Nice to see you are doing well. I read the other post before your pics were available. I may have missed it but what was the cause of the accident? Mechanical failure, structural failure, tire? I think some others have asked in the previous post so others can check their cars for a same or similar problem.
Bob, what amazes me is the fact that the roll cage bar is pushed down right about to where your shoulders would be. And there is little room between it and the steering wheel. You probably landed in the only position inside the car that would allow you to live and not crush you. Guardian Angel for sure. Heal body and mind. Spring is coming and you'll be racing again soon. Best wishes.
Yardley, The pictures may be alittle missleading, that section of the roll cage was cut to get Bobb out of the car(they cut the roof also) the roll cage section was just set inside the interior. The roll cage definatly did its job! There is a place where the roll cage pulled a section of the frame out, the weld did not break. Bobbs car was a VERY well built car, accidents happen, we all know that, it is important that we build our cars with safety in mind! :Smarty: Though the steering wheel is definatly shoved back, the entire drivers frame rail is shoved back well over 3 feet, the factory column collapsed as designed, the frame kept going, it actually sheard the steering gear bolts off. I read in anouther post about how far forward that he must have come, his belts were on and tight, thats just how far back the dash and steering column came! Just didn't want anyone to think that his roll cage didn't hold up! :TU: :TU:
Perry I didn't need to loss the 30 pounds the day before my car had run a couple 1.37 sixty foots but I was chasing the carb. Got the carb were it was happy by mid afternoon the track had stated to go away and the temps were at 87 degrees on our weather station the last good pass that day was 1.41 sixty and a mid 9.80 at almost 136. I came off the trailer Saturday with everything cold but the motor and ran 9.90. From the first pass to the second my car will pick up .10 to .13 I figured if no tree I could have gotten the 9.70 with a good sixty foot. But we will never know DAMN IT. :af: :af:
You lived to tell the tale, that's all that matters. Just wonderin, did your rollcage have one of those bars that goes behind the dash?
.....and for whatever it's worth, your car had a better 60' left in it which goes to show you how hard your car ran AFTER the 60 foot lights. Perry Carlini
That's a tight fit for a big dude... Bobb - So glad to see you are up and around. Thank you for posting these and for your frank discussions on safety. See you soon, K NSCA AM #4
Perry I know you were just bustin on me. It was so close to that 9.70 pass I could almost feel it. I know there is more sixty in it just finding it is the issue. some of us (Perry) have the inside track with the best in the country when it comes to that. :TU: . Well I'm out of it now anyway I will have fun watching then I'll belt up for the 16. If I would have know I might have held up on the tube car. But it's to late know.
Cody No it didn't infact the chassis guy said he won't do one with out it again. But after we talked on it and looked at it I'm not sure how much it would have done side to side the cage did very little. what would have been the most good would have been x bars in the doors. It would have giveing the front bars more strength. All that being said the cage moved very little the parts that were cut out seem to be very straight and as stated before welds were intacked and all we found was one cracked on the passenger side of the car that may have come from the rescue crew cutting and pushing with hydroulics to get me out. There are things I would do a little different like not telling my chassis guy to not x the doors. It would effect my swing out bar. I would have a chute on it. and maybe some diffrent parts in the brakes (master cylinder and push rod). As I dig into the car I may find more and if i do I will pass it along. New focus in race over build saftey
Great advise my friend, i plan..as you know... doing all that with my 11 sec car....which it will become after i add all this weight. Bout the only safety issue left is finding enough fireproof styrofoam peanuts to fill the car with. :spank: After taking part of this journey with you, the changes in the car are mandatory. Seeing is believing. I am still amazed to this day, your speed of recovery, your MORE than positive attitude, and your ability to deal with the unfortunate. I am glad to be your friend. I am sure you have given strenth to many during the past few weeks. See ya sunday!!!
wow that is amazing that you survived that, only way to survive one of those is some help from above, good you made it through bob oh on a side note, not sure what your doing with the car, dosen't look like much left but the parts you can un-bolt, looks like there may be one other thing tho, if its solid i would cut the whole rear window channel out, cut it all the way up to the roof, give alot of room for error, also take the deck filler panel.
BuickGSXJuiced, This isn't the old west! The man is still kick'n no need to steal his boots!(but I am second on the fillerpanel)
What ! You forgot the tail light's ....... ou: Bob knows whats left to put on another car .... :shock: I think Bob has it "all " in mind ....
Man I can see you guy's circling over the CARcus. But sorry we do plan on cutting the car in half and keeping it the rear quarters they are dented but not rusty so we will leave it as one piece. Mike if you head out to cecil you can find most of the grill it will be right next to the tree with no bark on it LOL. There is a few pieces left but not much. I think you all would be surprized what I will be able to salvage the damage is mostly cosmetic LOL. :laugh: :laugh: OK maybe a little more than that. :ball: :ball: :ball
Bobb - like I said, I watched the whole thing and the only time they used the hydrolic ram was to spread the drivers side door back open - the rest was just cutting.
Hey Bobb, As everyone has said, it's good to hear you're doing OK. I'm glad we'll get to meet up again sometime. Just thought I'd pass along something I found on brake rods and master cylinders. I ordered a manual brake master cylinder and pushrod from Masterpower Brakes. When I got them I was very impressed. The pushrod is about 3/8" diameter solid steel. The "cup" in the MC piston is actually a hole that is about 1"-2" deep. The rod comes too long so you can cut it to fit. The rod goes so deep into the piston that I have to remove the master cylinder to get the rod out. I would almost guarantee that this rod will not bend, and even if it did, it will not fall out. I just thought someone may need that information. Have fun. Get well soon!
