New MSA ROPS regulations

[JamesT]

Borrowed from uphill racers
From 1 January 2016, a rollover bar that meets MSA specifications is no longer a recommendation for Specialist Production Cars. Does this mean that all the competing Westfields, caterhams etc. will now require an appropriate bar? or will the regs be open to interpretation?

The amended regulation can be found at;
www.msauk.org/assets/rulessummer2015-1.pdf

What it says is:

(S) Speed Events
Date of implementation: 1 January 2016
10.1.2. Road-Going Series Production, K.1.6.1 or K.1.6.2
recommended.
10.1.3. Road-Going Specialist Production, Modified Series
Production Cars and Modified Specialist Production Cars must
comply with K.1.6.1 or K.1.6.2.
Reason: Increased safety on the basis of permitted
modifications.
 

[Mark (smokey mow)]

I spotted that yesterday and read it that any road going Westfield will from next year require a ROPS that complies with K.1.6.1 or K.1.6.2.

Sadly for me that means that my car will no longer comply with the regulations. And since I use it primarily a road car and don't want to modify it too much for it unfortunately means I won't be sprinting the Westfield anymore.

[XTR2Turbo]

Would the standard Westfield RAC bar with rose joints comply or does it need to be the welded model??

[Mark (smokey mow)]

Would the standard Westfield RAC bar with rose joints comply or does it need to be the welded model??

i wouldn't expect so as IIRC the tube diameters are smaller than those given in the blue book.

[XTR2Turbo]

So this has the potential to impact quite a few WSCC competitors, not just those with the basic loop roll over bar

[Onliest Smeg David]

B********

That'd likely be me out next year if so

[John Loudon - Sponsorship Liaison]

i wouldn't expect so as IIRC the tube diameters are smaller than those given in the blue book.

 

By my reckoning the RAC bar should be OK. We would come under section (a) but need to observe the material thickness in 1.4. I am pretty sure the RAC bars are 38mm dia and 2.5mm wall thick. Drawing K1 and K2 also look OK - page 178 of https://www.msauk.org/assets/2015msayearbook.pdf

 

Vehicle Categories Covered

1.6.1. Series Production, Touring and Sports Cars.

(a) Production cars, Touring Cars, Sports cars up to

2,000cc – Basic rollbar/rollcage complying with

K1 or K2.

(b) Production Cars and Touring Cars over 2,000cc –

Rollbar/rollcage complying with K3 or K4.

© Sports cars over 2,000cc – Rollbar/rollcage

complying with K3 or K4 or K60(i) & (ii) and K31.

The different possibilities of installing the optional

reinforcing members to the rollcage are shown in

drawings K7 to K12.

Each type of reinforcement (drawings to K7 to K12)

may be used separately or combined with one or

several others).

These reinforcements can be installed in each of the

basic rollcages (drawings K1 to K4).

Minimum material

As defined in 1.4.

 

Material Specifications

1.4.1. Specifications of the tubes used:

Minimum Material

Cold Drawn Seamless Unalloyed Carbon Steel,

containing a maximum of 0.3% of carbon.

Note: For an unalloyed carbon steel the maximum

content of additives is 1.7% for manganese and 0.6%

for other elements.

Minimum Yield Strength

350 N/mm2

Minimum Dimensions (Ø in mm)

a) Mandatory tubular members

45 x 2.5 (1.75” x 0.095”) or 50 x 2.0 (2.0” x 0.083”).

38 x 2.5 (1.5” x 0.095”) or 40 x 2.0 (1.6” x 0.083”).

(For roll cages/bars approved prior to 1.1.95).

b) Optional tubular members

38 x 2.5 (1.5” x 0.095”) or 40 x 2.0 (1.6” x 0.083”).

[Lawrie]

Isn't called the RAC bar because it complies with rules, but I don't know why the factory started making the welded one (and seem to have gone back to rose joints).  But now there is the MSA bar - a bit wider and with a second diagonal.  Westfields under 2 litre fall into K1.6.1.a which need drawing 1 or 2 - basically a 4 leg, but over 2 litres are K1.6.1c  3,4, 60 and 31 which are 6 leg (add a windscreen hoop) or a 4 leg with a diagonal, and a clearance test.

 

Simple really    So single hoops are out for all low volume sports cars, I think

[Mark (smokey mow)]

By my reckoning the RAC bar should be OK. We would come under section (a) but need to observe the material thickness in 1.4. I am pretty sure the RAC bars are 38mm dia and 2.5mm wall thick. Drawing K1 and K2 also look OK - page 178 of https://www.msauk.org/assets/2015msayearbook.pdf

Thanks for checking John, you're right. i'd forgotten the smaller 38 tube diameter was also quoted in the blue book.

Still doesn't help me though unfortunately as although my tube diameter and wall thickness is correct, I only have 3-points of mounting.

[Terry Everall]

What are your 3 mounting points?

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

Mark has a customised roll bar, I seem to remember it having two mounting points normally for road use and a bolt in brace for use on track. But memory is hazy on the details...

[John Loudon - Sponsorship Liaison]

By 3 points do you mean the 2 normal points at the rear corners of the cockpit and a bolt in brace to the passenger floor? Whats the problem with fitting 2 backstays to the chassis below the bootbox area like every other westfield has?

[Mark (smokey mow)]

By 3 points do you mean the 2 normal points at the rear corners of the cockpit and a bolt in brace to the passenger floor? Whats the problem with fitting 2 backstays to the chassis below the bootbox area like every other westfield has?

yes, exactly as you describe.

The problem with fitting backstays is that first and foremost it is a road car. The roll bar is swapped on for sprints and track-days then removed straight after so having backstays would prevent me from doing this. The car frequently gets driven with full weather gear so using a taller fully compliant roll bar on the road really is not an option for me, unless I'm prepared to invest heavily in a custom made hood, which I'm not willing to do for the 3-4 sprints I do a year.

[John Loudon - Sponsorship Liaison]

I always thought hoods fitted over RAC bars

[Lawrie]

All these safety measures are really making grassroots motorsport difficult.  I know that have our best interests at heart, but I've never seen a Westfield roll, and I've tried, but Perez found a new way.

 

RAC bars are a couple in inches higher to comply with drawing 60, so none of the wet weather kit fits, except the half hood.