So it's been brought to my attention that if I continue to bring down my E/T that a roll bar / cage may be an item of interest for me. I see a couple of different ones on the market but if I'm going to spend the money I would like one to meet some from of certification. I haven't seen much other than NHRA 8.5 sec. Cert and I don't know if my car will ever get down the track that quick. I have read there are many benefits to stiffening the chassis in this manor. Does anyone know of any certifiable cages / roll bars? If I can keep the use of the rear seats that would be preferable. My son can wear a helmet in the car if need be LOL.
Roll Bar / Cage
- Thread starter 15GTrob
- Start date
There is no certification process for a roll bar in drag racing (10.00 and slower), the certification starts at the 8.50 10 point and only increases once you get in to 25.5 (7.50) 25.3/25.4 (6.50) and 25.2 (6.0). The track may do a visual inspection but that will not lead to any major degree of scrutiny. In my opinion, if you were to have a bar put in the car have the bar custom made. Fit an finish on a custom product far exceeds any "Kit" that you may be able to purchase. In your area (Florida) I would contact David Dodge at TigVision Racecars for a quote on a custom roll bar. His work is absolutely impeccable and I have personally seen his work function on the track exactly as it should. His attention to detail is not easily rivaled and I have only seen stellar work leave his shop. Just my .02 cents on the matter 
Jim2015
Member
When I saw your time slips I was wondering about just that. While I have been to the track only 4 times at route 66 in Joliet, the inspector ok my car for 11.5 sec. at 135mph. (while my car is far from that problem). He said cars quicker than that require cages, belts and extinguishers if it is being sprayed and that is just the beginning.I was wondering if all tracks follow the same rules? You are just a tailwind away from those requirements. The inspector said to avoid this problems, a lot of people will just let off the throttle at the 1,000 ft. line.
This is basically how the general NHRA rules are read. Cars Faster than 11.50 and slower than 10.0 require a minimum 5 point roll bar (convertibles have a different rule) constructed to a certain specification, 5 point harness, and single layer fire jacket to name the big ticket items. There is a revision to the rule saying that "stock" production vehicles manufactured in 2007 or later can run as fast as 10.0 or 135 miles per hour without a roll bar. This is where the interpretation of "stock" is up to the track tech inspector. For example, my car was flagged at 10.97 and I was told to leave. They tell me that my tires are not stock and that disqualifies my car from the rule (nevermind the blower.... idiots) ; meanwhile a friend of mine has a Stage 2 Roush S550 that went 10.89 that same day and was never questioned. They considered his Roush to be a "stock" vehicle and never said a word. In the end it's all for your safety anyway, I personally like to have appropriate protection in a race car. For this reason my 84' will be retired after this season when my new car is finished. The new chassis will have a certification that will far exceed the ET we intend to run.
Mustang_Erik
Member
Do you think they would have let you continue, if you had been running on street tires instead of the drag setup?
Was your friend's Roush running on street wheels?
Just curious, as I'm eventually going with a super charger and would like to run similar ETs to what you are getting. I hadn't thought about potentially needing a roll cage.
They seemed most concerned with the wheels/tires as not being "stock". My buddies Roush had stock PP wheels and OE tires fwiwDo you think they would have let you continue, if you had been running on street tires instead of the drag setup?
Was your friend's Roush running on street wheels?
Just curious, as I'm eventually going with a super charger and would like to run similar ETs to what you are getting. I hadn't thought about potentially needing a roll cage.
More like re purposing
Bottom line is the car is getting to be much faster than it was originally built for and to be safe it would mean cutting the car up and starting over. Its easier to just start over on a new car (97 Cobra) and put a more mild drive train in the 84'. FWIW, I still intend that car to be raced just with a coyote and JT-b perhaps 
