Discussion
Unfortunately, the day I'd hope would never come...actually did. I crashed the GTR yesterday. I whacked the front against some armco and then slid along the grass for a while too. I'm fine but the the car looks a mess and has lost most of the front nearside and is pretty bashed all round.
Examination of the car looks like one of the rear clam catches was not fully engaged (the other is still in place and attached to a piece of fibreglass ripped from the rear clam) and I'm pretty sure that the up rear flew open causing me to instantly lose control.
I think the car is a write off, I may be offered the chance by the insurers to rebuild it myself, however I no longer have the space (and probably time) to do it.
Anybody any experience, advice of repairers etc for this kind of thing?
Will try to get a photo up soon (PH playing up at the moment)
Examination of the car looks like one of the rear clam catches was not fully engaged (the other is still in place and attached to a piece of fibreglass ripped from the rear clam) and I'm pretty sure that the up rear flew open causing me to instantly lose control.
I think the car is a write off, I may be offered the chance by the insurers to rebuild it myself, however I no longer have the space (and probably time) to do it.
Anybody any experience, advice of repairers etc for this kind of thing?
Will try to get a photo up soon (PH playing up at the moment)
t Liam, sorry to hear this. You are OK I trust, that's the main thing. Bummer 
Are you sure about the rear clam though? Seems odd that one catch was still engaged unless you were doing mega-leptons?
Anyway, the main thing is that you're ok (I know that never makes it feel any better, but it's true). Hopefully you can get it sorted without too much hassle.
Are you sure about the rear clam though? Seems odd that one catch was still engaged unless you were doing mega-leptons?
Anyway, the main thing is that you're ok (I know that never makes it feel any better, but it's true). Hopefully you can get it sorted without too much hassle.
Stig said:
Are there? Such as?
Thevet on track at the time. And Simon (not sure of full name) from a number of years back on the road. Those are the two I know off. I have Simons old (rebuilt) wing on my car.Does sound strange though, this time, as mentioned about the damage around the latch point (?).
Pb3 said:
Thevet on track at the time. And Simon (not sure of full name) from a number of years back on the road. Those are the two I know off. I have Simons old (rebuilt) wing on my car.
Does sound strange though, this time, as mentioned about the damage around the latch point (?).
Don't get me wrong, I had the rear clip flip on the GTR, but it was down to me not securing the latches themselves rather than the latches failing.Does sound strange though, this time, as mentioned about the damage around the latch point (?).
I also know of those two, but from Clive's comment it implied that there had been several this year? I was just curious as to who he was referring to.
Anyway - I don't wish to drag this off topic! Good luck to the OP!!
The catch hasn't failed - I just don't think it was engaged (hence not acting as a catch at all)and air has got underneath and taken it from their. The force of the clam flying off has ripped the fibreglass on the other latch (ie the latch is still latched but now only to a small section of clam fibreglass!
If one clip is not latched and air gets under the clip the centre latch is not going to hold as it is only secured with 2 pop rivets. Once it has started to lift the remaining latch has no chance to hold what will be huge forces.
This is why I designed and installed micro switches to my latches and a warning buzzer in the cockpit.
Steve
This is why I designed and installed micro switches to my latches and a warning buzzer in the cockpit.
Steve
Steve_D said:
If one clip is not latched and air gets under the clip the centre latch is not going to hold as it is only secured with 2 pop rivets. Once it has started to lift the remaining latch has no chance to hold what will be huge forces.
This is why I designed and installed micro switches to my latches and a warning buzzer in the cockpit.
Steve
Is it too hard to press down on it then pull back up to double check it's locked in?This is why I designed and installed micro switches to my latches and a warning buzzer in the cockpit.
Steve
02PRUV said:
Is it too hard to press down on it then pull back up to double check it's locked in?
Yes that is exactly what you need to do........provided you remember to do it.In a gathering of Ultima owners another owner will not latch your rear clip for you as they know you will want to do it yourself.... and maybe even twice. Even so you can get distracted.
Steve
Unlike most cars the bonnet (rear Clip) is opened far more often when you are out and about as many want to see the engine so it is much easier to forget when distracted talking about the car.
If I forget the latch on my Cerbera the bonnet rises up about 8 inches at approx 70mph until I slow down and latch it (something you do from inside the car). The first time it happened it was a
moment.
If it happens in the Ultima it will be this
sort of event.
Paul
If I forget the latch on my Cerbera the bonnet rises up about 8 inches at approx 70mph until I slow down and latch it (something you do from inside the car). The first time it happened it was a
moment.If it happens in the Ultima it will be this
sort of event.Paul
you have a point, but it should also be a warning to others to check the catches, which I do all of the time, I press the bonnet down and try to lift the bodywork to make sure the catch really has engaged. Not too mention the warning lights for both catches. There can be no mistakes !
MY Penniworth -
Taking the factory indicator lights a little further, might just provide a simple and much more fail-safe method of ensuring that the rear clip is properly latched before err ...take-off?
By using a simple plunger-switch located on say 'the handbrake' and using a suitable relay I would have thought it wouldn't take a massive amount of to work to figure out how to kill the engine if the handbrake was disengaged if the clip was not properly in place (both lights out - or reverse it ie both lights must be out if the ign is on), but allow the engine to run if the handbrake was ON and the Clip raised (for showing off! and tweak work)?
You could possible use the speedo signal instead?
Any wiring Gurus out there that could figure out a circuit for this?
Would this not be a cheap and effective way of making sure you can't drive the car unless the Clip was engaged and hadbrake OFF?
Anyone want to start a competition for the best solution?
I, for one would see this as an essential upgrade! And I would have though this would give peace of mind both to the driver and the insurance company!
Cheers
Keith
Taking the factory indicator lights a little further, might just provide a simple and much more fail-safe method of ensuring that the rear clip is properly latched before err ...take-off?
By using a simple plunger-switch located on say 'the handbrake' and using a suitable relay I would have thought it wouldn't take a massive amount of to work to figure out how to kill the engine if the handbrake was disengaged if the clip was not properly in place (both lights out - or reverse it ie both lights must be out if the ign is on), but allow the engine to run if the handbrake was ON and the Clip raised (for showing off! and tweak work)?
You could possible use the speedo signal instead?
Any wiring Gurus out there that could figure out a circuit for this?
Would this not be a cheap and effective way of making sure you can't drive the car unless the Clip was engaged and hadbrake OFF?
Anyone want to start a competition for the best solution?
I, for one would see this as an essential upgrade! And I would have though this would give peace of mind both to the driver and the insurance company!
Cheers
Keith
^^^ similar concept to a motorbike.
Wondering why there's a priest in the bottom corner - read here
http://xjbikes.blogspot.com/2009/01/how-to-test-yo...
Wondering why there's a priest in the bottom corner - read here
http://xjbikes.blogspot.com/2009/01/how-to-test-yo...
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