Polybushes - one p**** off customer
Discussion
MPoxon said:
An interesting read and I do agree with most of that. However I have always been of the understanding that if you have a roll bar behind the seats AND you are secured using a harness then this is safe for road use. There are of number of factory cars that have these fitted:
Similar bar fitted behind the seats of a Tiv:
It depends...Similar bar fitted behind the seats of a Tiv:
Most bars are sold as style bars because they are just that.
Westfield sell their roll bar and then you can buy a raincover for wet weather that fits over it but if you want to go racing you need their RAC approved bar which is taller so the raincover won't fit.
The bar in the pictured Griff looks to be far enough back that it may not interfere but why take the risk? Really most peole need the bar fitted above the roofline. It depends on how tall you are, what type of harness and how you fit it, whether you wear a helmet...
My pal has that grief bar, it is lower then the TR Lane bar which is just about tall enough.
As said, it is always going to be a compromise on a road car.
Trouble is, the more track days you do, the faster and more competative you become therefore it is best to have as much safety equipment in place.
Methinks you pays your money etc!
As said, it is always going to be a compromise on a road car.
Trouble is, the more track days you do, the faster and more competative you become therefore it is best to have as much safety equipment in place.
Methinks you pays your money etc!
Hi Guys,
Sorry to chip in but I have some comments. Even though the thread for poly bushes got hijacked for roll bars, I have to agree with JR, for the comments on the so called ‘roll bar’..
Decide what you want to do with your car first and stick to it and never compromise, compromising in motor sport means death..
All these ‘my mate made this for me’ may look good but will they save your life should you roll over, they may fold like a slice of bread. Plus thinking that this is improving the cars ability is a little over stated. Where’s the spreader plates for taking the stress and fore and aft bars for stiffening the chassis. What about a side impact, if you go off track and slam in to an Armco barrier?
Has anyone got a test certificate for the design detailing what material should be used what is maximum impact vertically, horizontally and laterally?
Granted in a gentle roll, others are better designed like haircutmikes, but it is still attached to those flimsy outriggers, however it may save some mashing of the peanut.
While ‘off roading, comp safari style’ I have barrel rolled down a hill, hit a tree at over 60mph, and stood the car on its nose before finishing on its roof. Only when these things happen and you walk away do you thank the FIA and the people who designed and tested them. A Roll cage for a 1500kg Land Rover has to withstand a minimum of 50 Tons impact, TVRs are not that much lighter..
The TVR has a low center of gravity, if you are getting to the stage of lifting the wheels then you are at the limits of the car, personally at this point I would be consulting roll cage designers because one day you will go over that limit and it could be ‘good night Vienna’ I would like to see my pension (if there is one) and enjoy it.
If I was serious about track days I would have my car looking like the one below, hoops front and rear with cross-bracing, but if it is just a blast around a track driving within the limits of the car may be these designs are OK.
My opinion my be a little over the top.
I now wait for the slap on the wrist and the people who are more knowledgeable than me to point out where I have gone wrong
Sorry to chip in but I have some comments. Even though the thread for poly bushes got hijacked for roll bars, I have to agree with JR, for the comments on the so called ‘roll bar’..
Decide what you want to do with your car first and stick to it and never compromise, compromising in motor sport means death..
All these ‘my mate made this for me’ may look good but will they save your life should you roll over, they may fold like a slice of bread. Plus thinking that this is improving the cars ability is a little over stated. Where’s the spreader plates for taking the stress and fore and aft bars for stiffening the chassis. What about a side impact, if you go off track and slam in to an Armco barrier?
Has anyone got a test certificate for the design detailing what material should be used what is maximum impact vertically, horizontally and laterally?
Granted in a gentle roll, others are better designed like haircutmikes, but it is still attached to those flimsy outriggers, however it may save some mashing of the peanut.
While ‘off roading, comp safari style’ I have barrel rolled down a hill, hit a tree at over 60mph, and stood the car on its nose before finishing on its roof. Only when these things happen and you walk away do you thank the FIA and the people who designed and tested them. A Roll cage for a 1500kg Land Rover has to withstand a minimum of 50 Tons impact, TVRs are not that much lighter..
The TVR has a low center of gravity, if you are getting to the stage of lifting the wheels then you are at the limits of the car, personally at this point I would be consulting roll cage designers because one day you will go over that limit and it could be ‘good night Vienna’ I would like to see my pension (if there is one) and enjoy it.
If I was serious about track days I would have my car looking like the one below, hoops front and rear with cross-bracing, but if it is just a blast around a track driving within the limits of the car may be these designs are OK.
My opinion my be a little over the top.
I now wait for the slap on the wrist and the people who are more knowledgeable than me to point out where I have gone wrong
Apologies to the OP for the epic thread hi-jack. 
I have thought long and hard about fitting the roll centre bar in mine as it resides completely behind the seats as per the Caterum design.
This article on the Griffith pages illustrates how it connects to the chassis:
http://www.tvrgriffith.com/index.php?option=com_co...
As with the Caterum I have always assumed (perhaps wrongly) that if you wear a harness then you will not be able to crack you head on the bar in a rear end shunt but the bar should save your life in the event of a roll over.
I have thought long and hard about fitting the roll centre bar in mine as it resides completely behind the seats as per the Caterum design.
This article on the Griffith pages illustrates how it connects to the chassis:
http://www.tvrgriffith.com/index.php?option=com_co...
As with the Caterum I have always assumed (perhaps wrongly) that if you wear a harness then you will not be able to crack you head on the bar in a rear end shunt but the bar should save your life in the event of a roll over.
[quote=MPoxon]Apologies to the OP for the epic thread hi-jack.
I have thought long and hard about fitting the roll centre bar in mine as it resides completely behind the seats as per the Caterum design.
This article on the Griffith pages illustrates how it connects to the chassis:
http://www.tvrgriffith.com/index.php?option=com_co...
Where did you get that roll bar..and what is the cost? Thr TRLane roll bar is easy to fit and the one to go for just for track days but it sits to close for comfort even with a harness without a helmet..I got offered a TRLane roll bar still in the wrapping for £330 and after a long think its not for me..
I have thought long and hard about fitting the roll centre bar in mine as it resides completely behind the seats as per the Caterum design.
This article on the Griffith pages illustrates how it connects to the chassis:
http://www.tvrgriffith.com/index.php?option=com_co...
Where did you get that roll bar..and what is the cost? Thr TRLane roll bar is easy to fit and the one to go for just for track days but it sits to close for comfort even with a harness without a helmet..I got offered a TRLane roll bar still in the wrapping for £330 and after a long think its not for me..
Edited by SILICONEKID340HP on Tuesday 14th June 22:03
SILICONEKID340HP said:
MPoxon said:
Apologies to the OP for the epic thread hi-jack.
I have thought long and hard about fitting the roll centre bar in mine as it resides completely behind the seats as per the Caterum design.
This article on the Griffith pages illustrates how it connects to the chassis:
http://www.tvrgriffith.com/index.php?option=com_co...
Where did you get that roll bar..and what is the cost? Thr TRLane roll bar is easy to fit and the one to go for just for track days but it sits to close for comfort even with a harness without a helmet..I got offered a TRLane roll bar still in the wrapping for £330 and after a long think its not for me..I have thought long and hard about fitting the roll centre bar in mine as it resides completely behind the seats as per the Caterum design.
This article on the Griffith pages illustrates how it connects to the chassis:
http://www.tvrgriffith.com/index.php?option=com_co...
If you click on the link below there are outline costs, link to the supplier (RollCentre Racing) and a full install guide showing how the bar is installed:
http://www.tvrgriffith.com/index.php?option=com_co...
On the subject of the TR Lane bars I am not personally 100% happy either offerings. The TT style bar as illustrated earlier on on the thread is for to low to be of any benefit. The larger is of the correct height but I do not like the way the front supports are to the side of the passengers and not behind. IMO not good for use without a helmet as you could easily hit your head on it in a shunt.
I agree with the above.
That's my car with the original seats in the picture 3 years ago just as the bar was fitted.
If anyone uses one of these then they are advised to add padding to the bar.
I still think this is the best alternative.
Just going back to how easy it is to roll a car, my farther in law flipped his Fiesta onto it's roof by clipping a high concrete central reservation in town at about 20 mph!
Took the emergency services an hour to free him.
That's my car with the original seats in the picture 3 years ago just as the bar was fitted.
If anyone uses one of these then they are advised to add padding to the bar.
I still think this is the best alternative.
Just going back to how easy it is to roll a car, my farther in law flipped his Fiesta onto it's roof by clipping a high concrete central reservation in town at about 20 mph!
Took the emergency services an hour to free him.
pbaker43 said:
Hi Guys,
All these ‘my mate made this for me’ may look good but will they save your life should you roll over, they may fold like a slice of bread.
My "Mate" is a senior design engineer and I am very very confident in his design. Regarding materials it is manufactured from FIA spec CDS tube and with regards to cross bracing laterally well I think the cross loading transfer is obvious in the design, Also as mentioned previously with regards to spreading, the spreader plate on the bottom of the tube covers the whole corner mount of the outrigger (bolting through it) and also folds up around the back of the bodyshell interior and bolts through the seatbelt mounting plate as well so you have multi-dimensional fixing.All these ‘my mate made this for me’ may look good but will they save your life should you roll over, they may fold like a slice of bread.
I hope I never have to be involved in product testing, but I don't have something that was knocked up in someones garage with a pipe bender and a stick welder, it was properly designed and manufactured in an R&D engineering department.
Sadly as said previously mine is designed for short drivers - I have my seat full forwards on the runners to fit this one in (not an issue for me at 5'8" in shoes 
) and as mentioned the can of worms with regards to selling safety products is a big one that my friend would doubtless wish to avoid - that and the fact that he's got two kids now and no spare time any more 
By adding a description I was just trying to dispell the proposed theory that friends informally can't produce something to a high standard.
heres some more of his work (not just the rollbar, the whole car)
) and as mentioned the can of worms with regards to selling safety products is a big one that my friend would doubtless wish to avoid - that and the fact that he's got two kids now and no spare time any more By adding a description I was just trying to dispell the proposed theory that friends informally can't produce something to a high standard.
heres some more of his work (not just the rollbar, the whole car)
Edited by M@H on Wednesday 15th June 11:25
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