Don't mess with nature...

[ManOpener]

k-ink said:

ManOpener said:

Quite. The aftermath of an accident involving a tree and an Audi S2 with a full FIA-spec cage competing in one of the US club racing classes:




Luckily the guy involved recovered and I believe he's back racing now and has been for some time.

Edited by ManOpener on Thursday 21st August 15:42

Point taken, you clearly do not want to hit a tree no matter what, But this example at least kept the passenger area in tact. Without that cage deforming, all that energy would have gone into the body and crushed that area vastly more.

It was actually the top of the seat (!) which prevented the tree from intruding into the passenger area further. I think the cage absorbed a great deal of the impact but the roofline and driver's side roof bar basically came to rest on the top of the seat. Granted, a much better performance than a standard car would have had under the same conditions but AFAIK the guy didn't hit the tree whilst travelling exceptionally fast (he passed out at the wheel before the accident and failed to make a turn).

Edited by ManOpener on Thursday 21st August 16:39

[Centurion07]

J4CKO said:

I don't think you could design anything better for annihilating a car than a tree.

Dub scene?

[xRIEx]

TooMany2cvs said:

Is this outcome utterly predictable? Yes, very easily.

To an 18 year old with fk all experience? No, not necessarily.

I'm not saying he wasn't an idiot, I'm not trying to say anyone but him is to blame, I'm just saying that he does not deserve to die for it.

Do you advocate the death sentence for anyone who crashes into a tree, lamppost or other inanimate object, if say, they're otherwise uninjured? If one "deserves" it for their actions, then so do all others who commit the same act, irrespective of injuries suffered.

[AdamGP]

Doesn't surprise me how poorly the car stood up, PS13s are made of cheese, as are most 80/90s jap cars.

Shame though, I do love a good two tone PS!

[TooMany2cvs]

ManOpener said:

It was actually the top of the seat (!) which prevented the tree from intruding into the passenger area further. I think the cage absorbed a great deal of the impact but the roofline and driver's side roof bar basically came to rest on the top of the seat.

I can easily believe that - look at the side bar in that first pic...



It's totally kinked. Zero strength left there, and from there on in, it's just any remaining strength in the front and rear hoops plus rear legs resisting being pulled together. And the front hoop looks like it's having a lie-down.

[rigga]

kambites said:

I'd avoid wooden lamp posts too. They're basically trees with the soft bits removed.

I suspect without ever hoping to find out, that a lamp post or telegraph pole wouldn't be as strongly rooted as a tree would be, also I've seen snapped wooden poles but not many snapped trees .... again I've no wish to test this theory.

[xRIEx]

rigga said:

kambites said:

I'd avoid wooden lamp posts too. They're basically trees with the soft bits removed.

I suspect without ever hoping to find out, that a lamp post or telegraph pole wouldn't be as strongly rooted as a tree would be, also I've seen snapped wooden poles but not many snapped trees .... again I've no wish to test this theory.

I'd agree - I think living wood fibres are a lot stronger than dead fibres.

[Oldandslow]

Possibly but trees are only alive on the exterior to a depth of about half an inch. The previous years of growth on the interior is dead. [/pedant]

[k-ink]

ManOpener said:

It was actually the top of the seat (!) which prevented the tree from intruding into the passenger area further. I think the cage absorbed a great deal of the impact but the roofline and driver's side roof bar basically came to rest on the top of the seat. Granted, a much better performance than a standard car would have had under the same conditions but AFAIK the guy didn't hit the tree whilst travelling exceptionally fast (he passed out at the wheel before the accident and failed to make a turn).

Edited by ManOpener on Thursday 21st August 16:39

Yep, looks like the cage finally gave out and the seat came into play! I once had some proper carbon race seats, bolted to sturdy alloy frames and the chassis. No doubt the entire assembly would have been pretty damn strong compared to a standard OEM recliner.

Also I guess the cage about might have been stronger yet with additional vertical members near the a pillar. But then where do you draw the line. I still hanker for a properly designed cage in something suitable. A mk1 escort, or other classic would be cool.

[TooMany2cvs]

rigga said:

also I've seen snapped wooden poles but not many snapped trees

Compare the diameter of the average pole with the average mature tree.

k-ink said:

Also I guess the cage about might have been stronger yet with additional vertical members near the a pillar. But then where do you draw the line.

Being able to get in and out of the car is always a good start. Door bars REALLY don't help that much.

[Tannedbaldhead]

B'stard Child said:

lightthefuse said:

Not much to add apart from... holy sheeeeit!

That and it looks like a straight road!!!!

And in a residential area.

[TimJMS]

Pah, nature has nothing on the Stobie Pole.

[rigga]

TooMany2cvs said:

rigga said:

also I've seen snapped wooden poles but not many snapped trees

Compare the diameter of the average pole with the average mature tree

Well that was part of the reason of my post, in responce to someone else's thoughts on hitting wooden posts and tree's, but if you want to selectively quote go ahead