NetManiac

I have a Boxster S in which I am going to be doing my first autocross this coming weekend (I'm very excited about it too!!!). And hopefully sometime early next year I will be qualified for TT's, DE's and other track events. As I understand the rules they put a stick across the top of my A pillar and the rollbar. There has to be 2" of clearance between the top of my helmet and the stick. I'm 6'3" so I'm not going to pass tech inspection in stock form.

I've talked to a local shop and he says he can get me through tech by putting in a rollbar extension, race seat, and some seat brackets. Which will run about $1500 (all brand new). I could probably lower that price by looking for used stuff on eBay and other places.

Anyway, to make a short story long, I was thinking that maybe getting a hardtop would solve the problem also. Are there the same or similar clearance requirements for a Boxster with a hardtop?

I probably wont be doing anything just yet. I want to see how I do in my first couple autocrosses first (maybe I suck so bad autocrosses are all I'll be able to do). But I wanted to start keeping my eyes open for either a hardtop or seat/extension combo now.

Let me know how you all would approach the problem and what you think.

Thanks,
/mike

JackOlsen

Are you planning on welding the hard top to the car? Otherwise, it probably isn't gonna qualify as a coupe.

TrackJunke

YOu may be ok with just a Brey Krause bar. It is a rollbar extension and some tracks wont let you run without it.

Bill Gregory

I know one person who installed a Recaro racing seat in his Boxster, which lowered him enough to pass the broomstick test. I agree with Jack too that adding a hardtop likely won't help you. As I recall they are only attached at a few points to the body.

Z-man

A fiberglass top will do very, very little to keep you from smashing your cranium if you flip your Boxster.

There are several tall people in NNJR PCA that run DE's in Boxsters. One guy, Charlie, replaced the stock seats in his 986S with GT2 seats. He's over 6 foot, and he just fits. Another guy just replaced his seat cushion with a foam pillow. He's basically sitting on the floor of the car. Not sure if that will be sufficient for him as he progresses up into the upper run groups, but it works for him for now.

IIRC, there are two tracks here on the east coast that will not allow Boxsters without a BK bar: Lime Rock Park and VIR.

IMO, whether the BK bar is a requirement or not, you should get it. But with the bar alone, you won't pass the Broomstick test.

Hope this helps,
-Zoltan.

Have fun at autocross! That's where I started, and now I'm a certified DE/track junkie!

Matt

I don't know about VIR, but Lime Rock doesn't require a roll bar extension as long as you can pass the broomstick test without one. They do check if there is any question, using a genuine push broom. Also, no 2" clearance requirement.

That is consistent with our local (CVR) PCA rules.

Matt

Z-man

[quote]Originally posted by Matt:
<strong>I don't know about VIR, but Lime Rock doesn't require a roll bar extension as long as you can pass the broomstick test without one. They do check if there is any question, using a genuine push broom. Also, no 2" clearance requirement.

That is consistent with our local (CVR) PCA rules.

Matt</strong><hr></blockquote>
I only heard that they were considering the BK bar a year ago, I thought Lime Rock had adopted it by now.
Sorry for the mis-information.
-Z.

NetManiac

Cool! Thanks for the info guys. I kind of thought the hardtop wasn't going to fly, but it never hurts to ask.

[quote] Also, no 2" clearance requirement. <hr></blockquote>

How much clearance do I need then? I can't seem to be able to find the appropriate rules on pca.org.

The Brey-Krause Extension will rpovide an additional 1 3/4" which will give me about an 1" clearance. So I'll probably still need the seat.

Thanks again for the info,
/mike

Rick964

NetManiac,
If you are planning to run in PCA San Diego or Zone 8 events then I believe that the requirement for time trials and DEs is that your helmet is below the broomstick, when it is placed on top of the windshield frame and the roll bar top. Email me offline if you want and I can connect you to the local PCA tech guru who can answer your question for sure.

You can also check the Zone 8 competition rules at<a href="http://www.pca.org/zone8/rules/driving2002.htm" target="_blank">Comp. Rules</a> but there really is no more information there.

kary993

As I read the last event rules they were this for cab's:

Rollbars for cabs and cars in Improved or higher classes.

Boxsters with 5 pts may have rollbar extension.

3 pts in stock classes only, 5 pts everywhere else.

Fire extinguisher required.


I would post on the San Diego forum (www.pcasdr.org) and ask for Steve Grosskemper, he can answer your questions as he does tech.

Bill L Seifert

Two words,

Scrunch down! I've done it on my wifes Boxster, but then again I'm only 6'1"

Bill Seifert
1983 944 Race Car