[MauriSSio]

i was reading the NHRA dragstrip rules and it states convertibles running faster than 13.99s need to have a roll and a 5 point harness. Also it says cars running quicker than 12.99 need a driveshaft safety loop. my questions are these

What about people running stock or near stock 03' or 04' Cobra convertibles?,those things run 13's stock and 12's with a decent driver and i dont think they have driveshaft loops and roll bars,are they unsafe from the factory? do the rules affect them as well,or have the drag strips changed them?? I have a galaxie convertible and 13's nowadays is pretty much just a starting point,so i think needing a roll bar is a joke.But if i have to conform to those rules,so be it. What kinda work is it to install a 6 point cage??

 

[igo1090]

its much easier on a convertible than on a hard top. not that hard if you have a welder and welding/fabrication skills. buy a kit from s&w or someone else, cut here, notch there, etc. tricky part can be tying it into the frame, which it should be.

if you have a convertible, you should want to have a roll bar. its not hard to end up on the roof, at the track, or on the street. in a convert without a bar, you're gonna get hurt. get a helmet, too. gives the track surface something to grind on before it gets to your skull.

_________________
Dave Shea
S/ST 1818 S/P 1018 H/R 1564

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: igo1090 on 3/15/06 7:21pm ]</font>

 

[MauriSSio]

so what youre saying is bone stock cobras and LS1 (Fbodies and vettes) convertibles are banned from the track?how do magazines run tests on those cars?

 

[MauriSSio]

and we're not talkin about drag cars here,were talkin 13's! thats only like 95MPH with decent traction!

 

[MauriSSio]

also,why would a convertible be so much easier to flip at those speeds?is it just me or doesnt having a roll bar sound like it negates the coolness factor of having a convertible?

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: MauriSSio on 3/15/06 7:50pm ]</font>

 

[Motorhead]

Having a convertible is not easier to flip, it's just more dangerous when it does flip. These rules are usually put in place because some person at some point in time got hurt or killed and the ruling bodies decided it best/safest to require the safety equipment just in case **** happens. Same reason you have to have dual throttle return springs... how often does a return spring fail? Maybe 1/10,000,000 passes? I know a roll cage is a lot more work than a spring, but it's there for the same reason, Murphey's Law.

 

[Beoweolf]

Simple, at least to me.... A 13 sec capable car on the street isn't expected to hit that performance mark, all the time (nudge - nudge, wink - wink). You go to a race track for the express, intended and explicit function to push the performance capablities of your vehicle.

Besides, this country will sue you for anything. I'm surprised the TP people haven't been sued when people mis apply the product ... suffer a little overspray or factory markings, I mean there should be instructions on the package!

It wasn't that long ago that Simpson retraints was under the gun because of a accident in a sanctioned race.

Its just good business sense to limit your liablity by installing rules that take common sense into consideration and make it binding. Remember, they stopped making convertiables for a few years, because of just this issue. When they started making them again, they put roll bars on them...then got sued for that - they weren't 100% fool-proof. Even when you buy a bolt on roll bar kit, many of the companies won't call them a roll bar. They call them something like a light bar or beauty bar. Why do you think they stopped making Hard top cars? The hardtop was supposed to give the appearance of a Convertiable, with out the constant replacement of the canvas roof. They stopped making them because of legal considerations.

Fact is most vehicles don't do so well in a roll over anyway (except volvo's) but in a convertible, there is not even the pretense that the cloth top and sheet metal frame will offer any protection.
_________________
"They that can give up essential Liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither Liberty nor safety"-- Benjamin Franklin

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Beoweolf on 3/16/06 12:24am ]</font>

 

[dfree383]

Its NHRA / IHRA Rules to run at sanctioned Events or Tracks. They are for your safety....... Ever seen on flip? Its not pretty.

 

[MauriSSio]

i underdstand that since its a convertible,it naturally is more dangerous,but another point i was trying to get to was the new car thing,so all those people that got shiny new high powered verts' arent allowed to drive their cars on the track without welding tubes to them?

 

[dfree383]

Yep. if its a sanctioned or member track event. Some non sanctioned tracks might let you slide for a couple shakedown runs.

_________________
1991 LX Mustang 347 C4 combo Mid 11's with the AC on.
1984 Mustang GT 460, Powerglide "Still putting it together" hoping for 9's !!

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: dfree383 on 3/16/06 2:58am ]</font>

 

[MauriSSio]

why are IHRA rules different? Why is it ok to run up to 12.99 without a roll bar under the ihra rules?

 

[dfree383]

Insurance companies

 

[MauriSSio]

oh,ok i guess that makes sense.Thanks

 

[MauriSSio]

does anyone know where i can get a 6 point roll bar made and welded in in the bay area when i do finally hit 13's?

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: MauriSSio on 3/16/06 3:18am ]</font>

 

[dfree383]

Alot of companies sell kits (S&W, Alston, Chassis Engineering Etc.) Their should be a shop around you somewhere that installs? your in S. Cali right?

 

[MauriSSio]

northern cali,San jose is by san francisco

 

[dfree383]

Woops.... Their should be a shop around some where ask around at your local garages or body shops.

 

[MauriSSio]

i know it sounds like im a big whiny baby,but will the six point bar make it difficult for passengers to get into the backseat?

 

[Motorhead]

MauriS: I totally understand where you're coming from... if I had a convertible, I sure as hell wouldn't want to weld a cage/rollbar into it. Is it possible that someone makes a rollbar kit for convertibles where the bar can be somewhat easily removed when you're not racing? Doesn't seem like it would be all that hard.

 

[dfree383]

You may be able to get away with a bolt in cage. You will need to look in the Rule Books.