You should really consult or hire a stunt driver for this. I wouldn't be so sure about the airbags not going off... Depends on the angle of impact along with the speed. I also wouldn't try this with my own car, especially since your insurance won't cover any damage to your car or any possible bodily injury.

 

As far as the airbags are concerned I wouldnt be worried. Airbags use accelerometers to measure whether or not they should deploy. You would need a pretty severe impact to create the kind of deceleration needed for them to deploy.

 

Yeah, we did it in a Mustang at 35 km/h and had no issues. The boxes have hardly any mass--thus low momentum and low impulse. The only thing you have to worry about, basically, are hard edges or sharp things that could scratch the finish.

 

My thoughts exactly!! I love the crazy random ideas that MINI owners think of!! I am anxious to see the finished product... Sounds like it will be a great video! Hope it doesn't rain for you so you have an opportunity to try it out

 

Thought I'd check in and let you guys know that we DID shoot today. I didn't, however, use my MINI - I was too worried about scratching her up - so I rented a Ford Focus instead.

I'll post pics/video soon (digitizing and copying over all the different sources tonight) but I can report that we hit the two deep box wall at about 40 with no visible repercussions to the rental car. It WAS raining - so I wonder if that made it easier on the car or just made any resulting scratches hard to see.

Seriously though no big dents or scratches too report - so I think that it MIGHT be safe to do in your own car (totally exhilarating by the way). We used big boxes.

Here's a picture that my camera guy took off of the camera while we were driving back to Milwaukee - I'm the crazy dude on the right (this was moments before impact):



Again, I want to stress that we did this on a closed course under close supervision and guidance from industry professionals. Just because it didn't tear the car up doesn't mean that we can be reckless.

More soon!

 

I would've used my own car, even if it left a few scratches... that would be a fond memory in the bank!

I love car bonding... sigh...

 

I love that quote!

"But Mister Insurance Agent Sir, we were on a closed course under close supervision and guidance from industry professionals!"

 

Darn, I'm here too late with my idea of not even hitting the boxes, have some friends yank them away with fishing line as you arrive.

 

Here it is guys! I know we didn't drive through with a Mini but it's still cool!

 

I don't see a picture?

 

lol nice. shananagans like that are definitely a good time.

 

I love the... "didn't want to damage my own car so we rented a car" thing. If you had damaged the rental in that way, your insurance would not have covered it and you'd have paid out of pocket. Still better than scratching the MINI though !

 

that wins the prize for best use, in any manner whatsoever, of the new focus. as much as i think ford america made a terrible mistake in how they designed the focus (the euro and mexican versions look SO MUCH BETTER) that video makes it look fun to drive a focus.

imagine how much of a thrill that would have been in a mini. i'm gonna re-create this one day in my mini.