When the least expected happens

[Andrew Gray]

Goodwood members weekend we headed off to Surrey to have a day at home before heading to Goodwood Members meeting.
Never would I have expected this to happen.
But driving on the M25 in the smart ? motorway section just off the M26 we suddenly had what could only be described as a sonic boom, as a pheasant hit the Vixen screen and exploded into the car.
Glass feathers blood and guts everywhere.
Fortunately it was not the drivers side of the car and I managed to keep control of the car.
Once off the motorway I tried to do a temporary repair but driving around the services realised it was unsafe to attempt to drive the 50 miles home.
Hagerty Insurance called and recovery got us back to the workshop at 1am and car safe and into bed.
Up at 6am to get the mess cleared and a new screen fitted and back on the road for after lunch.
Hagerty where amazing how they helped along the way even calling the next morning to see how we where and asking if they could help in any way.
Giving us a claim reference to send through the invoice for the screen replacement which was paid in under 5 days.
Well done Hagerty.
When the unthinkable happens it’s great to know you have them there to assist.
Got to Goodwood and had a fantastic weekend
Shaken but not stirred
Andrew and Max who was a start initially he was rather shocked but got straight back in the car when we headed off again

Edited by Andrew Gray on Sunday 17th April 09:24

[Andrew Gray]

Cheers Hagerty Insurance

[Oilchange]

Looks like the driver had a lucky escape there, could've been a lot worse!

[Andrew Gray]

Oilchange said:

Looks like the driver had a lucky escape there, could've been a lot worse!

Yes we where very lucky the other side and the story would have been very different.
Andrew

[Andrew Gray]

Well the screens been in for probably 15 years and correct rubbers.
However all depends on what speed and what angle the bird was flying.
However like all things you know it all so I will say no more.
Correct fitting screen and seal now fitted
Andrew

[Granturadriver]

I remember that my grandma had such experience in the early 80ies in here Mercedes 116 S-class on the autobahn. The screen broke and she had as well the kind of exploded bird on the rear seats. What a mess.

Good that you were not injured and that the repair was so quick!

[DodgyGeezer]

damn! That could have been nasty (or at least nastier!) - I'd imagine that cleaning wouldn't have been a whole bunch of fun either

[Andrew Gray]

Granturadriver said:

I remember that my grandma had such experience in the early 80ies in here Mercedes 116 S-class on the autobahn. The screen broke and she had as well the kind of exploded bird on the rear seats. What a mess.

Good that you were not injured and that the repair was so quick!

Very thankful that it was not the other side of the car or the story would probably not be told.
Mess was horrid but getting it sorted straight away made it easier to clean.
Still finding the odd feather in the strangest of places.
Just fortunate i have the screens all in stock in the workshop so it was a nice quick turnaround
Andrew

[plasticpig1972]

Well done Andrew,
very nice job done exactly right. Did you put normal screen or heated.
Alan

[Andrew Gray]

Standard laminated clear one that’s what the Vixens had normally it’s normally the M series that have the tinted
Andrew