Roll bars are primarily used in motorsport to protect the occupant (or occupants) from injury in the event of a rollover. BBut some people in Russia want to give a whole new meaning to the design of roll bars.
You guessed right. We talk about our favorite Russians from Garage54, and their latest experiment involves another Lada and a roll cage to allow the vehicle to roll over. It’s a weird contraption like any other Garage54 experience, but it looks a lot of fun.
First, the Lada. The Russian scientists cut the vehicle to shorten its wheelbase, and the ground clearance was raised to make the Lada look like a chunky coupé. The interior was also stripped down, leaving the driver with essentials like a seat with a harness, steering wheel and other electrical items. There’s no windshield for obvious reasons, but at least there’s a speedometer placed in an odd position.
As for the roll cage, these guys made one out of steel and welded it to the outside of the vehicle, unlike the typical construction in the cabin. Sounds weird but that’s normal for these guys. The goal was to rock the Lada on a full 360 degree forward roll, so the steel cage was designed to do just that.
The initial work involved hard work by the crew, turning the Lada over manually so the driver could get a feel for the stunt before the actual experience. Then, after a few attempts, the scientists were able to complete the stunt, accelerating to a certain speed and stopping abruptly to initiate the flip.
As always, don’t try to replicate this crazy stunt at home. We all know these guys do these things in the name of science, so leave the crazy antics to the professionals.
