Mk 3.5 Roll Bar or Harness Bar

[Corpulent Tosser]

First off I did search but didn't find anything relevant.

Does anyone know if there is a roll bar (braced not just a hoop) to fit a folding hard top Mk3.5, or a harness bar for the same.

I am considering using my car for sprints/hillclimbs, the alternative is to sell and buy an earlier car, I had a Mk2 before and fitted a TR Lane roll bar as I did a few events with it when my other car (kit car) was in bits and don't feel comfortable competing without some roll over protection. The kit car was in bits due to a roll over incident which is why I am particular about such protection.

Any assistance on this would of course be appreciated, even if the advice is sell and buy an earlier car.

Ta
CT

Edited by Corpulent Tosser on Wednesday 11th September 16:58

[papahet]

Hard dog and Goodwin racing in the states do a few roll bars. Biased to LHD cars in the single diagonal versions.

http://www.good-win-racing.com/Mazda-Performance-P...

Personally (and having looked at one on a car local to me) they are not the perfect solution to roll over protection, I think you could get away with a 'soft' rollover but not a biggie.

I guess this all depends on how serious you want to be and how much compromise you want to make between road and track.

[Corpulent Tosser]

papahet said:

Hard dog and Goodwin racing in the states do a few roll bars. Biased to LHD cars in the single diagonal versions.

http://www.good-win-racing.com/Mazda-Performance-P...

Personally (and having looked at one on a car local to me) they are not the perfect solution to roll over protection, I think you could get away with a 'soft' rollover but not a biggie.

I guess this all depends on how serious you want to be and how much compromise you want to make between road and track.

A full cage is the answer, personal experience tells me this, however if I keep the car I want to retain the folding hard top and there doesn't appear to be a cage which allows this. Hard Dog do a roll bar which allows use of the folding roof, but it is a simple loop with no bracing, which could actually make a roll over more dangerous if the loop folded toward the driver.
My Mk2 had a TR Lane braced bar which while not anything like a good as a full cage did I think afford some protection.

I am beginning to think a change of car to a Mk1 or 2 could be the answer, leaving some money in my pocket for mods as well.

[papahet]

That is my thinking on this one to. If you take safety seriously then I do not think the Mk3 lends itself to a bolt in solution.

Shame because they are a fantastic chassis, in our local MX5 club the Mk3's with sticky tyres, coilovers and anti-roll bars are deceptively fast cars for something that is otherwise as it rolled off the factory floor. They are often not much slower than the heavily modified Mk1 and 2 entries.

[Corpulent Tosser]

papahet said:

That is my thinking on this one to. If you take safety seriously then I do not think the Mk3 lends itself to a bolt in solution.

Shame because they are a fantastic chassis, in our local MX5 club the Mk3's with sticky tyres, coilovers and anti-roll bars are deceptively fast cars for something that is otherwise as it rolled off the factory floor. They are often not much slower than the heavily modified Mk1 and 2 entries.

Thanks
I really like my car, it is enjoyable to drive and practical, but my decision to go down to one car rather than a road car and a dedicated competition car probably means it will have to go.

Will sell the competition car first though - anyone fancy a 'Busa engined Fury ?

[JQ]

Have you spoken to Rodders? He'll probably have a good idea of what might be available or what he could produce. www.mx5-racing.co.uk