Thread: A Bad Crash

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Originally Posted by lotsatoys

, and I do not know the man, but the folks I know who do know him aren't that surprised.

OC

First lets cut "the owner" some slack here, or at least until he heals back up and is out of the hospital. That's a pretty strong "second hand information statement" from someone that does not have the nerve to "sign their own post", IMO.

This was a well built car, that has run well into the 8's, at close to 160MPH in the quarter mile. The car has been around for a long time and all that have seen it agree, it's was impressive. It was not a thrown together car with marginal design, and equipment. I for one, and I'd bet ALL THE BUILDERS on this site are very interested to find out what really caused this crash, road conditions, a component failure, or maybe a driver error, maybe a combination of all three? We all need to learn from this and build better and safer cars. We might even find that he lived through this accident "because of the lower cage" built into the car only time will tell.

In any case lets not start pointing fingers, this site is better than that.

Originally Posted by John Palmer

First lets cut "the owner" some slack here, or at least until he heals back up and is out of the hospital. That's a pretty strong "second hand information statement" from someone that does not have the nerve to "sign their own post", IMO.

This was a well built car, that has run well into the 8's, at close to 160MPH in the quarter mile. The car has been around for a long time and all that have seen it agree, it's was impressive. It was not a thrown together car with marginal design, and equipment. I for one, and I'd bet ALL THE BUILDERS on this site are very interested to find out what really caused this crash, road conditions, a component failure, or maybe a driver error, maybe a combination of all three? We all need to learn from this and build better and safer cars. We might even find that he lived through this accident "because of the lower cage" built into the car only time will tell.

In any case lets not start pointing fingers, this site is better than that.

Wow.... this site is certainly better than your response IMHO.
as I said: "I wish him a speedy and full recovery, but also hope the true reason for the crash is addressed." I don't concider that "pointing fingers".

OC (Russ if you prefer)

I read about this crash and several others on some other forums. Seems there have been a rash of hot rod accidents real recently. I feel terrible for the people involved and wish them a speedy recovery. Steel can be fixed, but people sometimes don't.

I agree with Ken that I have a deep respect for what can happen in one of these cars when something goes wrong. They are light, don't have crumple zones, air bags, and all the modern safety features today's cars have. Plus, they are dwarfed by some of the SUV's and trailer trucks on the road. Every time I go on the interstate to some event I say silent prayers all the way that we get home safely. I keep looking over at one of my Sons in the shotgun seat and thinking how terrible it would be if something bad happened. When something goes wrong in one of these cars it happens in the blink of an eye.

All we can do is make sure our cars are built as well as possible, are maintained (steering, brakes, tires, etc) and that we drive them in a sensible, alert manner. You have to drive defensively and maybe at speeds slower than the other cars on the road, just so you have time to react.

I wish everyone involved in these accidents well.

Don

Those pictures remind me of my father in law's car after the my nephew lost control of his roadster on a slick street last year. He was lucky to walk away since he and a friend were ejected from the vehicle near a stand of trees.

I pray that the guy has a full recovery, cars can be fixed or rebuilt, but not so much the human body and brain.

Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

I read about this crash and several others on some other forums. Seems there have been a rash of hot rod accidents real recently. I feel terrible for the people involved and wish them a speedy recovery. Steel can be fixed, but people sometimes don't.

I agree with Ken that I have a deep respect for what can happen in one of these cars when something goes wrong. They are light, don't have crumple zones, air bags, and all the modern safety features today's cars have. Plus, they are dwarfed by some of the SUV's and trailer trucks on the road. Every time I go on the interstate to some event I say silent prayers all the way that we get home safely. I keep looking over at one of my Sons in the shotgun seat and thinking how terrible it would be if something bad happened. When something goes wrong in one of these cars it happens in the blink of an eye.

All we can do is make sure our cars are built as well as possible, are maintained (steering, brakes, tires, etc) and that we drive them in a sensible, alert manner. You have to drive defensively and maybe at speeds slower than the other cars on the road, just so you have time to react.

I wish everyone involved in these accidents well.

Don

So well put Don and all so John Palmer, Thankyou both for reminding us all that at the end of the day, a fellow rodder/rodders have recently been hurt in accidents that no one would wish on their own loved ones,so lets stop the blame game and pray for those people and their families for speedy recoveries. Until my health problems I was a professional truck semi driver and know all about wind gusts and sadly all about idiots on the roads. Lets all be safe out there please!!!

Do we have any follow-up info on this accident? There was another accident this week with exactly the same results. Something broke and the car suddenly turned right, hitting a tree. The driver was very lucky to have escaped with only a brokem leg. The pictures of that car are not clear enough to tell for certain but I suspect the batwing/ sppring perch hanger bolt broke.
I am really frustrated that we are unable to get to the source of these problems.

Here is a picture of the other car.

Originally Posted by volksrod

Do we have any follow-up info on this accident? There was another accident this week with exactly the same results. Something broke and the car suddenly turned right, hitting a tree. The driver was very lucky to have escaped with only a brokem leg. The pictures of that car are not clear enough to tell for certain but I suspect the batwing/ sppring perch hanger bolt broke.
I am really frustrated that we are unable to get to the source of these problems.

Here is a picture of the other car.

I agree with your comments on the parts breakage. The thing that really makes you wonder is on a Volks Rod application the front end has just a small fraction of the weight that a V8 powered rod has on the front end. Those front ends are built for V8's, just look at the number of leaves in that spring. Scary breakage.

You're right John. I just recieved another picture that helps to clarify a little bit but it poses more questions than answers. The owner of the car is supposed to call me by the end of the day. If he does, I will let you guys know what he says.

Originally Posted by volksrod

You're right John. I just recieved another picture that helps to clarify a little bit but it poses more questions than answers. The owner of the car is supposed to call me by the end of the day. If he does, I will let you guys know what he says.

Haven't seen an update from Walt, and saw these on another forum, so thought I'd put it up. I've only had minor training in reading this sort of break and it would be better with a microscope, but it does look like there is one decent sized occlusion toward the right side of the first photo and a corresponding location on the other side of the break. I'm still leaning toward hydrogen embrittlement. http://s294.photobucket.com/albums/mm108/marklh/

My opinion Hydrogen embrittlement and or occlusion coupled with a weak area where the king pin retainer bolt is installed, often driven in with a BFH would be my guesstimate. That tapered "bolt" could tend to spread the king pin hole if that BFH is less then judiciously used or whangs against the boss.

Sorry guys. There is nothing definite yet and I'm not sure that we will ever get to the bottom of the cause but it looks as though it is due to an axle that was very poorly built.
So far the consensus is that the king pin boss broke first and the rest is history. The axle is a 5" dropped axle from Magnum axle. Their claim is that it is a cast steel axle but it is really a cast iron axle. I'm still trying to confirm that. The one thing I do know..........There are a lot of used magnum axles on the market right now. I really hope that Lonnie's insurance agency get to the bottom of this.
I will post more info if I get it.
I'm still wondering if we ever got an answer to the cause of the high boy that crashed. I really think that it's important to get to the bottom of these problems and expose those responsible if we can so that there are not more unsuspecting victims.