Thread: One way to total a '32 Roadster

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I wish him well and hope for a complete recovery. I really hate to hear about these things. It's bad enough to have someone T bone you in a 4000 pound SUV with all those crunch zones, air bags, side impact construction, etc., but in our little 2000 pound hot rods the damage to the occupants is another matter altogether.

I've weighed the seatbelt thing too, and I honestly feel I don't want to be strapped into a topless car. I would rather take my chances away from the carnage. Who knows if that thinking is going to get me through any eventuality, but I just have to go with my gut instincts on this one.

Don

This accident has had me thinking all day. After looking at the pics again- and seeing that windshield- I think the lack of seat belts saved his life!
Think about it. Sit in your roadster & take a look around you. Everything from your shoulders up is fair game! If you get upside down- I don't think it's survivable if you are belted in. I don't think my Sid Chavers BopTop would help much either. Went to a cruise today- about 30 miles round trip by freeway. Wore the belts there- but all I did was look around & play devil's advocate. What if this? What if that?
On the way home- I left the lap belts under the seat.
Maybe that's why motorcycles don't have belts.

Tell your buddy we are thinking about him & hope for a quick recovery.

I think this is a discussion with no definative answer. I kind of relate it to motorcross. When things go bad you're better to stay on the bike and let it take the initial impact, from there it's up to a higher power.
So in the case of seatbelts, yea a rollover would be bad but at least you're held in the tub and not being thrown under the engine, frame etc. These things could cut you in half. Just be thankful if you're thrown completely clear, but that won't always happen.
Then take into account all the other things that can happen. Being rear ended and thrown over the engine, out into traffic.....Also hitting someone from behind and going headfirst into the back of a Hummer or a lamp post. I know I probably won't change anyone's mind but just think about it and remember, how many rollovers versus front end accidents have you seen.

I used to fly medevac flights and I've seen some horrible results of highway accidents, even from those being thrown clear.


Sean