What do we think of rollover bars

What do we think of rollover bars

Author
Discussion

Bruce Fielding

Original Poster:

2,244 posts

289 months

Monday 8th August 2005
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[pic]http://rosscp.zentest.co.uk/gallery/albums/userpics/10004/AA0_0025.JPG[/pic]

[pic]http://rosscp.zentest.co.uk/gallery/albums/userpics/10004/CT0_0049.JPG[/pic]

Fantastic pics... but thumbs up or down on the rollover hoops?

benyeats

11,863 posts

237 months

Monday 8th August 2005
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I think it looks smart. Does the mounting of the rear struts explain the 'bonus' holes in the rear chasis on later cars ? (as observed on atomic's 245 at the Herts event yesterday)

Ben

fast buck

238 posts

235 months

Monday 8th August 2005
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I don't like it,it takes away from the shape of the air intake,starts to look a little like the lotus 7's roll cage, and we dont want that

atom120

268 posts

238 months

Monday 8th August 2005
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fast buck said:
starts to look a little like the lotus 7's roll cage, and we dont want that
I don't know, Caterhams are quite attractive ...are you sure the one parked outside your house wasn't yours...

Its a big improvement over the earlier roll cages, though I'm not entirely sure of the point of it, as to be FIA legal, I believe its got to have a diagonal as well, which this one doesn't appear to have. Presumably its fitted into the new mounts built into the chassis, so can always be removed at a later date without too much hassle.

owi

58 posts

245 months

Monday 8th August 2005
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It's probably worth noting that Rob had the rollover installed because some American tracks require it for track days, practice, etc. He very happily drove his first Atom without one.

atom120

268 posts

238 months

Monday 8th August 2005
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owi said:
It's probably worth noting that Rob had the rollover installed because some American tracks require it for track days, practice, etc.
Ahh, that explains the lack of diagonal. Have to say, the more I look at it, the more I like it. Scenery in the background probably helps somewhat ...reminds me of home (Grimsby)...

Bruce Fielding

Original Poster:

2,244 posts

289 months

Tuesday 9th August 2005
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Having just removed my rear wing as I think it spoils the 'line'of the car (it may come back if the track handling is worse) I'm not sure that adding much to the car helps.

When I look at the bar, I keep hearing 'Prince Charming, Prince Charming, ridicule is nothing to be scared of.' and seeing Adam Ant with his arm lifted in that rebelious dandy highwayman pose...

But that's probably just me, then.

benyeats

11,863 posts

237 months

Tuesday 9th August 2005
quotequote all
Bruce Fielding said:

When I look at the bar, I keep hearing 'Prince Charming, Prince Charming, ridicule is nothing to be scared of.' and seeing Adam Ant with his arm lifted in that rebelious dandy highwayman pose...

But that's probably just me, then.


Time for a lie down I think !

Never mind the bar when can we organise an owners club field trip to wherever those photos were taken (Yosemite national park at a guess)

Ben

John Lloyd

926 posts

238 months

Tuesday 9th August 2005
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Roll bars are pants.

Could someone tell what the yellow is on the side of the nose cone?

datasafe

911 posts

238 months

Tuesday 9th August 2005
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I think 'that rollbar' changes the legendary minimalistic look of the Atom to something much more bulky.

JC

>> Edited by datasafe on Tuesday 9th August 10:31

Bruce Fielding

Original Poster:

2,244 posts

289 months

Tuesday 9th August 2005
quotequote all
John Lloyd said:
Could someone tell what the yellow is on the side of the nose cone?

They're legally essential (in Washington State anyway) reflectors...

RobSloman

8 posts

246 months

Tuesday 9th August 2005
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Dear Chaps:

Bruce is correct on all fronts.
Yellow inside nostril is reflector required not just by WA State but it's a federal requirement.
There's a red circular one on rear engine cover too. On each side. Used to put a reflective tape DOT approved on the lower side chassis rail, but found this as not regulation required, so I did not put any on this model.

On roll bar. The first was quite square. And rear stays attached to rearmost engine bay chassis rail. (RHS had to pass around the catalytic convertor)
On this one, the rear stays fasten to outer top side engine bay chassis rail, forward of the rearmost member. This is much tidier and further away from the heat. Yes, tracks here require a roll bar. Even though having said that, they don't even examine the bolt grade used to affix it to the car. Mine are not graded, button head hex head ss bolts.

As BF says, I mostly drove # 1 without the bar. It feels more open, in spite of not being able to see it while driving, you know it's there. Maybe the air movement? Once plates are on, off it goes except for the track. In the meantime, it's a place to tape the temporary travel permit untli get reggo.

RobSloman

8 posts

246 months

Tuesday 9th August 2005
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As to location. It's the Pacific Northwest USA.

These are the Cascade Mountains. Washington State Hwy 20. Scenic drive from Seattle 400 mile roundtrip. 90 def F max ambient temp. Felt a bit slo-roasted on that day. Brilliant drive, oil change after. Bedded in the bralkes with a few (let's say 50+) emergency stops on uncluttered open, good surface flat straight highway.

Only two police stops. To check out temporary trip permit and to ask about the car. Good thing none of them glanced over at the GPS, showing max trip speed.

datasafe

911 posts

238 months

Tuesday 9th August 2005
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Beautiful pics Rob, keep them coming.

Am I right in guessing you're new to the Atom? What's your story?

Regards

JC

Hart

48 posts

274 months

Tuesday 9th August 2005
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Hi Rob

Your name was mentioned when in the car manufacture in Haus Dülmen.

Importing their car to the US and getting it street legal in Washington State will same procedure as experienced with your Atom?

Did you see the new GT there?

Hartmut

RobSloman

8 posts

246 months

Friday 12th August 2005
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Dear JC: Not really new to the Atom.

I've been in contact with Simon since October 2001.
My first Atom (now sold) was the first with Honda K20A2 power. Picture of that fateful day at Arch Engineering when we first determined it would fit is in the Atomclub Gallery. So this is a picture of my #2 (at top of this thread) The first roll bar was a lot less weel integrated. Effective (I suppose) and met the track standards, but not very appealing. Rob

RobSloman

8 posts

246 months

Friday 12th August 2005
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Hartmut: I was in Dulmen (Wiesmann Auto) in early June '05 to look at their cars.

Took a drive (in SMG shifter Roadster, that's the E46 M3 engine, did not get invited to drive (the one and only) prototype GT. Funny that!


I did see and photograph both Roadster and the brown GT that Olaf Sewald had just driven back from Monaco o'night. If you want more particulars, may I sugeest you write to me off line. Not anything bad to say, it's just not Atom-centric.