Motoring Discussion > Parking "The Beast"	Miscellaneous
Thread Author: CGNorwich	Replies: 47

Mon 23 May 11 17:31   Parking "The Beast" - CGNorwich

Not really designed for poky back streets like Downing Street. news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7976128.stm Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 23 May 11 17:46   Parking "The Beast" - henry k

lets get the basics sorted first. - straight line driving.! so much for all the goons checking things out in advance. www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13507728 But the driver is trained to do J turns. Last edited by: henry k on Mon 23 May 11 at 17:49 Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 23 May 11 18:03   Parking "The Beast" - Runfer D'Hills

I'm rather pleased by both incidents. Can't begin to understand why that's my reaction but I sort of feel that even if Mr Obama doesn't deserve the inconvenience it's still quite funny in a "you didn't think of that one did you?" sort of way. Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 23 May 11 18:08   Parking "The Beast" - Stuu

Second one did make me laugh, a true classic. Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 23 May 11 20:09   Parking "The Beast" - Dave_

>> Second one did make me laugh, a true classic Yes, made me snigger too. I did think it was a bit of overkill, bringing that car over here. Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 23 May 11 18:04   Parking "The Beast" - Armel Coussine

Didn't look much of a struggle to me. I do sometimes wonder what George VI's favoured Daimler Straight Eight limos were like to drive without power steering. Rolls-Royces were good in that respect, or all the ones I have driven were. Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 23 May 11 18:12   Parking "The Beast" - Armel Coussine

The second one is really weird. Looked to me like a front suspension collapse perhaps caused by damage when the bottom of the car hit the ground at the top of that ramp. Front suspension after the incident has clearly collapsed. One imagines it is hydraulic using aerospace rams like those low rider people in the Latino areas of Los Angeles (rather than a Citroen or Rolls-Royce system). One in the eye for Gringo knowhow there I can't help feeling. Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 23 May 11 20:02   Parking "The Beast" - DP

The second one is priceless. All the American resources, technology and detailed planning thwarted by such a comical, almost cartoonish "clank". It also amused me to note that US Secret Service agents look the same in real life as they do in the movies. :-) Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 23 May 11 20:06   Parking "The Beast" - MD

Surveillance/Planning!! Couldn't survey a Pork Pie. Absolute Crap from folk who near as damn it control the world. Another bunch of Bankers. Last edited by: Martin Devon on Mon 23 May 11 at 20:06 Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 23 May 11 21:12   Parking "The Beast" - henry k

>>One imagines it is hydraulic using aerospace rams like those low rider people in the Latino areas of Los Angeles (rather than a Citroen or Rolls-Royce system). >> I imagined it had some form of pump up suspension in case of evasive action it had to go agricultural or over a lawn and though a flower bed. What a pathetic design shortcoming but it still made me smile. Experts ??? Luv em. Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 23 May 11 21:15   Parking "The Beast" - Zero

There would be no damage when it grounded, the internals are hidden behind the armour plated blast proof bottom. It was sheer weight on the front springs that made it look like suspension failure. That thing is heavy, really heavy. The rear wheels are in the air. Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 23 May 11 21:24   Parking "The Beast" - Armel Coussine

Or perhaps, another hypothesis, the thing was jacked up to the highest possible level to get over that sharp ramp, had been misassembled or never tested under those conditions, and somehow jumped off its retaining shackles or whatever when the wheels 'dropped' over that ramp edge. Anyway it looked very embarrassing. Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 23 May 11 21:30   Parking "The Beast" - Runfer D'Hills

Was probably logged as a "motion arresting pivotised angularisation miscalculation event ....sir ! " Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 23 May 11 21:34   Parking "The Beast" - Iffy

I expect - just for a second or two - there were one or two secret service guys looking around for a grassy knoll. Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 23 May 11 21:42   Parking "The Beast" - Zero

Or Book repository. Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 23 May 11 21:43   Parking "The Beast" - Zero

>> Or perhaps, another hypothesis, the thing was jacked up to the highest possible level to >> get over that sharp ramp, had been misassembled or never tested under those conditions, and >> somehow jumped off its retaining shackles or whatever when the wheels 'dropped' over that ramp >> edge. Anyway it looked very embarrassing. Its probably self levelling, and thats exactly what it tried to door with only two wheels. Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 23 May 11 21:54   Parking "The Beast" - Armel Coussine

I don't think it collapsed because the bottom touched the ground. How did they get it in there otherwise? It just popped in some way when the wheels went over the crest and that dropped the bottom on the ground with a loud clang. Perhaps that was the number 2 or number 3 whale or whatever they call it, or a new one that hadn't been properly shaken down. One imagines that they are pretty much hand made and no two are identical. Of course Buckingham Palace Rollses have gone phut in the middle of town with the monarch aboard in their time. Such jalopies don't get used much and are almost exclusively mimsed, both quite bad for cars. Last edited by: Armel Coussine on Mon 23 May 11 at 21:54 Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 23 May 11 21:58   Parking "The Beast" - Zero

The wheels have not collapsed, nor has the suspension its simply the way its grounded. Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 23 May 11 22:05   Parking "The Beast" - MD

see-saw? Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 23 May 11 22:24   Parking "The Beast" - Manatee

>> The wheels have not collapsed, nor has the suspension its simply the way its grounded. >> >> Doesn't look that way to me. I think something went wrong before the clang. The apparent extra compression on the front suspension is anomalous. If it is grounded just behind the front wheel there would be less load on the front wheels, not more. It's broke. The protection detail must have been in a right state. Collapse of stout party. Last edited by: Manatee on Mon 23 May 11 at 22:24 Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 23 May 11 22:30   Parking "The Beast" - Zero

Watch the beemer first, check out the front wheel compression at the same point, check out the lack of clearance under the body, and then project that to the much longer, much heavier beast. Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 23 May 11 22:48   Parking "The Beast" - Armel Coussine

There's a collapse there Zero. Look at the end of the clip, and the joke negative camber on the front wheel you can see, and how close the front of the car is to the ground (those very heavy armoured things ride quite high at normal times). The weight of the engine and armour and other equipment at the front has lifted the rear wheels off the ground. They had to get the thing down there! They had already negotiated the ramp! The damn car broke man! Bumboclaat... Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 23 May 11 22:52   Parking "The Beast" - Zero

Ask yourself this question, why did it not fall back on the rear wheels with the front wheels off the ground? And they didnt go in that way, they went in the entrance 50 yards to the left of the exit. Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 23 May 11 22:58   Parking "The Beast" - Armel Coussine

It didn't fall back on the rear wheels because the front was so much heavier than the back. Back: president cocooned in soft leather and lightweight Chobham armour. Front: engine, transmission, hydraulics, emergency air supply, EMP-proof communications, emergency weapons and ammo store, 22 stone driver and bodyguard, kitchen sink etc. What's your problem Zederino? Just look at the clip. Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 23 May 11 22:59   Parking "The Beast" - Zero

>> It didn't fall back on the rear wheels because the front was so much heavier >> than the back. Exactly! that's why the front wheels look compressed. Well done AC you have it now. Reply to this message | Report message       1

Mon 23 May 11 23:07   Parking "The Beast" - Armel Coussine

>> that's why the front wheels look compressed. God you're being a pain. The suspension would not normally compress like that under the weight of the car. It has compressed like that because it has collapsed or something quite important has broken apparently on both sides simultaneously. The fact that the bottom of the car is resting on the ground wouldn't increase the weight on the front suspension. Indeed the pivoting effect of the weight of the rear end would have the opposite effect. But look at the negative camber on that front wheel at the end of the clip! That says suspension collapse, for whatever reason. I think they would have worked out in advance that the car should be able to negotiate that ramp. But something went wrong with it at, of course, the worst most awkward moment. I see some fool has given you a gong, and another (or perhaps the same one) has given me one. So you aren't alone in your stubborn idiocy Zeddo. Tchah! Last edited by: Armel Coussine on Mon 23 May 11 at 23:10 Reply to this message | Report message       1

Tue 24 May 11 09:48   Parking "The Beast" - Mapmaker

Sorry, I'm with Zero. If you advance the film frame by frame, you can see the rear wheels leave the ground and then drop back down. Clearly the car is in a seesaw position. Reply to this message | Report message       1

Tue 24 May 11 10:52   Parking "The Beast" - Focusless

>> If you advance the film frame by frame, you can see the rear wheels leave >> the ground and then drop back down. Clearly the car is in a seesaw position. It may be, but how do you explain the splayed front wheel? I can't see how there's any more weight on it than normal (less in fact if the seesaw pivot is providing some support). Looks to me like perhaps the initial contact caused a catastrophic failure (as has probably already been suggested). Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 24 May 11 07:21   Parking "The Beast" - Manatee

I've cast my vote, it's bust. With the full weight of the front on the wheels that end of the car would be at normal ride height. Put a jack under the sill just behind the wheel and the suspension would compress less, not more. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 24 May 11 11:20   Parking "The Beast" - Iffy

...I've cast my vote, it's bust... Another vote for the beast is broke. I wonder if part of its back snapped as can happen to a ship's keel in a storm. The part that grounded is not designed to take the full weight of the car, so it pivoted once, then crack! Last edited by: Iffy on Tue 24 May 11 at 11:21 Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 23 May 11 22:53   Parking "The Beast" - rtj70

>> They had to get the thing down there! Err no. There is another entrance. That's how all the cars eventually got back out - i.e. the came out the way they went in. It looks to me that the car was too long to get over the hump. Last edited by: rtj70 on Mon 23 May 11 at 22:54 Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 23 May 11 22:53   Parking "The Beast" - R.P.

Not really designed for poky back streets like Downing Street. A proper driver would have reversed in - save all that faffing about. Maybe if the Secret Service agents hadn't eaten so many pies it might have got over the hump. Lardy. Last edited by: Pugugly on Mon 23 May 11 at 22:55 Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 23 May 11 23:03   Parking "The Beast" - bathtub tom

I'm with AC on this. At the eight second mark, when it goes clang, the front suspension definitely appears to collapse. I reckon the noise could be from the car, not the car hitting the ground. The front offside suspension simultaneously compresses and the wheel gets negative camber. As it's LHD, should that be nearside suspension? Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 23 May 11 23:17   Parking "The Beast" - rtj70

>> As it's LHD, should that be nearside suspension? :-) It all reminds me of the supercar stunt they did on Top Gear in Paris - unable to get out of a car park. Some newer cars like the latest Lamborghini have hydraulics that can raise the front of the car to avoid these embarrassing moments. Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 23 May 11 23:44   Parking "The Beast" - henry k

>> It all reminds me of the supercar stunt they did on Top Gear in Paris - unable to get out of a car park. >> It is even recorded in Wiki en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_Gear_(series_7) Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 24 May 11 06:26   Parking "The Beast" - swiss tony

>> As it's LHD, should that be nearside suspension? >> No... the UK is the only place (AFAIK) that uses the description off/nearside. BTW I once had an argument with a English chap, who asked for a nearside part for his RHD car, when I got out the RH bit, he said ''no.... the other side'' I said you asked for the nearside/lefthand one.... ''No...'' he replied ''nearside - nearest the driver.....'' Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 24 May 11 06:46   Parking "The Beast" - WillDeBeest

And it refers to the nearness or, er, offness of the kerb, so it should stay the same regardless of the position of the steering wheel. Always struck me as silly and potentially confusing terminology. My car's computer uses 'left' and 'right' to tell me which door is open. How did we come to adopt the 'nearside' / 'offside' terms? Are they borrowed from the railways, perhaps, or the sea? Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 24 May 11 06:58   Parking "The Beast" - Focusless

>> Always struck me as silly and potentially confusing terminology. My car's computer uses 'left' and >> 'right' to tell me which door is open. How did we come to adopt the >> 'nearside' / 'offside' terms? Perhaps because unlike left/right it doesn't depend on whether you're looking from front or rear? Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 24 May 11 07:37   Parking "The Beast" - -

You'd think that the vehicle in question would be smoothed underneath to help prevent something snagging like this, or fitted with 'rock sliders' like serious 4x4's. I wonder if the driver had approached at an oblique angle whether the car would have made it with just a scrape. Funny but embarrasing to watch. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 24 May 11 12:16   Parking "The Beast" - Roger.

Funniest thing since Ma caught her mammaries in the wringer! Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 24 May 11 09:08   Parking "The Beast" - CGNorwich

nearside/offside have equestrian origins. Nearside is the side you (normally) mount a horse form i.e. the left. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 24 May 11 09:13   Parking "The Beast" - Runfer D'Hills

Quite so CGN. Same with pedal cycles. They should always be mounted from the left too. That's why the chain is always on the right to keep it away from your clothing as you mount and dismount. Any other method is bad manners. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 24 May 11 09:45   Parking "The Beast" - Mapmaker

>> Same with pedal cycles. They should always be mounted from the left >> too. That's why the chain is always on the right to keep it away from >> your clothing as you mount and dismount. Any other method is bad manners. What do the frogs do? Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 24 May 11 09:50   Parking "The Beast" - Runfer D'Hills

Blame Napoleon for not thinking it through presumably. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 24 May 11 12:14   Parking "The Beast" - Roger.

Frogs go "OINK" or "RIDDIT" Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 24 May 11 09:46   Parking "The Beast" - BiggerBadderDave

"That's why the chain is always on the right..." And why I have to dress to the left while cycling. Reply to this message | Report message       1

Tue 24 May 11 10:46   Parking "The Beast" - bathtub tom

An accident happened at the entrance to a military base near me that has a lot of Americans around. The defendant was acquitted because the defence counsel tied the witnesses up in knots and totally confused the jury over nearside and offside. One of the vehicles was a LHD. The Americans certainly referred to nearside and offside. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 24 May 11 11:21   Parking "The Beast" - hillman1

For fear of mentioning the dreaded Daily Mail it looks in the 2nd photo of the article (in the Daily Mail) that there was a problem with the suspension Warning- link goes to the Daily Mail! tinyurl.com/3u4cxcp Whether it was broken, or simply grounded I thought the video was very amusing :-) Last edited by: hillman1 on Tue 24 May 11 at 11:23 Reply to this message | Report message