Caterham Club Track Days - Roll Bar

[jezzaaa]

Hi All...so I've learned that the club track days have a requirement for all cars to have at least the track day roll bar. And of course I've ordered the standard bar with my kit which has just been delivered. I don't mind buying the alternate bar and fitting that instead...but saw that it's slightly taller than the standard bar...does this present a problem for fitting the weather gear/hood?

Thanks,
J.

[Boggo]

Don't use the weather gear - it's rubbish, doesn't really help anything, and looks sh*t. TBH these cars are no fun to drive on the road in bad weather, and on track in bad weather you're better off without the roof anyway.

I wouldn't drive one without at least a track day bar on it these days

[BertBert]

That is a good point. I was thinking of doing a couple of club days in my LA car. I wonder what the equivalent bar is for them

[Hard-Drive]

And for a more helpful answer...

Most people don't bother with the full Caterham hood as it make the car loud, steamy, it's hard to get in and takes ages to put up. The ideal solution is a "half hood" from Soft Bits for Sevens, or Oxted Thundersports. It's a bimini style top that keeps things better ventilated and is much faster to put up. However, I'd strongly advise ordering with the "easy in" zips option, as it, erm, makes it much easier to get in and out.

And yes, the FIA bar is taller so you will need a different half hood to fit properly. However, I don't believe there is a different full hood for an FIA equipped car as the hood sits on the hood sticks, not the roll bar. However, in two cars, I've only ever had the full hood up once, and that was to take a picture with the hood up to sell the first car!

[jezzaaa]

Hard-Drive said:

And for a more helpful answer...

Most people don't bother with the full Caterham hood as it make the car loud, steamy, it's hard to get in and takes ages to put up. The ideal solution is a "half hood" from Soft Bits for Sevens, or Oxted Thundersports. It's a bimini style top that keeps things better ventilated and is much faster to put up. However, I'd strongly advise ordering with the "easy in" zips option, as it, erm, makes it much easier to get in and out.

And yes, the FIA bar is taller so you will need a different half hood to fit properly. However, I don't believe there is a different full hood for an FIA equipped car as the hood sits on the hood sticks, not the roll bar. However, in two cars, I've only ever had the full hood up once, and that was to take a picture with the hood up to sell the first car!

Thanks HD ... much appreciated. I agree with the consensus that using the full hood while driving is not ideal and I do intend to get the half hood, so it's good to know that's different for the trackday bar but that the full hood isn't....when parked and the rains bucketing with side winds, it's nice to be able to put the full hood on!!

[Boggo]

For your parked situation - I'd get a 'shower cap' from SB4S - again, quicker and easier to put on, and ALOT more waterproof.

Sorry that you didn't think my post was helpful - I thought I made all the same points as the second poster.....


FYI the hood goes up over a full rollcage and FIA bars - its just a PITA

[jezzaaa]

Boggo said:

For your parked situation - I'd get a 'shower cap' from SB4S - again, quicker and easier to put on, and ALOT more waterproof.

Sorry that you didn't think my post was helpful - I thought I made all the same points as the second poster.....


FYI the hood goes up over a full rollcage and FIA bars - its just a PITA

Thanks Boggo ... grateful for all comments...no need to be sorry! Shower cap sounds good...lot's to learn The question about the roll bar was important for me because my car is in kit form and not built yet, so easier to build the track day bar from the off. But I just wanted to check that I wouldn't need to change anything else. Excellent feedback on here as always

Edited by jezzaaa on Tuesday 13th December 12:50

[BertBert]

Just to say, I think the track day rollbar and FIA roll bars are different things. In fact of there an FIA bar for the metric chassis?

[BertBert]

And to answer my own question, there is a live axle long cockpit track day bar. But out of stock at caterham parts

ETA and as I have been doing a resto on my 7, I have contemplated that the roll bar does look very flimsy. I'll have to see if anyone has anything second hand suitable to fit which is more beefy

Edited by BertBert on Wednesday 14th December 08:08

[Gasolina]

BertBert said:

Just to say, I think the track day rollbar and FIA roll bars are different things. In fact of there an FIA bar for the metric chassis?

The track day roll bar is the FIA item and is what is required for club track days. Yes also available for metric cars.

BUT if you are competing, to be FIA (MSUK) compliant, you need to attach a petty strut. The FIA sticker is actually on the petty strut as compliance requires both items.

[Boggo]

Gasolina said:

BertBert said:

Just to say, I think the track day rollbar and FIA roll bars are different things. In fact of there an FIA bar for the metric chassis?

The track day roll bar is the FIA item and is what is required for club track days. Yes also available for metric cars.

BUT if you are competing, to be FIA (MSUK) compliant, you need to attach a petty strut. The FIA sticker is actually on the petty strut as compliance requires both items.

Not sure they are still compliant either.... not sure....

Try Redline if Caterham don't have the parts - alternatively call up some of the race teams to see if they have any second hand items in (PT Sports cars, DPR, LFP etc)

[BertBert]

Yes, good idea, thanks. It's an old generation of chassis though to have something lying about.

[Gasolina]

Boggo said:

Not sure they are still compliant either.... not sure....

For sprinting/hill climb

"The Safety Rollover Structure MUST have any removable members fitted (e.g. the ‘petty strut’ on the Caterham FIA
rollover bar) and must have the relevant Homologation certificate. Competitors are advised that the traditional
standard roll-over bar as supplied by Caterham does not meet these requirements. Any car without a compliant
ROPS that arrives at an event will NOT be allowed to compete."

[short-shift]

Boggo said:

Not sure they are still compliant either.... not sure....

Yes, the so-called trackday or FIA rollover bar (one and the same thing) is FIA compliant when fitted with the Petty Strut.

Without the strut it is not FIA compliant but represents the minimum standard of ROPS required by CL7C for participation in their trackdays.

James

[BertBert]

and with big thanks to Caterbram on here, I am now the proud owner of an FIA bar for my live axle car, so will be able to do C7Club track days next year.

[Eugene7]

Just do other track days, and not the Lotus 7 club ones, as no track specifies the unnecessary FIA roll bar...

As to why the Lotus 7 cloud specify that bar... Political and financial shenanigans of old. 😜

[short-shift]

BertBert said:

and with big thanks to Caterbram on here, I am now the proud owner of an FIA bar for my live axle car, so will be able to do C7Club track days next year.

Whoop whoop!

James

[short-shift]

Eugene7 said:

As to why the Lotus 7 cloud specify that bar... Political and financial shenanigans of old. ??

Well, not really as the subject was revisited in 2017 (or thereabouts) and the results from the testing were quite compelling...

James