Aug 18, 2012
Car gets torn apart tumbling down a steep hill as it races up Pike’s Peak
Last weekend, race car driver Jeremy Foley and his passenger Yuri Kouznetsov took a terrifying fall down into a rocky ravine as they participated in the 2012 Pike’s Peak International Hill Climb…
As the car falls further apart with each bounce, it’s hard to imagine how the men will survive, but they do. They were, of course, taken straight to the hospital, but were soon released with minor injuries — a few bruises and a dislocated shoulder. This, despite the fall being, according to Kouznetsov, a “big washing machine of pain and violence.”
So here’s the question I’m left with: If the construction of race cars make this fall possible to survive, why aren’t ordinary cars built similarly?
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The simple answer to your question is cost. No one wants to pay 200,000$ for a safe car
And beyond that, how about the fact that people like gas efficiency? Or being able to open all their doors and get in without being blocked by a roll cage? Or the fact that these guys were wearing helmets? Or that no one wants to go through the trouble of putting on the seatbelts used in race cars?
Yeah, i agree Tristan. It would feck you off to no end having to put on the five point harness just to pop to the local shop for some milk or whatever lol. On top of that, putting on the helmet, firesuit, race suit, boots, gloves etc. Then having to call your mechanics up to check all diagnostics etc before you are safe to go. Take about a bugger trying to find all the gear for your family as i’m sure they will need to travel with you at some point. Have you ever tried to fit a baby or child seat in a car with proper roll bars? OMG!!! Could…you…emagine??? lmao ;)
Best part:
“Whoa… that’s way worse than last year”
A few reasons.
1. A normal car is squishy and needs to take other things into account, e.g. pedestrians etc. So the priorities / balance is different.
2. It’s not only the “outside” of the car that matters, race cars use racing seats, six point harnesses and drivers and passengers wear helmets, this all adds to the safety of the passengers.
3. If you’ve ever seen these cars you know that at best you can call them “sparse” in the interior.
Simply put: Nobody would buy a car like this to go grocery shopping. Just try to squeeze yourself into the (custom made) racing bucket and put on a six point harness if you wonder why.
I think he survived because of the roll cage that has been installed within the car. You can see the additional bars when the car’s body gets stripped away during the fall. Mind you, having the roll cage normally means no more back seats and upholstery within the car.