Roll Cage Side Protection

[RobSelina]

Wondering what you guys who race are doing to meet the SCCA required side impact protection starting next year?

I'm looking at the SCCA GCR p103. Under subsection 7 it states that two side tubes are required connecting the front and rear hoops accross both door openings. These are 1.5" DOM tubes (minimum) per the regs.

The allowance that they can enter the door cavity really helps with elbow room, but how exactly can you clear the seat? Stock seats, miata seats and the poly buckets I've considered are all too wide to accomodate a 1.5" tube between them and the B pillars.

Thoughts? suggestions?

I figure I can't be the first to ponder this....

BTW - my 4x4 club got it's new JD2 Model 3 tube bender and 1.5"x4.5"x180-degree die in last week. Now I just need our bulk tubing order to be resolved /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[jlaird]

Well takeing a chance here, but put em on the outside? Gesh what a solution. All you would need is a high tech name for them.

 

[RobSelina]

called exo-cages in the 4x4 world. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif


You're allowed to run them inside the door and modify the door accordingly, but to really make that work on a spridget I'd have to go through the b-pillar too, which isn't allowed (at least as I read it).

 

[Bugeye58]

Rob, my door bars acually start at the plane of the rear bulkhead. They then angle outward and forward, and are inset into the "B" pillar. They extend out until they are nearly touching the inside of the door skin, before coming back in at the "A" pillar. I'm running a Kirkey 15" aluminum seat, which is 17" wide at the widest point, (the shoulders) including the upholstery. I've got 24" between the inside of the tunnel, and the inside of the door bar on the drivers side. I don't know how you are going to reconcile this with "Street" seats.

Of course, mine is a '62, without window mechanisms, inner door panels, or side impact beams to contend with. I don't see where you are prohibited from going into the "B" pillar.
What class are you preparing the car for? There are different standards for different classes. Your reference to pg 103 of the GCR refers to Showroom Stock cages.My rules are on pg 116.
Jeff

 

[RobSelina]

Thanks for the info Jeff.

I'm in SP which requires showroom stock cages.

My main hoop will tie in to the chassis behind the b-pillar, and going through it as you have seems the most logical aproach to me too, but I wasn't sure that was allowed....

 

[Bugeye58]

Rob, I'll try to get a digital camera and take a couple of pictures of the way mine is built. One picture is worth......................
Jeff

 

[RobSelina]

Thanks Jeff, I'd apreciate that!

 

[RobSelina]

60' of 1.5" DOM 0.095 wall on order /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif

For those wondering about steel prices, ended up costing $2.76/ft.....

Now I just need to figure out how I want to build it /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif

 

[RobSelina]

BTW, found an excelent writeup on harnesses:

https://www.corner-carvers.com/wiki/index.php?Notes%20on%20Race%20Car%20Harnesses

Also see:

https://www.corner-carvers.com/wiki/index.php?In-car%20Safety%20Issues

I was planning on using a 5-pt harness like I have in the jeep, but after reading this, I'm positive I'm getting a 6-pt harness. Might also have to reconsider my plans for a grant steering wheel & summit's cheap roll bar padding. Better safe than sorry!

 

[DesertSprite]

Good articles.

 

[Bugeye58]

Rob, here's a shot of the Spit, so you can see how tall I made the cage. The guy that bought it is much taller than I, and has no helmet clearance issues at all.
Jeff

 

[Bugeye58]

Rob, here's one of the Sprite, that somebody took, and then photoshopped as a joke. I wasn't really on the grid.
Jeff

 

[jlaird]

Ahh, Jeff. Bummer, looked like you had that intense look in your eye even.

 

[Bugeye58]

Jack, that picture was actually taken in the driveway of good friend, and fellow forum member, Tim Hollister. I was just trying it on for size before getting it home, and Tims wife shot it from the 2nd floor deck, unbeknownst to me. It then magically appeared on our Waterford Hills website.
It's funny you should mention intensity, as after a race one day, someone came over to me, and said they had been trying to get my attention while I was on the grid. I was so focused, that I never even saw them! I was already on track, in my minds eye.
Jeff

 

[Hap Waldrop]

Jeff, can you tell me how to add attachments, please sir.

 

[SilentUnicorn]

here ya go Sir, a FAQ and how to post images.
https://www.britishcarforum.com/lore/category.php?id=7


mark

 

[Bugeye58]

Hap, this takes you directly to the procedure involved. If I can do it, anybody can.
What do you think of the cage design in the Sprite?

https://www.britishcarforum.com/lore/article.php?id=014

Mark, this link goes to the specific quesion, rather than the contents.
Jeff

 

[aeronca65t]

[ QUOTE ]
Rob, here's one of the Sprite, that somebody took, and then photoshopped as a joke. I wasn't really on the grid.
Jeff

[/ QUOTE ]

Ah Ha!
The super-secret invisible engine!
Very light and impossible to test for illegal parts!

I've always wanted one of those.. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif

 

[Bugeye58]

Actually, Nial, there's a 1275 in it in that picture. The ugly orangish blob is the cylinder head. It's got a proper, 94 HP 948 in it now, although I <u>am</u> running double ultra secret rods made of clear Titanium! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazyeyes.gif
Jeff

 

[jlaird]

94 HP 948, oh my goodness. How can that be?

One day Jeff you are going to have to send me an email and tell me all about that.