One peculiar aspect of MGB safety is the combination of its light weight
with the heavy, and therefore strong, gauge of its metal. The light weight
and skinny tires mean that the car will often be 'knocked silly', but all
that travel absorbs enegry that would otherwise find its way to the driver.
I know this because my B was once hit by a full sized pick-em-up truck
barreling along at 45mph. The car and I were sent on a jaunt of maybe thirty
feet. Crunched rear fender/tail light gone. Drove away (though not legally,
with the taillight and all). Truck? Crunched front fender, bent bumper,
ruined grill and punctured radiator -- towed away. However, I would have
declined a head-to-head rematch.
About pepper spray and dogs. Not very effective. In fact, I've bought some
that the advertisment on the box had 'guarddog' marked out on the list of
bad guys it would deter. I also had the unfortunate opportunity to find out
for myself when a Rottweiler came after my border collie. The spray did
nothing. Fortunately my border collie is a cocky little bitch, and despite
the fact that the rotty may have out weighed us both she 'went low' and kept
him occupied with protecting his throat and belly whilst I pounded him with
my walking stick. Our resistance was not futile and he retreated. It seems
dogs are sometimes so single minded that they don't realize their discomfort
until after the fact, and even then the pepper spray isn't as effective as
it is on non-drugged humans (drunks and druggies, from what local police
tell me, are also pepper resistant).
Michael, New Bern, NC
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