• Hi Guest!
    You can help ensure that British Car Forum (BCF) continues to provide a great place to engage in the British car hobby! If you find BCF a beneficial community, please consider supporting our efforts with a subscription.
    There are some perks with a member upgrade!
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this gawd-aweful banner
Tips
Tips

Roll bar wall thickness for sprite?

Share this page

S

subterranean

Freshman Member
Offline
Hi,

Long time lurker, first time poster.

I'm building a new roll cage for a '67 sprite that will be racing in sovren (nw vintage). I've settled on using 1 3/4 dia. for the main hoop and supports but am unclear what wall thickness to use, I'd like to have the option of using the car for scca racing in the future and would like to make sure the main roll tube and supports meet safety specs. I've tried to decipher the scca rule book but as a newby I'm feeling a little out of my depth. I believe it's either .120 or .095.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks much,
Tim
 
Back in the day, I think I remember the requirement to be .120. Haven't read the rules in 40 years but I'd go with the .120. It's too late, when that bad boy goes TILT, to wish you had the .120 instead of .095.
 
The NASA CCR says:

1501-2200lbs, 1.5" x 0.095" DOM steel tube.

2201-3000lbs, 1.5" x 0.120" DOM steel tube.

Be sure to use DOM and not EWR steel tube.

If you're wondering how much weight-saving you'll have with the 0.095", you can ~Check Here~
 
Most people in Spridget use 1.5" x.095 DOM, 1-3/4 is kinda big and bulky for a Spridget
 
Hi Tim, I look forward to another intrepid SOVREN racer.

I'm in Sedro Woolley and run a 100-6 so I don't have any direct answers for you but I do have a good suggestion.

Robin Bee lives in Clinton somewhere and of you haven't met him yet, you will 'cause he is a SOVREN Tech inspector and raced a TR3 until about a year ago. He is listed in the SOVREN membership roster for contact info. He used to own a British repair shop in Seattle and it quite knowlegable about the safety regs as well as British sports cars.

I have found that if you seek adivice from a tech inspector and follow it, he will be easier to satisfy when you go for tech inspection. And Robin is a really nice fellow who is always ready to help racers - who know he may even have some demon tweaks to share with you.

Another guy that is in our area is Bill Mote (also in the SOVREN Membership roster). Bill lives in Arlington and has a really nice green Sprite and knows a lot of demon tricks for makiing a hot hot motor. I expect he also has good info on roll bars.

The only thing I know for sure is that the main hoop has to be one piece with no splices.

So, welcome aboard and feel free to PM me if you think I can help in any way (don't have much knowlege about Sprites but you never know, I still may be able to help).

Dave Phillips
 
Hey, thanks Dave.

I actually know Robin but he left for better weather with his wife and rv a month ago. He's a funny guy (in a good way) and very enthusiastic.

I've got the roll cage all worked out thanks to the help of the guys on this forum but I won't hesitate to ask when I have more questions.

I'll see you at the races hopefully soon, mine will be the blue sprite currently #247.

Cheers and thanks again,
Tim
 
Back
Top