1st of all, just to be clear, there's no such thing as Street Prepared, Street Modified, etc. in trials. There are classes like Showroom Stock, Improved Touring, Trials Production (TT-#), etc. But there are no autocross classes in Trials.
The trials rules make reference to Solo classes as a means of determining the basic level of preperation of the car with which, in conjunction with the level of trials competition, decided whether or not a rollbar is necessary.
Here's the section from the
Trials Rulebook:
Quote:
Appendix 7 – ROLL CAGES REQUIREMENTS - Applicable GCR
sections as revised for the TTR
18. ROLL CAGES
Roll cages are recommended in all automobiles; however
specific roll structure requirements depend on the level of Time
Trials event attended. In any case, participants should strive
to prepare their car to the highest level of safety that is
feasible, and the following sections are set as the MINIMUM
roll structure requirements for each level.
Level 1 (PDX) -
At Level 1 events, any car that is street legal will be waived
from the roll bar/roll cage requirement, except for Convertibles
and Targa top automobiles. These cars must have either a roll
bar meeting Section 18 of the TTR or a factory hard top using
the factory mounting hardware and mounting points. No
exceptions to this rule allowed. For the purposes of this
determination only, street legal will be defined as a car which
meets local requirements for inspection (if applicable) and the
car in question must possess CURRENT, VALID registration.
If these requirements are not met, then the roll bar
requirement defaults to the rules listed below for Level 2 Time
Trials events.
Level 2 (Club Trials) -
Roll bars or cages will NOT be required in those cars prepared
to Stock, Street Prepared, Street Touring or Street Mod
specifications as found in the Solo 2 rules, except for
Convertibles and Targa top automobiles. These cars must have
either a roll bar meeting Section 18 of the TTR or a factory
hard top using the factory mounting hardware and mounting
points. No exceptions to this rule allowed. Any car modified
beyond any part of those rules must be equipped with a roll
bar minimum. This includes cars prepared to the Solo 2
classes of Prepared or Modified. Any car built to a GCR class
MAY NOT interchange preparation rules to circumvent the roll
bar requirement (for example, even though an IT car may run
in the Street Prepared Classes at a Solo 2 event, it does not
qualify for the roll bar exception in this case, and must have a
roll bar to run any Time Trials event.
Level 3 (Track Trials) -
A minimum of a roll bar meeting the requirements of section
18 of the TTR shall be required in all cars.
|
So, if you're competing in a car that's classifiable for Solo in Stock, Street Touring, Street Prepared, or Street Modified, you
do not need a cage to compete in
Club Trials. Now, if you're car is going to be going 150 mph like some of the SM cars are capable of, I'd recommend one (I'm getting one as soon as time and money allow), but it's not required. And if you're planning on running Level 3 Track Trials, you'll need a cage, but more than likely by the time you move to that level, you'll already have a cage.
Instead of just saying "I read section 18 of the TTR and you guys are screwed", please in the future, post a link and/or the text from the section of the rules you're referencing so you don't send 10 or 15 people into hysteria trying to figure out how they're going to get a $3000 roll cage installed by the end of April.
