word of warning
Discussion
When I used to forget to lock the bonnet on my cerb it used to float up at about 90mph, but a quick jab on the brakes dropped it back down again without any drama.
I discovered the hard way on sunday that the bonnet on a griff doesnt go back down again. Was on the autobahn hard on it in 4th just about to change up at the rev limiter and up came the bonnet-couldn't see a bloody thing!
Just braked to a normal speed and carefully pulled through the lanes one at a time to the hard shoulder. There was a massive bang when I got to the hard shoulder- I just missed one of the free standing steel framed roadworks signs but hit one of the large 3ft high cones at about 60mph. luckily no damage only plastic marks that have tcutted out.
nasty experience will always check the bonnet lock before setting off! does anyone have a safety lock or strap or do people just rely on the standard lock?
I discovered the hard way on sunday that the bonnet on a griff doesnt go back down again. Was on the autobahn hard on it in 4th just about to change up at the rev limiter and up came the bonnet-couldn't see a bloody thing!
Just braked to a normal speed and carefully pulled through the lanes one at a time to the hard shoulder. There was a massive bang when I got to the hard shoulder- I just missed one of the free standing steel framed roadworks signs but hit one of the large 3ft high cones at about 60mph. luckily no damage only plastic marks that have tcutted out.
nasty experience will always check the bonnet lock before setting off! does anyone have a safety lock or strap or do people just rely on the standard lock?
Edited by jesfirth on Thursday 1st April 07:30
The first TVR I sat in was a Griffith 400. It was parked on South Bank at Brands Hatch and the chap did not seem all that put out when a kid of about 20 wandered over to chat.
I noticed a rather rough looking leather strap on both sides of the bonnet and I asked him if they were standard. He said they should be and then explained.
He was trying to see how fast the car would go on the M1, then I think the only motorway. No speed limit then. With the speedo wandering around the 140 mark he was struggling to keep the car going in one direction when the bonnet catch broke and the trailing edge went to the top of the windscreen, completely blocking his view at 140 or so.
He braked, as you would, and the front of the bonnet dug into the ground. He was frightened of being catapulted into the air so stopped braking and just let the engine bring down the speed.
He pulled over to the hard shoulder and just sat there for a few minutes. As you would.
The bonnet catch was repaired - the glass fibre had fractured - but he felt the leather straps provided a more reassuring presence.
He, like you, was very lucky.
I noticed a rather rough looking leather strap on both sides of the bonnet and I asked him if they were standard. He said they should be and then explained.
He was trying to see how fast the car would go on the M1, then I think the only motorway. No speed limit then. With the speedo wandering around the 140 mark he was struggling to keep the car going in one direction when the bonnet catch broke and the trailing edge went to the top of the windscreen, completely blocking his view at 140 or so.
He braked, as you would, and the front of the bonnet dug into the ground. He was frightened of being catapulted into the air so stopped braking and just let the engine bring down the speed.
He pulled over to the hard shoulder and just sat there for a few minutes. As you would.
The bonnet catch was repaired - the glass fibre had fractured - but he felt the leather straps provided a more reassuring presence.
He, like you, was very lucky.
Derek Smith said:
The first TVR I sat in was a Griffith 400. It was parked on South Bank at Brands Hatch and the chap did not seem all that put out when a kid of about 20 wandered over to chat.
I noticed a rather rough looking leather strap on both sides of the bonnet and I asked him if they were standard. He said they should be and then explained.
He was trying to see how fast the car would go on the M1, then I think the only motorway. No speed limit then. With the speedo wandering around the 140 mark he was struggling to keep the car going in one direction when the bonnet catch broke and the trailing edge went to the top of the windscreen, completely blocking his view at 140 or so.
He braked, as you would, and the front of the bonnet dug into the ground. He was frightened of being catapulted into the air so stopped braking and just let the engine bring down the speed.
He pulled over to the hard shoulder and just sat there for a few minutes. As you would.
The bonnet catch was repaired - the glass fibre had fractured - but he felt the leather straps provided a more reassuring presence.
He, like you, was very lucky.
I had a similar experience in my Vixen on the M40. Definitely a brown trouser moment!I noticed a rather rough looking leather strap on both sides of the bonnet and I asked him if they were standard. He said they should be and then explained.
He was trying to see how fast the car would go on the M1, then I think the only motorway. No speed limit then. With the speedo wandering around the 140 mark he was struggling to keep the car going in one direction when the bonnet catch broke and the trailing edge went to the top of the windscreen, completely blocking his view at 140 or so.
He braked, as you would, and the front of the bonnet dug into the ground. He was frightened of being catapulted into the air so stopped braking and just let the engine bring down the speed.
He pulled over to the hard shoulder and just sat there for a few minutes. As you would.
The bonnet catch was repaired - the glass fibre had fractured - but he felt the leather straps provided a more reassuring presence.
He, like you, was very lucky.
SonicHedgeHog said:
I think you'll find you were flat out in second, not fourth.
You don't know Jes, do you?Put it this way, the airborne Cerbera at the top of the page here;
http://2009.tvrspeedchampionship.co.uk/
Is the man himself...
Zumbruk said:
You don't know Jes, do you?
Put it this way, the airborne Cerbera at the top of the page here;
http://2009.tvrspeedchampionship.co.uk/
Is the man himself...
I suspect he wasn't doubting what was being done, just that it was surely in Germany. Etc. Or perhaps another gear...Put it this way, the airborne Cerbera at the top of the page here;
http://2009.tvrspeedchampionship.co.uk/
Is the man himself...
Happened to me during a Sprint at Aintree a few years ago. Luckily I was on a straight and knew there was nothing to hit so just slowed down. I'd hate to have had that on the motorway. 
The stupid thing was that the Sprint before, my bloody boot came up and I remember wondering why the hell everything had gone dark blue behind me!
That weekend, I learnt the value of checking everything was shut properly.
The stupid thing was that the Sprint before, my bloody boot came up and I remember wondering why the hell everything had gone dark blue behind me!
That weekend, I learnt the value of checking everything was shut properly.
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