I don;t think that anyone here is advocating or condoning driving a Spitfire
like an idiot. I think that most of us have become better drivers from driving
these little cars.
I was rear ended by an Alfa Milano-the front of the Alfa-gone. My Spitty? A
broken tail lens cover. (I was in a left hand turn lane, foot on the brake and
was pushed up, over the island.)
The lesson? When there are drunks on the road, there's no safe driving
technique that'll save you from them. And b.)-
while I'm not advocating dangerous driving practices in a Spitfire, glad I was
in that car and not one of those little Geos or tiny Civic 'wagons'.
A little British steel and a full frame goes a pretty good way against plastic
door panels and the cheap and fast construction of many of todays bigger cars.
(My Sentra really doesn't weigh that much more than the Spit-considering the
size of the thing.)OF course, against an SUV, not many cars have a fighting
chance, do they? (There have been a couple of horrific accidents in So. Cal in
the past couple of days-involving SUVs)
But, this doesn't mean that I'm going to go out and do a 'Bullitt'! I just feel
a bit safer in the Spit rather than the Sentra and I think that's a good thing.
People who are nervous drivers (For whatever reason) tend to make more mistakes
and _cause_ accidents.
Laura G. (Flame away!)
>
>From: "Nolan Penney" <npenney@mde.state.md.us>
>Date: Fri, 14 Jul 2000 14:47:36 -0400
>To: spitfires@autox.team.net
>Subject: Re: Safety inspection?
>
>
>You misunderstand my point. I've ridden motorcycles for many years now, out
>on the public roads. From New York city to California, Canada to Mexico.
>I've taught motorcycle safety courses in years past. I've been involved in a
>number of motorcycle safety studies for many different agencies and
>organizations. Vehicle safety is something I well understand, and have no
>illusions about.
>
>A Spitfire will lose in an accident against anything larger then a poodle.
>Yes, there are always the interesting tales about how someone rammed a semi
>and how the semi collapsed and imploded and they drove away without even
>stalling. Those tales grow with the telling. Cut it however you like, the
>Spitfire is small, low, light, and has cardboard for a firewall. Just about
>anything that hits it will come up over the frame. Smack it in the front, and
>the engine is coming right up in to fondle you. A side impact... Spend some
>time in a junk yard and admire the wrecks, you'll see what I mean.
>
>So drive smart. Don't ever forget that you're in a tiny, fragile, invisible
>car. Exploit what you've got. It's nimble and it's got horns.
>
>I wear horns out on motorcycles. Someone in a Spitfire should wear out horns
>as well. Beep! "Hi there, see me?" Beep! "Hi there, don't forget I'm here!"
>Beep! "Hi there, I've got to do something." Beep! "Hi there, you're not
>paying attention."
>
>Be ready and able to use that nimbleness. Always leave an out, always be
>thinking "what if", always know where every vehicle is around you and know
>what they are doing. Practice hard manuvering so you can do it when you have
>to, and you know what you and the car cannot do. Both are vital.
>
>Never lose track of the fact that you're invisible to most, and don't count to
>the rest. So don't try to block someone from entering the roadway, don't sit
>beside other vehicles that might change lanes into you, don't play chicken.
>You won't win, and you certainly can't afford to lose. Not in a Spitfire.
>
>If you can't learn it in a great lbc, get a motorcycle for a while, that will
>teach you, one way or the other...
>
>So what was my point? A Spitfire isn't a Volvo or a Suburban. Drive like it
>is, and you may die.
>
>Safety is *always* sacrificed, it's an inherent part of compromise and life.
>Accept it and enjoy the Spitfire, but don't delude yourself into thinking a
>Spitfire is invulnerable or cross bred with a tank.
>
>The most important safety device a Spitfire has is the drivers brain. Sadly,
>this device is frequently never buckled in or turned on.
>
>
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