Steve,
No, I don't have any statistics... and you are right, that windscreen would
not stop anything.
I find the Spridget inherently safe to drive- even stock, it handles
beautifully, stops OK, and unless you are truly crazy or/and driving a
highly modified Spridget, the speeds attained are not very high. I spun my
racing Bugeye twice at relatively high speed, but never came close to roll
it. As my car is lowered and the suspension modified, it is safe to assume
it would be more difficult to roll it than a standard car.
That being said, ANY car can roll - especially in an accident if there is
contact with another vehicle, or if you leave the road... for example, a
soft bank may make your wheels "dig in" and... Roll over, Rover!... I have
seen both happen.
I drove two Spridgets in my youth, all over Great Britain and France,
without roll bars, and without ever thinking of roll over. As I get older
and very conscious of my own mortality, I tend to be more cautious. If I
owned a street registered Sprite (a driver and not a mint "concours" car),
it would definitely be fitted with a good roll bar(s). I would either have
custom bars made by a trusted specialist, or buy from Autopower if they had
the right stuff. There are other good makers of roll bars/cages. I am sure
the "usual" parts suppliers mentioned on this list have bars/cages too.
Jacques le Clainche
2001 Porsche - Roll bars, factory
1985 Mazda - full cage, Autopower
1959 Sprite - Roll bars, Autopower
-----Original Message-----
From owner-spridgets at autox.team.net
[mailto:owner-spridgets@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of Steven Michelsen
Sent: Thursday, May 23, 2002 3:21 PM
To: midgetsprite@yahoogroups.com; Spridgets
Subject: rollbars and rollovers
I have been pondering installing a rollbar in my 78 midget, and in doing so
wonder...
- What are the stats for Midgets rolling over? Do real stats exist,
anywhere? Maybe old Leyland tests?
- What does it take to get one to roll over? I mean, how sharp CAN I take
that turn? On dry pavement, will it tend to fishtail first?
- How can I know if the rollbar I buy is a "real" one, or a decoration?
- Is there any mod I can do short of a rollbar to help lessen the chance of
a rollover?
No fun to think about, but that windshield doesn't look like it would do the
job!
Steve
78 Midget
http://www.geocities.com/my1978mgmidget
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