Iwas going down I85 towards Atlanta the other week and was passed by an 81
wheeler.
You know what, I bet you could pass under the trailer without touching a
thing if you were that stupid to try...
Just an idea.
-----Original Message-----
From: alemen@pop.ftconnect.com [mailto:alemen@pop.ftconnect.com]
Sent: Friday, July 14, 2000 2:40 PM
To: spitfires@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: Safety inspection?
Mike, Like you my wife had a similar experience with a semi. But she was in
a big bright red minivan!
Alan
Original Message:
-----------------
From: Mike Welch mikew@turbopower.com
Date: Fri, 14 Jul 2000 13:17:33 -0600
Subject: RE: Safety inspection?
On my first Spit (a '65) I installed one of those bicycle flags (5'
fiberglass pole with an orange triangular flag) off the rear bumper. I did
that after a semi merged into my lane and I ended up doing 65mph under the
trailer. When my current Spit is roadworthy, I'll have the flag and side
marker lights right in front of the doors.
Mike Welch
Colorado Springs, CO, USA
mikew@turbopower.com
http://home.turbopower.com/~mikew
'68+/- Triumph Spitfire
'60 Jaguar MkII 3.8 auto
'87 Jeep Cherokee
'96 GMC Suburban
-----Original Message-----
From: Nolan Penney [mailto:npenney@mde.state.md.us]
Sent: Friday, July 14, 2000 12:48 PM
To: spitfires@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: Safety inspection?
You misunderstand my point. I've ridden motorcycles for many years now, out
on the public roads. From New York city to California, Canada to Mexico.
I've taught motorcycle safety courses in years past. I've been involved in
a number of motorcycle safety studies for many different agencies and
organizations. Vehicle safety is something I well understand, and have no
illusions about.
A Spitfire will lose in an accident against anything larger then a poodle.
Yes, there are always the interesting tales about how someone rammed a semi
and how the semi collapsed and imploded and they drove away without even
stalling. Those tales grow with the telling. Cut it however you like, the
Spitfire is small, low, light, and has cardboard for a firewall. Just about
anything that hits it will come up over the frame. Smack it in the front,
and the engine is coming right up in to fondle you. A side impact... Spend
some time in a junk yard and admire the wrecks, you'll see what I mean.
So drive smart. Don't ever forget that you're in a tiny, fragile, invisible
car. Exploit what you've got. It's nimble and it's got horns.
I wear horns out on motorcycles. Someone in a Spitfire should wear out
horns as well. Beep! "Hi there, see me?" Beep! "Hi there, don't forget I'm
here!" Beep! "Hi there, I've got to do something." Beep! "Hi there, you're
not paying attention."
Be ready and able to use that nimbleness. Always leave an out, always be
thinking "what if", always know where every vehicle is around you and know
what they are doing. Practice hard manuvering so you can do it when you
have to, and you know what you and the car cannot do. Both are vital.
Never lose track of the fact that you're invisible to most, and don't count
to the rest. So don't try to block someone from entering the roadway, don't
sit beside other vehicles that might change lanes into you, don't play
chicken. You won't win, and you certainly can't afford to lose. Not in a
Spitfire.
If you can't learn it in a great lbc, get a motorcycle for a while, that
will teach you, one way or the other...
So what was my point? A Spitfire isn't a Volvo or a Suburban. Drive like
it is, and you may die.
Safety is *always* sacrificed, it's an inherent part of compromise and life.
Accept it and enjoy the Spitfire, but don't delude yourself into thinking a
Spitfire is invulnerable or cross bred with a tank.
The most important safety device a Spitfire has is the drivers brain.
Sadly, this device is frequently never buckled in or turned on.
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