Safety in your Westfield...

[corsechris]

In many ways, a Seven is a 4 wheeled motorbike. Assume the defensive approach at all times as you ARE more vulnerable.

 

Been driving ours 34 years now. So far, the only accident happened when it was parked and unoccupied.

[Flying Carrot Steve]

On 30/01/2025 at 11:40, Mat Jackson 1975 said:

I added a full cage on mine, mainly for safety but I think it actually adds to the look of the car too!!

 

Yes I prefer the look of a Westfield with a full cage too. 

[Flying Carrot Steve]

That's weird. That posted 3 times and I can't figure out how to delete them so have had to hide them. Now a super-mod is gonna think I'm massaging my forum stats! 😳

[Andrzej]

Look -  I agree but with mine body "flexibility" constantly decrasing over 50 I adore non caged Westfield for road

 

As for safety (or feeling of safety) I see Westfield lack of -proper- side bars , something that  they have in NL Westfield Cup cars. Or in MNR or MK Sportscars .

That in Westfields Cage are sth for sure, better than nothig, but i think too narrow.

[Flying Carrot Steve]

13 hours ago, Andrzej said:

Look -  I agree but with mine body "flexibility" constantly decrasing over 50 I adore non caged Westfield for road

 

As for safety (or feeling of safety) I see Westfield lack of -proper- side bars , something that  they have in NL Westfield Cup cars. Or in MNR or MK Sportscars .

That in Westfields Cage are sth for sure, better than nothig, but i think too narrow.

 

I'm in my 60s and I find getting in and out with a full cage actually easier than no cage. Getting in and out of kits with no cage is what caused my torn supraspinatus in my right rotator cuff. 8 years of pain. When you get old, get a full cage and save your shoulders! 

[Andrzej]

Must be there are different styles of getting in and out Have both and easier with no cage for me and esp mine spine

 

Sorry to hear of Your SS tear, I know its painfull and restricting. But frequently  this has many coincidental causes (previous trauma/s, tendeon degeneration, inflamation,  individual anatomical conditions etc) then when comes even not so strong stress - it can tear. 

 

As for safety and cage - just thought now - in normal car with cage is unwise to drive without helmet and special FIA energy absorbing foam on bars. I drive mine caged Westfield only on tracks so foams and helmet on. But If I want to put it on roads maybe someday not sure if will leve cage for that reason. Heard of accidents in normal cars with cages added effecting with head trauma - hitting on cage bar with head, in case of even not major accident. And driving Westfield in helmet for touring takes I think large part of the fun and experience of open car. 

 

[DeanMegaS2000]

With a cage, for me, proper harnesses are a must. So in the event of an accident, hopefully the harnesses will keep you pinned in the seat and away from the cage. 

[Andrzej]

Right, one of the stories with head injury I heard was with undone belts.

Tigjht belts also if noncollapsible steering column. (did not have collapsible one in kitcar and dont know if it is really any use in accident or it it just for legal reasons;  what distance of movement-collapse is there in reality?  )

[Euan Hoosearmy]

This is raising a good point for the taller ones amongst us. My head is above the seat headrest and also above the decorative roll bar. So I'm not in a good place to crash.

 

Once I've fitted the MSA bar that I'm currently stepping over in the garage, I'll have a nice cross bar to smack my skull into.... Some decent padding sounds like a good move.