Is the rollbars on the roadsters functional?

I say no...

 

I agree. I posted a thread awhile back asking if anyone had installed a functional cage/roll bar setup in a roadster that still allowed the top to operate as normal. I never got a reply.

 

Is it acceptable at a track day?

 

Depends on which organization you are running with. Some are ok with Roadsters and Boxsters with the stock bars. Even if the track will allow it, ultimately YOU have to be the one to decide if its safe enough.

 

In my area I know that Summit Point in west virginia will allow roadsters, while Virginia international raceway will not.

 

Good to know since I Live in WV.. We should meet up there sometime.

 

Unfortunately you have to sign up way in advance for FATT (fridays at the track). It is a great experience.

The moderator of the racing forum lives in the area and heads there often.

 

How much notice and $$

 

http://www.bsr-inc.com/RDS.HTM

I think they are pretty filled up, but give a call. I may try to get out there late fall. I have a buddy with an E55 who wants to go as well.


Edit: I just called, they are booked out to late august, but they run all the way into november. I was thinking last week of september or first week of october.

 

Yea same here....I want to go to a track and the requirements are for a roll bar in verts'. Or functional roll bars.

I might have to dig up the service manual to see what lies behind the plastic.

 

on the Summit Point topic, NASA runs events there throughout the year, including Hyperfest coming up in July. I just went to an event there last weekend and they cleared my Roadster to participate though they did pull me off the track during the first run to discuss it and make sure I knew that I was taking on additional risk. Can't blame them, safety is the primary concern (as it should be).

It is a great feeling to drive on the track in an open-air car and the visibility is much higher.

PM me if you want more info on NASA in the WV area. http://www.nasaracing.net/

 

OT - DRIFT: How did you get your sig that large?

 

Most likely he did his sig. before the website went to hell with all the new "rules" for membership...

Like....sigs and avatars

 

I KNOW that one of the big three auto mags [either C&D, R&T, or MT] printed a story on the roadster when it first came out that said that the hoops had metal under them at some point and were intended to have at least SOME rollover protection, because the engineers & marketers wanted to call them roll bars originally, but were stopped by corporate counsel. This led to the mag. to write something like, "Shhh, don't say 'rollbars.' The lawyers might hear you."

Of course, just b/c a car magazine said so sure doesn't make it true. All right, then, who wants to volunteer to take their car apart to find out?

 

Yes, there is metal under there. However, it is about the same diameter as a bike frame. I'm not sure how much I would rely on them. If you open your tonneau cover and put the top up a little bit you can pull back the fabric and see where the bars attach to the frame of the car. I saw mine when the stereo place took apart my car.

 

I would Like to do a Race Day.. September wouldnt be too bad..

 

I think this thread needs a picture.

 

Thanks EnthuZ, that pic is exactly what this thread needed. I was hoping the bar itself would be closer to the top of the black plastic cover. While they look functional - to a degree, they're still pretty short. I'm 5'10" and with my helmet on I am even with the top of the black plastic cover. If it rolls (unlikely) I'll have to remember to duck.

 

slick, from EnthuZ's pic., they look pretty stout to me, considering the shape (an arch) and the most likely stress point, the top of the arch. An arched piece of metal, even as small in diameter as a bike frame, is more than strong enough to hold up the weight of the Z, and will transfer the weight/stress of the car upon rollover to the quite healthy-looking metal bar underneath, and then to the frame.

As any engineer will tell you, if you want to know about the strength of an arch when stress is applied from the top, instead of from the sides of the arch, contrast how hard an egg is to break when squeezing, even w/both hands pushing, from opposite ends, i.e., the respective "tops" of two opposing arches, versus pressing from the sides, which requires little effort to make an omelette.

OTOH, at 6' even I also have Ivey's problem, and will need to remember to duck.

 

Whooooo wooooo!!!!!

All I need to do is print out that pic and bring it to raceday!