[FFR1668]

This post could be very helpful if people contribute as they always have in the past.
We build very fun hi-performance cars. Are we keeping this in mind as be build them with regards to safety??
I installed my pedal box about 3 months ago.
I used some nice stainlees cap screws (installed from the top) backed up with some nylon /stainless lock nuts. Very pretty! From the bottom looking up I see 1/2 inch of an inch of sharp thread. My point here is should I have a serious accident those threads have the potention of leaving ugly scares on my beautiful legs. It was a simple matter to turn them aroud
so they will not do any harm to me and or my bones.
How many other people see how small improvements could cause us less pain in the event of an accident?
Lets hear your thoughts!
Bill

 

[Cobra3657]

Watch for any kind of bolt around the fuel tank positioned in a way such that it points to the fuel tank. A tank can be crushed quite a bit without rupturing. It's usually a bolt or some sharp object piercing it that causes a fire.

 

[BobAruba]

Probably one of the most dangerous features about these vintage replicas is the 60’s style seat design... no headrests. Ahhh... the decisions we have to make, eh? High back... or vintage style? I’ll admit this is one area where I’ve caved in to maintaining a vintage look... dangerous as it may be. I think it is a mistake to shorten the roll bar height... aesthetics aside. If the shiny side down ever occurs... we’ll wish that baby was twice as tall. Remember these road rockets weigh just a shade over a ton... and the HP to weight ratio is incredible. If you’re going to drive at night... apply window tint film on that vintage one-way interior rear view mirror... to prevent eye fatigue. Install a quality ignition cut-off switch, which should be easily reachable, from the driver’s seat. The 4th attachment in the 4-point harness... the sometimes forgotten and discarded “submarine belt” should be installed as an integral part of the harness... it is an important component often overlooked in the restraint system. And consider the rear disc conversion... I don’t believe your disc brakes can ever be too big... you can have too many... or you can stop too quickly... and the bigger... the better.

 

[Ophitoxaemia]

id say that driver training would be the #1 safety feature to consider. the car itself is a death trap, and your main defense is not hitting anything.

autocross, defensive driving techniques, even paranoia are all applicable to this car

personally, i cant imagine driving this thing without some autocrossing experience. they are not well behaved at the limit and even with a huge amount of experience it still can scare me. i kind of tip toe around town, rarely hitting over 120 mph. hehe

-james

 

[pra4wind]

I went with dual roll bars, the passenger desrves just as much as me.
installed the submarine belts, did a rear disk conversion, and ride it like it were a motorcycle. defensive driving all the time.
Greg

 

[Don Moffitt]

I think most of the problems occur with the lack of "seat time" Any vehicle has the chance to be a death trap. I feel that if you built it you may take that extra second glance for people in the blind spot etc....How many have fire extinguisures etc....? Cover yourself and the others with you,Try not to get too crazy on the street....Yeah Right... Good luck and enjoy! Don

 

[Hula Master]

Wear sunglasses or clear lenses at night. ALWAYS wear glasses! I have been wacked in the face, and glasses, more than once with small stones. Plastic, preferably polycarbonate, are best. However, anything is better than nothing. It would take a BIG rock to break glass lenses but it is possible. I wear my sunglasses in the daytime and my ex-hunting, clear Oakleys at night.

As for the car, I've said it before, drive it like you'd ride a motorcycle. Be VERY careful at intersections!

 

[Podus Rex]

I think one thing great would be side impact bars. There has been some discussion of that, and I think that Levy Racing makes some. I actually considered making a spec racer for the street simply for those Nascar bars. One fool running a red light, and you will be toast!

Having said that, I think it is a good idea to look at these cars as "race cars for the street" or, perhaps, something akin to experimental aircraft. They need to be driven with respect.

(of course, this is all talk from me, since I haven't built mine yet. I'm just now scrounging up parts. )

 

[Gatorac]

Always Always Always...Have a brake pedal stop installed before you ever attempt even your first go cart ride!!!!! The brake pedal will fly up and scare the crizap out of ya and possible even fall out of the MC.

Don't ask me how I know.