Roll bar in my TCS Miata

[Kevin M]

Does anyone feel that putting the SCCA Solo 1 legal roll bar in my Miata gives me an unfair advantage running in C Stock? I will be leaving it out this coming weekend for Lovelock and only be competing in Solo 2 on Saturday, but I have to install the bar before my next track day, which is the 23rd at Thunder Hill. That means it will be installed for the final weekend at Stead. Now, from what I can tell, there is a slight gain in chassis stiffness from the 4 point bar that may or may not be offset by the weight penalty. I do not intend to attempt to determine whether its favorable to add or not add the bar for Solo 2- I simply can't leave it off any longer than this weekend, so I wanted to know if any of you object or if I should just plan to straight to TCSP for the last event weekend (thus giving me 4 different PAX factors this season ). If nobody here has an issue with it, I'll make sure to notify all the street tire participants present on saturday of my intentions too.

Additionally, I'm already planning on moving beyond C Stock next year, so this question is only relevant for the last 2 events this season. There's a good chance that my points from that weekend will affect the trophy standings for street tire, so I'm looking to avoid any potential issues with that.

[MattR]

I thought roll bars were always okay as a safety mod...May as well go ahead with it.

[qksubi]

Why ask now its in matt's living room put in the fucking car and be done with it already

[MikeSTI]

I voted for the last one even thou its not true........just was to funny not too pass up. I agree with MattR thou, as it is a safty feature, your intent was not for performance

[Dean]

RTFRB! Oh, and you could have kept your hard top and gotten the shorter bar.

Form '04 because '05 won't let you cut and paste.

3.3.2 Roll Bars
Roll bars or roll cages are strongly recommended in all cars. A roll bar meeting
the requirements of Appendix C, or a roll cage meeting the requirements of
Section 18 of the General Competition Rules (GCR), is required in all A, B, C,
and F Modified vehicles, and all open cars in Prepared Category and in D
Modified and E Modified. The intent of this requirement is that all open
cars using racing slicks must at a minimum have roll bars which meet
Appendix C, regardless of Regional variations in category definitions
and/or preparation allowances. For open cars in the Stock, Street
Prepared, Street Touring, and Street Modified categories, the roll bar or roll
cage height may be reduced from Appendix C or GCR Section 18
requirements to the highest possible height which fits within an installed
factory specified hardtop or convertible top.
Double-hoop roll bars must fasten properly to the chassis/unibody as
required by Appendix C, particularly at attachment points in the center
of the car.

13.2 (Stock rules...)
G. Roll bars and roll cages may be added (See Appendix C). It is
strongly recommended that roll cages be constructed according to
Section 18 of the GCR, though they must be bolted (not welded)
into the automobile and be contained within the driver/passenger
compartment. Roll bars may be welded in. A roll cage has more
than four attachment points to the body or frame, or has bracing
both fore and aft of the main hoop

[MikeK]

Option 3 ... BAMMM!

[Kevin M]

Originally Posted by Dean

Oh, and you could have kept your hard top and gotten the shorter bar.

No, because I'm not going to run at track days and Solo 1 with a hardtop on every time, and I'm still 6'2 and I want the tallest possible legal bar. But thanks for the rule clarification.

[Kevin M]

Originally Posted by MikeK

Option 3 ... BAMMM!

Yeah, I didn't think you'd take issue with it.