Boxster Racing Incident Video

[thstone]

Word on the street is that Dave's full roll cage actually cracked and deformed from this incident, but the deformation was not to the extent that the cage failed to provide full protection to the driver. This is bringing a heightened awareness not only to Boxster roll cage design, but material selection and quality of the build also. Your roll cage may only be as good as the person who designed, built, and installed it, so select a builder carefully as your life might be dependent on the skill/quality of their welds.

[jaykay]

Wow maybe smacking a wall is not too bad after all....what went on there? Is the run off area a sand dune?

You want deformation and some bending so that less energy is absorbed by your body

[Eric523]

Originally Posted by jaykay

Wow maybe smacking a wall is not too bad after all....what went on there? Is the run off area a sand dune?

You want deformation and some bending so that less energy is absorbed by your body

The track has some elevation change and this car went backwards up a slope. The slope sent the car into a quite a tumble. Most of the ground at this track is fairly hard dirt.

Some deformation maybe OK, but this was a sheered tube from what I understand. That is truly scary and not designed into any roll cage. Ideally, the stock steel exterior panels will take care of energy absorption and deformation, but the roll cage should stay put as best as possible. The Boxster cabin is small enough as it is and we can't afford much intrusion into that area. Luckily the seat had been lowered and this driver was around 5'7" and 140lbs or so.

[thstone]

Originally Posted by jaykay

Wow maybe smacking a wall is not too bad after all....what went on there? Is the run off area a sand dune?

You want deformation and some bending so that less energy is absorbed by your body

Yes, deformation and bending of the body panels and crush zones is desired to absorb energy, but the roll cage is the drivers last barrier of protection and should remain intact and not intrude into the drivers compartment.

Of course, there is the perfect world where roll cages never bend and there is the real world where weight, materials, complexity, build quality, and cost have to taken into account; but the point remains the same - if the roll cage bends inward, the drivers safety is compromised.

[jaykay]

Yes for sure. I am extremely happy that the fellow was in hurt. Yes of course one does not want the drivers protection zone compromised; one would be hard pressed to design this at the proper threshold.

I was merely saying that this bending would have likely helped energy absorption on top where you have nothing. The stuff in your head does not like rapid deceleration

[Eric523]

Originally Posted by thstone

Word on the street is that Dave's full roll cage actually cracked and deformed from this incident, but the deformation was not to the extent that the cage failed to provide full protection to the driver. This is bringing a heightened awareness not only to Boxster roll cage design, but material selection and quality of the build also. Your roll cage may only be as good as the person who designed, built, and installed it, so select a builder carefully as your life might be dependent on the skill/quality of their welds.

From what I've gathered, the main hoop failed right above the drivers head. LUCKILY, the failure happened late in the roll sequence and one more roll over might have been a disaster.

I talked with Dave this morning and will be driving up to inspect the car next week.

I think a bullet was dodged with this one. Luckily everyone was OK but this was very close to being a serious problem. Hopefully this will open some eyes about safety, roll cage design, materials, and put costs in perspective.