[twobjshelbys]

You do understand that the dynamics of the passenger side are very different from the driver side in two respects:
1. Roll bar
2. Shoulder harnesses.

After many discussions with some very respected Cobra drivers (Bondurant being one) about passenger safety and a firm no negotiation stance from Shelby American you should note the following:

Without a roll bar there shall be no shoulder harnesses. SAI is firm in that there is no safe attachment point in the trunk area that shoulder harnesses can safely be attached. Period. That is their position as a manufacturer. The bar that goes across the back is not sturdy enough to be a restraint in the case of a head-on collision and the chances of head contact with the dash are almost 100%.

Second, let's say you do accept the risk and put shoulder harnesses but no roll bar. Then the problem is with SOME head on (but not all) but almost ALL rollover incidents. Why? Because if you have shoulder harnesses they will hold you upright. And if you are held upright and don't have a roll bar then guess what? YOU ARE THE ROLL BAR!!!! So the passenger's head, neck and spine supports the passenger side of the car that is supported by the roll bar on the driver side.

As a result (and what Bondurant told me) is that a passenger's chances of survival in a major crash are greater with simply having a properly mounted lap belt. But that they NEVER took a passenger on the track. When I considered using my Cobra at a Bondurant advanced class I was told I would not have an instructor in the car for this reason. (I didn't take the car because of inclement weather.)

pgermond should count his lucky stars that his wife wasn't mortally injured.

PS. As a result of an on-line email exchange between Gary Patterson (before he was Shelby CEO, and which my wife was able to see) in which we discussed SAI's position, my wife never rode in the Cobra again.