To bar or not to bar

[Lewis_McDorman]

I asked my British car guy if I should replace my lap belts with over-the-shoulder belts. He said absolutely not, unless I have a roll bar. Says he: with over-the-shoulder you cannot attempt to protect yourself in a roll-over by leaning over or to the side (if that's at all possible). Over-the-shoulder holds you upright, and that's not the desired position in a roll-over.

I think what you're saying is absolutely correct with a 4- or 5-point harness, but a 3-point belt will not keep you from leaning toward the center of the car.

 

[TR4A_IRS]

Plus, good luck ducking when you roll your car. I have heard this mentioned before and I will give anyone $20 that has the presence of mind, and/or strength to overcome the centrifugal forces that are trying to throw you from the car in a rollover.

 

[Member 10617]

A roll bar may ("may") keep you from some head injury, but nothing will keep your arms down or in the car, or keep your head from from whipping from side to side.

I think no matter if you have a roll bar or not, if you roll one of these cars you are probably "a gonner" or are going to be severely injured.

Better to just drive defensively, safely, at reasonable speed, and watch out for others.

 

[tdskip]

Hi guys - I'm late on this thread and this is just <span style="text-decoration: underline">my opinion</span> from fooling around with other peoples race cars and test fitting a properly one in the TR4a and TR6, but I personally REALLY dislike the idea of a cosmetic rollbar. Unless it is properly mounted all you are doing is increasingly the likelihood that you are going to severely injure yourself or worse a passenger. These cars are a very strong, and if you've ever seen pictures of the rally accidents factory Works cars drivers walked away from some very nasty things. A proper rollbar no doubt helped, but a cosmetic one only served to transfer the kinetic energy from the accident to the back of your skull. Not a good transfer of energy....

I'm with Ian on this one.

I apologize if I have offended anyone, take it as a sign of caring enough about y'all to speak up.

 

[vagt6]

Very well-stated, Skip (as usual).

What he said.

 

[tinman58]

Does anyone want to buy a roll bar? When I was rear-ended last year my skull wacked the roll bar I had a nasty lump, it was not scratched.

 

[Member 10617]

Harmed by the roll bar! Now that's a good story.

Skip, you make a very good point.

I think I'll just stick to not having a roll bar, take every precaution possible, and transfer my concern to my friends who ride motorcycles on the Interstate.

 

[kodanja]

man walks into a bar..........



ya think he wouldna' seen it'