Friday 15th November 2002

Roll Bars

Peninsula now fitting roll bars to all models

---

[yum]

Look good but the small print from their website reads

"Please note models shown are supplied as cosmetic items only they are not certified and have not been tested as a safety device."

So what's the point?

[squirrelz]

I hate websites that run on non-standard ports.

But I guess that to get them certified you need to crash test them, and the market wouldn't be large enough to cost justify that.

[marco]

I believe that if you get the official TVR roll bar you will see the same disclaimer.

No crash test - no full guarantee!

The point of it I suppose is that *anything* is an improvement over nutting the tarmac.

Cheers


Marco

[angusfaldo]

My vote goes to Yum for offering his car up for crash testing.

[RAW-SEWedge]

The point of it I suppose is that *anything* is an improvement over nutting the tarmac

I’ll second that. I’ve got one in my wedge. It bolts to the chassis and it’s made of pretty substantial steel. I’d rather it was there if I ever flip it shinny side down. I heard some say it stiffens the car too but I’m sure that will spark a debate

>> Edited by RAW-SEWedge on Friday 15th November 11:38

[incorrigible]

So what's the point?

Non-certified huge piece of steel hitting the tarmac, or your head

Doubt it would be weaker than the the standard fibreglass roll over bar, would like to see the the two hoop one fitted to a Chim, also be nice to see a four point harness option

Edited to say, just looked at the piccys again, and they've got 4 pointharnesses, where d'you get them from ?

>> Edited by incorrigible on Friday 15th November 11:44

[GreenV8S]

incorrigible said:

So what's the point?

Non-certified huge piece of steel hitting the tarmac, or your head

Doubt it would be weaker than the the standard fibreglass roll over bar, would like to see the the two hoop one fitted to a Chim, also be nice to see a four point harness option

Haven't seen one in the flesh, but judging by those photos I'd say the twin loop bar is totally unbraced and will offer negligeable rollover protection, and is so close to the driver's head that it could itself be a hazard in an impact. There are some standard rules for designing effective rollover bars and cages, and those twin loops don't even pay them lip service.

The single loop ones look more conventional and stand a better chance of being designed and built properly. Either way, I'd want to know it had been designed and built by somebody working to FIA standards, even if they haven't gone to the expense of getting these particular ones approved. The big danger is somebody with a stock of mild steel and a pipe bender, who's seen a proper cage and reckons he could knock one up. Hopefully the Peninsula bars are fine, but I'd check before buying one.

Cheers,
Peter Humphries (and a green V8S)

[rev-erend]

They look like a 'Audi TT' copy of sorts.

Very cosmetic but probably better than no bar at all.

[apache]

not if it folds around yer bonce

[JonRB]

Personally I'd be more inclined to trust the Tower View rollover bar that has been designed and built by Martin Short of Rollcentre, who's business is making FIA rollover bars. As Pete has already said, you know its been built to FIA standards even if it hasn't actually been certified.

I'm sure the Peninsula bars are well made, but I'd want to see some evidence of pedigree before I'd consider one over a Rollcentre bar.

[rbfisher]

So, has anyone ever rolled their Tiv and lived to tell the tale?

[rev-erend]

The demo 'Tamora' was rolled on a test drive
by the salesman at Sussex's Dream machines.

Both driver and passenger lived to tell the
tale. Owner of garage also impressed with
saftety of new tamora.

[GarryM]

JonRB said:
I'm sure the Peninsula bars are well made, but I'd want to see some evidence of pedigree before I'd consider one over a Rollcentre bar.

What does that mean? It may or may not have been designed to FIA standards but I guess that without official crash testing none of the makers can provide hard evidence that their design will save your head in an accident. Then again if a car fitted with a roll bar has survived a roll it doesn't mean it always will - I'm told the fibreglass hoop can support the car's weight but I wouldn't want to be inside when testing that theory!

I'm very interested in fitting a roll bar. It seems to me if you have faith in the people designing and fitting it then that's as much as you can reasonably do. I am concerned that the Peninsula one (goal post design) is a bit close to my head though. Anyone got pictures of other designs - would like to see the Rollcentre one from the front and back (looks a bit narrow from the pics I have seen).

[jellison]

Penisula ones are just for show - checked on them when researching into getting a proper bar - don't even think about if you drive hard and or and realise the consequences of flipping. My Rollcentre one as Jon RB has said is the only one worth getting FIA and attaches to the chassis on late Chims and Griffths in the approved mounting points.

[griff2be]

Tamora has a stiffened roll bar in the windscreen hoop.

Griffith and Chimaera don't. Inverted Griff/Chim = squashed occupants.

Worrying!!

I suspect Peninsula would advise customers that the twin hoop arrangement is purely cosmetic, whilst the more conventional design is more substantial, but for legal reasons can only be described as cosmetic. I bet you can't even fix seatbelts to the twin hoop one.

[incorrigible]

GreenV8S said: Haven't seen one in the flesh, but judging by those photos I'd say the twin loop bar is totally unbraced and will offer negligeable rollover protection, and is so close to the driver's head that it could itself be a hazard in an impact

Not at all sure about that, the loops appear to go all the way to the floor, I can only see the loop moving if you're going into a roll backwards

(Not saying that can't happen just think the protection is going to be considerably more than "negligible")

Edited to ask, on the braced versions where do the bracing bars bolt to ??


>> Edited by incorrigible on Friday 15th November 13:59

[GarryM]

jellison said: Penisula ones are just for show - checked on them when researching into getting a proper bar - don't even think about if you drive hard and or and realise the consequences of flipping. My Rollcentre one as Jon RB has said is the only one worth getting FIA and attaches to the chassis on late Chims and Griffths in the approved mounting points.

I believe the Peninsula goal post design also attaches to the frame in the approved mounting points. It is a substantial bar - but looks close to your head if you're tall.

[ATG]

incorrigible said:

GreenV8S said: Haven't seen one in the flesh, but judging by those photos I'd say the twin loop bar is totally unbraced and will offer negligeable rollover protection, and is so close to the driver's head that it could itself be a hazard in an impact

Not at all sure about that, the loops appear to go all the way to the floor, I can only see the loop moving if you're going into a roll backwards

(Not saying that can't happen just think the protection is going to be considerably more than "negligible")

Edited to ask, on the braced versions where do the bracing bars bolt to ??


>> Edited by incorrigible on Friday 15th November 13:59

They may go all the way to the floor, but the point is that they are not triangulated. If they don't have any support running from near the top of the hoops back down to the chassis well behind the seat, then there isn't much to stop them bending backwards or forwards in a crash.

[Steve _T]

jellison said: Penisula ones are just for show - checked on them when researching into getting a proper bar - don't even think about if you drive hard and or and realise the consequences of flipping. My Rollcentre one as Jon RB has said is the only one worth getting FIA and attaches to the chassis on late Chims and Griffths in the approved mounting points.

How much then, if you don't mind me asking?

Ta,
Steve.

[JSG]

If you're going to put one it, make it a decent one - just in case. It should bolt to the chassis on all four points.