mark kibort

My replacement racer for the one taken from me last season, is almost done.
Just needs paint and some minor tweaks, but it could be ready in a week or two if needed.

Anyone know the rules for roll bar padding ? is it just the area that could come in contact with your head or legs, and does that mean, all the bars near you, including the nascar wannabe side bars?

Here are a couple of pics. let me know, as I couldnt find that part in the SCCA rulebook.

there is an event at the Club Autosport, and the SCCA folks will be there to do tech inspections. I think I might wan to go to get this thing a log book. now, got to find some temp numbers, as I still need to paint this thing RED.

Also, there is a head restraint bar, which I really didnt want, but its there and I have to deal with it. what kind of padding should I wrap this with. I heard they make the hard padding, in 1" diameter, which I think this tube is that size. obviously the rest is 1.75" Does anyone think those added bars are a bad idea? I certainly dont need them on the passenger side, but now, until I get a full restraint seat, is it better to have them there?

2BWise

I've always used the SFI rated stuff, 45.1, I think it is. Its pretty firm, but when you hit it with your helmet on you don't even notice its there. Its a bit rough for other areas of the body (knees, elbows, etc) but doesn't leave any bruises usually just a bit tender after a weekend. The other thing you have to consider is how it will hold up in an incident. The firm stuff might be uncomfortable in normal conditions but is safer if you hit it with any serious force. The soft stuff will compress too much and it will be as if it wasn't even there.

mark kibort

I agree. I got away from all the soft stuff a long time ago. (ive only used the SFI stuff, but maybe a little strip of the soft stuff by the feet area of the cage)

My question is where the padding is required to go. can the door bars be naked, but the A and B pillars have to be covered . would the front A pillars have to be covered, or only the horizontal bar around your head, and behind in the head area. I cant find the ruling and it seems silly to put the padding down the A pillar area, because your head could never touch that, unless it came off . maybe they want pads for your hands too. anyway, whats the rule?

thanks

Mark

mglobe

From the PCA rule book:

"Any portion of the assembly which may come in contact with the driver’s helmet must be covered with high density foam 3/4" thick held securely in place with zip ties, electrical tape or duct tape. Foam must be equivalent to SFI 45.1 or FIA 8857 standards for hardness."

paradisenb

For NASA, and I suspect SCCA, any bars that could come in contact with the body must be covered. This includes door and knee bars.

924RACR

I seem to recall that SCCA only required it to be the helmet-related bars.

Why would you not pad the **** out of it, though? I know guys who have broken bones on cage bars - like legs...

ApexPerformance

SFI padding will not melt if it catches on fire. Although if there's an issue where the rollbar padding catches on fire, I think you have more problems that just that!

http://www.apexperformance.net/cartg...t.asp?scat=320

Bryan Watts

See ya at Miller for NASA Nationals?

Darren

NASA:

15.6.4 Padding
All roll cage surfaces that may come in contact with the driver should be padded with high-density padding such as Ethafoam or Ensolite. It is recommended that padding meeting SFI specification 45.1 be used.

mark kibort

Thanks guys! now, it seems likethe side bars might not need to be padded as if my legs did touch those, i would have bigger problems than that. However, i guess if you have belt failure and were bounced around the cabin, you might be able to hit the front over head bars.
so, is the concensus, the bar around the top of your head , even the front bar, which you cant reach with your head, even in a frontal crash, unless your head comes off, or your belts break?

mark kibort

Yeah, if my "Ride" comes through to get the car out there.

ApexPerformance

I would pad anything that may potentially come in contact with your body. Better off doing it right the first time than not passing tech and not being able to run for the weekend.

mark kibort

What do you think of the car? stock 928 tub , just stripped and my engine bolted in and a cage welded in.

924RACR

???

Leg was snapped against an a-pillar bar. Yes, there were other injuries, like broken ribs etc. Hit a concrete block with an M3 so hard as to snap the concrete block in half, lay it over flat on the backing armco, and shatter the engine block of the car. He was on crutches all summer.

Tell me again, WHY NOT?!?

Darren

I worry more about the sheet metal coming in than me hitting the cage with my legs. My front cross-braces are way away from my feet though.