Sports Sedan Forum

Just imagine the storm if one of our Sports Sedans had the side intrusion bars break at the welds such as the Courtney HRT car on the weekend :o

http://www.ten-tenths.com/forum/showthread.php?t=140033&page=2

Yes it was a big hit but I would assume they should have deformed and held shape rather than fracturing around the weld line.

Just lucky James was not pinned in the car more than he was.

Maybe we all need to review our cars before something similar or worse happens in Sports Sedans?

toranaracer.

Chrome moly is light weight and strong, except where the welding occurs

Correct Go gear. I have been told it is virtually mild steel within an inch of the weld, not sure if that is scientifically correct but seems to have some acceptance that it is somewhat correct in practice.

In my transam Mustang my hip is 500mm from the door skin (non opening side panel). There is 3 Nascar style tubes that extend from the main chassis to end up a few mm from the composite panel. Then inside that by about 300mm there is a full chassis.
IMO I think supercars need to get multiple tube side intrusion to be up agaist the door skin and do not worry about an inner door skin or the extra weight. Nascar do it for a reason.

Yes all competitors need to look at what is in their car, just complying with the CAMS manual does not mean that it is safe. In the CAMS manual you have to have side intrusion bars that are at least 40x2 CDW tube, the V8SC use 45x1.5 CrMo which is stronger than the CAMS spec in torsion and compression but neither are good enough in bending when in a big hit like Courtney.

A lot of people dislike the NASCAR specs but they are strong, they need to be when running fast on the big ovals. But being that STRONG is hard on the drivers body too if there is a sudden stop.

You can build a safe car that is a mix of all the rules. As Phil said in his car the intrusion bars go right out to the outer door skin, with Sports sedans and V8SC you can have a lot of air between the door skin and the intrusion bars which does not do much to protect the driver. Its not just a case of going heavier like the NASCAR specs, you can build in 'deformable structures' between the door skin and the intrusion bars.

I've had extra side intrusions right to the door skin nascar style in my car for four years for that very reason. A few others here in Vic have followed suit.