That's about as scary as it gets, kids. Lohnes says the seat-belt mounts in the car pulled straight through the sheetmetal, which is what caused the driver to flop around so wildly. As you saw, he calmly walked away from the crash, lucky to be alive, let alone in one piece. Amazing.
Lohnes says this particular driver is an experienced guy who regularly runs a legal 200-mph Willys at sanctioned strips. The Chevy was his wife’s cruiser before he put it shiny side down. Imagine having to have that conversation...
We've talked about this before. You can't just bolt seat belts to sheet metal. The washer becomes a can opener. You need either a frame mount or something like Julianos sell that has rolled edges and can't cut the floor. Seen too many of these bad installations.
looks like a pit road at a nascar track,not much of a drag strip at all.
i believe you're right, it does look like a pit road. more than likely there's all sorts of fluids imbedded in the asphalt......certainly not a good place for drag racing. i imagine the tech is pretty lax there.
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don't walk in like you own the place..........walk in like you hold the mortgage.
It's quite likely not very flat either (or level I guess is a better way to put it). Most of those roundy -round track's pit areas are slightly graded for water run off and I suspect the main reason both drivers were fighting so hard to keep it straight..... that and a poor surface prep. Probably fine for most 14 second street cars, but obviously a disaster for anything with serious power.
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"If I could get back all the money I've ever spent on cars...I'd spend it ALL on cars !!!
even though I,ve haven,t yet been in a situation like this with any of my hot rods . Like on the other forum I posted all my hot rods , either get eggstra body braces in side . I go to a wreckers or parts car an get those heavy plates and bolts that the seats belts bolt to floor with , or the belts go right onto a pro made cage . On one car I didn,t want the view of the shoulder belts in the car so the 5 point was set up with a safety , snap hook . So when posing or parked or so johnny law couldn,t see the other belt dangling . I left it unhooked on the floor , race time or when I felt like it , the right side shoulder belt would be securely hooked to the cage bar . I may not not be 100% ly correct in my mountings . But I feel safer , and shake my head at guys with older coupes , 400 horse power and no cage or bars inside , and no belts ..77.
Also on the audio track , did it sound like he thought he was gonna save or power thru that run ???.
-- Edited by 77 on Tuesday 23rd of September 2014 07:39:40 AM
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I,m as cool as Milner , but axeually a bit more like Beckwith
good post 77, the seat securement issue reminds me of my 2nd car, 73 Gremlin, 350/350 combo 12 blt posi ,glass fenders and no back seat,went like hell when it hooked,,had Granada buckets in front,broke the back rest on the pass side, later pulled the front mount bolts through the floor on the drivers, quick solution ( after an uncomfortable launch ) big washers,no 5 point, the shoulder strap was a clip in option,which being as safety conscious as I was then did see some use.
