Porsche vs. deer

[Lew Ledyard]

I hit a deer (8 pt buck) in my 911 cab at about 50 mph. The deer took out the driver's side headlight, dented the left front quarter panel and took off the driver's side mirror. It bounced off (actually off, up and over) the windshield frame on the driver's side, went over me and hit the left rear quarter panel. No damage to the windshield frame at all, except for blood and mud smudges and fur in the wipers. I am very impressed with how strong the car was and that it survived such an impact with so little damage. Most impressive, thank god, was the fact that I escaped unscathed. (My wife is due to have a baby in less than a week.) I don't what would have happened if I were driving my Cobra. Be careful out there.

[ToyCollector]

Lew, I would never question how well a 911 would hold up in a crash. Looks are truly deceiving with these things. So glad you are OK, sorry to hear about the incident for car and deer. Saw your motor again today, tucked away, safe and sound.

Went riding with a pal last year on motorcycles. A baby buck ran into HIM. Was a total freak show, but he kept the bike up. Sadly, it was the last event the deer remembered. Take care.

[ToyCollector]

Lew, best wishes for the baby and Mom.

[speedraser]

Sad story, but glad to hear you're ok. BTW, what year is the 911?

[Lew Ledyard]

Thanks guys. The 911 is an '88. There deer was killed instantly, thankfully. I was absolutely untouched (not sure if ducking helped, there are bits of headlight in the back seat, so it probably did help). The damage to the car is no big deal in the grand scheme of things. Besides, that's what insurance is for.

[Hal Copple]

When i am out at night, especially along river bottoms, i really do drop my speed way down, and sometimes, i have driven far out of my way at night, just to stay off a rural road. A few years ago, my son and i were out at dusk, a deer ran across in front of us, so for the next hundred miles, we dropped to a max speed of 45 mph along the Miss river bottom. I am fully aware of the risk of a deer hit in my SPF. One of our staff, when i was back in Kansas, had her husband and his dad killed in a deer hit late at night.

glad you are ok and wishing all the best for you and the family.

[Kputz]

Two years ago, dark night in early October, light rain, two lane @ aprox. 55mph. Enter 5 deer (more??) loping from my right. Move #1 was a beauty. Move #2 was.....well....ok. Move #3....a blunder. I can still say I've never hit a deer, however move #3 resulted in a neat, controlled broadslide, resulting in removal of 21' of guardrail and posts. Final score: Deer win, as year old Bimmer M3 is totaled.
For every wizard that will tell you to "don't panic and hit the deer as squarely as you can", walks a pud who hasn't had it happen to him. In the milliseconds that it takes to get in trouble, you don't know if it's deer, a pedestrian, or a logging truck. By the time you figure it out you're in the sideways drift.
Yet another illustration for you all to recognize that you are driving, hands down, the worlds most unsafe car. Had that happened in the Cobra, I wouldn't be bothering you with this post. And yet another illustration why in my little slice of the world, deer are (not so) affectionately known as "wood rats".
Btw....was sooooo impressed with Bimmers side air bags and suspension.....immediately bought another M3. Truly a world class ride.

[David Kirkham]

Lew,

Glad you are ok. What a bummer.

When I drive, especially at dusk, in deer country, (all of Utah ) I usually down shift to keep the revs up. My car is quite loud and I hope the extra noise will tell the deer a big predator is coming down the road so they will just keep away. Haven't hit one yet...I wonder if that works or if I am just fooling myself.

You know, these cars don't have a top...maybe I should start taking applications for someone to ride "shotgun" with me.

David

[Lew Ledyard]

David:

That's the bikers' credo: "Loud pipes save lives."