Saw this one earlier today on Jalopnik, a flattened out mustang that flipped off a race track. Other than being a nasty flip, the part that got me was the bolt in roll cage that shot through the floor and the fact that the driver wasn't injured.
http://jalopnik.com/5390934/mustang-cover-boy-tries-to-corner-flips-over-tire-wall
ncjay
Reader
10/27/09 8:19 p.m.
I hate bolt in cages, but with the proper mounting pads that cage should not have gone anywhere unless it's thin wall cheap tubing. It scares me how many cars are allowed on a race track with crappy cages and very lousy welding or installation. I also find it difficult to believe two people belted into place escaped injury during this wreck. I'm also bothered by the fact that this was a magazine car. Aren't those guys supposed to know better?
It looks like only a bar in the first picture.
cxhb
Reader
10/27/09 8:38 p.m.
THAT is scary.... im glad everyone was ok
The other pictures on the site also look just like a bar. There are only 2 feet protruding through the floor board.
The passenger side roll bar tube looks like it has no mounting pad. I don't understand how it could punch through the floor, even being a bolt-in, if it was properly designed.
It's a 4 point bolt in, but the front arch punched through the floor and the whole cage pivoted on the rear mounts. To be Frank about it, almost all 4 point bolt in cages have the same flaw (mine included). For any play car it's fine because it gets you past tech, and it'll help in a slow roll over. But it won't do much for a roof plant landing. If you are going to build a race car, add a real cage.
gamby
SuperDork
10/27/09 11:39 p.m.
Not for nothing, but shouldn't factory rollover protection be a bit better than THAT?!
Boo on the sorry cage install...
Driver and passenger are lucky to not be crippled/dead
gamby wrote:
Not for nothing, but shouldn't factory rollover protection be a bit better than THAT?!
I wasn't even thinking about that! Factory + bolt in should hold. There had to be a problem with it.
Looking at the crash pictures, it was the car equivalent of a faceplant. It hurts a lot more than falling into a roll.
bluej
HalfDork
10/28/09 5:20 a.m.
i'm glad they're ok but the bumper sticker has me lawling...
"So, ummm, you gonna finish that?"
There isnt any stamped sheet metal that is going to help in a roof plant like that. The roof tin might as well have not been there. I'm not convinced it was a badly designed or installed bar, It just looks like a hard hit. Notice how the ground isnt scarred at all. Judging from the clothes everyone is wearing in the pics it isnt too cold, but the ground looks like it was hard.
There is one lucky meat sack that should refrain from installing his own safety equipment.
Lots of roll cages and roll bars are poorly installed. And I'm not talking about the pointless show bars folks install on their street cars.
I just saw that car on the cover of some Mustang magazine. wow. Note that it was NOT a factory prep racer, it was a street level car built up by a tuner shop. I would hope the 500R and other factory sold track cars have better than a bolt-in cage.
That's why I'm sticking to autox right now. Eeep.
Wally wrote:
bluej wrote:
i'm glad they're ok but the bumper sticker has me lawling...
"Look Better Go Flatter"
"Look Better Roll Faster"
Tetzuoe wrote:
Wally wrote:
bluej wrote:
i'm glad they're ok but the bumper sticker has me lawling...
"Look Better Go Flatter"
"Look Better Roll Faster"
http://www.instantrimshot.com/
Yipes - the track might want to re-think that tire barrier.
Our next project will be a convertible...
Yes its amazing that it collapsed like this. Lucky no one was hurt.