FIA or RAC rollcage?

[tarcus]

Hello all, am looking at building an Ultima starting sometime in the next year (once I get a house with a large enough shed for the Ultima and my other toys) but am not sure which rollcage to go for.

The FIA one is a little more expensive but is stronger and more hassle when it comes to fitting the body (need to cut slots in the rear of the passenger cell), the RAC spec one is a little weaker (bolted together and is of lower specification tubing).

I'm buying the car to track-day and if possible competetive racing as a long-term goal, so if I get an FIA spec cage does that allow me to enter RAC-spec events? I'd rather have the stronger cage but not if it'll prevent me entering events.

Cheers all!

[stig]

Tarcus,

For most clubman level motorsport the RAC(/MSA) cage is fine. The FIA is a bit overkill for a road/occasional track car unless you're going to enter GTs or something!

The removable bars of the RAC spec cage are a great bonus too. It's plenty strong enough for you needs I'd say.

[GTR-TT]

You only have one life!

The FIA rollcage looks far better and will make the car stiffer/stronger and it will protect you better it will also make the car easier to sell when that day comes. I have the FIA cage in my GTR and suggest you get it as well.

[tarcus]

Sure but it's only a little bit more and I'd guess that the removable bars only make life easier on rare occasions, e.g. putting body on, perhaps engine replace/remove.

But do you or anyone else know if the FIA cage is valid in RAC events? I am assuming it is but you never know..

[tarcus]

GTR-TT said:The FIA rollcage looks far better and will make the car stiffer/stronger and it will protect you better it will also make the car easier to sell when that day comes. I have the FIA cage in my GTR and suggest you get it as well.

Indeed, for the extra outlay the only reason I can see for going for the weaker cage is if it is required in regulations for motorsports events that it must be an RAC cage not FIA, just trying to find out if that's the case, if not then I'll go for the FIA as the price difference isn't vast.

[stig]

tarcus said:

GTR-TT said:The FIA rollcage looks far better and will make the car stiffer/stronger and it will protect you better it will also make the car easier to sell when that day comes. I have the FIA cage in my GTR and suggest you get it as well.

Indeed, for the extra outlay the only reason I can see for going for the weaker cage is if it is required in regulations for motorsports events that it must be an RAC cage not FIA, just trying to find out if that's the case, if not then I'll go for the FIA as the price difference isn't vast.

Fairy muff. Each to their own.

The FIA cage will add a bit of tortional stiffness, but if you're good enough to tell the difference then you should be in F1 not an Ultima! I think you'll find that they're both plenty strong and safe enough for us mere mortals.

Mikael - I think you'll find that RAC or FIA won't matter an ounce when you come to sell, and buyer are as likely to be put off by the FIA cage as they are attracted to it. Remember, FIA cages are the exception, not the rule on Ultimas.

I didn't go for it as you've got the hassle with the cockpit bulkhead, the cockpit side panels need to be pressed out to fit over the thicker FIA tubes, not to mention the reduced headroom. Also, given that I was gonna stuff aircon, trim, carpet and other creature comforts in which compromise it as a pure race-car, going all out for an FIA cage that I didn't need for the series I could race in, was pointless.

As it is, it complies with RAC/MSA regs (I hold a National A comp. licence) which is good enough for me.

No reason that you shouldn't go for the FIA cage of course, but at the end of the day it's more dosh to outlay on what will be an increasingly large bill.