Last night (NOT owning a Harley Davidson motorcycle) I REALLY needed to clear my head, so I rolled the car cover off the old Mercedes Benz 560SEC in my garage, and took it out at twilight, going up high into the Sierra Nevada mountains to get away from these females and all this drama for awhile for about an hour or so. But I kept going... Just cruising along at the limit, enjoying the twsts and turns, out of Nevada County, on into Yuba and then Sierra county, along the river, into the valley and then back up, up and up. in the deepening twilight. Then the night sounds, the cool Sierra mountain air, the majestic tall pine trees sillouhetted against a nearly full moon, and the rhythm of the road was wonderful and seductive.. Virtually no traffic of any kind for miles and miles at a time.

At 6,000 feet, on highway 49 just past Sierra City, though, past a winding stretch of road, on a straight part of road, at I0:30 pm at about 40 mph on a level stretch of road, I collided with a deer that suddenly leaped in front of the car; and if I was on a bike I might not be here to write this; in fact it happened again 45 minutes late on the road through the Tahoe National Forest on a long straightaway, and I was doing 65, but I had time to hit those Cadillac horns,( that sound like Gabriel's trumpet !!! ) I have on the car , and so leetle Bambi's hesitation saved her life.

Midnight found me in a huge casino (south of Reno, off highway 395 at the "Grand Sierra") ..it felt surreal with all the glitz, noise ,and blinking lights and whirring slot machines and bells, going on, to the demented counterpoint of 1980's rock (REO Speedwagon, anyone?) everywhere, but I fueled up in the casino's all night diner, wth 3 cups of fresh coffee and a burger without cheese (Clarkson of Top Gear UK asks: "How come Merkins always put CHEESE on EVERYTHING??") and then filled up at a Reno ARCO $3.85 a gallon for a tankful of the 91 octane Persian perrier that these achines demand (Gas is really CHEAP in Nevada) and decded to tak a highway run back home rather than spend a night at the hotel, and spend a day in Reno,

Where I am certain I would have been lured into Cabela's at Boomtown, where I would surely go on yet another shopping spree in there and get seduced into checking out their gun library (which is actually a lot like a museum!!!) once again.


3-4 am on Highway 80 west was a blast in a well tuned W126, it pulled the long hills up to Donner Summit at about 9,000 feet like a rockt sled, the engine loafing at 75-80 mph.


After sitting in the garage for almost 2 weeks, i was great to get reaquainted with this car, that had slumbered almost 2 weeks since its return from its trip to LA.


What great old road cars these are !!! They are so comfortable and safe, under ALL road conditions in good weather and decent roads.

They feel like they can just last forever. I hope this one can. I really love piling on the miles. these cars can REALLY get the job dome.

Arrived home at abotu 4:30 am and went promptly to sleep.....


I cleaned up things today and installed a fresh air filter and cleand the bugs and grit out of the housing, and except for a very little bit of what could be deer hair on the corner of the bumper on the left side there is NO damage to the coupe.

Nothing.

At all.

CONCLUSION: Bet Anti deer set up:

1. LOUD aftermarket horns

2. Euro headlights for better visibility & beam pattern for night driving (use high beams whenever safe and possible)

3. US spec bumpers to take the hit, and protect the body (better than the attraxtive slender euro bumper)

4. Nevermind the Harlley. Guy last week on highway 20 out towards Yuba Cty hit one of those damed deer head on with his Harley, and was killed.

5. Be vigilant for deer at night on roads in California and Nevada. Those Deer warning signs need to be obeyed. I saw OTHER of these pestilential deer by the side of the highway on the eturn trip too. They are dumb, stupid and OUT there at nght. ALL night.

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

Jim, your stories are priceless..this one is no exception! After the deer attack, is the car OK?

the first day I had my wagon I had an experience with a deer. the 2nd in my life. only thing I got was a huge chunk of fur caught in the little wiper things that were on my headlights

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hum.....
1987 300TD 311,000M Stolen. Presumed destroyed

we need the "JIM B. SHOW". thursdays at ten, on Bravo.

( i also found a 50 mile trip - downtown to the valley on the 101 - 405 south to the 10, and then home up the pasadena 110 to the 101 - helpful when plagued by insomnia at 3 am. of course, my 126 was only a sedan, but still rolled smoothly and peacefully, with coltrane on the stereo, over the deserted freeways. i miss it. )

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"The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread."

"How to hunt deer with your 560 SEC . . . "

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

Hmm,
Escaping from female drama by going for a drive maybe fun but a bit dangerous.
Glad it all went well for you!!

I normally take the dogs for a walk & shoot a few rabbits.

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Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving

My head clearings happen on horseback or foot usually. What a nicely written narrative. Thank you!

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You're a daisy if you do.
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84 Euro 240D 4spd. 220.5k sold
04 Honda Element AWD
1985 F150 XLT 4x4, 351W with 270k miles, hay hauler
1997 Suzuki Sidekick 4x4
1993 Toyota 4wd Pickup 226K and counting

Great story!

Thanks for sharing with us.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Jim always has the best road trip stories.

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1974 240D 3.0L 4(M) - 250K -OM617.910 + 300D FW + Rajay turbo power!
1977 6.9 3(A) - 84k

Jim,
We have many stupid deer back east, too. You are welcome, nay invited, to come and clear out the herd.
please.

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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags

Love the story, Jim. You made my evening!

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

Good thing your car doesn't have a good star. Otherwise you would have aimed for it dead on

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http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7271/7...144c3fc1dc.jpg

I'm thinking vennison...

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1984 300TD 1981 240D

Off topic, but for Jim B.
I see there is a national Crown Vic meet the end of July in Williamsburg.

Are you going?

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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags

thanks!!! I had to sell it!!! Even with mud flaps,, a Police Interceptor dual exhaust, Mercury Marauder front and rear sway bars and a full tint and a (planned Cold Air Interceptor intake (warranty comnpliant) the car was getting stuck in the April snow evgery day!!! No traction at all.
SiO I traded 9it in on April 3rd.





Loved it bgut the Subaru Outback is not an "orphan" so my last bout with a US car (made in Canada( was fine bgut the Outback is just fine!.


I am a patriot and love to buy American whever I can and here I have cars in my garage from conpanies in nations we kicked the crap of in WW II _ Japan and Germany!




Times change I guess...

zthanks,

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)