Ever hit a bird with your Cobra?

[Jamo]

Rick

No...a bird. I see my post came in right after Todd mentioned a squirrel. I should've been clearer. Mine was sparrow hamburger.

Still good with figs though.

[trularin]

Didn't Brent hit a rock last year?

[NeedAntiVenom]

Steve,

It was an 89 MR2 MK1 supercharged - and one of my favorite cars of all time. The blower gave it a really wide torque curve, IMHO, much better the the turbo MKIIs.

I came over the crest of a hill on Route 222N and had slowed to about 120 when I blew by a cop in the median. Looked into the rear view, he didn't budge so I cranked it back up to 140. He caught up with me several miles later when the expressway ended at a light. I got a 15 minute lecture and no ticket because "I didn't get a clean clock and I'm not that kind of cop". I thanked him, promised him I would not do it again and shook his hand. That was 13 years ago, so far I've kept my word.

Yes, it was spooky - but curiosity got the better of me. Even so, it was suprisingly well behaved at speed. Ranks about 3rd or 4th in the list of dumbest things I've ever done. I guess Darwinism doesn't always work.

[Lowell W]

Originally posted by Jamo


klayfish

Yup. Not all that bad. The fans really did chop up the little sucker good, so no bent fins to the radiator. One fan blade did get a little bent, but that was easily fixed. Hosed 80% of the remains right outta there.

OK, NOW I know why they put the fans on the outside of the radiator!



I almost nailed a suicidal squirrel yesterday. I thought for sure he was toast but I couldn't see him in the mirror when I...uh...aw sh!t, I hope he's not still under there, stuck on the bottom of the bellhousing...

[Junket]

Well no birds or squirrels but I did run over one of those hard rubber hexagon bottom road markers with about 5" of the red top still on Saturday on my first outing this year not much fun trying to get the sumbich out from under a 4" high cobra In the middle of town with no place to park
Ken

[ohekk]

Not the Cobra but hit a HUGE turkey vulture with an '82 Datsun 280ZX.

It was recycling something in the middle of the road when I came upon it at 85 MPH. We connected as it was departing from its last supper! It made a mess of the windshield.

My yellow Cobra does tend to attract a fair amount of insects!

...but NO birds yet

[flipper35]

Hauling back from Julian, I happened to look at the friend riding with me just as a beetle got him in the forehead and I heard it hit the inside of the windshield after it bounced off of his head.

[skippy]

Damn no suicidal squirrel or bird strike action here. Each time i drive on the highways i have to check what rubbish i have picked up in front of the radiator. Fags, plastic bags,leaves you name it.

Skippy.

[Thompson]

I have not hit a bird (or anything else - Thank God) with my Cobra, but was with Dave White last year at Midstates Spring Fling in Neb. when he hit a bird.

Dave's side of the story is that the bird hit him. Hit him right at the opening of the hood scoop and created a big mess all over Dave's 427. Also got all over the windsheild. What a mess and it was just a little bird.
In Colorado we are used to getting the bird when driving down I-25, but did not think that we would get the bird in Neb. driving on a country road.

BTW - If you have not made a trip to Neb to meet Bob Kallio and Rich Anderson and their Crews, you are missing some of the nicest people in not only the Cobra Business, but also in business anywhere. And when up there, swing by and see George Anderson. You will not forget the visit.

Dick Thompson

[Dream Master]

At Run and Gun about three years ago; While I was driving from the road course to the drag strip there were a large group of sea gulls in the middle of the parking lot. Just for fun I thought I would scare them up by driving up to them and racing my engine. One seemed to jump up and fly right into my radiator opening. When I stoped there he was perched sitting right in the opening like he was nesting. He stayed there just long enough for me to get my camera out, but then fly out before I took the picture.

I did hit a bird in flight with my truck once and he stuck to the front of the grill in a really cool position just like he was flying with both wings spread out, one down and one up.

Doug

[Todd Hedges]

Skippy?
Oh that's right you mean cigarettes in that "down-under" talk.

[BigGuy]

No hits in a Cobra or Vette. ....but, I've hit many birds, a few squirrels, skunks and a Opossum. Many close calls with deer. In our area the only way you can hunt deer legally is with your car! The Opossum kept coming I changed lanes and he changed and came right at me. He was toast (I slowed to 60 from 100) and I almost went into the ditch. As you get older you learn to slow down a bit a night. The nasty part is picking the remains out of the grill.

Good Luck
Jon

[flipper35]

Speaking of suicidal animals, I had a cat run across the road and jump into the front of my Daytona. I had a bird plant itself into the grill of dad's maxi-van one night at about 75. Went through a flock of birds in the same van at normal speeds early in the morning. Thump, thump, thump thump thump,thump, reminded me of the old WWII movies in the B17s.

[Lowell W]

Why did the chicken cross the road?

To prove to the raccoon it was possible.

[Tinker51]

I have not hit a bird with the Cobra but late last summer I nailed a bug right in the middle of the winshield that was just huge. I was sure I had hit Mothra. I have no idea what kind of bug but he was big and had obviously eaten a very large meal recently. It took six paper towels to get what was left off the windshield. I have hit several birds with planes and they make a hell of a noise (and mess) even at slow speeds of around 140 mph.

[BMK]

Missed a few birds out in the country and one just missed me.

I stopped by the roadside to take phone call when I noticed a large hawk over head. It was just hovering there.



Suddenly it dived towards me and I thought it had seen something in the car with me. Luckily it picked up a small mouse just near me and took off.

- true or false

Have heard a story that a guy in an MGB was driving just over the border when he saw a large kangaroo on the side of the road.

He swears that as he passed the kangaroo it jumped out onto the road in front of him. It kept going and cleared his car and took off across a farm.



It was reported in the newspaper here and an expert on wildlife agreed that the kangaroo can easily jump up to 6 feet in height.

Guess it just jumped at the right time. Would have made a mess if it was on the ground in front.



Cheers

Bernie

[boxhead]

Speaking about kangaroos I have see a friends car after he hit a kangaroo and it came in through the front screen.
The bloody thing tore the crap outa the interior in that old HR Holden.
Luckily my friend stopped and bailed out before the kangaroo got him.

[Mike Hausner]

A couple of years ago a friend of mine hit a DEER with his FFR. The insurance coughed up $12,000 for a new body, installation & paint.
OUCH!

[bgiven]

I hit a Seagull with a 308GTB in Canada back in 1983......I wonder if my parts are in yet ????

[CSX 4027]

On one CSX 4027's test voyages on 91North in Ct. I was driving at about 100 with my 1st engine builder whom was wearing a light tan jacket(remember racing windscreen only) after going under an underpass the right corner of my eye caught some color on his jacket and it was bright red. I quickly jumped on the brakes thinking he was shot. He looked down an probably thought the same(wishfull thinking)
Apparently a giant something got smashe on his chest.