Roll Bar Height

[Tortoise]

I understand from Mark Stanton that there was a query about roll bar height raised by a scrutineer at Ty-Croes last weekend.

I think that the information in Mark's e-mail may be slightly incorrect.

As I understand it the blue book states that in respect of Roadgoing Production and Roadgoing Specialist Production ( I think that my roadgoing 1700cc Westfield is in this category), roll over bars are only RECOMMENDED and NOT Mandatory (10.1.1. (a)).

An MSA roll bar must be a minimum of 5cm (50mm) from the top of the driver's helmet to the top of the roll bar in a HORIZONTAL plane (Drawing Q31 p259).

The substantial structure forward of the driver such as to act as  a front roll bar is likely to be the front of my rocker cover.  The driver's helmet must not pass through a  line from there to the top of the roll bar  (p264 drawing Q60(ii)).

Please put me right if this is not correct.

Geoff

[scott beeland]

Going to do the required measurements on mine but think I'll end up putting hoop on to increase height above lid.

So...those of you who've got extensions to roll bars...who did yours?

[Richard M Green]

Westfield added the hoop to the top of my roll bar.

As a general point it may considered to be good practise to always carry a copy of the Blue Book to events.

My understanding of the regulations regarding roll bars is, that as stated above, they are recommended rather than mandatory for Speed Series classes A, B, C and D.

I'm not sure which (if any) of the car numbers listed in Steve's/Mark's recent e-mail are in those classes.

[westy]

I'm not sure which (if any) of the car numbers listed in Steve's/Mark's recent e-mail are in those classes.

Was the lower numbers, I think up to about 75.

Edit: (it's Mrs W...he's logged in as himself again    )

[Bananaman]

From waht Steve Robbo was saying, while rollbars are not mandatory, if you have one fitted it should meet regs............

[Tortoise]

I had some 40mm riser blocks and rear support extensions made by friends, as at 6' 2.5" I was way out with the standard Westfield MSA bar.

Even now I see that I was quoted as "marginal".

[Terry Everall]

If Roll bars only recommended then where does it say in blue book that if one is fitted it must comply with the spec.?

By the way my car was not one of the ones reported.

terry

[DAVE O]

Westfieldman ... Paul... did mine - top quality job

[Matt Seabrook]

Sounds like you need one like this

[Guest]

I was "warned" at Ty Croes last year - and also at Shelsley this year.  At Shelsley, I was advised to "slouch" into my comfy padded seat as far as possible to acheive the desired clearance.

On the subject of Shelsley - the Saturday races had seen a Westfield approach "Crossing" - climb the bank and then flip upside down back onto the track.  The driver was airlifted to hospital - not too badly hurt in the end I understand.  If ever there was a case for not removing your rollbar - this was it.  It was scary to look at the day after - let alone witness the incident.

I will be removing my comfy seat and replacing it with a carbon back breaker to achieve the desired clearance.  Have to get used to sitting on the floor I guess...........

[Al Yupright]

nuff said.

[Blatman]

I will be having an additional hoop welded into place of same gauge steel as roll bar -

Me too, if I don't get around to fitting a cage....

[Al Yupright]

The radius of the bends in most FIA bars are also against blue book regs, which specify 3 times the tube diameter I think.

[Blatman]

I've seen that mentioned before somewhere. I'll be checking my Blue Book....

It could be a useful selling point when I'm trying get get the cost of the cage past Blatgirl though. I'm fairly sure an expensive meal and a bunch of flowers may fall some way short, so I'll have to bite the bullet and be honest and up front about it

[Tortoise]

Mark,

I think you missed the point re the "slightly incorrect" part of your e-mail.

You stated that a 50mm clearance was required from the top of the helmet to a line drawn drawn from the top of the roll bar down to the first structural car component, whereas the blue book states that the helmet has only to be below this line.  The 50mm refers to a horizontal height difference between top of the helmet and the top of the roll bar.

Hope this makes it clear.