A few years ago, many tracks were moving towards not allowing the stock roll protection, but most of them have since repealed that rule. Barber used to require an after market bar, but now they leave it up to the sanctioning body.

 

here you go skip to about 1.10!
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMmjaaSQP08 [/media]

 

On that note, it doesn't mean it's a good idea to run the stock roll bars just because they allow it.
I think most tracks have become lenient on this rule to get more people out on track.

 

Yup, I would not feel safe on the track without the hard dog roll hoop, and that thing is strong as hell.

 

Definitely plan to do it, but I think the S is radically better for this rollover with regards to the windshield integrity. I would expect nothing less than what you see hear from the miata windshield

 

We (www.MVPTrackTime.com) allow the S2000 at our track events IF it's OK with the track. So far all the tracks are OK with it.

For added security, I'd install a roll bar.

Feff

 

G. Roll Bars and Roll Cages
1. Roll bars may be added. Roll bars may be welded in. Standard
roll-over hoops and covers may be removed if the resulting in-stallation meets Appendix C.A, Basic Design Considerations. The
total weight of components added must not be less than that of
components removed.
2. Roll cages may be added. It is strongly recommended that roll
cages be constructed according to the Club Racing GCR, though
they must be bolted (not welded) into the automobile and be con-tained within the driver/passenger compartment. A roll cage has
more than four attachment points to the body or frame or has
bracing both fore and aft of the main hoop.

As long as the design meets the criteria, removing the stock hoops is okay as well as the necessary trim needed.

 

NASA doesn't require it that I know of, but it might depend on the region. I've tracked my (mostly) stock S2000 at 2 different tracks and with several different sanctioning bodies and have never been questioned. I think the most "sketchy" experience I had was with the Porsche Club of America (PCA). When I called their HPDE chair to ask, he said that PCA requires you to pass the "broomstick" test (which I don't with stock roll hoops), but that nobody really cares. He advised me to leave the hardtop on it and go through tech inspection with the top on, because "nobody around here knows anything about S2000's, so if you leave the hardtop on, they won't even realize its a convertible."

 

the other issue is passing the broomstick test. it can be very difficult to get a stock seat to be low enough with a helmet on to be below the bar. some guys seem to forget that an instructors head must be below the bar also if you run in a group requiring one. i would really just take the plunge and do it, because the worst thing would be to pay your money, go all the way to the track and then get sent home.

 

Usually if you leave the top up you don't attract much attention. So far I have gotten away with the OEM setup.