Been There, Done That!
When I bought my tr3a some idiot who didn't have a key to the hood replaced
the locks with "pop machine" security locks. These are not ment to handle
the wind stress. at 40 MPH into a 40 MPH head wind, the bonnet goes flying
off, braking both hinges, the windshield, Hood stick straps, and creasing
the bonnet. Nearly knocked me out. I had a bruise across the top of my
head from the hood sticks. Also, the safety latch ripped a hole in the hood
on it's way over. Since then, I have installed hood straps. Like others
who have responded, I picked it up out of the road (with some colorfull
grumblings), stuffed it behind the seat and went home.
--
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>From: "Roy" <techman@metrolink.net>
>To: <triumphs@autox.team.net>
>Subject: re: lesson from drive #2
>Date: Sun, Oct 3, 1999, 9:15 PM
>
>
> Years ago, I had a similar experience with my '59 TR3a. I had just replaced
> both bonnet hinges ($25 each in the mid-1970's from an Atlanta British car
> yard but still quite expensive for a college kid). The bonnet safety latch
> was acting up and the Dzus fasteners were quirky.
>
> As I pulled onto I-285 (Atlanta perimeter highway) about midnight on my way
> home, I was increasing up to cruising speed. I noticed the bonnet was not
> secured (it had popped up slightly, only the safety latch holding it).
> Before I could slow to a stop, the bonnet lifted, opened fully, rotated over
> the windscreen, bounced off the top of my head and continued on up into the
> air about 15-20 feet, sort of like a wilting kite. I observed it in the rear
> view mirror as it settled down onto the pavement about 40-50 feet behind me.
> I quickly pulled over, ran back and recoverd the bonnet and rode home with
> it behind the seats. Fortunately, at midnight in the 1970's on I-285 near
> Marietta there was almost no traffic. So much for newly replaced bonnet
> hinges.
>
> Roy Malac
> '60 TR3a TS63103LO (in restoration)
> techman@metrolink.net
>
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