Show me your roll cage to suspension tower bracing, ..and other bracing/stiffening you've done Options

[naro914]

with all the work we're doing on Papa Smurf, one of big pieces of the development is tying the roll cage to the rear and front suspension points, plus doing tubing to strengthen other points around the car.

Would like to see how people run the tubes from the roll cage, through the fire wall or window, through the engine compartment area, into the rear trunk to the shock towers. We have things in the way there, but will move around if needed....

Thanks!

[naro914]

Just met with my fabricator and he had already planned to put the dash bar in there (unbeknownst to me) and we worked out how to put the horizontal bar in so it doesn't infringe on my seat back.

he's running the dash bar behind the dash face, and right above the steering column bracket. Its pretty wide open there so it makes a nice straight shot from right to left forward cage legs. We're putting in an AIM Dash so there should be plenty of room.

Plus double row "NASCAR" style door bars.

He's worked for a few NASCAR teams and currently does the media blasting for a bunch of big name teams, so he knows a lot about the cages and structure.

So....everyone can calm down now! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

But to respond to a few assumptions being made:

The car was SCCA Club Race Log Booked in 2014 and PCA Club race log booked in 2006. The cage was inspected and stamped by both entities. I have NEVER been questioned and since I've won a few entire groups and always in top 3 overall , I am always in SCCA impound. (every race). Again...never questioned.

But...as someone that owns a business dedicated to selling safety equipment for race and track...safety has to be the driving force on how we do things.

Thank everyone for derailing this thread!! LOL...all I had asked about was the shock tower bracing!! But some very good information here.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Heater Guy]

Just met with my fabricator and he had already planned to put the dash bar in there (unbeknownst to me) and we worked out how to put the horizontal bar in so it doesn't infringe on my seat back.

he's running the dash bar behind the dash face, and right above the steering column bracket. Its pretty wide open there so it makes a nice straight shot from right to left forward cage legs. We're putting in an AIM Dash so there should be plenty of room.

Plus double row "NASCAR" style door bars.

He's worked for a few NASCAR teams and currently does the media blasting for a bunch of big name teams, so he knows a lot about the cages and structure.

So....everyone can calm down now! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

But to respond to a few assumptions being made:

The car was SCCA Club Race Log Booked in 2014 and PCA Club race log booked in 2006. The cage was inspected and stamped by both entities. I have NEVER been questioned and since I've won a few entire groups and always in top 3 overall , I am always in SCCA impound. (every race). Again...never questioned.

But...as someone that owns a business dedicated to selling safety equipment for race and track...safety has to be the driving force on how we do things.

Thank everyone for derailing this thread!! LOL...all I had asked about was the shock tower bracing!! But some very good information here.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

It must be realized that, for one reason or another, there is no one
Cage requirement in the SCCA GCR's. Interpretation of the rules is
Always an issue. Unfortunely there isn't a cookie cutter solution which all. Example, if tubes tie into suspension points, in compliance
with the GCR's in cage design, it may be in violation in the GCR's under chassis strengthing prohibition. This why one scrutiner
may see the rules one way and another will see them another. They are all trying to help keep us safe and in compliance.

[naro914]

It must be realized that, for one reason or another, there is no one
Cage requirement in the SCCA GCR's. Interpretation of the rules is
Always an issue. Unfortunely there isn't a cookie cutter solution which all. Example, if tubes tie into suspension points, in compliance
with the GCR's in cage design, it may be in violation in the GCR's under chassis strengthing prohibition. This why one scrutiner
may see the rules one way and another will see them another. They are all trying to help keep us safe and in compliance.

Yes and no...as Greg pointed out, there are clear cage requirements for GT class cars, which Papa Smurf is (GT2). It was NOT SCCA log booked before 2008, so it has to conform to the requirements as he noted.

To be honest...I think one of the biggest issues that all volunteer organizations face (and even some pro ones), is the ever changing rules that are admitedly put there for a good reason, but for a volunteer scrutineer to be able to keep up with them is not always possible. My wife was a PCA scrutineer for a pretty long time, and she just couldn't always keep up with all the changes.

[Heater Guy]

It must be realized that, for one reason or another, there is no one
Cage requirement in the SCCA GCR's. Interpretation of the rules is
Always an issue. Unfortunely there isn't a cookie cutter solution which all. Example, if tubes tie into suspension points, in compliance
with the GCR's in cage design, it may be in violation in the GCR's under chassis strengthing prohibition. This why one scrutiner
may see the rules one way and another will see them another. They are all trying to help keep us safe and in compliance.

Yes and no...as Greg pointed out, there are clear cage requirements for GT class cars, which Papa Smurf is (GT2). It was NOT SCCA log booked before 2008, so it has to conform to the requirements as he noted.

To be honest...I think one of the biggest issues that all volunteer organizations face (and even some pro ones), is the ever changing rules that are admitedly put there for a good reason, but for a volunteer scrutineer to be able to keep up with them is not always possible. My wife was a PCA scrutineer for a pretty long time, and she just couldn't always keep up with all the changes.

Agree. Monthly SCCA Fast Tracks can sometimes drive me nuts.

[GregAmy]

Agree. Monthly SCCA Fast Tracks can sometimes drive me nuts.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I'm weird: I actually look forward to them! I used to be on the Super Touring Advisory Committee to the CRB, so I'm a bit of a rules nerd...nerdly enough to where I actually wrote regs (helped create the category)...

The Court Of Appeals is my favorite section of Fastrack...so much drama...I appeared in it earlier this year...