[Roadsters] Alternate replacement windshield idea - OT: roo bars

[Ken.Smart at csiro.au]

This is off topic.....

"It is estimated that at least 20,000 kangaroo/vehicle collisions occur
on Australian roads each year. The hazards of kangaroo strike range from
cosmetic vehicle damage to occupant injury, and vehicle immobilisation
presents a real concern to drivers in remote areas."

Roo bars or bull bars are probably equally divided between rural/country
vehicles and Range Rovers And other SUVs in the cities that never go off
road in their life.
Here are a couple of indicative photos I found on the web.

New ones or ones built for new cars look like this and must comply with
Australian design rules regarding protruding objects and not interfering
with air bags etc.
http://www.blueys.com.au/acc_bullbars.htm

On older cars there are less design rules and no air bags this is a
typical rural ute with what is termed a 5 post roo bar (5 vertical
posts) they can be 4" or even 5" tube generally raked forward a little
(very bad for pedestrians!) so the roo goes under the vehicle? and can
normally take about 4 or hits before replacement or a major rebuild
depending on the size of roo and where you hit it.
http://www.blueys.com.au/poorbastard17.htm

To go off topic even further (sorry) there is even a Feral class of ute
http://www.abc.net.au/northqld/stories/s1101014.htm

Ken

-----Original Message-----
From: datsun-roadsters-bounces+ken.smart=csiro.au at autox.team.net
[mailto:datsun-roadsters-bounces+ken.smart=csiro.au at autox.team.net] On
Behalf Of Phill Brook
Sent: Wednesday, 16 January 2008 10:33 AM
To: Gary McCormick
Cc: datsun-roadsters at autox.team.net; O'Farrell,Fergus
Subject: Re: [Roadsters] Alternate replacement windshield idea

I've seen a few nudge bars but no roo bars on Aussie roadsters.
Unless you catch them mid-jump, kangaroo damage is usually below
windscreen height.  An Aussie driving hint: never it a wombat, it will
take out your whole front end.

I don't know if any of you guys (and gals) have seen the Renault Spider.
The normal version had a windscreen but the motorsport version had an
interesting air diverter on the cowl, that directed a wall of air about
where the screen would be, which stopped lot of buffeting and bugs (no
buffett of bugs :-) )

Wikipedia entry with a pics: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renault_Spider

Phil B

On 16/01/2008, at 6:26 AM, Gary McCormick wrote:

> Do any of our "Down Under" Roadster buffs have  roo bars on their
> roadsters - or any of their other cars? What I'm envisioning is a
> heavy-duty roo bar arrangement, with rollcage-like extensions to
> deflect the elk/deer, etc. up and over the passenger compartment w/o
> damaging any hard-to-replace components such as windshield, frame or
> Roadster owner...  ;^)
>
> Gary McCormick
> San Jose, CA
>
> "O'Farrell, Fergus" <Fergus.OFarrell at ngc.com> wrote: Short of a
> winshield frame and cowl transplant, here's another idea for our
> fortunate friend Richard Brown, after his elk-counter (encounter)
>
> http://www.callawaycars.com/callaway/main/contentpages/images/c164.jpg