Safety First

Aside from meeting track rules, for the sake of not getting kicked out, safety is quite often the last thing we (collectively) think of when building our hot rods. Meanwhile we continue to modify our vehicles to well beyond their original purpose and potential. It scares me to think of all the 500 to 800-horsepower rides I've seen in the last four years with no roll bar let alone harnesses, transmission blankets and other SFI-approved equipment. Worse yet, our 6 to 20-year old F-bodies didn't face anywhere near the strict safety guidelines to which car's are built today. In the event of a crash, we'll be relying on a set of out-dated front airbags and safety belts (at best) to prevent serious injury as the mostly plastic and SMC body collapses onto the small steel frame. Having been in a few accidents myself, thankfully most of which were in new or near new cars, I can assure you that is not a very comforting feeling.

Though I am sure when the new Camaro comes out, many (including myself) will complain about its weight. However, for the few unlucky souls who do get into a wreck in their fifth-gen, in the 5-seconds before impact and in all the days that follow nearly all will be thankfully GM went the extra mile to make sure it performed just as well in crash testing as on the track. As many of you know, the 2010 Camaro is built on what is being referred to as the Zeta II platform, which is the first (and latest) evolution on the Zeta I Global Rear Wheel Drive platform from which the Pontiac G8 descends. The new chassis has an even stiffer steel frame with six cross members adjoining the underbody, and a one-piece quarter panel extends the entire door ring all the way to the front frame rail. There are also high strength steel reinforcements within the door ring, and a total of six airbags. For more info on the new Camaro, check out an upcoming issue of GMHTP.