Rollbar removed

Rollbar removed

Author
Discussion

ronspeedsix

Original Poster:

206 posts

172 months

Friday 4th April 2014
quotequote all
Finally I decided to remvoe my rollbar. ALthough it was a neat chrome one, didn't like the looks of it in the car.

I my opinion much better now, but what do you think about safety ?
Is case of roll-over it's better, but bigger chance to have a side impact with your head smashing to te roll bar.

Ronald

Mellow Yellow

885 posts

261 months

Friday 4th April 2014
quotequote all
I did the same with mine, didn't like the way it restricted seat movement, wasn't happy with the way it looked and I wasn't totally convinced that it would help without multi-point belts and some strengthening of the front mounting points on the outriggers.

Just put a "This Way Up" sticker on it and you'll be fine wink

neutral 3

6,356 posts

169 months

Monday 7th April 2014
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No way would i take mine out.

SILICONEKID346HP

14,997 posts

230 months

Monday 7th April 2014
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Do they fit the Chimaera ?

phazed

21,844 posts

203 months

Tuesday 8th April 2014
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All interchangeable Daz.

TA14

12,722 posts

257 months

Tuesday 8th April 2014
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ronspeedsix said:
Is case of roll-over it's better, but bigger chance to have a side impact with your head smashing into the roll bar.
It's usually more a case of how tall are you and whether you and your passenger wear a helmet. For most people there isn't enough room under the roof line to raise the roll bar high enough for it to be any use in a serious, roll over type accident; the side impact will be stronger as long as your head doesn't whack against the roll bar. It's a lot easier to design for short people since the vertical clearance is less of an issue and the seat tends to be further forward so the bar can be positioned further back. Some people have some neat designs where they have lowered the seat but most appear to have one like a comfort teddy bear, albeit a dangerous one.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

phazed

21,844 posts

203 months

Tuesday 8th April 2014
quotequote all
neutral 3 said:
No way would i take mine out.
I wouldn't either. Depending on make, it also stiffens up the chassis.

MPoxon

5,329 posts

172 months

Tuesday 8th April 2014
quotequote all
As always there are many options to choose from, some are a little concerning if people are using them without helmets and harnesses.

This one scares the st of me....




This one is clearly not fit for purpose....




This one looks to be better but I think you would still need higher backed seats with harnesses to make sure:



I personally have not bothered fitting one as I don't think you can get the bar high enough with the roof still fitted. I know Peter has Elise seats in his which lowers the seating position, this is probably the best option combined with a decent roll bar but then you loose the original seats.

phazed

21,844 posts

203 months

Tuesday 8th April 2014
quotequote all
The first picture is my car before padding on the bar and Elise seats.

The second is my car showing how rubbish the original Lane bar was and how tall I am smile

I am happy with my Elise /bar compromise .

MPoxon

5,329 posts

172 months

Tuesday 8th April 2014
quotequote all
I'll have to have another look at your setup when I see you at the track next. If I end up doing more track days I may have to consider a roll bar.

I like this custom one on Longers TVR S. Custom job from Steve Gugliemi in Daventry:


neutral 3

6,356 posts

169 months

Friday 11th April 2014
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jesfirth

1,743 posts

241 months

Tuesday 15th April 2014
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. My full cage. Lots of padding for road use and to protect my helmet.

QBee

20,906 posts

143 months

Tuesday 15th April 2014
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Matt, mine is the same as the silver one you showed. It's in one or two other pics. Roll Centre Racing, Martin Short's company. Have a sit in my car next time we co-incide on a track day. You doing Bedford May 6th?

phazed

21,844 posts

203 months

Wednesday 16th April 2014
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The best bar that I have seen is my pal precats griff.

This was a one off and really looks good as well as having 6 fixing points, (maybe even 8?).

I haven't any pictures but I'll ask him to mail me some or post up.

This is what I was saying about the standard seats.

6'-3" and standard seats, utterly useless!



Just found this page that shows one of the Village People in my old chim with Lotus seats and Precats griff although the pictures font do it justice as it has quite a complex design.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=...

MPoxon

5,329 posts

172 months

Wednesday 16th April 2014
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That looks very similar to SteveGRF's Chris Issac roll bar. He was kind enough to send me some pictures:









I think this with the seats protection plates is a first class solution.

phazed

21,844 posts

203 months

Wednesday 16th April 2014
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That's the one precat has.

FlipFlopGriff

7,144 posts

246 months

Friday 18th April 2014
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Have any of these been tested in anger and therfore can vouch for their quality and effectiveness? I've seen pics of a few Griffs that have been rolled and to be honest any roll bar with decent fixings is going to be better than nothing surely as there is about 12 inches betwen the centre console and the boot to bonnet line and not enough for 1 head never mind 2 to be accommodated?
FFG

neal1980

2,574 posts

238 months

Saturday 19th April 2014
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MPoxon said:
That looks very similar to SteveGRF's Chris Issac roll bar. He was kind enough to send me some pictures:









I think this with the seats protection plates is a first class solution.
I really like that rollbar...any idea who made it?? can you still get them?

phazed

21,844 posts

203 months

Saturday 19th April 2014
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PM precat, (Anthony).

jesfirth

1,743 posts

241 months

Saturday 26th April 2014
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FlipFlopGriff said:
Have any of these been tested in anger and therfore can vouch for their quality and effectiveness? I've seen pics of a few Griffs that have been rolled and to be honest any roll bar with decent fixings is going to be better than nothing surely as there is about 12 inches betwen the centre console and the boot to bonnet line and not enough for 1 head never mind 2 to be accommodated?
FFG
I have not seen a rolled griff with a roll bar. As you say anything will help especially in a slow speed sideways roll. The problem with the half cages ie those that are only braced beside and behind the seat is that in a high speed accident the bar could catch and be forced either backwoods or worse forwards because there is not as much bracing as in a full cage. That would take a fair impact though. For track use a full cage is the way to go - see my photo earlier but it is awkward to get in an out and probably not ideal for day to day road use. I do have extra door side impact bars as well though that are at rib cage height.

Lowering the seat will also help if you are tall. At 5 ft 8 it is not a problem for me though.