Does anybody know where I can find a roll bar? I was planning to drive at VIR this wekeend, only to find out they requires all open top cars to have a roll bar that extends 2 inches above the driver's helmet (according to SCCA rules). Actually, it's the insurance companies that require it. Obviously, the stock roll-over hoops do not qualify.

I've heard this is the same for most of the tracks on the east coast. Can anyone confirm? I've talked extensively with Tommy Chen (SpeedTrial USA) about West Coast track days where this isn't an issue.


Thanks!
David

 

I think some of our members may have driven at VIR with the stock bars in place but I'm not sure. I don't think you'll find a bar in time for this weekend. There have been several threads about roll bars in this forum. Here's a starting point.
http://www.s2000online.com/forums/showthre...p?threadid=6532

 

scoot seat forward, lean seat back, voila, 2 inches

 

sylvainsf, thanks for your wonderful insight! Tracks want and aftermarket roll bar, period. It's not a matter of height for the stock roll bars.

 

I've driven at VIR with the stock roll bars, no problem.

Any limitations are probably those of the organization renting the track on any given day, not the track itself.

 

Mikey, When did you drive at VIR? I might have changed the rules for 2001. SpeedTrialUSA was the promoter for a track day this past weekend. They didn't have a problem with me racing, VIR did. VIR apparently viewed the registrants and called SpeedTrialUSA with the news. Tommy Chen (of SpeedTrialUSA) investigated the matter further with the insurance company, and found the decision is up to the track.

Have you driven on any others tracks close to NC? I still have to check on Summit Point in WVa.


David

 

Summit Point has no problems with the stock hoops..at least at events sponsored by BSR (they're based at Summit Point) like FATT.

 

I drove at VIR late last year, there were two S2000's there that weekend. I also know a VIR club member that often drives at the track with no additional bars. The whole situation sounds very strange.

I'm driving at Summit Point this weekend and they don't have a problem with the S2000 roll bars either. It's probably not too late to get in on the Car Guys event there this weekend, http://www.carguysinc.com.

But I really can't believe they arbitrarily prohibited you from running at VIR without a test.

The typical roll bar test draws an imaginary line from the top of the windshield frame to the top of the roll bar. The driver's head should be 2" under that line. This makes the suitability of the bars highly dependant on the driver's height. Of course shorter drivers can easily pass this test. (Taller drivers can pass the test by tilting the seat back.) I don't anticipate any problems at VIR, but if they do bring up the issue, I'll make them test me. Even at 5' 11", I'm confident with the seat-tilted back I could pass the test.

[Edited by Mikey on 03-01-2001 at 08:43 AM]