High hopes for new bonnet gadget

The bonnet gadget is made from tough plastic

A Devon company has teamed up with engineers from the University of Exeter to devise a gadget to stop bonnets flying open on high-speed cars.

They have used tough plastic to redesign the traditional metal gadget.

Totnes-based Specialty Fasteners and Components realised the traditional bonnet pin, a rod of metal protruding from the bonnet, needed updating.

The company took its initial ideas to the university and working together they created the AeroCatch.

'Quite tricky'

Peter Boote, Managing Director of SFC, said: "We've had positive feedback from major race and rally car manufacturers.

"Working with the university has introduced us to the latest research and development facilities, the result of which is that we have managed to keep all the specialist development and production work within the South West."

Mike Felstead from X-AT (Exeter Advanced Technologies, part of the School of Engineering at the University of Exeter) said first they created a range of ideas in 3D on the computer then built working models.

He said: "The mechanism was quite tricky, but we developed a very secure double latch effect that should keep the unit locked under the most punishing rally conditions."