[ge2]

MB, on 04 February 2012 - 05:43 AM, said:

5 point minimum, and HANS reccomended. Still got to look into this. A lot to do in a short time!

I don't like the way the strap goes right over the jewels on a 5 point

[MB]

mc, i've given that full thoguht but it boils down to hassle and cost benefit.

The amound of mods and setup on mine would take a great deal of effort / cost to swap to another car. It would also be an unknown in terms of engine reliability and drivetrain, plus you don't know what state all the bushes are in until you try them. Then you have to sell your car etc... Buying a £4k S2000 is an engine timebomb too, imo. Plus, what would I get for mine - £7.5K? So I concluded it makes no sense to do that.

It's just a mental hurdle

[MB]

ge2, on 04 February 2012 - 05:52 AM, said:

MB, on 04 February 2012 - 05:43 AM, said:

5 point minimum, and HANS reccomended. Still got to look into this. A lot to do in a short time!

I don't like the way the strap goes right over the jewels on a 5 point

Yep I know, nasty eh

[ge2]

MB, on 04 February 2012 - 05:53 AM, said:

mc, i've given that full thoguht but it boils down to hassle and cost benefit.

The amound of mods and setup on mine would take a great deal of effort / cost to swap to another car. It would also be an unknown in terms of engine reliability and drivetrain, plus you don't know what state all the bushes are in until you try them. Then you have to sell your car etc... Buying a £4k S2000 is an engine timebomb too, imo. Plus, what would I get for mine - £7.5K? So I concluded it makes no sense to do that.

It's just a mental hurdle

This makes perfect sense to me

[MB]

Engineering logic

Cage and windows ordered. Thanks Dixon

[razzele]

unclefester, on 04 February 2012 - 03:16 AM, said:

Flog the carbon bits on - fit OEM stuff and bash your way to 1st place You could even buy a nice light OEM bonnet

Cut the soft top out and bolt in an OEM hardtop ftmfw yo.

[unclefester]

If you want to swap that awful flimsy mugen thing for a nice ready to go OEM top - just say the word ;-)

[MB]

Sold that a long time back

[Dixon Motorsports]

Harness there is only one I will use -

Notice the crutch strap is now loop into the waist strap, so you don't get that connector crushing into your balls every time when you brake, super comfy on this and it support Hans also with the non slip option. This have red, black and white available.

[MB]

My GT3 has a Schroth, as did the Exige Very good.

[AquilaEagle]

Mark, are you in the country enough to do a series?

[dreamkev]

how much lighter does a varley 25 compare to an OEM BATTERY?

[OldDogmeat]

MB, on 04 February 2012 - 05:35 AM, said:

Exactly Graham.

I've also said i'm forgetting expensive carbon parts as per my last post You don't need Hans or 6 point either - I will be working to the MSA regs.

ODM, have you raced before?

No I havn't raced wheel to wheel Mark, but to me a lot of things are just common sense, I do however have a few friends who are involved in wheel to wheel racing, one at the professional level in the FIA GT series (or used to be) and I've spent a lot of time close to motorsport at all levels.

On the not needing Hans, again, pure common sense to me says if you are involved in competitive motorsport then at some point the likleyhood of having some type of shunt is very likley, I'd personally want as much protection as possible, just not worth the gamble when the outcome could end up being a basal skull fracture.

I see safety as being paramount when it comes to Motorsport, particularly wheel to wheel where the competitive nature raises the likleyhood of a shunt; for the sake of a few quid I'd want to know I was taking all steps to best protect myself. I'm sure there are hero's in the paddock who scoff at using Hans at the amateur level, with a 'it only happens to other people' mentality; more fool them when it all goes belly up.

I think you are a wise man to buy a hans restraint.

[MB]

AquilaEagle, on 04 February 2012 - 08:58 AM, said:

Mark, are you in the country enough to do a series?

Yes.

[MB]

dreamkev, on 04 February 2012 - 09:45 AM, said:

how much lighter does a varley 25 compare to an OEM BATTERY?

3-5 Kg.

[chilled]

Mark, when's your ARDS. I reckon you should get your ARDS done before you spend a ton of cash. I don't expect you to fail, but you also have to pass a medical and stuff. Not that cash is too much of a worry for you ;-)

[Dixon Motorsports]

Don't think he will failed the medical, he don't even wear glasses....lol

Driving test is easy as well, I can't see how he can fail that either...

[MB]

Mark, yep it's one of the hurdles but either way, I planned to strip and cage it anyway. Medical history is sound (have a big one annually) and while plenty of people do fail ARDS (one wrong flag and it's a fail) you can retake.

[AquilaEagle]

MB, on 04 February 2012 - 10:10 AM, said:

AquilaEagle, on 04 February 2012 - 08:58 AM, said:

Mark, are you in the country enough to do a series?

Yes.

Good.

[MB]

Not working abroad anymore! Well, for this year. It's a window of opportunity.

[MB]

Ruthernerd, on 04 February 2012 - 04:49 AM, said:

If it was me (and it will next month) I'd go weld in cage.

Bolt ins are fine, and they do pass all the MSA regs when correctly made, but having seen a few accidents in my time (I used to design WRC bodyshells for a living) mine will be a weld in.

Often overlooked with cages is the seat mounts. A roll cage is useless if your seat comes unstuck and leaves you bouncing round the car.

Something I will be going for is door bar and roof crosses that are 2 bent tubes meeting to form the X. Most cages will have a mitre joint fish mouth cross, however in event of a serious accident leading to this joint failing it results in a bloody great spike. If that hasn't made much sense I will post some pics up.

The number 2 reson to go weld in (after safety) is structural. You will be adding 30-50kg to your car, with a weld in you can turn your shell into a semi spaceframe (regs allowing). May as well make that bulk work for you! Tie it into the A post and strut tops.

I'll be following this thread with great interest, my build starts in ernest next weekend. Though i'm going for a track car initially my plan is to compete in it eventually.

Anything I can do to help let me know!

Sorry, missed this post! Good advice. I've gone for the CustomCages one from DMS, which is well reputed. It will be welded in. Be interested to see yours

[MB]

OldDogmeat, on 04 February 2012 - 04:54 AM, said:

I'd say that competition will quickly show you that you have been driving nowhere near the limit and that to be competitive (I dont mean up front but just mid field or not be left behind and lapped) will be quite a step up and an eye opener. Expect offs as you learn to reach those limits (this is where trackday driving differs as you instinctively hold back so's not to risk an off).

This is likely and as I said, no expectations.

But I like to remain positive and you have to start somewhere If i'm rubbish, I will just stick to trackdays. But i'd like to say i've done it.

[The Loon]

Subscribed...best of luck Mark. An S2KUK liveried car FTW

[OldDogmeat]

MB, on 05 February 2012 - 04:46 AM, said:

OldDogmeat, on 04 February 2012 - 04:54 AM, said:

I'd say that competition will quickly show you that you have been driving nowhere near the limit and that to be competitive (I dont mean up front but just mid field or not be left behind and lapped) will be quite a step up and an eye opener. Expect offs as you learn to reach those limits (this is where trackday driving differs as you instinctively hold back so's not to risk an off).

This is likely and as I said, no expectations.

But I like to remain positive and you have to start somewhere If i'm rubbish, I will just stick to trackdays. But i'd like to say i've done it.

Apologies Mark; reading that back it does sound really negative.

You come across as being quite competitive so I somehow think you'd not be the person being lapped after a few laps (I've seen this a lot in amateur series but that person is usually out there for fun/experience and generally isn't a competitive person by nature).

I suspect you'd get to grips within a season and be mixing it and having a great time.

Hat off to you chap

[ge2]

OldDogmeat, on 05 February 2012 - 06:28 AM, said:

MB, on 05 February 2012 - 04:46 AM, said:

OldDogmeat, on 04 February 2012 - 04:54 AM, said:

I'd say that competition will quickly show you that you have been driving nowhere near the limit and that to be competitive (I dont mean up front but just mid field or not be left behind and lapped) will be quite a step up and an eye opener. Expect offs as you learn to reach those limits (this is where trackday driving differs as you instinctively hold back so's not to risk an off).

This is likely and as I said, no expectations.

But I like to remain positive and you have to start somewhere If i'm rubbish, I will just stick to trackdays. But i'd like to say i've done it.

Apologies Mark; reading that back it does sound really negative.

You come across as being quite competitive so I somehow think you'd not be the person being lapped after a few laps (I've seen this a lot in amateur series but that person is usually out there for fun/experience and generally isn't a competitive person by nature).

I suspect you'd get to grips within a season and be mixing it and having a great time.

Hat off to you chap

It doesn't come across as negative to me, I'd say it's spot on

I'm actually quite envious reading this, not that it ever gets dull, but the early days are some of the best.

I loved the discovery process and loved the feeling of being slightly out of my depth. In fact, the latter has never quite gone away.