Show Me Your Padded Roll Bar or Headrests

[Jamo]

Speaking of deers...

I took one out about a week ago driving from Beale AFB to Grass Valley at night. It barely registered through the uber panzer's steering wheel, but crushed the passenger side front grill/fender/asspensive light pods. Through it all, the star still stood tall on the crumpled hood. That's what a crush zone does.

Da wifey barely looked up from her damn bubble-wrap game on her iphone.

Me thinks the Cobra would've fared a bit differently.

[legenmetals]

After reading about the death of two people that died from head injuries in a cobra, I decided to install shoulder harnesses and head protection. I know it may offend purists,but I value my life more then the originality of the car.

[Silverback51]

So the passenger dies?

[legenmetals]

Yup!!!!!!!

[kwilly]

I must be missing something here......What good does padding do on a rollbar when the car is upside down? It's not the padding that keeps the gray matter inside the skull-- it's the rollbar(s).

Or is this really an issue of when your head bangs against the rollbar?

[strictlypersonl]

Originally Posted by kwilly

I must be missing something here......What good does padding do on a rollbar when the car is upside down? It's not the padding that keeps the gray matter inside the skull-- it's the rollbar(s).

Or is this really an issue of when your head bangs against the rollbar?

In the absence of valid statistics, we can do some wild speculating...

These cars don't roll over often, but without a roof (and a pathetic windshield frame) a roll bar might come in handy. In the process of rolling, the significance of smacking your head against the bar is probably small.

Getting rear-ended: Unlikely because these cars are so "visible". On the other hand, the world is full of incompetent drivers.

Spinning out - and backing into something solid. This is probably the most likely whiplash cause. In this case, a padded roll bar would have real value.

[Got the Bug]

I don't have any more time for this thread. I've got to go research my air bag upgrade project.

[Silverback51]

Originally Posted by Got the Bug

I don't have any more time for this thread. I've got to go research my air bag upgrade project.

My air bag rides in the passenger seat.

[pjmoore2003]

My take:
Buy a 92" car
Shorten your legs (if your my height 5'8" then your fine)
Move your seat up

I think it's impossible for my head to hit my roll bar

[Excaliber]

Heck I'm six foot and STILL have to move the seat forward in my ERA (that would be 90" wheel base). But I'm pretty sure between my neck stretching and the seat flexing I'm still at risk of hitting the roll bar if conditions are right. I suspect ALL of us, regardless of where our seat is.

[SMOKNAC]

Now that there is funny, Ready for the show.

[ZOERA-SC7XX]

Lots of old hobby cars are unsafe in relation to the new models. Just think of how many old coupes have all this steel in close proximity to your head. The dashboards of fifties cars are lethal if you were to contact one at speed. And talk about dangerous, how about the T buckets? A Cobra is probably no more dangerous than many other hobby cars.

[dcdoug]

Originally Posted by ZOERA-SC7XX

Lots of old hobby cars are unsafe in relation to the new models. Just think of how many old coupes have all this steel in close proximity to your head. The dashboards of fifties cars are lethal if you were to contact one at speed. And talk about dangerous, how about the T buckets? A Cobra is probably no more dangerous than many other hobby cars.

Unless you are T-boned.....

[Excaliber]

Paul, does that plexi back stop have any noticeable impact on cockpit turbulence, good or bad?

[RallySnake]

Excaliber,

I wouldn't use plexiglass. That stuff scratches too easily. But yes, it does reduce the turbulence a lot and makes it easier to speak to each other. However, at higher speeds (above 90), if the wind is blowing from a certain direction, it will sometimes start to flap back and forth and make some noise of it's own. I have thought of using a clamp around the rollbar to steady it.

Paul

[Excaliber]

Thanks for that update Paul. I don't plan to run one but was curios as to the benefits. I recently ordered a soft top, side curtains and have installed a heater already (AC, cup holder, power steering, cruise control, neon lights below the side pipes and the kick ass stereo are still on hold ). I plan to do some long distance trips with the car so I thought full weather protection would be prudent.

[ZOERA-SC7XX]

Now all you need is the hardtop.

[RallySnake]

Excaliber,

I wish I had had a chance to talk you out of that purchase. A few years ago, I spent a lot of money on a hardtop (it looks like a soft top). After driving with it a few times, I realized that it reduced visability so much that it was not much fun to drive the car. I would rather take a chance on getting wet then running with the top. In fact there have been times when the rain started and we were a hundred miles from home. I grabbed two towels and hit the highway. At over 55, the rain goes right over your head. You just need the towel to form a dam to stop the water that tries to flow around the windshield and down your leg. We got home nice and dry.

Paul

[Jamo]

Originally Posted by RallySnake

Excaliber,

I wish I had had a chance to talk you out of that purchase. A few years ago, I spent a lot of money on a hardtop (it looks like a soft top). After driving with it a few times, I realized that it reduced visability so much that it was not much fun to drive the car. I would rather take a chance on getting wet then running with the top. In fact there have been times when the rain started and we were a hundred miles from home. I grabbed two towels and hit the highway. At over 55, the rain goes right over your head. You just need the towel to form a dam to stop the water that tries to flow around the windshield and down your leg. We got home nice and dry.

Paul

Then again, when we all drove to Vegas in the summer, you were the only one who didn't have a third degree sunburn.

[Excaliber]

Oh I know what you mean about the visibility issues. My first Cobra had a soft top and side curtains. It was claustrophobic and still leaked plenty water in a hard rain. So, I am familiar with the draw backs. In fact, Peter at ERA tried to talk me out of it as well! But I do plan on some extensive drives and think it is prudent in my case to have that option in the trunk. I also use my tanneau cover, which in many cases is enough (along with the towel).

I had considered a hardtop, a friend of mine in Hawaii had one. He hated the idea that once it was on and you were out for a cruise you were "stuck with it" on. He prefered the soft top for that reason, more flexibility on the road.

It takes up a lot of room in the trunk as well, so, it's far from perfect on many levels.