BDR owners- Weak Frame or No?

[LudicrousSpeed]

Originally Posted by Dinobyte

Someone at Run & Gun ran one into the wall and walked away okay....he was going over a hundred MPH I think...so I guess that offers you some insight.

If you want a really safe car, buy a BMW or a Mercedes, not a Cobra.

I'm prolly drilling down farther than I need to, but the more I learn, the more questions I have, this being just one of many to come.

As far as safety goes, I'm more concerned about the integrity of the structure and how it will hold up over time, not so much the crash-worthiness of it. Being a pilot & a former aircraft mechanic, I have a keen awareness of metal fatigue & the tradeoffs of weight vs. extra structural integrity. In comparing the BDR vs. the SPF vs. the ERA frames, it would seem that the BDR is on the lean side.

Thanks for all the good info tho, I've been learning so much these last few months, and I can tell you guys are knowledgeable & passionate about these cars.

[Got the Bug]

Originally Posted by LudicrousSpeed

I'm prolly drilling down farther than I need to, but the more I learn, the more questions I have, this being just one of many to come.

As far as safety goes, I'm more concerned about the integrity of the structure and how it will hold up over time, not so much the crash-worthiness of it. Being a pilot & a former aircraft mechanic, I have a keen awareness of metal fatigue & the tradeoffs of weight vs. extra structural integrity. In comparing the BDR vs. the SPF vs. the ERA frames, it would seem that the BDR is on the lean side.

Thanks for all the good info tho, I've been learning so much these last few months, and I can tell you guys are knowledgeable & passionate about these cars.

The time has come LudiCrousSpeed...Pull the trigger man!

[Dinobyte]

Originally Posted by LudicrousSpeed

I'm prolly drilling down farther than I need to, but the more I learn, the more questions I have, this being just one of many to come.

As far as safety goes, I'm more concerned about the integrity of the structure and how it will hold up over time, not so much the crash-worthiness of it. Being a pilot & a former aircraft mechanic, I have a keen awareness of metal fatigue & the tradeoffs of weight vs. extra structural integrity. In comparing the BDR vs. the SPF vs. the ERA frames, it would seem that the BDR is on the lean side.

Thanks for all the good info tho, I've been learning so much these last few months, and I can tell you guys are knowledgeable & passionate about these cars.

Your killin me! I'm a pilot too, but your questions....for Christs sakes! This is Not a G@D D@mn airplane that will need to fly...and it is not a race car...if you want that, buy the track car...if all you are going to do is worry about metal fatigue, maybe buying a kit car is not for you...all kits will have their issues...period. Some more than others...but by owning a kit car, especially one like a Cobra replica, with more HP to Weight than a reasonable person would need, you either have to have balls of steel, or be an alpha crazy dog to begin with...and I'm not seeing that with you...but to each his own.

Like I said earlier...check out a nice BMW M5. Plenty of power with safety built in, and you can impress your friends by how many people you can take to the local soda pop stand in luxury and safety.

[LudicrousSpeed]

Originally Posted by Dinobyte

Your killin me! I'm a pilot too, but your questions....for Christs sakes! This is Not a G@D D@mn airplane that will need to fly...and it is not a race car...if you want that, buy the track car...if all you are going to do is worry about metal fatigue, maybe buying a kit car is not for you...all kits will have their issues...period. Some more than others...but by owning a kit car, especially one like a Cobra replica, with more HP to Weight than a reasonable person would need, you either have to have balls of steel, or be an alpha crazy dog to begin with...and I'm not seeing that with you...but to each his own.

Like I said earlier...check out a nice BMW M5. Plenty of power with safety built in, and you can impress your friends by how many people you can take to the local soda pop stand in luxury and safety.

...Hmmmm, interesting...

Dino,
You of all people should know that its the little, hidden things that can make a huge difference. I'm detail oriented & hyper finniky about the machines I operate. Part of being a safe, professional pilot is knowing your aircraft inside & out. Part of my routine when getting checked out in a new aircraft was to buy the POH, know it cover to cover, then spend a few hours in the cockpit "ground-flying" it. One of my favorite things to do as a pilot was to get checked out in, and master lotsa different aircraft.

As I will be investing a large amount of my hard earned money into this, you better believe I'm gonna read all I can, and ask every question I can think of.

If I offended you in any way, I apologize. Either which way, blow it out your ear.

-Mark

P.s. I'f i'm ever actually able to get a weekend off and show up for one of the SoCal Cobra meets, I'd love to check out your car & discuss what being a Cobra owner means with you.

[jhv48]

Originally Posted by LudicrousSpeed

I'm prolly drilling down farther than I need to, but the more I learn, the more questions I have, this being just one of many to come.

As far as safety goes, I'm more concerned about the integrity of the structure and how it will hold up over time, not so much the crash-worthiness of it. Being a pilot & a former aircraft mechanic, I have a keen awareness of metal fatigue & the tradeoffs of weight vs. extra structural integrity. In comparing the BDR vs. the SPF vs. the ERA frames, it would seem that the BDR is on the lean side.

Thanks for all the good info tho, I've been learning so much these last few months, and I can tell you guys are knowledgeable & passionate about these cars.

Don't worry about the long term.

You'll hit a bridge long before the frame gives out!

[LudicrousSpeed]

Originally Posted by jhv48

Don't worry about the long term.

You'll hit a bridge long before the frame gives out!

Quite possibly true

[Bailey]

To answer your original question simply, NO!.
I was the inexperienced unlucky soul that went into the wall at last year's Run and Gun. I was in the middle of fourth on the drag strip, which I guess was somewhere around 100MPH or so.
I was in the right lane, the car dived off to the left, I went across the left lane, nosed square into the wall, then bounced off.
I got out of the car and walked back to staging.
Was I sore for a while, Oh yeah, but no pemanent damage to me.
A good seat, great belts and an awesome car saved my life, I don't want to think of the alternatives.
I plan to be at it again here in a month or so, the back to St Louis in October to reclaim some trophies.
Hope this simplifies you decision. There are alwys rumours floating around about different manufacturers. I built and have owned one of the leading "component car" Cobras, and for the money, a Backdraft is hard to beat, a great rack car, and with some little mods, it'll take on anything.
Hope this all helps.
Cheers,
Richard

[jp65cobra]

No frame breaks or signs of fatigue in my BDR yet! 15900 miles and counting. #259. Mine is on the road every day I can and I have hit my fair share of bone jarring bumps in the road. I have also taken a good 60 mph run at a S10 pickup and came away alive . The frame did not bend or break.

I have seen some posts about the very early builds way before mine that had some issues that have since been rectified.

I plan on open tracking mine soon and I personally would be more concerned with receiving a direct blow to the door of any replica cobra than I would be about frame fatigue of something as stiff as the frame in the BDR.

[LudicrousSpeed]

JP65 & Bailey,
Thanks guys, your experiences are golden.