Several days ago, I made reference to a PBS Nova segment that discussed the
Corvair /
Nader issue. One reason I said Nader et al were unscientific and unprofessional
had
everything to do with your eloquent dissertation below. The film that Nova
showed of the
Corvair rollover was of a car traveling at a high rate of speed, that entered
the
photographic field on the right, steering turned to left lock, dust, dirt and
gravel
flying everywhere. That car may have started out on pavement, but it was not on
pavement
when the rollover commenced. Maybe it did slide into a buried obstruction. I am
of the
opinion that the tests his team conducted were set up very carefully
One thing about Ralph Nader that is certain: he was not stupid or naive.
Jim
Larry Dickstein wrote:
> "James H. Nazarian, Ph.D." wrote:
>
> >
> > If you look at the films of Corvair roll over tests with an open mind, you
>will
> > see that nearly any car would flip under those same conditions.
>
> Usually, most vehicles will break traction and slide along before they
>will roll
> on level pavement. The exceptions are high vehicles, as in 18 wheelers, or
>any other
> vehicle w/ a high center of gravity like some sport utes and other stuff that
>is
> loaded high. The early passenger vehicles (30's. 40's, and early 50's) fall
>into
> this category, as well.
> The big reason that most roll is that they are "tripped" by something as
>they
> slide along sideways. They can trip on big stuff like curbs, drop-offs, and
>some
> surface irregularities. Ever notice the swirling round and round skid marks
>on
> interstates? (Ever wonder how they lose control on a straight and level
>stretch of
> road?)
> Gravity makes the vehicle slide toward the side of the road as the center
>has a
> high crown and when they leave the roadway something can trip them and over
>they go.
> Darn hard to roll the average vehicle on the straight and level. I never
>rolled a
> Corvair but I always thought felt that the stock ones were evil handling
>little
> machines but that is simply my opinion.
>
> --
> Larry Dickstein
> Lone Jack, MO
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