Roll Cage/Hoops - Any new designs?
Discussion
Hey folks, I looked into this over a year ago and was at that time left very uncertain as to road safety of fitting one of the many designs as it seemed more than likely that a unprotected head was likely to be in contact with the metal work if getting involved in a crash.
Ian at sportmotive said he was working on something, that doesn't appear to of materialised, although admittedly I've not contacted him in many months, but there's certainly no mention of it on his web site.
Is anyone aware of anything ultimately suitable to be used in a predominantly road used car?
Adrian
Ian at sportmotive said he was working on something, that doesn't appear to of materialised, although admittedly I've not contacted him in many months, but there's certainly no mention of it on his web site.
Is anyone aware of anything ultimately suitable to be used in a predominantly road used car?
Adrian
I fitted a Rollcentre Racing hoop to my car several years ago. It clamps onto the chassis, so can be unbolted for body off restorations. Obviously, not being welded in it is a million miles off FIA approved. It sits high enough to give head protection, squeezing in just under the targa hoop, but is behind the seats, thus avoiding skull on cage collisions.
Hopefully you can see it behind my seats. I was half way through a Tuscan seat install at the time
Hopefully you can see it behind my seats. I was half way through a Tuscan seat install at the time
Edited by QBee on Saturday 26th November 16:49
I bet the windscreen surround would collapse anyway if the trev flipped. No crash testing on these cars. If you want a safety cage you need a support at the a pillar and across the windscreen in conjunction with any rear fitted hoops. That way you know in a roll over crash the drivers space won't be compromised
I have a rollbar fitted to my car but I am under no illusion about it safety.
It really is a piss poor design all-round compared to production cars.
I do track days and the odd sprint and it is always at the front of my mind to keep the car sunny side up!
It is the lack of protection that keeps the weight down and it is because of this that they are so nimble.
What we need is a volunteer to roll his car so that we can see if these rollbars are any good at all because at the moment I don't think there is any evidence of their performance available.
It really is a piss poor design all-round compared to production cars.
I do track days and the odd sprint and it is always at the front of my mind to keep the car sunny side up!
It is the lack of protection that keeps the weight down and it is because of this that they are so nimble.
What we need is a volunteer to roll his car so that we can see if these rollbars are any good at all because at the moment I don't think there is any evidence of their performance available.
A role hoop will only become effective if the Tvr hoop colapses which I suppose is quite likely.
Your only hope is the hoop you've added will stay intact whilst your semi crushed front end and windscreen leaves you a survival area between the hoop and the front of the car.
I was in one of our good friends Tvr when we went wide and off onto the grass, we was going sideways and hopping along the grass, you an imagine what I thought was going to happen next!
I've also done the same thing in my own car and I was on two wheels hopping along.
I've decided getting in a Tvr to drive it fast in some circumstances represents a similar or higher level of danger than getting on a motorbike,,,,, which is sort of why I like it.
I grew up watching F1 when people died on a fairly regular basis, braver men I can't ever imagine meeting, Tvr represents that level of commitment and I feel that sense of danger regardless of the speed I'm doing, it makes me feel alive.
Anthony's looks like one of the few hoops that don't appear to come directly in contact with your head when in an accident, not good without a helmet.
That's why I've shied away from one. I'm sure there's some extra rigidity at play with these hoops so that's got to be a good thing.
Your only hope is the hoop you've added will stay intact whilst your semi crushed front end and windscreen leaves you a survival area between the hoop and the front of the car.
I was in one of our good friends Tvr when we went wide and off onto the grass, we was going sideways and hopping along the grass, you an imagine what I thought was going to happen next!
I've also done the same thing in my own car and I was on two wheels hopping along.
I've decided getting in a Tvr to drive it fast in some circumstances represents a similar or higher level of danger than getting on a motorbike,,,,, which is sort of why I like it.
I grew up watching F1 when people died on a fairly regular basis, braver men I can't ever imagine meeting, Tvr represents that level of commitment and I feel that sense of danger regardless of the speed I'm doing, it makes me feel alive.
Anthony's looks like one of the few hoops that don't appear to come directly in contact with your head when in an accident, not good without a helmet.
That's why I've shied away from one. I'm sure there's some extra rigidity at play with these hoops so that's got to be a good thing.
77racing said:
Driving with a full weld in FIA cage makes you three seconds a lap anywhere quicker .......Fact 
Maybe true.But I have yet to come to terms with climbing into the car via the roof, in the pouring rain, in full race gear......in Waitrose's car park. The blue rinse brigade will be tutting into their free coffees through their dentures.
motul1974 said:
Qbee - so are you still adding the padding to the hoop??
I had it there because my Racing TVR guy Mat Smith had some spare, and it seemed like a good idea.Since then I have realised that there is no way my head could hit the bars, so i have removed it, as it was also interfering with the top of my Tuscan seats.
QBee said:
I had it there because my Racing TVR guy Mat Smith had some spare, and it seemed like a good idea.
Since then I have realised that there is no way my head could hit the bars, so i have removed it, as it was also interfering with the top of my Tuscan seats.
With those Tuscan seats in, as you have pointed out your head will not come in contact with the bars. The standard seats with the head test fully down it is a possibility. Since then I have realised that there is no way my head could hit the bars, so i have removed it, as it was also interfering with the top of my Tuscan seats.
motul1974 said:
Hey folks, I looked into this over a year ago and was at that time left very uncertain as to road safety of fitting one of the many designs as it seemed more than likely that a unprotected head was likely to be in contact with the metal work if getting involved in a crash.
Ian at sportmotive said he was working on something, that doesn't appear to of materialised, although admittedly I've not contacted him in many months, but there's certainly no mention of it on his web site.
Is anyone aware of anything ultimately suitable to be used in a predominantly road used car?
Adrian
The only design I have ever seen that is tall enough to protect you properly and still let the roof go over is the one my Dad built for my car (and will make for others) - it has a unique shape to allow it to fit far enough forward (the most important bit) so it has lots of curves to go around the seat and keep it way forward.Ian at sportmotive said he was working on something, that doesn't appear to of materialised, although admittedly I've not contacted him in many months, but there's certainly no mention of it on his web site.
Is anyone aware of anything ultimately suitable to be used in a predominantly road used car?
Adrian
see more here - https://tvrengineer.co.uk/tvr-upgrades/rollbars/
I've got the Rollcenter bar in mine. I wanted something strong and well designed that was out of the way of my head.
It does stiffen the chassis a bit and resists the rear twisting, but it does also transmit a bit more diff and fuel pump noise into the cabin.
Being from rollcentre its designed to msa/fia spec as much as possible. An msa/fia roll bar / cage and be bolted or welded...
unless you are 2 ft tall its just about impossible to get you low enough to get 50mm clearance between the top of your helmet and the top of the roll bar and still be able to fit a roof, which is what msa/fia regs demand. althuogh to be fair about 90% of any fixed roof race car ive driven you helmet normally touches the roof
its just that the marshalls cant see that...
It does stiffen the chassis a bit and resists the rear twisting, but it does also transmit a bit more diff and fuel pump noise into the cabin.
Being from rollcentre its designed to msa/fia spec as much as possible. An msa/fia roll bar / cage and be bolted or welded...
unless you are 2 ft tall its just about impossible to get you low enough to get 50mm clearance between the top of your helmet and the top of the roll bar and still be able to fit a roof, which is what msa/fia regs demand. althuogh to be fair about 90% of any fixed roof race car ive driven you helmet normally touches the roof
its just that the marshalls cant see that...Edited by Graham on Monday 28th November 11:35
Graham said:
I've got the Rollcenter bar in mine. I wanted something strong and well designed that was out of the way of my head.
It does stiffen the chassis a bit and resists the rear twisting, but it does also transmit a bit more diff and fuel pump noise into the cabin.
Being from rollcentre its designed to msa/fia spec as much as possible. An msa/fia roll bar / cage and be bolted or welded...
unless you are 2 ft tall its just about impossible to get you low enough to get 50mm clearance between the top of your helmet and the top of the roll bar and still be able to fit a roof, which is what msa/fia regs demand. althuogh to be fair about 90% of any fixed roof race car ive driven you helmet normally touches the roof its just that the marshalls cant see that...
I removed the runners etc from the seat and modified the frame to sit as low as possible. My head has some clearance to the side bar of my cage and I always wear my harness tight on the road.It does stiffen the chassis a bit and resists the rear twisting, but it does also transmit a bit more diff and fuel pump noise into the cabin.
Being from rollcentre its designed to msa/fia spec as much as possible. An msa/fia roll bar / cage and be bolted or welded...
unless you are 2 ft tall its just about impossible to get you low enough to get 50mm clearance between the top of your helmet and the top of the roll bar and still be able to fit a roof, which is what msa/fia regs demand. althuogh to be fair about 90% of any fixed roof race car ive driven you helmet normally touches the roof
its just that the marshalls cant see that...Edited by Graham on Monday 28th November 11:35
motul1974 said:
It's that kind of hoop design I like, it's just I'd want sore lateral support such as the Neil Garner one below;
I've only just asked Neil for the latest price on this.
I beleive this is a photo of my Griff. I've only just asked Neil for the latest price on this.
The roll bar was installed before my ownership and whilst it looks the part it is purely decorative as it sits a lot lower than the seats and therefore useless in an accident. I definitely like the other hoop design already mentioned and if I had the time I would look at replacing mine with that one.
Edited by BigGriff540 on Monday 28th November 13:11
..now you mention it, it does look like it's sitting low. :-(
Just checking out TVREngineer......looks like he'd add what ever I wanted to hoops,within reason of course.
Their nice design, just I'd like to see some diagonals and the two hoops attached to each other, or am I being unnecessary?
Adrian
Just checking out TVREngineer......looks like he'd add what ever I wanted to hoops,within reason of course.
Their nice design, just I'd like to see some diagonals and the two hoops attached to each other, or am I being unnecessary?
Adrian
motul1974 said:
..now you mention it, it does look like it's sitting low. :-(
Just checking out TVREngineer......looks like he'd add what ever I wanted to hoops,within reason of course.
Their nice design, just I'd like to see some diagonals and the two hoops attached to each other, or am I being unnecessary?
Adrian
Totally unnecessary - give him a ring and he will tell you how strong the tube he used, the rest of the car would fall apart before that gave way. Just checking out TVREngineer......looks like he'd add what ever I wanted to hoops,within reason of course.
Their nice design, just I'd like to see some diagonals and the two hoops attached to each other, or am I being unnecessary?
Adrian
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