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Login to post Forums » Off-topic discussion » 130 mph Cobra crash video

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Jan. 16, 2012 8:40 a.m. Drewsifer Dork

spriteracer wrote:

Quote from the comments on youtube: "Proof that God loves drunks and idiots. No racing seat, no cage, no arm restraints, harness barely tightened and a bunch of unsecured E36 M3 in the car that starts flying as soon as he begins to spin." All true. Also, he's lucky the rollbar never contacted the ground, he would surely been killed if it had. GoPro makes some tough cameras for sure.

My thoughts exactly. When the car first went I thought "Look how loose his belts are, he's probably gonna die". Glad I was wrong.
Jan. 16, 2012 8:40 a.m. Drewsifer Dork

spriteracer wrote:

Quote from the comments on youtube: "Proof that God loves drunks and idiots. No racing seat, no cage, no arm restraints, harness barely tightened and a bunch of unsecured E36 M3 in the car that starts flying as soon as he begins to spin." All true. Also, he's lucky the rollbar never contacted the ground, he would surely been killed if it had. GoPro makes some tough cameras for sure.

My thoughts exactly. When the car first went I thought "Look how loose his belts are, he's probably gonna die". Glad I was wrong.
Jan. 16, 2012 8:44 a.m. Keith SuperDork

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:

Keith wrote:

Wow, that's some pretty scary first aid - yank off the helmet?

I am sure they must have figured a guy driving an open car with no cage, loose harnesses, and arm straps who hadn't been killed in a rollover must be a super hero. They were just trying to un-mask him.

Ah, of course.

The first time I saw it, I figured the belts had broken when he disappeared out of sight.

There aren't any moving parts in the camera, I'm not surprised it kept working. I can tell you they'll break if you drive over them though.
Jan. 16, 2012 8:53 a.m. J308 Reader

I dunno... There are a lot of questions about this car in my mind. The guy is lucky to be alive, for sure, and this video just killed my lottery-win-cobra fantasy.

Makes me glad I have an e30, which is very little fun at high speed anyway.
Jan. 16, 2012 8:54 a.m. dyintorace SuperDork

Agreed. Prompts me to question the wisdom of any open top car on the track (like my turbo Miata).
Jan. 16, 2012 8:59 a.m. Giant Purple Snorklewacker SuperDork

J308 wrote:

I dunno... There are a lot of questions about this car in my mind. The guy is lucky to be alive, for sure, and this video just killed my lottery-win-cobra fantasy.

Nah. Don't ditch the fantasy just use some actual safety gear. FF even makes a spec racer that comes complete with a stout cage.
Jan. 16, 2012 9:35 a.m. J308 Reader

Haha ok. I'll revisit it when I win the lotto!
Jan. 16, 2012 8:01 p.m. AngryCorvair SuperDork

J308 wrote:

That'll buff right out.

Sadly, his pants were total lossed.

Them britches didn't stand a chance.
Jan. 16, 2012 8:30 p.m. MrJoshua SuperDork

dyintorace wrote:

Agreed. Prompts me to question the wisdom of any open top car on the track (like my turbo Miata).

We already know what happens when a Cobra goes off at the little track we frequent. No shed is safe!
Jan. 17, 2012 9:58 p.m. motomoron HalfDork

I race an open car, and the Monday after a race weekend I have bruises on my arms from how tight and short I adjust my arm restraints. I keep the left one ~just~ long enough so my hand is visible if I really try to hold it up. And I belt in so tight it's a bit painful on grid - though it's not noticeable on track.

I've wondered what I'd do if I ever drew a gazillion HP Cobra as a student at a PDX event - I'm OK in a street car w/ stock belts, a roof and airbags. A Cobra? I may have to pass...
Jan. 18, 2012 12:31 a.m. ransom Dork

Regarding the theories about what went wrong... He noted it seemed strangely loose one corner before everything went wrong.

Lends credence to an anchor in the rear suspension letting go?

Arm restraints: noted. <shudder/>

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