Need help...1990 MX5 SCCA certified rollbar w/ glass window

[90RedMX5]

Hello all, I am new to the forum and am going to order a rollbar for my 1990 MX5 with a glass rear window. I would like the bar to be SCCA certified since I plan on doing auto-x (with my luck the inspector will check the bar). From what I have seen I can choose from either the Boss Frog Clearview or Double Hoop. Another problem... I am 6'1". I like the Clearview; are there any tall people out there with a Clearview that can say whether or not it will work? I'm sure there is another company out there that makes a roll bar that will work besides Boss Frog, but I haven't seen any. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

 

[cheapmiata1600]

Since you don't need a rollbar for autoX, I'd skip on it. Also, unless you mount a seat directly to the floor, at 6'1 you'll never clear the bar by 2 inches.

 

[MiaTurbo]

Hard Dog Hard Core is what you are thinking of, and is the popular one. If you take some foam out of your seat bottom, you'll clear. It may not be needed in the class you want to run in, but it will greatly stiffen up the chassis.

 

[MrValve]

Since you don't need a rollbar for autoX, I'd skip on it. Also, unless you mount a seat directly to the floor, at 6'1 you'll never clear the bar by 2 inches.

Good advice. You might want to check http://www.miataforum.com/ if you have not heard of that forum.

 

[kcbhiw]

I forget your name, but I spoke with you last Thursday at the bowling ally. To my knowledge, there isn't one available to work with the glass window. However, as I have worked tech at the ATL region SCCA events for about 2 years, we won't be checking your bar. However, that says nothing for national level events. We have guys showing up all the time with bars that are not approved by the SCCA quite often and we let them run.

 

[MiaTurbo]

I forget your name, but I spoke with you last Thursday at the bowling ally. To my knowledge, there isn't one available to work with the glass window. However, as I have worked tech at the ATL region SCCA events for about 2 years, we won't be checking your bar. However, that says nothing for national level events. We have guys showing up all the time with bars that are not approved by the SCCA quite often and we let them run.

Come on Kevin.. NBs have glass windows and have roll bars available.

 

[kcbhiw]

Come on Kevin.. NBs have glass windows and have roll bars available.

SCCA approved though?

 

[MiaTurbo]

SCCA approved though?

Yep. Hard Dog Hard Cores are SCCA approved. get the NB HDHC because of the glass window (may not work with aftermarket glass window..). Biggest issue is the helmet is *supose* to be 2" under the bar/windshield header line to be legit. but with nice guys like you running tech, probably wouldn't be an issue until he gets to a national event, as you said.

 

[MiaTurbo]

Also: the Double hoop roll bar from Boss Frog isn't as high. With a HDHC bar, you may not be able to use a hard top.

BTW. RSpeed is right around the corner from you. save a few bucks on shipping They are good guys. go talk to them at lunch time, or on a Saturday and build a relation with them...

 

[kcbhiw]

Yep. Hard Dog Hard Cores are SCCA approved. get the NB HDHC because of the glass window (may not work with aftermarket glass window..). Biggest issue is the helmet is *supose* to be 2" under the bar/windshield header line to be legit. but with nice guys like you running tech, probably wouldn't be an issue until he gets to a national event, as you said.

Good call. I was unware that the NB HDHC would work. Though "insert name here" (90RedMX5) is about as tall as I am, it still wouldn't meet regs if he wasn't 2" below, especially for any sort of track event. However, I'd see no problem letting him run an auto-x (or 50)

 

[MiaTurbo]

I full of information. Sometimes it's actually useful

(PS; I'm only 99.936% sure you can use NB bar in an NA)

 

[90RedMX5]

Thanks for the responses everyone, I never realized the M2 HDHC could possibly fit, but I am pretty sure I have a Robbins top, so I'm not sure if it'll work. Perhaps the clearview is new as it seems no one really talked about it...check it out, it looks like a good bar... http://www.teammiata.com/mall/Boss_Frog_Single_Bar.asp

Oh, kcbhiw (kevin?), that was me at the bowling alley, my name is Billy.

I also found a bar made by brainstorm that could work... http://www.duettomotors.com/miata/catalog.htm ...go to interior, then roll bars.

Any thoughts on either of these?

Also, my main reason for getting a roll bar is for safety, I've been rear-ended twice in the last year and my Probe GT and Mustang GT were both totalled, and I walked away each time, and I'd like to keep it that way. Adding a roll bar can only help.

 

[MiaTurbo]

...

I also found a bar made by brainstorm that could work... http://www.duettomotors.com/miata/catalog.htm ...go to interior, then roll bars.

Any thoughts on either of these?

Also, my main reason for getting a roll bar is for safety, I've been rear-ended twice in the last year and my Probe GT and Mustang GT were both totalled, and I walked away each time, and I'd like to keep it that way. Adding a roll bar can only help.

if you are concerned with safety, I would pass on the BSP. I've seen them in person, and I would not trust their attachments in an accident. Also, the upright goes right behind the seat back, and may not give you all the recline that the seat can give, which you probably need since you're tall...

Don't forget to put some padding on the bars. Or else an impact on a bare bar can split your skull in 2..

 

[kcbhiw]

I have the BSP bar installed on my challenge Miata. It's not bad, but I'm willing to venture that it's not nearly as effective as the HDC. Not only that, but it's not nearly as attractive.

If you'd like to have a look at it, let me know. I'm located in Alpharetta.

 

[lagunamiata]

I have a '94 with a Robbins zipper glass window and a M2 Hard Dog Hard Core. It works.

If you go to the Miata.net forum and do a search in the Interior / Exterior section you'll find the post. I think its also posted in the Tops section.

Check out the pictures here - http://public.fotki.com/relittle/miata/hdhcrb/

 

[miata_racer]

I had a hardcore solo 1 bar on my Laguna Blue 94 I sold. It did stifen up the car, but added like 75lbs of weight to it. I dont have on eon my 96 R for that very reason. I am around 2220~ lbs on my car now and may be able to knock another 5 lbs off with yet another revised exhaust idea. The rollbar will make you feel safer on the street though. Good safety item.

It looks good too.....if you're not worried about keeping weight down on the car het the Hard Dog one that allows use of the glass window. Any of the crossbraces will affect rear visibility and screw with your head for a few months at least. ;-)

David

 

[miata_racer]

SCCA approved means SOLO ONE APPROVED. Any rollbar can be run in an autocross. The rule about helmet height and the rollbar only applies if you have a harness system.

If this weren't the case then EVERY miata without a rollbar would be illegal.

So unless you're doing SOLO 1 don't worry about SCCA approved or not.

David

SCCA approved though?

 

[miata_racer]

I'll say it again incase I said it wrong before. None of thsi matters unless you have a shoulder harness in the car. Standard seat belts, Simpson lapbelts, and even the chest strap (goes around the seat), is allowed with or without a roll bar of any kind.

So just so people know, the scca approval and the 2" rule only matters in autocross IF you're planning on running a 4 or 5 pt harness.

Now Solo 1 has a whole different ruleset...

That's what i meant. I mean 95% of the top stock class miatas dont have a roll bar and run with the top down. Which is less safe than ANY rollbar of ANY kind in a roll over But its almost impossible to roll a miata in an autocross unless you hit a curb. ;-)

David

Yep. Hard Dog Hard Cores are SCCA approved. get the NB HDHC because of the glass window (may not work with aftermarket glass window..). Biggest issue is the helmet is *supose* to be 2" under the bar/windshield header line to be legit. but with nice guys like you running tech, probably wouldn't be an issue until he gets to a national event, as you said.

 

[lagunamiata]

I'd always heard that the chest strap isn't legal unless you have a bar. The logic is that you can't "duck" if the car rolls with the chest strap like you can with a stock seatbelt.

If the way I read the rules (see bolded section below), its not legal unless you have a roll bar. Also reading below, the 2" rule is a myth...

3.3.1 Driver Restraints
Seat lap belts are required in all cars, and must be installed in cars with passive restraint systems that do not include a lap belt. Installation and the use of shoulder belts or harnesses is strongly recommended, however non-factory upper body restraints may only be used in open cars, cars with targa-tops in the open position, or cars with T-tops in the open position when two conditions are met :
a. The roll structure must meet either the requirements of Appendix C or Section 18 of the GCR.
b. The top of the roll structure may not be below the top of the drivers helmet when the driver is in the normal driving position.

 

[MiaTurbo]

well, I guess I don't know as much as I thought I did

I'm putting a 10-pt cage in my 91.