next door neighbor has to his F-350 SD.....

I bet you fee like this: (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/rant.gif)

[firehawkclone]

Glad you and the miss are OK.

It looks like a racecar to me now, time to gut it throw some racers tape on it and go racing (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) :leaving:

[slowTA]

At least now you have an excuse to gut the interior, pull all of the lights, install a cage to sure up any frame damage, and turn it into a dedicated race car. This is the same car that like to drive on the grass too, right?

Did you have to shoot the deer to put it out of it's missery?

[trackbird]

Did you have to shoot the deer to put it out of it's missery?

I was equipped for such an action, but I think it cleared the guard rail and went over the hill. By the time I found a place to stop, it was 1/2 mile away and I never saw the deer.

I laid into the brakes, but the roads had so much salt on them, I really couldn't stop like I'm used to (I looked in the mirror and saw a three lane wide cloud of salt dust I'd kicked up). And, I didn't want to swerve too hard while braking since I'm running snow tires and the car is a bit scary in the handling department (I'd have missed it on street tires).

The fender is pushed back "hard" into the door, it takes a good push to get it open and it opens with a loud bang. I was hoping a fender and a light would do it, but it appears that the mounts are bent (even with braking, I probably hit it at 50+ mph). The worst part is, I just don't like leaving a car like this in the care of a shop. Too many storys of body shop guys "test driving" cars and destroying them. Since it's obvious that it's not stock, I would rather fix it myself (I'm sure it's going to some shop, maybe I'll have my friend meet me there and set the rev limit for 1,500 rpm or something with HP Tuners).

Hopefully the bill doesn't add up too fast.

Full coverage, 0 deductible. Not a problem...... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

I called my dad and told him:

"I was thinking that tonight looked like a good night to hit a deer" (low traffic, dark eveing, etc).

He said:

"Instead, why didn't you think that tonight was a good night to win the lottery"?

The fact that the hood isn't bent tells me that I really did almost miss the damn thing. Actually, I was surprised when I heard the thump, I thought I was going to squeak by it (I think it started to take a step and then slowed down).

Oh well, a little zaino and it will be good as new.....

[v7guy]

if the fender is shoved back it's most likely the front bracket that holds the fender and front fascia is bent, it's thin sheet metal and could be easily bent back if that's the case.

fenders go for $100-$150.

[trackbird]

if the fender is shoved back it's most likely the front bracket that holds the fender and front fascia is bent, it's thin sheet metal and could be easily bent back if that's the case.

fenders go for $100-$150.

I wondered how these attached (I've never needed to have one off) and I was hoping it wasn't anything more than that. I'm guessing it was a 130+ lb deer (it was a big doe, and may have been over 130, but it was probably at least 130).

I'm going to let my insurance company take care of it, that's why I pay them (though I am a "do it yourself" kind of guy and would consider it if I could find a painted fender that's in good shape).

[CMC #37]

Man! Glad you're allright buddy! Someone in my family in Montana is always totalling out a vehicle due to deer!

[35th_Anniversary...]

sorry about the damage from the large land rat

after i hit one (amazing I only hit one since there was a herd crossing the road) with my 85 crown vic station wagon at about 20 mph all the land rats run away from me in all of my cars. btw crown vic: 1 land rats: 0. Wasn't even a scratch on my boat (the crown vic)

[pknowles]

somewhere in Maryland

You must have been in Western MD or you were driving through one of those counties that freeks out at the site of an inch of snow.

Deer are everywhere around here. I almost smashed one driving to work 2 weeks ago. Something like a 10 point buck standing in the median strip by a tree. Because of the tree I never saw him till he was basically breathing on the door. Unfortunatly the guy behind me wiped him out.

[trackbird]

somewhere in Maryland

You must have been in Western MD or you were driving through one of those counties that freeks out at the site of an inch of snow.

Yup, I was on 68....about 2-3 miles from the WV line (headed into Morgantown). After hitting the deer, I looked up and saw the "Thanks, we enjoyed your visit" sign (that's right before the state line).

So, yup, western MD.

On the way out there, I hit 2-3" of snow/slush from 40 miles east of frostburg to hancock Md. Took me 7.5-8 hrs to get home instead of my usual 5-ish.

[pknowles]

Yup, I was on 68....about 2-3 miles from the WV line (headed into Morgantown).

You were very lucky you didn't get stuck, because you were in the middle of nowhere. I'm not exactly sure what's around the line, but I68 in general is one of those roads that you don't let the gas tank get to far below 1/4 because the next open gas station might be 50 miles away.

[mitchntx]

Kevin,

Glad you are OK ... in Texas, we have deer as well. But the armadillos can do some strange things to a front fascia as well. Difference is, we don't layer the roadway with dust to "enhance" traction and we can run 315 Rs year round!

You probably already know this ...

The front nose and font fender "sandwich" together along with a "Z" shaped bracket that attaches to the frame rail. I imagine that bracket is bent, but like said above, it can easily be straightened with a little trial and error.

The rear of the fender has an "L" shaped bracket accessible with the door open. Again, it's probably just bent a tad. Maybe even in the proper form, just the fender is tab is snapped off.

You can probably loosen the 6 or so bolts uder the hood and pull the fender off the door.

Take the inner fender liner out and about 10 13mm bolts top, bottom and sides and the fender should pop right off.

You can hunt for used, but there is great aftermarket support for late model F-Car body panels. Locally, there is a place called Crash-mart. They are a chain, I believe. New non-OEM fenders (lighter than OEM (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) ) can be had for $75 picked up.

[pknowles]

Glad you are OK ... in Texas, we have deer as well. But the armadillos can do some strange things to a front fascia as well.

A fond childhood memory was riding in the back of a pea green '78 Olds between San Antonio and San Angelo when we hit an armadillo; it was like hitting a large rock. How we didn't destory that animal with that beast of a car I'll never know.

[trackbird]

Difference is, we don't layer the roadway with dust to "enhance" traction and we can run 315 Rs year round!

That miracle dust did wonders for my braking distances. It's not like I don't have serious brakes on the car....

I lucked out that I managed to almost miss the deer. We just kept going the last 200 miles home (after I hopped out and did a quick inspection). I run through there all the time between my parents and my place. I know the area well....too well. If I'd have really hit it hard, I might have had a bad night. It was a bit before midnight (which didn't help) and we might have been there a while. I had plenty of warm clothes and "protection" if things went badly (I was going shooting with friends when I was home).

I just called my insurance agent. Full coverage, 0 deductible. It won't cost me anything but frustration, so I'll let them handle it. I had a good shop recommended to me that won't drive the car and will lock it up, etc (good friends of a friend). So, I'll give these guys a shot.

So far, total cost 0. (though I have to pay 20% of any rental car fees).

[Sam Strano]

Sorry to hear that Kevin.

After 16 years of luck (and many close calls) I hit a deer this year, and did with style. Actually he hit me (jumped out in front of the truck), and got not one, not two, but THREE licensed vehicles. My truck (not hurting the steel bumper, but caving in the RR door), my trailer (making a pretzel out of my tire rack), and the MR2 Turbo that was on the trailer (only some light fender damage, thank god for the tire rack).

Yes, I managed to hit a deer with 3 things at once. Pretty good for one driver ain't it? (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)

Bummer but glad you have good insurance. Here's hoping they do the body work well.