Convertible roll over protection?
10-19-2007, 12:48 PM
#41
Get Some!
10-19-2007, 01:08 PM
#42
Tech Contributor
Safe is really a great group. Leave your ego at home. If you are dangerous on track you will go home. But if you are respectful, the track is yours all day for a good price. Can't beat it.
10-19-2007, 01:41 PM
#43
Pro
I believe that the federal standards are for static situations, not the huge dynamic forces that one would most-likely encounter in a real- life rollover; that's why the rollbar and roll cage requirements for most tracks are very stringent. I'd be willing to bet that the next model Corvette convertible comes with some additional rollover protection.
Under federal law, a car's roof must support 1.5 times the weight of the car. Anyone with some basic understanding of physics knows that a roof of that strength is still likely to deform in many, if not most, rollovers, as the impact forces will likely exceed that threshold. Convertibles do not have to meet this standard. (The standard might be raised to 2.5 times, soon.)
However, convertibles simply don't rollover very often. The Highway Loss Data Institute (which does studies for the insurance industry) says that convertibles just aren't involved in that many fatal rollovers.
The simple truth is that convertibles (including, obviously, Vettes) have low centers of gravity which reduce the likelihood of rollovers. Unless you knowingly drive way too fast for conditions on mountain roads, you probably don't need to worry too much about rollover protection in a convertible Vette. If you're really gonna worry about this minimal increase in risk, you ought to invest in an armored car.
However, convertibles simply don't rollover very often. The Highway Loss Data Institute (which does studies for the insurance industry) says that convertibles just aren't involved in that many fatal rollovers.
The simple truth is that convertibles (including, obviously, Vettes) have low centers of gravity which reduce the likelihood of rollovers. Unless you knowingly drive way too fast for conditions on mountain roads, you probably don't need to worry too much about rollover protection in a convertible Vette. If you're really gonna worry about this minimal increase in risk, you ought to invest in an armored car.
10-19-2007, 05:25 PM
#44
Melting Slicks
To get a Corvette to roll over (gooood doggie, yeah...) you must first get it airborne. Do that and it's up to the Almighty whether it's heads or tails.
10-19-2007, 07:21 PM
#46
Administrator
Member Since: Aug 1999
Location: Chattanooga, TN
Posts: 63,591
Received 1,304 Likes
on
497 Posts
CI 2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '24
NCM Lifetime Member
NCM Sinkhole Donor
It's harder to roll a Corvette than most other cars, but if you're sliding sideways at any speed and the tires/wheels catch on a curb or something similar, I'd think you could roll it without going airborne.
10-19-2007, 08:01 PM
#47
Racer
Member Since: Dec 2005
Location: Outer Suburbia SoCal
Posts: 346
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm a little confused. The Corvette's engine is in front of the passenger compartment. If you turn a convertible upside down, wouldn't the car end up resting with the nose of the car and the top of the windshield touching the ground (and the everything behind the windshield off the ground)?
If that's the case, then any roll bar behind the driver is pointless unless the windshield frame collapses. From the previous posts, it sounds like it would take one helluva collision to collapse the windshield frame which means the vette has darn good rollover protection. Are there any documented cases where the a-pillars have buckled?
If that's the case, then any roll bar behind the driver is pointless unless the windshield frame collapses. From the previous posts, it sounds like it would take one helluva collision to collapse the windshield frame which means the vette has darn good rollover protection. Are there any documented cases where the a-pillars have buckled?
10-20-2007, 07:54 AM
#48
Racer
Member Since: May 2007
Location: Holbrook NY
Posts: 260
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm a little confused. The Corvette's engine is in front of the passenger compartment. If you turn a convertible upside down, wouldn't the car end up resting with the nose of the car and the top of the windshield touching the ground (and the everything behind the windshield off the ground)?
If that's the case, then any roll bar behind the driver is pointless unless the windshield frame collapses. From the previous posts, it sounds like it would take one helluva collision to collapse the windshield frame which means the vette has darn good rollover protection. Are there any documented cases where the a-pillars have buckled?
10-20-2007, 08:41 AM
#49
Tech Contributor
My biggest rollover fear is at Homestead speedway. There are a couple of turns that if you go in too hot and slide off, you will slide through grass (picking up speed) and then hit the superspeedway apron. I'm afraid if I hit that apron broadside I stand a chance of rolling.
With that thought in mind I go into those couple of turns braking a little earlier and going a little slower so I minimize risk of sliding out in those turns. There's plenty of other turns where I can test my nerve and mettle. Glad I have a club that lets me do that.
Driving smart is the best accident avoidance plan. I feel safer on the track with smart drivers with me vs. on I-95 with, ahhh, less than savvy drivers next to me paying no attention to the road reading a newspaper (happens a lot).
With that thought in mind I go into those couple of turns braking a little earlier and going a little slower so I minimize risk of sliding out in those turns. There's plenty of other turns where I can test my nerve and mettle. Glad I have a club that lets me do that.
Driving smart is the best accident avoidance plan. I feel safer on the track with smart drivers with me vs. on I-95 with, ahhh, less than savvy drivers next to me paying no attention to the road reading a newspaper (happens a lot).
10-20-2007, 10:03 AM
#50
Get Some!
I believe that the federal standards are for static situations, not the huge dynamic forces that one would most-likely encounter in a real- life rollover; that's why the rollbar and roll cage requirements for most tracks are very stringent. I'd be willing to bet that the next model Corvette convertible comes with some additional rollover protection.
10-20-2007, 12:47 PM
#51
Tech Contributor
Here is a SMOKING deal for you
Smoothline hardtop for verts- 1/2 off. Lowest price I've ever seen on one I've heard most tracks will accept these and put you the coupe class instead of limiting you to 13.99 drag strip or keeping you out (road course).
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1840657
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1840657
09-27-2017, 03:29 PM
#53
Tech Contributor
09-27-2017, 04:04 PM
#54
Le Mans Master
As some of you know I am considering a Vette purchase and safety is paramount in my book. I'm interested in a coupe and I'm convinced that the coupe is pretty safe. I did not know about the convertible and that is why I asked. The absence of roll-over loops on the back of the seats is a major fault. There was a well publicized roll-over of a C6 coupe here in the Bay area a week or two ago (there were posts with pictures on this board) and although the coupe's top buckled a bit the driver was protected and apparently survived. I doubt he would have survived if driving a convertible.
The "hoops" will not make you safe, only safer. People think the thing that is going to injure/kill them in a convertible rollover is the contact of their head with concrete, and that will be true, in some cases. Trauma due to centrifugal forces, collapse of the sides of the vehicle, immediate sudden stop against a tree/wall/building, etc., can all do as much/more damage than what a hoop will prevent.
Here, in NV, rollover accidents are the #1 cause of auto-related deaths. On country roads, people not paying attention will slightly drift off the shoulder, over-correct, and cause a roll-over. If you know what to do in such a situation, and learn how to drive your car well enough to avoid other situations, you will likely never be involved in a roll-over accident.
My next corvette will be a convertible, for sure.
09-27-2017, 08:12 PM
#55
I'd say that if you're concerned about a rollover, don't get a convertible to begin with. Its all about the risks in life you're willing to accept. Same goes for motorcycles, boats, airplanes, skiing, or dozens of other activities you might enjoy.
You might be safer sitting at home and watching TV, but then you could die of heart disease from eating too much high cholesterol food.
You might be safer sitting at home and watching TV, but then you could die of heart disease from eating too much high cholesterol food.
