Tom, Anyone have any photo's of this car? I would love to see it.
Doug Odom in big ditch
Thomas E. Bryant wrote:
> List,
>
> Further comments on the Herda car. This car was likely the most
> aerodynamically perfect car of its day. As has been stated, Bob was an
> aeronautical engineer and was very much into detail. His unfortunate
> death was preventable, but he chose not to heed the inspector's
> suggestions. The tech people had repeatedly told him that he should put
> drain holes in the belly pan, but he did not want to compromise the
> aerodynamics by doing so.
>
> Today it isn't a choice, drain holes are required in belly pans and
> should be! Another item that was mentioned in Jim Knapps story was that
> the belly pan pulled down from the firewall allowing the fuel & fire to
> enter the driver's compartment. I don't know what the rest of you do,
> but my firewall is anchored at the bottom to the belly pan to minimize
> the possibility of a separation of the is kind.
>
> It is sad that in order for rules to be enforced someone has to die, but
> that seems to be the only way to get our attention. I am not faulting
> our tech people, they do an excellent job. There are so many things in a
> car that can be a problem that it is easy to overlook potential problems
> until an accident brings them to the forefront. I welcome new inspectors
> to look at my car, because each person looks at a car a bit differently
> and may see something that has been overlooked by myself and previous
> tech people.
>
> Tom, Redding CA - #216 D/FCC
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