R50/53 Lucky!! I Missed the Junk.
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1st Gear
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 41
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From: AZ
Lucky!! I Missed the Junk.
Here's one.
Last week, I was in the middle lane on I-5 traveling south, outside Sacramento on my way home from Oregon to Arizona. There was a lot of traffic, and everyone was bunched up, moving right along at a good clip like normal California driving. I saw the car ahead swerve in the lane and so I did too, before I cought sight of a big metal object in my lane. It was one of those ramps for flatbed trailers made out of heavy duty angle iron. Wow!!!! That got my attention. I missed it by inches, thanks to the MINI's responsive steering, and it's small size kept me in my lane. (I also happened to be awake at the time, and not like Chevy Chase in "Vacation.")
There were at least a dozen cars by the side of the road with flat tires. Some with two flats and body damage. This junk took it's toll. I was really lucky and thought about that for quite awhile, since the adrenalin was pumping real good.
The MINI is low to the ground. That thing could have really done some serious damage. Not to mention what would have happened if the car ahead had hit it and made it go airborne. Scarry stuff.
So the lesson was about following too close. I didn't see the hazard until I was on top of it. It was easy to creep up up on the car ahead just because I could. Not anymore. Lesson learned.
Anyone else have one of these junk-in-the-road encounters? Maybe you weren't so lucky.
Be Safe,
Jim
Last week, I was in the middle lane on I-5 traveling south, outside Sacramento on my way home from Oregon to Arizona. There was a lot of traffic, and everyone was bunched up, moving right along at a good clip like normal California driving. I saw the car ahead swerve in the lane and so I did too, before I cought sight of a big metal object in my lane. It was one of those ramps for flatbed trailers made out of heavy duty angle iron. Wow!!!! That got my attention. I missed it by inches, thanks to the MINI's responsive steering, and it's small size kept me in my lane. (I also happened to be awake at the time, and not like Chevy Chase in "Vacation.")
There were at least a dozen cars by the side of the road with flat tires. Some with two flats and body damage. This junk took it's toll. I was really lucky and thought about that for quite awhile, since the adrenalin was pumping real good.
The MINI is low to the ground. That thing could have really done some serious damage. Not to mention what would have happened if the car ahead had hit it and made it go airborne. Scarry stuff.
So the lesson was about following too close. I didn't see the hazard until I was on top of it. It was easy to creep up up on the car ahead just because I could. Not anymore. Lesson learned.
Anyone else have one of these junk-in-the-road encounters? Maybe you weren't so lucky.
Be Safe,
Jim
I was behind a semi when one of the retreads flew off and went over my mini. didn't see any scratches or any markings on the roof.
the car behind me wasnt so lucky, hit the car square in the middle of the bumper....he didnt even pull over.......some people just dont care about their cars....
this is also a reason why ALL trucks need muflaps, not just the cabs, the trailers too!!!
the car behind me wasnt so lucky, hit the car square in the middle of the bumper....he didnt even pull over.......some people just dont care about their cars....
this is also a reason why ALL trucks need muflaps, not just the cabs, the trailers too!!!
7th Gear Gal
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Weeblegabber West (aka WLA)
Whoa, ScurveS! That is quite an anecdote and great advice about not following too closely. I always try to assess the road, scoping out tire shreds and other debris on the road. Can't be too careful in these days of sub-standard road maintenance.
Clover
MMC#2
6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 7,062
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From: Boston, MA
Whoa!
You got lucky, with some help from the MINI's agility. 
Road debris is one of many reasons to leave more distance between you and the car you're behind. Fewer tiny paint chips on your hood and bumper is another. The biggest reason is obvious: what if the person in front of you had slammed on their brakes instead of swerving?
Thanks for the reminder!
You got lucky, with some help from the MINI's agility. Road debris is one of many reasons to leave more distance between you and the car you're behind. Fewer tiny paint chips on your hood and bumper is another. The biggest reason is obvious: what if the person in front of you had slammed on their brakes instead of swerving?Thanks for the reminder!
Banned
Joined: Mar 2004
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The highway I travel daily on has lots of crap on it all the time. Blown tires, building materials that have fallen off poorly loaded trucks,hay bails, critters.
Right now the big thing to avoid is big chunks of mud that the farmers tractors and equipment are bringing on to the road from the wet fields.
The other day on the way home,cruising along at 70+MPH, with a Jetta stuck to the boot of my car I saw a big chunk of drywall laying on the road, so, not feeling any need to help the Jetta out, I just waited till I was almost going to hit the drywall, quick right left, I missed it, the Jetta drove right over it.
Now the drywall was pretty much pounded into the road, not going to hurt anything, but that Jette backed way off
I do stop and haul crap off the road all the time. Not that you would want to do that on a multi lane, but this highway is only busy on the weekends when the cottagers are out and about. Then there are lawn chairs, barbeques, suitcases thrown into the mix
Right now the big thing to avoid is big chunks of mud that the farmers tractors and equipment are bringing on to the road from the wet fields.
The other day on the way home,cruising along at 70+MPH, with a Jetta stuck to the boot of my car
I saw a big chunk of drywall laying on the road, so, not feeling any need to help the Jetta out, I just waited till I was almost going to hit the drywall, quick right left, I missed it, the Jetta drove right over it.Now the drywall was pretty much pounded into the road, not going to hurt anything, but that Jette backed way off
I do stop and haul crap off the road all the time. Not that you would want to do that on a multi lane, but this highway is only busy on the weekends when the cottagers are out and about. Then there are lawn chairs, barbeques, suitcases thrown into the mix
6th Gear
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 38,578
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I myself (before my MINI) once had to join a tire-changing party at a fontage road business. A piece of scrap metal which had fallen from a truck (never was sure what it was exactly) was the culprit.
Another time...on one of our busiest highways...I watched an aluminum ladder become airborne out of the back of a pickup truck. Miraculously neither the ladder, or any of the motorists, hit or was hit by the object. Could have been catastrophic. Needless to say, I very intentionally never follow trucks of any sort...not for long anyway. They just creep me out too much, especally in my MINI.
Another time...on one of our busiest highways...I watched an aluminum ladder become airborne out of the back of a pickup truck. Miraculously neither the ladder, or any of the motorists, hit or was hit by the object. Could have been catastrophic. Needless to say, I very intentionally never follow trucks of any sort...not for long anyway. They just creep me out too much, especally in my MINI.
2nd Gear
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 84
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From: California
Quite an experience. Definitely glad to hear that you are all right and no damage to Mini either. It really makes you keep things in perspective when you get a refresher course in ‘watch Out’ . This is a good reminder why we shouldn’t tailgate or allow ourselves to be tailgated by someone else. Plus, always watch out for the unexpected. Kudos for your quick thinking and MINI's responsive steering
. Definitely glad to hear that you are all right and no damage to Mini either. It really makes you keep things in perspective when you get a refresher course in ‘watch Out’ . This is a good reminder why we shouldn’t tailgate or allow ourselves to be tailgated by someone else. Plus, always watch out for the unexpected. Kudos for your quick thinking and MINI's responsive steering
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6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,742
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From: Cincinnati
Oh! That's scary just thinking about it! My most recent experience like that involved a skunk today We were out on a fun Saturday drive through a local state park with several friends (~7 Subarus, a BMW M Roadster & us in the MINI) There was a dead skunk in the middle of the road & the front 2 Suby guys thought nothing of it as they culd straddle it. Then we saw it and there was nothing we could do. I think that skunk hit every part of my undercarriage that it possibly could & it shot out the back & hit the bumper of 1 of the STi's (kinda 
) Before we could warn the guy in the Roadster on the radio, he had run over it too and shot it across the hood of one of the WRX's. Needless to say, although we were fortunate enough to not get any real damage, we were not a good smelling bunch at the end of the day
Moral: At the beginning of all organized drives, or any drive for that matter, take along someone in a beater in front with a plow to clear away all the junk in the middle of the road!
We were out on a fun Saturday drive through a local state park with several friends (~7 Subarus, a BMW M Roadster & us in the MINI) There was a dead skunk in the middle of the road & the front 2 Suby guys thought nothing of it as they culd straddle it. Then we saw it and there was nothing we could do. I think that skunk hit every part of my undercarriage that it possibly could & it shot out the back & hit the bumper of 1 of the STi's (kinda ) Before we could warn the guy in the Roadster on the radio, he had run over it too and shot it across the hood of one of the WRX's. Needless to say, although we were fortunate enough to not get any real damage, we were not a good smelling bunch at the end of the day Moral: At the beginning of all organized drives, or any drive for that matter, take along someone in a beater in front with a plow to clear away all the junk in the middle of the road!
5th Gear
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 781
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From: Goodbye Milwaukee, Hello Carson City, NV
Originally Posted by MiniMaxx
So I'm flying SB down I-55 south of Sikeston, MO doing about 80, third in line behind some 80's to 90's American sleds. First car makes slight move to the left, second car starts to make a bigger move left and my "Mini senses" are immediately on high alert and there it is... an entire truck tire carcass 30 ft dead ahead in the middle of the left lane. Not much time under the circumstances. I know the rt lane is clear because I always know whats in My Zone and by reflex, I crank the Mini hard right(throttle unchanged, no brake, no time) then a corrective quick left to remain on the road now in the right lane. The Mini sticks with nary a peep of complaint. The peep from the GF in the passenger seat is a different story! I did this reflexively due to confidence in my CooperS. I dont think I would have tried it in my previously traded 04 FX 35(which was a great handling SUV). A spin or the strong possibility of a rollover would have been the likely result. Bottom line... I love my Mini!
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1st Gear
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: AZ
Good stories.
Today I was doing the cleaning and waxing thing on the MINI and thought about all the scratch removal stuff it would take if my luck hadn't prevailed. Then the drywall story started me thinking about drywall screws and runflats. Hmmm.
Jim
Jim
6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,051
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From: Sacramento, CA
The roads in California, specifically Sacramento are horrible. What the hell do our taxes go to... wait a minute, I don't think that I want to open that can of worms.. Thanks for sharing the story. Next time you're coming through Sacramento, shoot me a line, we can try and drum up a little run through our twistys... Show you some "real" roads... yeah right! 
Thanks for sharing the story. Next time you're coming through Sacramento, shoot me a line, we can try and drum up a little run through our twistys... Show you some "real" roads... yeah right!
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