[SETI20]

OK, this example is a case of darwin.

2 guys racing (sortof) one gets clipped, spins out and hits a tree.
Dude had only minor injuries...can you believe it?

Ok, so we had the cage, or not to cage discussion a while back.
I've seen too many accidents where our little cars give in so much that we would get stuck in em.
Something simple behind the B pillar running back and forward would do alot for side-impact safety I believe.

 

[Dodo]

The only problem i see with the rollcage is its hard to have one but still have the stock look. I dont mean having the bars running though but the stuff you have to take out to get the bars to fit. Matt had to take out his rear speakers to get the cage in. Thats the only problem i see.

On a side note, Do you need a cage if your not racing?

One more thing, was the guy thrown from the car? Its the only way i see him coming out of that with minor injuries.

 

[SETI20]

Driver was stuck in the car. Bystander pulled him out before the car caught fire.

Reason I want a cage, is...well...look at it.
There are -alot- of trees here. Accidents like this are common. Not just "racing".

Friend of mine was sideswiped by a volvo that did not yield. Crunched his crx in right at the door. A simple cage would have saved him alot of pain.

 

[Wasuri]

I think the argument some people had in the thread that cars are supposed to crush and the bars can act as a danger even more than if you didn't have one. Yet in cases like this youd would at least expect the car to stay somewhat of a shape if you had a bar. If you see that picture the roof is gone - a bar would prevent that.

I'd like a bar and I would like better restraints, but im eager to see where this thread goes.

 

[Angry]

After buying my 90 parts car, and finding out just how bad it was.
Im getting a cage welded in my 88 HF. The rear interior is going to be stripped anyway....

 

[SETI20]

Yes, cars are definately supposed to crush. They dissipate energy that way.

But too much of a good thing is...well... getting crushed.
I don't mind the entire car crushing like a soda can around me. As long as the part I'm sitting in stays in one piece.

 

[91crx_si]

if i'm not mistaking the cage only protect only on rollovers

 

[dohcrxl]

Don't worry about the cage; Life never deals you a hand you are prepared for. See with my luck, I'd fumble getting into the car, lose my footing somehow, and bang my head on the cage to later be found dead.

 

[SETI20]

if i'm not mistaking the cage only protect only on rollovers

no no....luckily they provide lots of protection.
Ofcourse, door-bars can only do so much. Especially if you don't want them taking up the whole side, and you want to keep the interior.

But on average speed impacts, it would definately save your knees.

 

[zerocool1014a]

okay well the cage can do everything everyone is talking about.. but the problem with a cage really is that it adds too much regidity to the car if you going to install a cage you better install racing seats, harnesses and wear a helmet everytime you drive with a neck collar beucase if you got in an accident like that the brute force on your body and neck would probably kill you. thats why cars are designed with crumple zones. so that the car in case of an accident will take the brunt of the force keeping your body from taking soo much.

 

[rex2nr]

Hes lucky the tree went into the passenger seat...

 

[Neil]

Well, this guy had a full cage as you can see in the pics. He was in intensive care for almost a month. We still don't know if he's gonna walk, last I knew. There's a solution, don't street race. And if you race on a track, then all you can do is take as many precautions as you can.

Just remember guys, be safe. I mean that.

 

[SETI20]

That would have killed him without a cage.
And yes...don't street race.

But like I said. I'm more worried about everyday accidents. A volvo at 20 miles an hour can make a good dent. I've seen a crx crumple up till the seat was pushed out of the way. I want to keep that from happening, without making the car a full and solid box.

 

[GSRCRXsi]

unless you plan on wearing a helmet when you drive, DONT get a cage. thats why is racing, you not only pad the bars near you, but you also wear a helmet. a good whack and you are history.

steel>skull

 

[SETI20]

That's why street cage hoops are behind the B-pillar, obviously.

 

[ComposiMo]

Nothing quite like an affixed "baseball bat" in your car that you can slam into when having accidents..... yAy!

The first pic, a "street cage" would have done little to nothing to help... in fact, it probably would have hurt more. See, he would have flown forward a bit, and then been thrust rearward in his seat... when his back hits heseat, the seat WILL flex, thus allowing your head to hit the bar very hard, EVEN IF IT IS MOUNTED BEHIND THE B POST..... unless you mount it so FAR behind the B post that it just looks silly, and will probably do even less to help you...

Blah.... i know where i stand on street cages.... but thats just me 8)

 

[Masta]

This is an argument that will never end, but(being a fellow hardheaded Dutchman) I'm with you Seti, I'd rather have a cage then not. I can't understand why hitting your head on a SFI padded bar is worse than hitting your head off the A pillar or side of the roof?

What's the difference? Ok, the bar will be a bit closer, so what, that's less time your head is accelerating towrds it?(I'm no rocket scientist, sorry)
But seriously, your head is going to hit something, why the hell not a properly padded bar? I'd rather have a full cage around me and me sitting in a 4 or 5 point harness. How is the street different from the track other than the helmet? I would also argue the speeds on the street should never exceed 60mph(at least in Canada) so a cage will do much better under those circumstances. This is PURELY my opinion, and I know the thinking that goes with the other sides argument has some good points too.

I guess if 2 cars collide travelling a at 60mph, the combined force is 120mph,which is closer to track speeds, BUT in a tin-can CRX, I'd liek all the help I can get against trees, or Escalades. Chances are if we get hit by a big SUV, cage or no cage we're probably dead, but I'll take my chances with the cage. As long as I'm the one that fabs and welds it.

 

[SETI20]

I agree that good seats and a harness are probably a good idea.
I already have those myself.

But yes, there are apparent down-sides to a cage. Especially full cages. I've hit my head on one several times. Seats and harness are a good idea. More headroom too.
However, I spend more time in-town at low speeds (but surrounded by idiots) than I do at high speeds, or under track conditions.

I got my seats and harness with the same philosophy as I want my cage.
This is a 15yr old car. Crash testing back then wasn't as thorough as it is now, and even then it did not perform so good. So a little help is welcomed.

And I'm not stubborn dammit!
It's called "well thought through and determined mindset".

 

[SIred91]

I too am in the market for a street cage.
As far as the arguement goes, people feel the same about seat belts, some crashes are freeky and the belt will kill you, but most often will save your life. I feel that way about a cage as well, especially on our cars.

 

[ludesrv]

Our cars aren't the greatest in safety rating, very little we can do to help that. It's what happens when you love driving in a tin can ! Our cars are designed to crumble to **** in accidents. The 88s are worse with no side impact beams. I've been in 3 EFs accidents. The first was in my brother EF, 60kmh and we rear ended somewhat. I hurt, but the car was saved and fixed. The second was in the brothers later on EF, 120kmh the car hit some ice in a corner on the highway and we smashed into a guardrail. The car was toast. The firewall was pushed back and the dash was touching are feet. The roof has the accordian thing going on, but we were both fine, had to do a check up at the hospital. The third was in my current EF, some probe flew around a corner in the snow and hit me doing about 60 and I was doing about 30, it hurt. I wasn't wearing my belt as this happened on my street, I was 200 meters from my house. I had to replace every single front body panels and straighten my frame a little. But I was fine, had a sore wrist.

I'm not worried, I have confidence that in an accident the EF will crumple thus saving me. And I've seen alot of nasty EF and CRX crashes lately that reassure me that my little tin can will save me so I may drive another one again. They die so you don't type deal .