Cal Club Autocross Forums

Very Lucky "racer" - passenger

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

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.

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

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?

Steve Ekstrand wrote: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.

Steve Ekstrand wrote: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.

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?

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.

Steve Ekstrand wrote: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.

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

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

Steve Ekstrand wrote: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!

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

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

All of the specs for the mustang:

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

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.

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

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.

Steve Ekstrand wrote: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.