Roll cage MSA approval

[motorsportbeng]

Currently building a hatch to hopefully get out and do a few rounds of the canons tin tops and maybe a few other similar series next season. My plan was to simply buy an already approved roll cage from the likes of custom cages etc and fit that but a track car with a cage already in has come up and makes good financial sense to me if I can get the cage certified.
I have no idea what the process is for getting your cage approved for clubman racing, so any extra information would be appreciated. It's a nice custom made weld in cage that has been done, by I'm told, a reputable fabrication company, not one of these bloody lethal half cages some of the track day goers put in, but at the moment there's no approval on it as it has only been used for track days amd road use.

[RogueMotorsport]

There's no need for certification at club level, providing the cage is built to MSA specifications. If you don't already have a copy of the MSA Blue Book, you can read the relevant section here:

http://www.msauk.org/uploadedfiles/msa_forms/blueb...

[motorsportbeng]

Ok thanks I have read what the specifications should be, I was wondering about the process of having it scrutineered then, before it's first race event and what the process is for this?

[drmotorsport]

I'm pretty sure theres no need for certificates in MSA club racing, but they could come in handy for waving at a suspicious scruitineer! As long as it's built and fitted to blue book standards then you should be ok. I've never needed to show a cert in the last 11 years of racing anyway...

[drmotorsport]

motorsportbeng said:

Ok thanks I have read what the specifications should be, I was wondering about the process of having it scrutineered then, before it's first race event and what the process is for this?

Theres no need to have it pre-scruitineered before races - the log book system is not used in club racing (yet!) So process is really just enter race, turn up and sign on, scruitineering, qually, race

[motorsportbeng]

Ok thanks DrMotorsport, I should have just asked you on the forum! Whenever I've worked or competed in motorsport it's been in one make series or with already built competitive cars, I've never even given this process a second thought until it's come to building a car for myself!
Away from the forum regulars and the car's owner, I think you've seen the pictures of the car/shell I'm looking at haven't you? From what I can see it looks like it complys with the MSA rules, if anything it looks a bit over-kill and heavy! I was wondering if you have noticed anything that I haven't?

[drmotorsport]

motorsportbeng said:

Ok thanks DrMotorsport, I should have just asked you on the forum! Whenever I've worked or competed in motorsport it's been in one make series or with already built competitive cars, I've never even given this process a second thought until it's come to building a car for myself!
Away from the forum regulars and the car's owner, I think you've seen the pictures of the car/shell I'm looking at haven't you? From what I can see it looks like it complys with the MSA rules, if anything it looks a bit over-kill and heavy! I was wondering if you have noticed anything that I haven't?

No worries Is this ForgottenAndys car your talking about? Was quite tempted myself with that one, for a good cage and fitting you would be looking at about £1k - if it happens to include a nice shell and spare engine/box for the same kind of money then thats a bonus I havent seen all the pics but yes it looks a little overkill for a club car but you could cut a couple of tubes out.

BTW all the cages i've seem for a Fiesta are CDS rather than T45 so all will be heavy.

Dom

[tapkaJohnD]

Once it is built, if you want reassurance that you will not be turned away by some officious scrutineer [Sic!] at your first attempt to race, the Blue Book used to contain a list of Technical officers, inc. scrutineers. The list is now on the CD that comes with the Book. Find one locally and ask if you can bring the car around for them to have a look at it unofficially.
And it will be 'unofficial' because they will be doing it out of their love of the sport and a new racer, and won't issue you with a 'laisser-passee' document or even a certificate. At least you will have had someone see it who can tell you if it is satisfactory, with time to deal with any problems before your first race.
John