It doesn't seem any weaker than the typical roof on a sedan (not that most sedans' roofs would hold up in a roll over). I have the Honda hardtop on my racecar (over my cage), it has all the trim removed so I can see the construction, and the metal roof looks very well reinforced and rigid, especially since it is small in area. I wouldn't be surprised if it could easily support the car upsidedown. Not sure how the retention system would hold up to lateral forces. It would be interesting to know if any S has rolled with a hardtop and the outcome.

 

The roof on sedans are part of the cage structure of the passenger compartment and are designed to support the weight of the car in a rollover accident. An S2000 hardtop is not structural.

 

the hardtop is only as strong as the cast alloy catchers and the four tiny phillips screw holding the front latches. good luck thinking it will hold in a roll-over

 

But isn't the roof actually supported all along its base from B-pillar around to B-pillar and all along the front on the windshield frame (which we've seen hold up in many rollovers)? The latches and catchers only locate it in place?

 

Apparently, NASA in our neck of the woods is starting to say that S's have to have bars. Exceptions will be made occasionally. This comes straight from our Mid-Atlantic rep. His reason was that many tracks are starting to adopt a "bar is necessary," so NASA will be, too. I received his phone call while at the Dragon, so it was only a couple of weeks ago.

Funny this is, HyperFest is the first weekend in July at Summit and was the event I was questioning. Summit does not require an aftermarket bar, yet I was told that for that event they would be requiring one. Additionally, CoralDoc was correct in saying that VIR requires a bar, however, I know that an S2000 ran this February with NASA without an aftermarket bar. I don't know the name of the female who was driving it.

In the end, you need to contact the event coordinator.

 

A lot of times what happens is that insurance companies get nervous and crack down. I don't think they are worried about actual safety as much as they about perceived negligence.

 

[QUOTE=rlaifatt,May 14 2006, 10:05 PM] But isn't the roof actually supported all along its base from B-pillar around to B-pillar and all along the front on the windshield frame (which we've seen hold up in many rollovers)?