The safety guys at the last FATT I attended said the same thing. Glad I bought Mani's roll bar last night! Mani is a great guy and it was pleasure doing business with him.

I thought a lot about this issue before buying an S. In the end, I decided I would want a roll bar in ANY car I tracked. Back in the day, I rolled a RX-7 off I-70 and into the median after falling asleep. The roof completely caved in. It was a wake up call.

A fixed roof may get you on to the track, but its no guarantee of safety.

The last car I tracked prior to the S was an E36 325. While a great car, it always had about 20 things wrong with it. It wasn't nearly as much fun on the track as the S.

Matt

 

I agree about getting a roll bar even for a fix-roof car. I'm planning to get one for my E36. As far as reliability goes, you're talking about the reliability of a car that's 13+ years old. It's similar to complaining about your S' reliability in the year 2016+ with a lot more miles.

 

While I understand the safety issues involved. I am not sure you really solve the problem in the S. From the pictures I have seen, if you are a tall person, your head ( with helmet on ) is still above a Hard Dog roll bar.

So are you really any safer than with the stock hoops if your head is the highest point?

Not tring to start an arguement. Just an observation.

 

[QUOTE=EELPIE,Oct 26 2008, 11:48 AM] While I understand the safety issues involved.

 

Here is something to think about:


Are the OEM S2000 rollhoops tall enough for your instructor?

 

Also a good point. The same could be said about an aftermarket bar too.

 

There's a big difference between the stock roll hoops and the Hard Dog bar. The stock roll hoops are small diameter and lower than the plastic cover. If you roll in sand or soil the stock hoops will sink in because of the small diameter and two rounded points of contact. The Hard Dog bar is a couple inches higher, large diameter, runs completely across the car, and has massive rear and diagonal support.

The S is a fantastic track car with the addition of a good roll bar or cage. I disagree with the comment about comparing an S with the 325. I've been a BMW fan for a long time and owned the previous generation 528i. BMWs in general are nowhere near as reliable as our Honda S2000, and parts tend to be much more expensive.

But I don't think you can beat the Miata as an entry level track car. They're cheap, reliable, there's tons of go-fast parts for them, and lots of people know how to set them up and keep them track ready. You'll always have a group to run with at almost any track event.

I was very happy to see Honda officially keep the S coming to the US this year, that means I'll have more to choose from in the future...

 

I guess what I really wanted to say is, why enforce a rollbar requirement if you are not going to follow up with a broomstick test. To ensure the rollbar will really serve its purpose.

During my day at the track back in April my head was above the stock hoops and my instructors was not. However, based on the installed height of a Hard Dog bar, my head would still be above the rollover protection.

So why require a bar and lose a lot of FATT participants who do not want to cut up their interior, only to have people running around the track with their heads above the added roll bar.

I do not quite understand Summit Points reasoning.

 

There is certainly a big difference, but if your head is still above the hard dog bar, and you have harnesses that aren't going to allow lateral movement (which you should if you have a bar), then the bar is less safe than the OEM setup IMO.

Safety equipment is only useful when implemented correctly.

 

If it is you. Sorry Pete, just couldn't resist.

Seriously though, if it was Rob, then the answer is no.