Yep, Aaron's.

 

Yes, that's my bar (Aaron, desert tortoise).

I'm selling that bar with my builder. The price is $575 including powder coating with any color. Price doesn't include shipping, installation, or costmetic stuff. I need to get an order of 10 to get that price. I paid over a grand to have this prototype designed and built.

It's as high as it can go without being near your head and still allowing the top to close. It's flush with the front roll bar (top of front frame), so it looks really cool. It's extremely strong. SCCA guage steel with cross members and the two bars are joined again below where you can't see with another short cross member. My fabricator only builds cages for race cars.

It bolts in with a 3-sided steel plate to two sides and the bottom at both connection points. I don't think there's a way to build a stronger/higher rollbar. I'm 6'2" and it goes an inch and half over my head.

Downsides: The seats are restricted from tilting all the way back by about an inch. That's the only problem I've had with it so far. But it's not really a problem since I drive two clicks in front of that anyway!

I don't have the cosmetic stuff worked out, just the patch up job you see in the photo. Maybe someone could make that stuff and sell it to us all (me included). I don't have time to do that, but any upholstery shop should be able to do it.

The bar can be bolted (such as mine) or welded in if you want.

The car can be returned to fully stock condition, no problem.

Smanders: you could order this bar and have your guy install it and there would be no design issues.

Also, the rear view is unimpeded with this design.

I had it inspected for speedtrial and TCRA events and it passed with flying colors. Not sure about SCCA.

If anyone's interested, let me know. I'll take names, etc. and see if I get ten orders.

Aaron Bitterman
Bitterman Time Trials, Inc.
323-461-4795

 

I had a bit of a different idea but have back-burnered it for now. And it's a much better solution IMHO, for those that want to retain the stock hoops and just need a track bar.

My idea was for a bar that would require no cutting or removal of any interior pieces and would allow the stock hoops to remain in place. And except for the mounting points, the bar would totally removable in only a few minutes.

This could be done by designing the mounting points of the bar to bolt under the seat rails. From these mounting points, the bar would then bend upward behind the seats for a few inches. This would allow the rest of the bar slide over the mounting point and bolt in place. One downside is that this solution would prevent the seats from moving all the way back, but it seems most of the bars have that problem.

I was going to use chromolly steel in the about the same thickness as the stock hoops (see Elistan's photo above). The part going above the seat backs would have padding attached.

A bar like this would pass approval at tracks like VIR that are now requiring an aftermarket roll bars and it could very likely pass SCCA approval as well.

If anyone's thinking of having a bar like this built, put me on the waiting list, I'll buy it tomorrow.

 

The only problem i, could see with mikeys design idea might be the scca
rule for the main hoop. 2002 scca gcr section 18.1.7.a " one 1 continuous length of tubing shall be used for the main hoop member with smooth continuous bends and no evidence of crimping or wall failure. (This next part is important) The radius of bends in the roll cage hoop (mesured at the center line of tubing) shall not be less than three 3 times the diameter of the tubing"
You would have to be careful of the amount of extra bends put in the main hoop.
Also there are specs for for diagonal braces,tubing diameter,etc. So you might want to check with scca and get the specs from them if you need a bar to meet their specs.
Bob

 

My goal wasn't SCCA approval but just to satisfy the track nanny's. Most DE events that are requiring aftermarket roll structures are not requiring SCCA compliant bars. And a fair guess would be that almost all S2000 owners that take their cars on track, do so for Driver Ed events and not SCCA sanctioned races.

However, I still think a bar like this could pass SCCA scrutiny. I've seen SCCA approved solutions with quite thin bars. I don't have the regs handy, but I thought that a thinner bar with a thick wall size made of the right material could pass muster.

 

Aaron,

I'm very interested in your roll bar design except that I would also want the convertible top cover to work with it.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by smanders
[B]
Sounds like a good plan.

 

I'm 90% in. That other crossmember - I assume it would work as a mount for shoulder belts of a 4-pt harness? And could you take a pic looking down behind the seats?

Thanks!

 

What's the estimated weight gain of one of the above solutions?

 

desert tortoise:

I am not fully committed right now but definitely interested. Could you post some more pictures of your bar from a couple different angles. I would like to get a better look at it. Also one with the top up from the inside would be great.

marcucci:
Before I commit to anything. I want to see how yours ends up. Sounds like it could really be a clean replacement.

Mikey:
Your design and function are exactly what I am looking for. I am not looking for 100% SCCA approved, just enough so I can do driving schools and lapping events. Are you referring to a design like this http://www.nsxfiles.com/images/viken_s2000_front2.jpg? If you can come up with the details of the mounting points on the floor board and the rear mounting points, it would help out a lot. Please post more details.

Thanks,
smanders