rx7locost wrote:
...it does remind all of us to give a very close inspection of our entire car as we come out of hibernation this Spring and even a few times during this driving season. [snip] Did they (we) apply that gained knowledge to all the suspension parts? The only way to know is to inspect our cars.
Absolutely right, Chuck. I do daily suspension inspections because the suspension is the place where a component failure can kill you. I check my suspension at least ten times as often as I check my oil--an engine failure may have you coasting to the side of the road, a suspension failure may have you darting into oncoming traffic. That is one area where the Se7en style beats full bodies--the open architecture makes it lots easier to preflight.
Miatav8,MstrASE,A&P,F wrote:
lmho, it is apparent from the xcars gallery pics that the front lcap bracket forward flange was cracked before running off the track, based on the rust I see in the crack, the condition of the right (opposite) side bracket, and the video.
I share that opinion. While the final failure was pretty much instantaneous, it seems to have gradually worked its way to the failure stage, and during the time it was weakened but holding, some of the damage was probably visible. A good reminder to inspect thoroughly and inspect often.
C10CoryM wrote:
I wasn't aware the Locost name held such pedigree.
Oh, it doesn't. Locosts are all over the place. A Locost is an inexpensive scratch-built sports car, inspired by Ron Champion's book, which was inspired by the Lotus Seven. The Stalker is the one with the pedigree. It is a branded, professionally manufactured kit car, and if you were building and selling Locosts and calling them Stalkers, I'm confident the Stalker folks (or their attorneys) would have words with you.
C10CoryM wrote:
Far as I am concerned, if it looks remotely like one and isn't designed/built with professional engineers; it's a Locost. The Stalkers were designed/built by some guy in his backyard.... no different than me. The fact that they have problems is proof of this.
I don't know the Stalker designer's credentials, but I know professional engineers make mistakes too.
C10CoryM wrote:
I couldn't care less about names, politics, or what to call what car...this topic is not related to this thread...I truly do not care about the semantics of "Locost".
In my heart of hearts, I'm with you on this (for example, I can't tell a Ford from a Chevy without looking at the badges, and I generally just call them "cars"). However, if we want to encourage Stalker drivers, as well as Locost drivers, to inspect their suspension closely and often, we should acknowledge that
they care about names even if
we don't. When a Stalker (or Caterham) driver reads about a Locost suspension failure, they think Not My Circus, Not My Monkeys--they don't drive Locosts so it's not their problem. So in this case, it might be better to call a spade a spade, instead of a club, man.