Any recommendations for half cage for a 993RS?

[grogger]

I'm thinking that it might be a good idea to stick a half cage in the back of my 993RS, given that it is seeing an increasing amount of track day action and a cage has got to be cheaper and less painful than neurosurgery. I think the car may have had one in before I got the car in Nov 2003, given the holes in the carpet aligned with the rear seat belt mountings, plus the eyebolts for harnesses that are still fitted.

I'd like a minimally invasive one, in terms of not needing to butcher the car to get it in and once in, so I guess that means I need a bolt in one. I think the Heigo do one, but my knowledge of the German language is non-existent, so their website isn't a huge amount of help in terms of the different options.

http://www.heigo.de/ASP/index.asp

A search of the PH Porsche forum hasn't really helped. I'm sure someone out there must have been through the same thought process before so I'd be grateful for any guidance.

Thanks in anticipation.

Nigel

[fergus]

Contact Colin at 9M racing, or Phil Hindley at Tech9, who will be able to point you in the right direction and advise on the correct fitting of the cage (mounting points, etc). You see some cages at t/days that tend to be more for show than protection, and some of these are not just the polished chrome hoops in the back of the novas.....

Be careful with the mounting of the harness bolts and ensure that they aren't mounted in 'shear', i.e the harness load runs perpendicular to the bolt thread.

Make sure the diagonal is for a LHD or RHD car if it doesn't have a cross brace, to make sure your head is best protected in the event of a roll.

Pad the cage well, and consider a neck support. For £30 they're a great bit of kit.

www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/catalogue/product_detail.asp?PCODE=SKW162AB&GRP=MP006&PGRP=M001&CLS=MSPORT&code=SKW162&from=search

[MOD500]

Look at:

www.safetydevices.com

[ninemeister]

I have this discussion many times with 964RS & 993RS owners in your position and my answer is always the same. If you are serious about saving your own life (since this is what it boils down to) you need to think outside of your box and protect yourself, not your car's interior, and as far as I am concerned an "intrusive" roll cage is one which collapses and allows the roof to crush your skull.

Any proper bolt in cage will need to have holes drilled and plates welded in to do its job properly, but these parts can always be carefully removed at a later date and hidden if required. Therefore my conclusion is that if you are pushing the limits on the track, the minimum safety requirement is to fit a full bolted incage with cross diagonal, add a harness bar and use a good 3" 6-point harness. This will allow you to concentrate on your driving, not your safety. A typical full cage costs around £1000 fitted, harnesses are around £150.

The best solution is to do what JC (993RSR) has done with his GT2, in having a complete M003 style clubsport cage fabricated into the car. The job done on his cage is superb, in fact in comparison with my Matter cage it is actually a better fit and finish, and from what I remember the price was not excessive either.

You only have one life. Make sure it is a long one.

[993rsr]

My sentiments exactly Colin. Money well spent on a cage, could be the difference between making it or not in the event of a big off.

Here's some pictures of my cage during installation and when complete.

It is based on a clubsport cage, but with an additional rear X bar, and less intrusive mounting. It also has better trimming as I wanted it to integrate well into the non clubsport interior.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y211/993rsr/CageInstall3.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y211/993rsr/CageInstall2.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y211/993rsr/CageInstall1.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y211/993rsr/fce9b240.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y211/993rsr/4aeeb1a7.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y211/993rsr/fbd63555.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y211/993rsr/GT2Cage4.jpg

[vic cohen]

Still envious of that cage JC , beautifully finished and fitted.............but u do need a clip on/off S/Wheel boss so as not to muzz ur hair up !

[993rsr]

Nope, just stick me syrup to the roof with velcro.

[oldtimer]

fully endorse what Colin ( ninemeister) wrote. My recommendation is a full cage preferably high tensile steel (not alloy) professionally fitted by someone who's done them before. Some welding and adjustment normally needed. Makes life awkward for storing stuff in the back , getting in and out , and winding windows up/down in the RS. Cheaper than buying a clubsport tho

[paulburrell]

For a first class job, whether it be full or half cage, try Caged in Wiltshire, www.therollcagepeople.com run by 2 ex SD guys who do a fantastic job and are nice guys to boot. As for full cage/half cage debate, there seems to be a well educated school of thought that a full cage is actually dangerous unless used in conjunction with a harness and a helmet. There is apparently a risk that in a frontal impact the front ceiling crossbar makes a rather hard landing place for the front of your head. On track though the full cage is clearly a safer option than the half cage.

FYI I thought that Safety Devices had gone into administration a couple of months ago.


Steve