Racing A Convertible: Need Help

[flubyu]

I thought I would seek the help of the Mustang community on this one. I have a 13 GT Vert that I planned to race at NJ Motorsports Park. After speaking with a rep from the track, turns out I need some sort of fixed roll-over protection. We discussed back and forth and a cheap styling bar won't cut it. (At least I tried for the quick fix)

Has anyone out there road raced a vert before? I'm looking to get some sort of roll bar, but as my daily driver, I do not want to permanently install a bare roll bar. Anyone know of any options? Thanks in advance all!

 

[Noobz347]

I don't know what all the options are for model year but I can tell you that whatever it is you end up with will need to be permanently installed.

 

[84Ttop]

NJ Motorsports Park is very strict with the roll bar requirements on convertibles... At the end of the day, it is for your safety. You may look to see if Maximum Motorsports makes a "bolt in" bar for your car, but it is more of a permanent installation. If you do decide to have a professional bar put in the car, I know a few shops in the area that are competent in doing something like that. Shoot me a PM if you need a reference.

 

[flubyu]

NJ Motorsports Park is very strict with the roll bar requirements on convertibles... At the end of the day, it is for your safety. You may look to see if Maximum Motorsports makes a "bolt in" bar for your car, but it is more of a permanent installation. If you do decide to have a professional bar put in the car, I know a few shops in the area that are competent in doing something like that. Shoot me a PM if you need a reference.

You are right about their rules, but at the very least, I appreciate the professionalism they handled my call with rather than just saying "sorry you're SOL."

I took a look at pictures of this install before and happened to take a more in depth look after your response. I would love to be able to get away with just the overhead hoop without putting the 4-point bars through the back speaker panels. If I powdercoated black or even Deep Impact Blue to match the car, I bet it would not look that bad for a daily driver. Really, its the 4 point bars that go toward the backseat I am trying to avoid.

Any thoughts on that as a work-around option?

 

[joshw0000]

So I'm guessing a bar like this won't cut it?

 

[84Ttop]

You might want to consult the scca rules for a definitive answer, but without a lateral support holding the hoop in place the hoop by itself is worthless. Rather than powder coat, since its hard tonweld when coated , any competent painter can match your car color exactly. My roll cage is painted to match the car and the paint has held up well

 

[flubyu]

So I'm guessing a bar like this won't cut it?

That was the first thing I asked when on the phone with the track manager. Unfortunately the styling bars offer no structural support and wouldn't pass inspection.

You might want to consult the scca rules for a definitive answer, but without a lateral support holding the hoop in place the hoop by itself is worthless. Rather than powder coat, since its hard tonweld when coated , any competent painter can match your car color exactly. My roll cage is painted to match the car and the paint has held up well

When I spoke with the guys at NJMP, they said as long as it visually passes for fixed roll-over protection, is not a styling bar and clears the broomstick test (for those that are not familiar, they hold a bar over the roll-bar and windshield frame and your head plus helmet cannot hit) I should be good. First thing I should do is give them a call/email before proceeding and find out exactly what will pass before I choose a direction.

...should not have gotten rid of the coupe...

 

[Noobz347]

That was the first thing I asked when on the phone with the track manager. Unfortunately the styling bars offer no structural support and wouldn't pass inspection.



When I spoke with the guys at NJMP, they said as long as it visually passes for fixed roll-over protection, is not a styling bar and clears the broomstick test (for those that are not familiar, they hold a bar over the roll-bar and windshield frame and your head plus helmet cannot hit) I should be good. First thing I should do is give them a call/email before proceeding and find out exactly what will pass before I choose a direction.

...should not have gotten rid of the coupe...

Yeah..... You may want to ask yourself (again, because I'm sure that you already have) if this trip is really necessary. I mean.... It's a vert. I would just enjoy it being a vert. Maybe down the road a bit, get something else to race in (perhaps a chebby because we all know the LS ownes lololol).

I dunno... I'm partial to sleepers and road warriors anyway. I'd be chomping at the bit to make the vert a badass streeter and find something else to bang on at the track. This is coming from someone who's has been asked to leave more than just one track for lack of this safety feature or that one.

 

[flubyu]

Yeah..... You may want to ask yourself (again, because I'm sure that you already have) if this trip is really necessary. I mean.... It's a vert. I would just enjoy it being a vert. Maybe down the road a bit, get something else to race in (perhaps a chebby because we all know the LS ownes lololol).

I dunno... I'm partial to sleepers and road warriors anyway. I'd be chomping at the bit to make the vert a badass streeter and find something else to bang on at the track. This is coming from someone who's has been asked to leave more than just one track for lack of this safety feature or that one.

Votes on a stripped down new edge Cobra: 32v Motor and IRS for the track

 

[Noobz347]

Votes on a stripped down new edge Cobra: 32v Motor and IRS for the track

A friend of mine, very recently bought a stripped down white GT for road racing. Whatever series he was in would penalize him for driving his Boss. There's a little more to the story but that's the crux of it.