Frank, I once drove my bug-i from Reno to Sack-o-tomato with the bonnet
unlatched at 70-80 mph and no safety catch. It never showed any sign of
lifting. Just the thought of what could have happened......
Crash
-----Original Message-----
From Frank Clarici <spritenut at Exit109.com>
To: Spridgets <spridgets@autox.team.net>
Date: Friday, December 29, 2000 16:09
Subject: Safety Check
>Square body Spridget owners
>
>For your own safety and piece of mind, grab the front lip of
>your bonnet,
>wiggle it vigorously from side to side and up and down, see if
>it unlatches.
>
>The 67 Sprite I am working on showed signs of a creased cowl.
>I know from experience that when a bonnet pops open and flys
>up, it will crease the cowl, smash the widscreen, and fold
>over the top. (My own 67 Sprite did just that back in 1972)
>When the bonnet flys open, not only does it do damage to the
>car but you can not see. Picture 50 mph and all of a sudden
>you are blinded by a bonnet covering your windscreen. Aim for
>the shoulder and hope for the best.
>
>The 67 I am working on recently popped it's bonnet on a short
>drive.
>I know it was latched and I always give them a tug after I had
>one pop.
>So I grabbed it, wiggled it and it popped open fairly easily.
>The catch was worn out just a bit and this was the cause.
>
>Maybe this problem is unique to 67 Sprites, I doubt it. Check
>those bonnet catches. I fixed this one before anything
>happened to me. And sure there is a safety catch on Spridgets
>too but back in 72, my safety catch didn't help.
>
>
>Frank
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