This doesn't look too good!!

[Roger Pennington]

More like that of the SS1, IIRC?

Yes, I often think that if you consider the central "core" of the SS1 chassis, then it really has a very strong resemblance to the Elan. In the case of the Elan though, that's all you've got, the occupants are basically just sitting in a GRP tub, whereas in the SS1 you've got the extra outriggers and side rails, A and B pillars, plus the rear end structure inside the boot. Not to mention the armatures as well.

Of course in the case of a racing Elan, the above wouldn't be true, because it would have to have a comprehensive cage structure (though the boot presumably falls outside this, hence the damage).

[*JP*]

The Elan has strong steel reinforcement at the bottom of the cill to create the official jacking points,you can (or could) jack up anywhere along this to raise the front, rear, or all of one side of the car.Very strong originally,but weakened by the passage of time,like a Scimitar's outriggers...

[Roger Pennington]

Very strong originally,but weakened by the passage of time,like a Scimitar's outriggers...

Not if they're galvanised, as many SS1s are (including mine ) - and don't forget it was SS1s specifically that I was refering to. Also, is the Elan jacking point section actually joined to the rest of the chassis?

[*JP*]

Very strong originally,but weakened by the passage of time,like a Scimitar's outriggers...

Not if they're galvanised, as many SS1s are (including mine ) - and don't forget it was SS1s specifically that I was refering to. Also, is the Elan jacking point section actually joined to the rest of the chassis?

True,Roger,I was merely thinking of my 6A ones. On the Elan it's just glassed in metal reinforcement and I don't believe any wise owner would jack here now, due of course to possible corrosion of the steel as well as the grp becoming more brittle with time.The Elan design was always fundamentally different in that neither the lightweight backbone chassis nor the grp body were individually that strong but their combined rigidity was excellent for the time.
John.

[turbster]

im guessing as all the cars involved are GRP (am i right on that one?) the bodyshell took a lot of the impact, if it were metal we'd be looking at matchbox crashed versions of the cars!

The Seven is an original one so just a GRP nose and ally panels, have a look here
http://www.snappyracers.com/album/07051 ... index.html
Scimitar nowhere near as bad as I expected, shouldn't need a re-shell just a donor, but got to be suspension and front corner chassis damage surely.. Elan doesn't look any better tho

[MikeyBikey]

turbster

sent you a pm

[Taggers]

Daft question, but who gets to pay for all that?

[Roger Pennington]

It's just bad luck. Unless you have a large enough budget to afford on-track insurance (not cheap AFAIK, so most people probably haven't got it, and it only covers your own car of course) then you just have to put your hands in your pocket to pay for for your own damage.

[Taggers]

I figured that, but it must sting when you are essentially taken out by someone having an accident all on their own. Must have been a fine discussion back at the paddock.

[Roger Pennington]

Yep.....

A similar thing happened to my brother when he was racing - someone spun out in front, and at the last moment the kerb flicked them back into the pack. He was left half-way up the armco with three corners pointing in different directions - and not a happy bunny

[turbster]

Yeah, like roger says, you've got to accept it could happen or pay a lot for insurance.... only punishment would be points on comp licence or fines if found to be reckless... still doesn't help the innocent party though..

[ScimitarMatt]

Morning all,

I had an email this morning from a professional photographer who's been following the thread on the orange 5a that wiped out the Elan recently at Brands Hatch and he wanted me to pass on the link to his pictures of the accident. His email is pasted below for all to see

cheers, Matt
........................................................
Date: 12 May 2011 09:07:55 AM GMT+01:00
To: press.officer@rssoc.co.uk
Subject: Brands accident

Morning, hope you don't mind the direct email (wasn't sure who to send it to) I am the photographer for the CSCC and cover all the UK events.

I don't like to register on a forum just to make one post with a link to my site - bad form I think. I have read that a few of the guys have asked about the accident at Brands on Saturday, I have a sequence of shots on my site here

http://david-stallard.smugmug.com/Petro ... 04_t9GvP8D

Please feel free to post the link up or let the relevant parties know - your decision of course. Thank you for your time.

.DAVID.

--
http://david-stallard.smugmug.com/

[philhoward]

I think that was one of the (many) links already on the thread (somewhere in page 2 IIRC) - but fair play to David. Like his professional approach.