Re: Crash Test Dummy

[Trisha Bethen <trishab@mv.mv.com>]

On Sat, 10 Aug 1996, mannlaw@indy.net wrote:

> 
> 	Human? observes:
> 
> 	>>>Drive a Sherman Tank?<<<
> 
> 	Good choice if you have one laying around.
> 
> 	>>>How about avoiding the collision<<<
> 
> 	Even better choice, if you have a choice.
> 
> 	BTW, sounds like what, you escaped a roll in an Audi @ 80 with 
> only sore thumbs and collerbone?  Guarantee you it had more to do with 
> dumb luck than engineering--even though Audi's are well engineered.  
> *Nobody* [short of race design] manufactures a street vehicle to 
> withstand crash forces involved in an off-road 80mph roll.  Good solid 
> design prin. will help, but ask a manufacturer to build the vehicle to 
> w/stand those forces and the new A8 price will look like pocket change in 
> comparison.  
> 
> 	Bruce
> 
My sons rolled an 85 5000s a year ago....not once, twice....but barrel 
rolled it 5 times with impact each time.......it started when they fell 
asleep on a really horribly boring stretch of Rt. 89 in Enfield , NH and 
driving son....Raymond dozed off while passenger son, Stephen was 
asleep......they were driving at 75 mph.....cruise control was 
set....when Raymond realized he was off the road....he used all the 
skills he had learned about being involved in racing.....drove it 
out....app. 450 feet....missing sign posts, rock cliffs, etc....and was 
bringing it back onto the road when the left rear wheel hit a 5" or 
better pot hole rather hard and broke the axle....which launched the 
car.....when they came to rest in the median strip....both boys were 
awake....Raymond bleeding from a 6 inch gash in his head where the roof 
braces finally broke from crash stress........when the car was 
uprighted....you could still close and open all four doors.....and drive 
the car......at least onto the trailer.....the roof had only collapsed 
about 8 inches......coming from a racing family and having seen a lot of 
carnage in my day....I was most impressed with the engineering in the 
Audi and we now own 7 various models.....
BTW, Raymond had about 100 stitches in his head and was back to school in 
a week and was congratulated by the police for his fantastic 
driving....if it hadn't been for the pothole we would have been none the 
wiser....