ebanzero

Just debating if the added weight of installing a roll bar in my GT3 is worth it if I'm not going to track the car that often.

savyboy

How many times on track does it require to have something unexpected happen?

Will it happen in the first lap of your first track event?

It's your life, you make the call.

CRex

Can't put a price on safety. If you're going to enjoy your GT3 on the track, enjoy it knowing you've done the right thing to protect yourself.

ebanzero

Very good point. Can't argue with that logic. How much weight does a roll bar add? Are there some that are lighter than others?

rmag

If you mainly drive on the street and rarely track it, why would you even care about weight?

Jon70

If you have an accident on track and the rollbar prevented injury, then it is worth all the weight in the world. The added weight is of no consequence for any street driving.

tcsracing1

owning a GT3 is all about having a roll bar to complete the look!

install a clubsport bar and you will be happy.

NJ-GT

45 lbs for the OEM 997.1 RS bar, 63 lbs for TC Design, most of them fit this range. The Tequipment rollbar is 37 lbs (Porsche OEM).

If you install Racing seats (996 GT3 Recaros), you end up with the same car weight once the OEM rollbar, seats and harnesses are installed.

Is a helmet worth the added weight? Fire extinguisher? HANS?

ebanzero

do the roll bars rattle a lot?

Jon70

Depends on the type. I've heard the Porsche OEM can. I have a DAS sport and it has no rattles.

MarekN

I think the question wasn´t perhaps meant this way (i.e. whether or not a roll bar is worth it as a safety device). That´s basically self-explanatory, right?

Besides safety and the issue of not being able to clean the rear window from inside unless small children help you, the only other question ever connected to the roll bar is the hypothetical increase of torsional rigidity. Some sources quote Preuninger saying that the roll bar doesn´t add anything in this sense and actually detracts from handling by placing CoG higher up. But then you sit in a car with a roll bar and hear it creaking, which means it´s flexing and stressing, which means that without it there may be even a bit more flex in some situations. I haven´t been able to drive cars back to back to know sure for myself, maybe many of you can say better.

45 lbs can definitely be felt in the GT3, but it´s the same carrying the tank half-full or empty. I agree that having it on board all the time would instantly become the baseline feeling and you wouldn´t know the difference after a second drive, unless you immediately took it out again.

tcsracing1

the OEM bar when installed properly will not rattle.

Serge944

They shouldn't rattle, but they can creak a little. Especially with bars that have an aluminum insert through the bolted connection. A little lube goes a long way.

rodjac

Have to agree with others on the safety issue. Anything can happen on the track at any time. I wouldn't go out without a roll bar, harness and Hans device. I figure my neck is worth a little money and weight. I will say that once you drive on the track with all the safety devices you don't really notice them and would really feel funny without them. It is sort of like wearing a helmet when skiing.

savyboy

My GMG RSR bar makes no noise. And even if it DID, I would never know because the RS cabin is so LOUD! Wear ear plugs as I do and everthing is golden

Roll bars and fire suits and HANS devices make you and your car look great. Side benefit- they help preserve your helath.