Sad farewell

[chris.t]

don't do this often

[Ex Fastcat]

To follow up the comments vis a vis the design of the A pillars, The cars met the requirements of the time.
I.E. roof strength. crash performance, etc.
My memory is not up to speed on what the regs were or are for convertibles but for sedans, the static crush test is still the pertinent one.
It is easy to pass, whereas a dynamic rollover test would not be.
That is why there is not dynaic test mandated.
(None of the OEMs would agree on what the parameters would be.
Speed, rotation rate, angle of impact, etc, etc.
It will come, but not for a while.
Here in Australia a dynamic test is under development, but it is very slow.
I had a Miata (MX5) and would be very surprised if it held up any better than my Elan. Albeit, with steel pillars they would still be attached to the car due to their higher ductility, but that does not mean they would not be bent flat.

When you look at the cars with integrated rollover protection (Pop-up rollover bars etc) they still do not claim the A pillars will survive. They are predominantly there to stop your head getting gravel rash when the A pillar does run away

As for law suits, the lawyers tend to go for the companies that A) have money to pay (in actuality or perceived) and B) those that they know will settle first to protect themselves from the media interest focused on them as big boys.
I have memories of a few spurious lawsuits where we as the manufacturer knew the suit was unfounded but paid anyway to keep the press away (Not at Lotus, with other OEMs).

As I said, our Elans met all the requirements in place at homologation so a suit would ultimately be difficult to win.
I think if you do an exhaustive review of all Lotus's advertsing it never refers to the Screen structure as in any way rollover protection for the very reasons noted here.

For such reasons are things like the boot (Trunk) releases which are found in the boot on on Central locking vehicles called "Auxillary release"and not "Emergency Release".
Just in case someone is trapped in a boot during an emergency and it fails to work (or they can't find it).
All this dicatated by Lawyers and a pre-requisite to not being in court 10 years after doing your job in that windowless design office.

Rant over, now a story about a skateboarding cat.!!!!

[timmo]

Just caught up with this. [I am a terrible slow reader] ....just be glad you are alive.nothing is more precious than your kids and them having a daddy in one (albeit dented) piece.

Take care.

[Russc]

Fisrt time i have seen it as well. As someone at 6'2" i know i sit above the seat headrests and have no doubt that if i rolled it that i might not be around the next day, hence a rollbar is top of my list.

I`m sorry to hear of the accident. I hope, by now, that things are better for you and your family.

[Ekapol]

Mike,

Just saw your post. I am new at LEC.

Sorry about your loss. You are OK, that is all that matter.

That churn in the stomach is still with me from my Miata crash and I was driving carefully that morning, rush hour, everybody was travelling no more than 40 mph. And that was enough to total the car from front end damage, airbag and all.

Good that I was by myself - 1 airbag. Right after that I planned to get a car with 2 airbags atleast, somehow ended up buying Doug's Stripey. Can't resist the beauty of the design after all these years.

I read Miata enthusiast's service manual somewhere. The "A" pillar is for so that you flip the car up side down and nicey place it on the ground and it will stay there somewhat

Very shock hearing your story. We all know our car well. It's the other drivers plus something else that we don't know. I slipped on the highway pretty badly once cause the gasoline truck leaked the oil all over freeway and that was right after raining, 9 PM. I actually saw 5 cars lining up in the accident 3/4 of a mile in front of me and still I managed to be the 6th car keep them company there.

Wish you and family well, etc.

[Dico]

On the plus side the Nardi steering wheel still looked good

Have to admit, it does look good.........

On my sideboard at the moment

Actualy its a bit shredded, its going for a dark blue Hethel refurb shortly

[Gazza]

Dico

Let me know how much they are quoting you on the steering wheel to be recovered, as I have a spare nardi that I wanted doing in Dark Blue as well.

What about a discount for 2

Gary

[Dico]

Gazzaboy

Mr Parsons aka Clownfeet aka PaulP had his SE wheel done a year back at a cost of £90 ish.

I phoned Lotus's trim shop on monday. Seems you have to go through a Lotus dealer. They won't let you post it to them direct
(forgot to check the price out )

[Paul.P]

Was quoted £93 to recover a S2 wheel at lotus last year !

[clemo]

just read your posting
all a bit late to mention but hope the bumps and brusies have gone down.
have thoughts on the lack of rollover (and haven't seen the pictures) but guess its bad.
just glad you are on the mend.
the car is replaceable you are not...
best wishes
be safe

clemo