On the way to the airport at 4am yesterday, a really big racoon decided to run across the road at the moment I was going by, there were no other cars for miles around and it was raining heavily on the unlit two lane road (rt. 44 for in New Hartford for those that know CT) needless too say, at 50 mph and a dead center impact, the front of my car is toast.

I managed to make it to the airport to catch my flight, which was a miracle because when I got there and popped the hood, my radiator was completely destroyed, with no coolant and the engine fans in overdrive, the temp gauge had gone almost into the red zone about 15 miles from the airport but the car ran normally, with no EML light or other warning, it could have been the heavy rain and low air temp. plus the fact I didn't have to stop at all, that kept the engine from going into meltdown.

I get back from Chicago tomorrow, so I'll be able to checkout the damage in the daytime and have the car towed to the shop for repairs, I went more than a year with not even a door ding and now this, it's open season on racoons! The only good thing is I won't have to make a claim against my insurance, since I was heading out on a business trip, my corporate insurance was in effect.

X2

 

X2-- You must feel awlful! It is east to see how deer can do damage, but a racoon!

God speed.

 

>>X2--

 

Water, plastic bags, 6" long pieces of rubber (which nailed me the other day, destroying my driver's side fog light )...and now racoons. Point is, MINIs seem to like dry flat pavement and nothing but. Cute little buggers, but damn fragile (and I'm not talking about racoons).

 

>>>>X2--

Please send me a list of your mods, I can't have you being faster than me ya know
I have a brick of .22 LR, when I get home I'm going coon hunting, so when you see me with my Daniel Boone coon cap, don't ask any questions.

X2

 

>>
>>Please send me a list of your mods, I can't have you being faster than me ya know
>>

 

That's funny...I hit a racoon just of Rt. 44 in New Hartford a few years ago, in a Volvo 740 wagon. The racoon lost big time. My only confirmed road kill in my life. (there may have been some squirrels...but I'm not sure). Sorry to hear about the damage, but glad you're covered well. Maybe a cow-catcher instead of an air dam up front? Deer are still in season!

 

We ran over a Raccoon coming back late at night from having dinner with friends while we were visiting Richmond last week. We were trying to find I-95 to then make it east to I-64 back to Williamsburg where we were staying for the night. We got a bit lost, must have been around 10PM and suddenly while doing 70MPH in one of the city's local expressways, a Raccoon decided to make a run in front of our car (From left shoulder). My wife and I both saw the stupid creature when it dived in front of the car, so I tried to swerve around it (Fortunately no other cars were around us at the time) but still managed to sliced it into pieces with the left front tire.



_________________
'02 Cooper CVT (Absolute Keeper!)
'04 Cooper S Delivered: 10/3/2003 It's finally home!!!!!!!!!!

 

X2 I am sorry to hear this. That really sucks. Its getting crazy up here, guess all these creatures are getting ready for winter. Last night I had to mash my brakes as a family of deer darted out in front of my MINI.

 

Sorry to hear about your collision.
Animals are just as afraid of your MINI as you are of them, unless you are a towering Moose-read this from the past:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...c=11074&12

 

The only migrating racoons do is from one trash can to the next. I've done a good bit of packpacking, (get about 30 "bag nights" a year) and I'm not at all fond of racoons. Way too many of them.

God speed.

 

Can I just get in with this before one of our "bleeding hearts" does...

I think you should be ashamed of yourself that you didn't go back and check on the poor creature. It might have still been alive you know? Instead of making your oh so important business trip, you should have been taking it to the vet. You claim it was "big" but I'll bet anything that it was just your everyday, average racoon minding it's own business. Not only that, but you were probably speeding too! Reckless driving Mini owners that assasinate racoons (or any of God's creatures) reflects badly on all of us.

Ken

 

Ken, Ken, Ken...

 

>>Can I just get in with this before one of our "bleeding hearts" does...
>>
>>I think you should be ashamed of yourself that you didn't go back and check on the poor creature. It might have still been alive you know? Instead of making your oh so important business trip, you should have been taking it to the vet. You claim it was "big" but I'll bet anything that it was just your everyday, average racoon minding it's own business. Not only that, but you were probably speeding too! Reckless driving Mini owners that assasinate racoons (or any of God's creatures) reflects badly on all of us.
>>
>>Ken
>>


Whoa, buddy cool your jets there!


What would you do if you are driving at night and all of a sudden a creature dives in front of your car with less than a split second to react?

We were driving only 5MPH above the speed limit, no rain, minding our own business to make it safely back to Williamsburg which is a good 1 and a half hour drive from Richmond.

At 70MPH that Raccoon was done and over with, period. A 2,600 pound car moving @ 70MPH will slice any living creature like a hot knife, sorry but that is the reality of it.

Sure, we humans, are intruding into their "Space" but the problem is that neither drivers, or animals can signal each other when they are about to collide.

I was not going to pull over to check on whatever was left of the Raccoon. It was late at night, dark, cold and plus we were in an unfamiliar area. Pretty unsafe to expose my wife and myself to further risks just to try to save an animal that was probably decapitated on impact.

Sorry, but human life is still worth more than the life of any other creature. Some people seem to forget that.


Oh and Ken, I sincerely hope a Raccoon or Deer does not dive in front of your car. Its not fun. So step down from your little soapbox and start to frequent less lectures from tree huggers and animal activist whackos that appear to leave in a different planet from ours.
_________________
'02 Cooper CVT (Absolute Keeper!)
'04 Cooper S Delivered: 10/3/2003 It's finally home!!!!!!!!!!

 

>>I think you should be ashamed of yourself that you didn't go back and check on the poor creature. It might have still been alive you know? Instead of making your oh so important business trip, you should have been taking it to the vet. You claim it was "big" but I'll bet anything that it was just your everyday, average racoon minding it's own business. Not only that, but you were probably speeding too! Reckless driving Mini owners that assasinate racoons (or any of God's creatures) reflects badly on all of us.
>>
>>Ken
>>

Please tell me you're kidding...

DREW

 

>>>> So step down from your little soapbox and start to frequent less lectures from tree huggers and animal activist whackos that appear to leave <sic> in a different planet from ours.
>>
...and welcome to MCO Mr.O'Reilly...Unfortunately, this is a "Spin Zone"...We spin our tires, we spin our superchargers, we spin our cars...

Sheesh...

DREW

 

When racoons start building roads, I'll stop driving on them. Until then, the critters should stick to the woods.

 

>>X2 I am sorry to hear this. That really sucks. Its getting crazy up here, guess all these creatures are getting ready for winter. Last night I had to mash my brakes as a family of deer darted out in front of my MINI.
>>

ant
creatures/racoons getting ready for the winter in Fla.?????


_________________

 

Got to love O'Reilly!

 

Damn, Y'all must grow 'em big in Connecticut. Down home here, most o dem critters don't get over 15lbs. on account a the poisoning. See most of 'em die young due to the lead. Now I knows that the problem with lead in humans is traceable to the ole paint and pipes that ya find in your house. In 'coons, however, most of 'em die due to another source of lead, rather than that household stuff. It seems that a good many of those critters are dying after being shot from a .22 LR or 410 gauge. Oftentimes occuring in those very trashcans from which they feed and make a racket.

At least our MINIs don't have to take the hit, as only the garbage man knows fer sure how many suffer from fatal toxic lead infestations.

_________________
BLUBELLE - 2003 MCS IB /W Premium, Sport, Cold pkgs, Lapis blue interior, Magnecor wires, Alta Pulley, Moss Skid Plate, Chrome Trim Interior

 

This reminds me of a funny article I read about conflict between mountain bikers and equestrians using local trails.

One mountain biker said: When you see a mountain biker taking a giant dump in the middle of the trail, come talk to me.

 

Sorry to hear man. Looks like time for a performance radiator huh?

I tagged a coon my first week. I guess I got lucky, he did nothing to my Mini. It went right under the passenger side with a loud thump. Poor thing didn't have a chance, but no damage to the Mini.



Bay Area Mini Motorers website.
Gen X Radio

 

Never spook deer when crossing under an overpass.....


http://www.car-accidents.com/pages/a.../10-14-02.html


Ouch!

 

I have finally come to the conclusion that most Mini owners have no sense of humour. None.

You couldn't spot a tongue in a cheek if it was your own tongue in your own cheek.

I think I'll start a whole new thread on this...


Ken

 

>>I have finally come to the conclusion that most Mini owners have no sense of humour. None.
>>
>>You couldn't spot a tongue in a cheek if it was your own tongue in your own cheek.
>>
>>I think I'll start a whole new thread on this...
>>
>>
>>Ken

Hey Ken:

Sometimes it is hard to detect the "Tongue in cheek" in an internet message board.

Apologies.