Poor Roll Bar Install ...

[Mako Koiwai]

Very Lucky "racer" - passenger

http://thegarageblog.com/garage/it-seem ... more-10656

[Steve Ekstrand]

Is it really a bad install????

Is a well installed autopower going to survive being SLAMMED on its roof? Notice front end catches on the fencing and digs in causing all that forward momentum to be transferred into slam the roof into the ground energy. Kinda a worse case scenario for a simple 4 pt bar it would seem to me.

[Mako Koiwai]

Jamie's installing her roll cage into the MR2 today ... after seeing these photos, they're putting in extra plating, boxing, etc.

[Steve Ekstrand]

I'd be interested in knowing what failed. Did the points punch through the floorboards? Or did the hoop collapse? Or was it pushed back?

[Aaron Goldsmith]

I'd be interested in knowing what failed. Did the points punch through the floorboards? Or did the hoop collapse? Or was it pushed back?

You can see the feet of the hoop sticking through the floor in one of the pics.

[Marshall Grice]

I'd be interested in knowing what failed. Did the points punch through the floorboards? Or did the hoop collapse? Or was it pushed back?

you can see the posts punched through the floorboard. kind of a fundamental flaw with attaching the cage to the floor with inadequate support. not exactly limited to bolt in cages, but most weld in cages have competent people installing them.

[Steve Ekstrand]

Ah, I didn't click on the picture to enlarge it first time around....

Looks like really small anchor plates. Like maybe 6"x6"???

Don't the SCCA rules allow like 12"x12" plates?

[Michael Smith]

From the first pic, it looks like they are using the Street Roll Bar (no horizontal bar)
http://www.autopowerindustries.com/rollbars.asp

Street Roll Bar - $404.65
This roll bar will give your street car a performance look and style. << His bumper does say "Look Better, Go Faster"
- In most cars rear seats and/or convertible top remain in place and useable.
- This roll bar is made of 1.750 x .120 DOMmild steel tube.
- All necessary installation and mounting hardware with back-up plates is included.

The race roll bars come in 2" x .120 ERW steel.

[Marshall Grice]

Ah, I didn't click on the picture to enlarge it first time around....

Looks like really small anchor plates. Like maybe 6"x6"???

Don't the SCCA rules allow like 12"x12" plates?

100 sq in. max dimension 12", min dimension 2" on any side. those mounting plates seem to be way under that.

[Steve Ekstrand]

Performance look and style....
I'll a little nauseous after reading that.....

[Mike Kazmierczak]

Scary. I know a few people running the Autopower bar. I'll be forwarding this to them.

[Michael Smith]

Performance look and style....
I'll a little nauseous after reading that.....

Maybe this Hennessey built car will make you feel better...
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/29/sema ... sis-coupe/

"Carbon Look". If it looks like carbon fiber, it means performance!

[Steve Ekstrand]

My SRT has a "Carbon Look" texture to the leather wrapped steering wheel.... Huh??? Where did Chrysler find a Carbon Fiber Cow?

[Michael Smith]

this just got posted...Toyota's rotary carbon weaving machine for the LF-A:
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/29/vide ... #continued

[Michael Smith]

All of the specs for the mustang:

http://www.mustang50magazine.com/featur ... er_12.html

[John Coffey]

That was a one-in-a-million hit on the roof of that Mustang. Basically 3,000 lbs. times the velocity of the flip. The Autopower SCCA Solo1 legal bar and the Kirk Racing bar would have both stood up much better but I don't know how much better. It just goes to show that street car prep shops have a learning curve when they start preparing track cars. Sometimes the curve is real steep, as in this case.

[Steve Ekstrand]

At least in this case its a wake up call, not a human tragedy.

[Bob Beamesderfer]

My very limited experience gained from cutting up a wrecked Miata, I learned that unit body cars have places with thin sheet metal to keep weight down and several layers where it counts. Someday, I want another Miata, with a cage so I can play on the track. I will be taking it to someone who knows how to weld and where to put the backing plates so if the mounting points aren't where the several layers of metal are it will still be strong enough to save my slow ass.

[Bob Beamesderfer]

Performance look and style....
I'll a little nauseous after reading that.....

Like attaching that mini fire bottle to the plastic trim on the A-pillar.