What if the stook rolled????
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,584
Likes: 0
From: Mountain View
dammit i
50/50 distribution, is it closer to the front or rear axle? i'd say you'd find the car ass down.
2) Is there a removable roll bar (not cage) that can be used in situations where rollover is most likely such as at the track or during sessions of spirited driving. I'd hate to total my car but I'd like to be around afterwards to mourn its loss. Would a roll bar that could be clipped or pinned in place make sense? Since all the force would be downward (upward?) the joints would need to be able to withstand the side and compression forces but that all no? You would also think it would only need to work once.
i don't think that would be too safe, you'd need the joints to be able to support all that stress on the contact points instead of it being distributed through the entire contact surface of a rollbar mounting onto the car's frame.
[Edited by josh3io on 06-08-2001 at 09:34 AM] [/B][/QUOTE]
Originally posted by cthree
I thing you and me both would have a problem. I suggest wearing a crash helmet
I have a couple of nagging questions in this regard:
1) is the top of the windshield frame forward or aft of the center of mass? If you flipped it over, would it lay nose or ass down?
I thing you and me both would have a problem. I suggest wearing a crash helmet
I have a couple of nagging questions in this regard:
1) is the top of the windshield frame forward or aft of the center of mass? If you flipped it over, would it lay nose or ass down?
2) Is there a removable roll bar (not cage) that can be used in situations where rollover is most likely such as at the track or during sessions of spirited driving. I'd hate to total my car but I'd like to be around afterwards to mourn its loss. Would a roll bar that could be clipped or pinned in place make sense? Since all the force would be downward (upward?) the joints would need to be able to withstand the side and compression forces but that all no? You would also think it would only need to work once.
[Edited by josh3io on 06-08-2001 at 09:34 AM] [/B][/QUOTE]
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 417
Likes: 0
From: Austin
The CG is about where the stick shift is, from the diagrams I've seen (a 50/50 distribution means the CG is 1/2 way between the axles). The windshield is reinforced so that it can take the weight of the car. Between the windshield and the rollbars, you have a much better chance of survival vs a weak windshield and no rollbars. Granted, the best thing you can do to ensure survival in a rolloveris to wear a helmet like a motorcycle or racing helmet. 
BTW, most cars with hardtops aren't necessarily better in a rollover than our car. You'd be surprised at how thin/flimsy the top is
That picture is nasty. Judging from the damage on the side of the car, the right windshield pillar was obviously compromised which would eliminate it's ability to support the car's weight. However the behind-the-seat rollbars appear to have held their own, assuming that the car landed upside down.
There's definitely a disconcerting feel for having only fabric between you and the ground though, regardless of what the engineering says <G>
[Edited by hoof on 06-08-2001 at 12:11 PM]
BTW, most cars with hardtops aren't necessarily better in a rollover than our car. You'd be surprised at how thin/flimsy the top is
That picture is nasty. Judging from the damage on the side of the car, the right windshield pillar was obviously compromised which would eliminate it's ability to support the car's weight. However the behind-the-seat rollbars appear to have held their own, assuming that the car landed upside down.
There's definitely a disconcerting feel for having only fabric between you and the ground though, regardless of what the engineering says <G>
[Edited by hoof on 06-08-2001 at 12:11 PM]
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 37,305
Likes: 18
The balance point would be just about where the top of the windshield would be so it's anybody's guess how it would come to rest. Depends on the terrain I suppose. If you're worried about, you should learn to do the "turtle".
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 351
Likes: 0
From: BH
Originally posted by CG
Will you live? Maybe. I understand two people lost their lives in this crash/rollover.
Will you live? Maybe. I understand two people lost their lives in this crash/rollover.
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 8,601
Likes: 1
From: La Habra
Damn that picture gives me the willies! I wear a helmet when I race but that extra head height means another inch or so of spinal compression when I flip. Guess I'd be safer to bend over and kiss my a@@ goodbye!
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Berkeley
Hey I'm a miata driver and lurk over here sometimes. Take a look at this pic
http://deltamiata.tripod.com/ouch.jpg
you have to cut and paste the url into your browser window.
The driver walked away with very minor injuries.
Moe & car
[Edited by Moe on 06-08-2001 at 11:25 AM]
http://deltamiata.tripod.com/ouch.jpg
you have to cut and paste the url into your browser window.
The driver walked away with very minor injuries.
Moe & car
[Edited by Moe on 06-08-2001 at 11:25 AM]