You misunderstand my point. I've ridden motorcycles for many years now, out on
the public roads. From New York city to California, Canada to Mexico. I've
taught motorcycle safety courses in years past. I've been involved in a number
of motorcycle safety studies for many different agencies and organizations.
Vehicle safety is something I well understand, and have no illusions about.
A Spitfire will lose in an accident against anything larger then a poodle.
Yes, there are always the interesting tales about how someone rammed a semi and
how the semi collapsed and imploded and they drove away without even stalling.
Those tales grow with the telling. Cut it however you like, the Spitfire is
small, low, light, and has cardboard for a firewall. Just about anything that
hits it will come up over the frame. Smack it in the front, and the engine is
coming right up in to fondle you. A side impact... Spend some time in a junk
yard and admire the wrecks, you'll see what I mean.
So drive smart. Don't ever forget that you're in a tiny, fragile, invisible
car. Exploit what you've got. It's nimble and it's got horns.
I wear horns out on motorcycles. Someone in a Spitfire should wear out horns
as well. Beep! "Hi there, see me?" Beep! "Hi there, don't forget I'm here!"
Beep! "Hi there, I've got to do something." Beep! "Hi there, you're not paying
attention."
Be ready and able to use that nimbleness. Always leave an out, always be
thinking "what if", always know where every vehicle is around you and know what
they are doing. Practice hard manuvering so you can do it when you have to,
and you know what you and the car cannot do. Both are vital.
Never lose track of the fact that you're invisible to most, and don't count to
the rest. So don't try to block someone from entering the roadway, don't sit
beside other vehicles that might change lanes into you, don't play chicken.
You won't win, and you certainly can't afford to lose. Not in a Spitfire.
If you can't learn it in a great lbc, get a motorcycle for a while, that will
teach you, one way or the other...
So what was my point? A Spitfire isn't a Volvo or a Suburban. Drive like it
is, and you may die.
Safety is *always* sacrificed, it's an inherent part of compromise and life.
Accept it and enjoy the Spitfire, but don't delude yourself into thinking a
Spitfire is invulnerable or cross bred with a tank.
The most important safety device a Spitfire has is the drivers brain. Sadly,
this device is frequently never buckled in or turned on.
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