I am sure all those people that died in their fully approved, engineer designed new Toyotas that drove off into the scenery flat out and sparking the biggest automotive recall and lawsuit and statutory fine in history, would be comforted by your concerns. Lets hope their insurance was up to date. My2c
Come on fellas. Lets not turn this into another shitfight slanging match about bloody narrowed beams. it's about a child dying because of a shoddy modification. to quote my 6 year old granddaughter when voices are raised (settle gretal). this is for discussion not fighting the pro's & con's of the beam so beam me up scotty. RIP Robyn Williams
I sometimes drive a car on the street that runs a spool, with a small amount of care going into tight roundabouts and having to keep power on when going into driveways etc otherwise the car will stop, I find there's not much to worry about.
I personally know 20 odd people running spools on the street, all of these people don't go crashing into the scenery unless they are driving like dicks.
But in the wrong hands they can have lethal results, as can a bog standard car. We will never know if the locked diff caused 100% of this tragedy but from the report quoted the driver was an accident looking for a location and sadly a life was lost.
I sometimes drive a car on the street that runs a spool, with a small amount of care going into tight roundabouts and having to keep power on when going into driveways etc otherwise the car will stop, I find there's not much to worry about.
I personally know 20 odd people running spools on the street, all of these people don't go crashing into the scenery unless they are driving like dicks.
But in the wrong hands they can have lethal results, as can a bog standard car. We will never know if the locked diff caused 100% of this tragedy but from the report quoted the driver was an accident looking for a location and sadly a life was lost.
Theres a time and a place for dropping down a gear and tramping it......not with kids though.driver attitude is everything.
That said i have no concernes driving my 63 beetle with adjustable beam, drop spindles and disk brake conversion with my son in the passenger seat.
another 2cents worth
Today, we mourn the passing of an old friend by the name of Common Sense.
Common Sense lived a long life, but died from heart failure at the brink of the Millennium. No one really knows how old he was since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He selflessly devoted his life to service in schools; hospitals, homes, factories and offices, helping folks get jobs done without fanfare and foolishness.
For decades, petty rules, silly laws and frivolous lawsuits held no power over Common Sense. He was credited with cultivating such valued lessons as to know when to come in from rain, the early bird gets the worm and life isn't always fair.
Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you earn), reliable parenting strategies (the adults are in charge, not the kids), and it's okay to come in second.
A veteran of the Industrial Revolution, the Great Depression, and the Technological Revolution, Common Sense survived cultural and educational trends including feminism, body piercing, whole language and new math.
But his health declined when he became infected with the "if-it-only-helps-one-person-it's-worth-it" virus. In recent decades, his waning strength proved no match for the ravages of overbearing federal legislation.
He watched in pain as good people became ruled by self-seeking lawyers and enlightened auditors. His health rapidly deteriorated when schools endlessly implemented zero tolerance policies; when reports were heard of six year old boys charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; when a teen was suspended for taking a swig of mouthwash after lunch; when a teacher was fired for reprimanding an unruly student. It declined even further when schools had to get parental consent to administer aspirin to a student but couldn't inform the parent when a female student is pregnant or wants an abortion.
Finally, Common Sense lost his will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband, churches became businesses, criminals received better treatment than victims, and federal judges stuck their noses in everything from Boy Scouts to professional sports.
As the end neared, Common Sense drifted in and out of logic but was kept informed of developments, regarding questionable regulations for asbestos, low-flow toilets, smart guns, the nurturing of Prohibition Laws and mandatory air bags.
Finally, when told that the homeowners association restricted exterior furniture only to that which enhanced property values, he breathed his last.
Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son Reason. His three stepbrothers survive him: Rights, Tolerance and Whiner.
Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.
hellbus, I like your analogy, is meant for the people who lack common sense who make the illegal modifications to there cars without any thought for the implications, or is meant for the people who lack common sense who force the authorities to make the rules we currently have because of the illegal modifications.
kombibobAKA: Volkswagen Type 2 Transporter Van Robert
Can someone tell me what the actual purpose of narrowing a front beam is? What does it actually gain you? I genuinely want to know because I can understand nice wheels, a body kit, bigger motor etc, but altering the front track of a car seems odd. What does it actually change performance wise?
I am amazed that the emphasis seems to be on "modified cars".......what about stupid, incompetent people, for goodness sake ?
A stupid, incompetent driver can kill or maime a large number of people in a BOG-STANDARD car. On the other hand, a reasonably intelligent, skilled driver [after satisfying him/her self that the car is safe to do so] could drive a highly-modified car without causing any danger to anyone.
Problem is.....it is easy enough to legislate against vehicle modifications, but how do you legislate against stupdity, incompetence, etc.??????????
My 8 cents worth.
I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!
Narrow beams are not a performance mod they are an enhancement. In layman terms its like seeing a beatiful woman in clogs or high heels. Both are foot wear, but one enhances & one does not. We can't all wear flat sole shoes I guess (even if they are safer) My2c
Good morning all. what is the whole stretched tyre thing if you don't want wide tyres don't fit wide rims. what would be the legal implication's on a tyre company with insurance claims against it for fitting them
ernie
wow this old chessnut again. Once again Hellbus brings out the entertainment, while sounding smart. nice work man 🙂
and the grumpy old men get grumpier. I hear complaints about modifications, when the big Issue I see in the old car world is a lack of general maintenance and replacing things before they break. My 68 had a whole lot more dangerous issues when I bought it than a welded diff.
If a bogan in a commo welds his diff (cant even do that himself and pays someone $200) and kills his son.....that sucks for the son, but a typical commo driver thing to do. He propably would have done the same without the welded diff. Everyone is Peter Brock in a commo......and look where that got him??
VW060. I bet you still have many illegal and DANGEROUS!! mods on your car.