Safer Convertibles Re: <VV> 40 year old convert - Unsafe at Any Speed?

[FrankCB at aol.com]

Garth,
    I agree with you that the lack of a hard roof does make the convertible 
less safe than the hardtop models.  However, I believe the answer is to put in 
a sturdy rollbar.  In fact, NECC events require that convertibles have a roll 
bar in order to run on the track, even in time trials which are NOT races.  As 
far a hard tops being the answer, a recent even at Lime Rock showed that roll 
bars are safer for ANY Corvair on the track.  The driver suffered a tire 
blowout at a critical point in the course and rolled the LM coupe over onto its 
roof.  The roof was collapsed into the top of the rollbar with the sturdy 
rollbar keeping the roof from being depressed any further.  The driver crawled out 
through the window completely unscathed since he had been safely secured into a 
racing harness and had a racing helmet on.  This, to my knowledge, was the 
first time in 30 years of Corvairs at Lime Rock that a Corvair had gone over 
onto its roof.  Other times Corvairs had simply spun out, as I myself managed to 
do twice during one Lime Rock outing.
    So to feel safer in your convertible, add a roll bar!
    Frank "slow learner" Burkhard 
    

In a message dated 2/14/05 11:08:49 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
stapon1@earthlink.net writes:
<SNIP>My problem is with structural integrity (or lack there of) with a rag 
top.  I
like a roof with an old car as I feel it does a great deal to "solidify" the
car.  This can be especially important when old metal starts to get rusty.  
<SNIP>
Give me a roof because it makes the car safer (a relative term for a car built
in 65)