FF incident at Blackhawk Farm last weekend

[BruceG]

Ret. Col Ron Valine was hit at 85mph square in the front of the helmet by a 25lb turkey taking off 2 feet above the ground(see attached URL)
http://www.kautzracing.com/kautzracing/Blog/Entries/2009/5/4_Retired_Colonel_Ronald_Valine.html

What are the odds of such an incident.

My thoughts and prayers go out to Ron and his family.

[MMiskoe]

Unfortunately the odds are higher than you might think. I saw a turkey do that to an SM car, but luckily it was the RH side of the windsheild that got folded inside and most of the turkey hit where the passengers seat would be. I had it nearly happen to me on the street on a motorcycle too.

Always bad to hear of things like that happening to people.

[Gibson]

It happened to Cristiano da Matta (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cristiano_da_Matta#Collision_with_deer_during_test ) in an Indy Car a couple years ago, only it was a deer. He was able to make a full recovery, let's pray Col. Valine is also.

[StephF]

:(
Man, I hope he recovers. I caught a robin at 40 mph on the top of my helmet while on a motorcycle, and that was bad enough. I can't imagine a 25LB turkey square in the face at twice the speed.
Seems to me I heard about a deer jumping into the cockpit of an S2 one time, and a (very angry) snapping turtle getting flipped into the cockpit of another open wheel car. You just never know what's going to happen each and every time you turn a wheel.
I'll keep Ron in my thoughts and prayers.

[Marcus Miller]

:(
Man, I hope he recovers. I caught a robin at 40 mph on the top of my helmet while on a motorcycle, and that was bad enough. I can't imagine a 25LB turkey square in the face at twice the speed.
Seems to me I heard about a deer jumping into the cockpit of an S2 one time, and a (very angry) snapping turtle getting flipped into the cockpit of another open wheel car. You just never know what's going to happen each and every time you turn a wheel.
I'll keep Ron in my thoughts and prayers.

Updates are posted here:
http://www.caringbridge.com/visit/ronvaline/

[lateapex911]

Wow, sad stuff. Hope he pulls through.

[spdmonkey]

Very sad. I nearly collected a canada goose at ORP last year in the fast sweeper leading to the hairpin. It scared the crap out of me as he just swooped down right in front of my windshield. I did not have time to react. I was luck.

db

[LIRacer]

Makes me happy I am transitioning to IT from SRF. Hope he recovers soon.