...flying bonnet!

I think it was just a week or two ago when I declared that the one thing I check before taking the car out it that the bonnet's properly fastened...

...did you know that when you accelerate hard, and reach about 65 - 70mph, that an unfastened bonnet will fly into the air and land in the fast lane?

Fortunately a passing cyclist ran into the road and grabbed it before it got run over (he has my eternal thanks!) and, just as fortunately, it landed flat on its underside. The only damage is one small bend in a corner.

Phew!
Rescued attachment bonnet.JPG

That was bloody lucky! Did you try and catch it as it went over your head?!

No! I was in the "what the hell was that?" mode at the time...

Thats was very lucky

ive read a few posts now about people who forget to fasten their bonnets before going out. thanks god that it wasn't GRP otherwise it might have shattered in the road as it landed.

on the other hand surely its the last thing you do before you get in the car to drive away. i always start the car with the bonnet off, and allow the car to warm up for 5-10 minutes before putting the bonnet back on and then getting in the car!

No the feeling

same happened to me in the tiger
so a fibreglass bonnet went flying over my head at about 70+ mph landed in middle lane with cars going every were
luckily one stopped and protected it while i embarrassedly went and retrieved it only about same damage as yours some how
its a bit worrying for the next few times out

I think most 7 owners try this entertaining trick at some point

Popped my cherry at Donny, just before craner curves, the bloke in the elise behind me looked like this

Al.

That's the good thing about Dzuz fasteners (as long as you remember to "close" them). The chance of them coming undone is pretty small....

So the cheese on toast theory goes out of the window then and faith in society is redeemed again as a cyclist picked it up for you.
I remember losing the peak off my cycling helmet once and every sod went out of their way to run over it with their cars

its very dangerous really, when you think about it. The chance of getting twatted in the face, or someone swerving and causing an accident. Surely there must be some way to reduce the risk of it happening? A one piece bonnet and nose is the one that springs to mind, hinged at the front.

Westfields have the nicest solution - two pegs in the front that locate in the nose, and 2 locks at the back. Even if you forget to lock the back, the bonnet's going to flap around a bit before flying - at least you'll get a warning and a chance to stop before it goes.

I was wondering about some automatic latch like you get on car bonnets - the type where you have to reach under to undo it.

Alternatively, some form of microswitch to let you know that it's not fully down and latched.

Or, as I should have done, have a quick look along the side of the bonnet before I climb in!

There were too many horror stories for my liking and when heading back from SVA on the motorway to see the bonnet lifting at the front is a scary sight, luckily on that occasion i got onto the hard should and zip-tied each latch together, when i got home i bought 4 of these (2 sets of 2) from ebay.



Look quite good too, though only for AFTER SVA

mind you the above doesn't avoid you forgetting to secure them, they are just much stronger and capable of dealing with vibration that i fear the rubber SVA compliant ones are not. All in my own experience of course

I had one of those cunning plans as I wandered down to the pub this lunchtime...

How about a couple of pegs bonded to the bonnet, poking forward under the lip of the nose cone. At the back of the bonnet there could be some form of latch to fasten to the scuttle (this may not be necessary). Even if you forget to fasten the bonnet clips, it will only rattle around until you stop and fix it properly. To remove the bonnet, all you'd need to do is to undo the latches, lift the back end of the bonnet, then remove up and backwards.

[Edited on 21/12/08 by David Jenkins]

STOP PRESS
new rule added to IVA, bonnet secure light must be visible while the engine is running

you were bloody lucky david!! There doesnt seem to be much traffic about ipswich and the like today!!

found the front of my bonnet shaking a bit frighteningly coming back from SVA.
As a few have seen on here I now have 2 large pins that stick out of the front and locate in 2 holes ......

front is really secure and 2 rubber type over centre catches seem to hole the rear well

I was worried about loosing the bonnet so was toying with the idea of a central catch at the rear with a remote release....

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Originally posted by mistergrumpy

I remember losing the peak off my cycling helmet once and every sod went out of their way to run over it with their cars

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Originally posted by JoelP
A one piece bonnet and nose is the one that springs to mind, hinged at the front.

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quote:

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new rule added to IVA, bonnet secure light must be visible while the engine is running

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Originally posted by speedyxjs

quote:

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Originally posted by JoelP
new rule added to IVA, bonnet secure light must be visible while the engine is running

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I really hope you are joking. How much of a distraction would that be

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