I was on my way from Parkes to Port Macquarie this evening, and between Gulgong and Ulong, a roo jumped out from the side of the road. I had started to slow, but when he jumped, I am figuring as well as increasing the braking, I have swerved slightly, then spun around, going off the road as I was stopping, but into a 1m deep ditch which rolled me.
Back to the panel shop I guess - just got it back from a small bingle.
shit mate, hope your alright apart from being shaken up.
your the second person this month ive heard of flipping the car that way. my aunty did the same thing but she was in a 4wd. its a write off.
Only 2 injuries were a bump on my head when I undid my seatbelt (obviously still not thinking quick enough), and a scratch on my leg getting out of the car through the scrub.
Sorry to hear about this Jeff. It looks like you were pretty lucky though. It must've been a low speed roll, because the car looks to be in great shape apart from the fenders. I wish you luck in getting it back on the road soon!
I had been doing a real good 100 kph, but by the time it went into the ditch, I was nearly stopped (after spinning around and going backwards for a bit). I reckon if it had been flat ground, it would have stopped in the same place, only upright.
it must have been the night for it jeff i hit a roo about 6.45 pm tonight on Mount Nebo rd in Qld, I didnt have time to do anything but hit the breaks a split second before he jumped straight out in front of the car, i was driving a 4wd and was lucky as he wasnt really in the air when i hit him and he more went under the car, scared the schitt out of me tho! glad youre ok ! roos not🤪
Granto wrote:it must have been the night for it jeff i hit a roo about 6.45 pm tonight on Mount Nebo rd in Qld, I didnt have time to do anything but hit the breaks a split second before he jumped straight out in front of the car, i was driving a 4wd and was lucky as he wasnt really in the air when i hit him and he more went under the car, scared the schitt out of me tho! glad youre ok ! roos not🤪
Seen a few people go off the edge of Mt Nebo road for dodging animals, not all ended as well as yours and Jeffs. At the end of the day, your life and the life of others is more important, best not to swerve if possible.
So glad your ok Jeff, poor little bug! 🥲
1963 Single Cab Ute: "El Concreto"
1962 Baja Beetle: "Peanut"
1968 Porsche 912 SWB: "Pip"
1972 Kombi Snail: "The Snail"
2012 Skoda Octavia Scout: "Scout"
2016 Scirocco R: "Rocco"
VDUBXTC wrote:Roof racks look like they saved the roof from to much damage.
I was also surprised at how much they seem to have saved the roof - a good ad for the strength of Rhino racks I reckon. I haven't had a look in the daylight yet (there hasn't been any yet) but the racks themselves look to be OK.
Looks like you where very lucky Jeff. Similar thing happned to me in my beetle (apart from the roll-over) hence the black bonnet. sasme as you dont really recall swerving or braking that hard, but ended up doing a full 360 degrees after I hit the bastard at 100kph. certainly lets you know your alive.
You'd just about be getting green paint at a bulk discount by now????
Bloody hell Jeff, all considered there seems to me not too much damage, glad you survived unscathed, and an almost new dub too, no respect those roos. anything I can do to help you get it back on the road give me a bell, I may have some bits you can use.
I dream of a day when a chicken can cross a road without being asked for it's motive!
After lunch today, I went back out there to see if I missed any bits and pieces in the dark - I didn't - but I took some photos of the skid marks (on the road - lol) and where I ended up, and from what I can see, and what I can remember, I saw the roo, started slowing, and started going out around him. He has then jumped out (according to the bloke behind me, he then jumped straight back again - bastard) and I have pushed the brakes harder and locked up. The back of the car has then come out to the left (clockwise) and right around, the back has continued around untill the back wheels have hit the dirt on the right hand side of the road (just missing a tree), and the front has then come around (completing a 360 degree spin) and off the right hand side of the road as well, then both drivers side wheels have gone into the ditch, and over she went.
I was suprised with the short distance from when I locked up to when I stopped - only about 50 or 60m I reckon - I might go back out and measure it. I had obviously slowed quite a lot before I locked it up I reckon.
Here is the skid photos - what do you think?
Start of braking
Spinning around
Heading for the ditch as I come around again
Rolled into the ditch
Just missed this tree as I spun around
The ditch I rolled in to
If I do get a chance to measure the distance, I will post it up.
Hi Jeff, glad to hear you're OK and the Beetle is not too badly off.
Germany's ADAC (their NRMA) did a study on this topic a couple of years ago. Wild pigs, not roos, are the menace over there. Their advice - DON'T SWERVE TO AVOID ANIMALS.
Can empathise with you on this Jeff - Gload to read and see from the follow on shots that you are okay and looking forward to getting the bug back on the road again.
Hit a roo in my old beetle a long time ago - I was always taught to try and steer clear if possible to stay in control on the hard surface but not to worry if you have to hit them (make sense?). I was lucky and got mine when he was crouching to spring up again and he went under the front right wheel (smashed headlight and dented front guard) and then along under the pan and ripped my heater box off the engine as the rear tyre got him. I think I was lucky and looking at your shots I think you were pretty lucky too. Those roof racks certainly paid their dues for you.
I just got back from measuring the distance from when I locked up untill the car stopped - 45m.
Bit shaken up though. I drove there, stopped for a few minutes to measure 45m, then was comming back - only got about 5km, and there was a fire on the side of the road and a few cars stopped.
In the maybe 10 minutes from when I went down the road and was comming back, a car has gone off the road and was well alight - just happened. I only had a quick glance - the front of the roof was caved in I think (must have rolled) - and the people (nearby neighbours) there wanted to know if I had a fire extinguisher - there is one in the bug, but not in the hire car I was in. They reckoned anyone in the car was gone.
I gave one of them a lift to the next farm to see if they had one - met them at the gate - they were comming to investigate the fire - they didn't have one but were going to try another neighbour, so my lift went with them.
I couldn't go back with them - that could have been me last night!!!!!!
Good to hear you are OK. I've always been taught, and always tell people, if an animal jumps out at you while your doing some country driving, drive through it, the sudden change in direction etc is enough to upset the car and send it spinning and in some cases, such as this, rolling. It amazes me how many people want to argue and tell me that swerving is the best thing to do... I'm not one to just kill animals, but id rather drive through something thats dumb enough to step out in front of me, than try and avoid it.
It's hard to comprehend the apparent small amount of damage, but they are tough little bastards, though. Just as well you weren't in one of those flimsy little modern things. Did you check to see if the battery leaked? You may need to neutralise the acid with an alkaline solution.
Cheers,
Greg
I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!
I couldn't see Greg, but I don't think so. I didn't smell anything. I didn't have a lot of time - the NRMA tow guy wanted to get going, it was darkish, and my torch went flat. It didn't even seem to leak any fuel (thank God, after seeing that car on fire that the poor bastard was in this afternoon), even though I had just re-fueled at Gulgong. Only leak seemed to be engine oil. The car is locked in the NRMA yard, and the bloke was going away at 8.00am this morning and won't be back untill tomorrow night, so I won't get a chance to see it in the daylight, unfortunately, unless I drive back from Parkes early one afternoon.
I might see what I can do - maybee get more photos, and put some oil in the engine in case someone tries to start it.
I thing the lack of damage is due to the fact that the car had just about stopped, and it basically just layed over in the ditch in the grass and sapplings. The floor pan ended up not much higher than it would have been on the road the right way up - just the body and wheels were on the wrong side of it. lol
As everyone has said, you walked away from this, thats the important thing!! and the dub dont look that bad, and how good is it that you picked between the trees. All the best, Frank
Adventure Before Dimentia
Craig Torrens6 times Australian, 7 times State Hillclimb Class Champion
