JohnCh Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 If you’ve ever wondered how well a roll cage works in a se7en, then check out the photos below taken at last week’s Westfield Race Series at Zandvoort in the Netherlands. Apparently the driver was uninjured. http://www.autosport.nl/cms/images/stories/2009/Nationaal/DNRT/Westfield%20Cup/Crash-Hutzezon/480_westfield_koprol1.jpg http://www.autosport.nl/cms/images/stories/2009/Nationaal/DNRT/Westfield%20Cup/Crash-Hutzezon/480_westfield_koprol2.jpg http://www.autosport.nl/cms/images/stories/2009/Nationaal/DNRT/Westfield%20Cup/Crash-Hutzezon/480_westfield_koprol3.jpg http://www.autosport.nl/cms/images/stories/2009/Nationaal/DNRT/Westfield%20Cup/Crash-Hutzezon/480_westfield_koprol4.jpg Photos were blatantly lifted from here. -John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slngsht Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 there is not even a brown stain on the floorboard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pierats Posted June 10, 2009 Share Posted June 10, 2009 John, I was able to drive a car with a full cage and it felt much more solid than without. It really stiffened up the chassis when they put the full cage on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shiva Posted June 10, 2009 Share Posted June 10, 2009 I'm so glad I had mine made. That's one of those thing that you wish you hope never to use. But when the time comes and you have it on, man you're glad! Same think with my Hans Device and nomex suit I use while racing. There are plenty of Seven, but only one of me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hank Posted June 10, 2009 Share Posted June 10, 2009 Notice in the 2nd and last photo that the driver is wearing arm restraints too. That first photo is him hitting the pavement on the driver side. Think he would have lost his left arm if he didn't have the restraints on? I still cringe at a Se7en with a single rollbar (non-FIA) and no arm restraints. My 6-pt G-Force harnesses, Arm Restraints, and Simpson helmet came in today! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 I still cringe at a Se7en with a single rollbar (non-FIA) and no arm restraints. You raise an interesting point. How many people drive their Se7ens on the road with arm restraints? I have always thought of them for circuit racing not road use. Admittedly when I used to race "Elvis" my old Series II I never used arm restraints but I did have an FIA rollbar. I guess I was young and stupid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 (edited) I always assume that any wreck I am involved on on the road in my Seven will make arm restraints irrelevant(:. The odds of being in a head-on, or side swiped, T-boned, or rear ended on the street seem much higher than getting upside down. The worst would be a driver's side hit (someone runs a red light/stop sign, etc., and there I am, a sitting duck, with my left arm as my only crash protection). It's a risk and I am always aware of it on the street. Just as I was when I drove a motorcycle. In fact I think my motorcycle driving made me a better Seven driver: Assume you are invisible, leave lights on, keep rev's (and noise) up, carry a loud horn, don't trust green lights, or assume your right of way will be respected, etc. It doesn't ruin the experience, but I am always on high alert in my Seven. And, there are times when the car's diminutive size is a plus. Recently I was headed south in the "passing" lane of a 4 lane city highway (2 lanes in each direction). I saw someone on my left (east) side waiting to pull out of a driveway and into my lane. I was doing all of the above so didn't worry about being seen. But out they came anyway, at the last second, right into my lane, also headed south. I couldn't pull into the "slow" lane, there was a car headed south there also. What to do? I made a 3rd lane and squeezed into the small space between the two cars, and poped out the other side. In a normal car, there would have been a collision. On the track: helmet, arm restraints, FIA roll-over bar, 6 point harness, ignition kill switch, and HANS device. It takes 5-10' to get the extra safety stuff on and isn't practical for the street. Mike Edited June 11, 2009 by Kitcat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDingo8MyBaby Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 I always assume that any wreck I am involved on on the road in my Seven will make arm restraints irrelevant(:. The odds of being in a head-on, or side swiped, T-boned, or rear ended on the street seem much higher than getting upside down. I absolutely agree. There is a natural tendency to put your arm down as the ground is coming towards you. That's why arm restraints are required in open cockpit (while window nets are required for closed cockpit) cars to keep these appendages from being crushed. The FIA roll bar is nice, but I also worry about whether your head would hit it in a rear end collision. Finally, it really is unsafe that we all (I'm guilty myself with the caterham harness) run around with these racing harnesses and do not have a HANS device. These racing harnesses give the illusion of safety. Seatbelts in passenger cars are designed to have some give to allow your body to decellerate at a rate similar to your head. Harnesses hold you in tight and don't have a lot of give - which leaves your head a dead weight with no restraint. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hank Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 Who says I won't be driving around on the street when my HANS device comes in? Pictures will be posted! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solder_guy Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 Who says I won't be driving around on the street when my HANS device comes in? Pictures will be posted! What does HANS stand for? Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDingo8MyBaby Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 Head and Neck Support Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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