The Aerocivic gets a web site - Aerocivic.com

[TestDrive]

Thought I was done posting about deer, but I came up on a herd of about 20 last night and may have learned something new. This was on the most heavily traveled section of my route - 2 lane black top but with nice wide lanes, broad paved shoulders and shallow ditches. I probably see an average of 6 or 7 semis and a couple-three cars/pickups on my nightly run on this 25 mile stretch. But hardly ever see deer. It was all does (perhaps a few last years male fawns?) with a single buck leading the harem. They were strung out for about 50 yards along the road - just off the paved shoulder but not actually down in the ditch. The buck was at the front of the line. They were headed the same direction I was traveling - away from corn fields and a copse of trees - toward a ranch with un-iced over watering tanks???

I slowed down to about 12-15 mph and tapped my horn once to be sure they knew I was there. I was surprised when they didn't scatter. A few scuttled a little further off the road, but most of the full grown does just craned their necks and looked ahead (to see what the buck was going to do?). When I first reached the point where I could see as far ahead as the buck, it was still walking forward, but looking back toward me. When I got to within about 30' of the buck. It turned and trotted out on to the highway - challenging me. At this point my car was already in the middle of the on-coming traffic lane. I steered even further to the left on to the paved shoulder, passed the buck and resumed speed ~45 mph.

It's been two or three weeks since I first noticed deer herding up. My guess is that the buck had very recently contested with another buck for control of the herd and hormones were rife. The does were all directly down wind of the buck. The breeze was about 5-8 mph.

[basjoos]

I wish I could buy a new car with a shape like mine, but the car manufacturers refuse to build one, even though they know all of the info I used in designing mine. Even though my car has a few rough edges due to its low skill, low cost, homebuilt construction, I consider its overall shape to be beautiful example of form follows function, much more so than those rounded boxes you see out on the highway plowing the air out of the way, pulling a vacuum behind them, and scattering water and salt spray everywhere to the detriment of everybody's visibility.

[Frank Lee]

Oh deer.

[MazdaMatt]

Thanks Frank.

Re: mfg's... The new "FE" cars on the market are a growing stretch from the norm. The insight, the prius, etc are a whole new shape, or at least the beginnings of one. Maybe 10 years from now boat tail will be the new hatch back.

[TestDrive]

Originally Posted by Curly1

Not to be rude but I could care less about the how the car performs during a deer collision or deer behavior.

Curly1, I started composing my last post sometime prior to your's and eventually hit the submit button without having seen your post.

"Could we please get back on topic" might have been more diplomatic, but point taken. I apologize; I should have started different thread in "The Lounge."

[Frank Lee]

Speeking of dear, I had one hit ME last summer in the reer doar of my '59 Bel Air, stupid thing. Luckily I had the stabilizing effect of those grate fins to aid my evasive maneuvers, witch lessoned the impact.

[MetroMPG]

Here's another great comment about the site Mike:

Someone please take Mike Turner, turn him into a business, scale him up, and make AeroCivics and AeroJettas and AeroOutbacks and AeroCherokees for everyone. Please.

It's a great story. With great pictures. The car is totally beautifully ugly.

A More Perfect Market: Hacking Transportation

[Nevyn]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Here's another great comment about the site Mike:

A More Perfect Market: Hacking Transportation

Chaero-kee?

[MetroMPG]

Haha.

Update: the site, or other sites' articles about it, has been submitted to Digg four times since it was put up (ironically, none by me or anyone I know).

It just popped, and traffic is pouring in to look @ the car. If you're interested, read the Digg comments here: Digg - Hyper-Modified AeroCivic Gets 95 MPG

They cover the usual range, from ridicule to incredulity to praise.

[MetroMPG]

Aerocivic.com: Inspiring others:



(pic of smart fortwo from The Ultimate DIY Aero Mod - Smart Car of America Forums )