Some beautiful scene-setting here; engaging, graceful stuff.
Then comes: "His face connected the bumper with enough combined velocity to rip it clean off".

And, the reader is disappointed to gradually realise, it's the bumper that's ripped clean off and not the face.

Bah.
( Sea Tramp the thinking woman's 8 Ace, Wed 7 Jan 2009, 0:02, 3 replies)

This.

( idonthaveafunnynickname Drink-Aware? Sure. I'm aware I want another drink., Wed 7 Jan 2009, 2:02, closed)

aye

(tweebianmonkey Should be known as Widget, Wed 7 Jan 2009, 2:24, closed)

yup
thought that too
(Spangulum nailing your mother since 1824, Wed 7 Jan 2009, 18:48, closed)

Also my first thought
Deliberate or just awkward phrasing? Hard to tell.
( The Light in Chains don't touch the Pope's boner, Wed 7 Jan 2009, 6:42, closed)

Fourthed
Re-phrase it to avoid future readers' disappointment/confusion.
( Ghoti Fingers, Wed 7 Jan 2009, 8:29, closed)