Will Brien wrote:
<SNIP>
> performance of my car. I do not want to go to jail. However, if they allow
> pre-74 vehicles on the road that don't meet current standards, why would
> anyone get upset if one wants to return the vehicle to it's original spec?
> It's not like the small number of modified B's would turn the tide of safety
> on the road. I know I'm being a little subjective here but I don't know if
<\SNIP>
What makes me mad is that the same nation that has killed many a small fun car
from too restrictive laws, allows motorcycle riders on the road without helmets.
The same country that mandates cars meet pollution controls, safety standards,
fuel efficency standards, allows the SUV market to exist (and thrive). Ditto
for
motorcycles, trucks, minivans, etc....
The same country that will let me build a replica car to origional specs and
licence it as an
origional will not let me retrofit my factory car to match the specs of a
factory car from
just a couple of years earlier. Even if it will only see limited road use such
as pretty weekend drives in the countryside.
The same country that will let a rusted out pile of junk drive down the road and
be a hazard
to everyone, will not let me import a very sweet and safe car for my own
pleasure even if
that same car had been imported by the factory in previous years.
NOTE: I am talking about national laws not state laws.
State laws are even more arbitrary and instane.
If I want to build something and drive it on the road it should mostly be an
issue between
myself and my insurance company. I can see the government setting safety
standards but
those standards should apply to everything on the road not just to a select
group. Also
those safety standards should only apply to occupant health and not to the
amount of
sheetmetal damage. If there is a law that says a CBB is unsafe in the road then
every
car like it should also be declared unsafe on the road and special permits
should be
issued for their usage in parades and shows. No grandfathering: Is it safe or
not?
I also don't understand how a properly maintained CBB is less safe than
a RBB. The RBB is heavier and taller, and earlier ones didn't have any
engineering
compensation for these changes. Therefore, it takes longer to stop, is less
agile,
and is easier to flip over. I do understand that if you bump into something
with the
RBB you will probably do less sheet metal damage.......So what?
The bumper height theory only applies if you hit another car, trucks aren't
required to meet
this law and therefore will do just as much damage to a CBB as to a RBB. Also,
You don't
have any bumpers to protect you in a side impact and therefore both cars will
have equivalent
damage. And again, you don't have bumpers to protect you in a rollover and both
cars
will suffer similar damage. The majority of the crash protection in an accident
that is life threatening has little to do with the bumpers and far more to do
with
passenger restraints and how the body of the car collapses (or doesn't) under
the
impact.
Now that my inefectual ranting and raving at the world is done, I shall lurk
some more
and continue to look for ways to make my RBB more fun. I think lowering is the
next
modification on my list. (BTW: What was the statue of limitations on breaking
the 55mph
speed limit. Am I allowed to admit it yet, or do they still ship us dissedents
off to siberia?)
Brent
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