KartRacerBoy Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 On a race track without a rollbar on a convertible? I thought most tracks wouldn't allow that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris GTO TT Posted August 6, 2015 Author Share Posted August 6, 2015 NC and ND Miata have built in hoops most track day groups allow in the slower groups. 2003 Baja 5MT 2016 Outback 2.5i Premium w/Eyesight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitetiger Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 its generally allowed for HPDE's and schools, not actual racing though. any SCCA racing will absolutely require all necessary safety equipment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KartRacerBoy Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 The NC is the third gen miata? How difficult is it to remove those "rollbars" to put a real one in for Solo SCCA racing on a road course? Me? I used my helmet as a rollbar in karting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris GTO TT Posted August 6, 2015 Author Share Posted August 6, 2015 There's only one way to maintain the soft top and have roll over protection for the faster run groups. Once you start racing you're looking at a full cage. 2003 Baja 5MT 2016 Outback 2.5i Premium w/Eyesight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodan Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 This particular event is sponsored by FM, and the track is a relatively low speed (all 2nd gear, except for the front straight and 'sweeper') kart track. Since it's not a sanctioned event, they let folks run without approved roll bars. http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c169/qwik93awd/Track_maps/GrandJunctionMotorSpeedway.jpg At most HPDEs, at least here in Phoenix, we'd have to run with the top up, but factory rollover protection is OK for the street car groups. NC is the third gen Miata ('06-15). Edit: soft top NCs have options for approved roll bars that work with the soft top or removeable hard top. Ours is the PRHT (power retractable hard top), and right now there's no real option for an approved bar. There is one, but it requires removing the trunk lid at the track, and running bolt in braces to receivers in the trunk. Obviously not realistic... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris GTO TT Posted August 6, 2015 Author Share Posted August 6, 2015 Wait I thought all NC, and ND now, have the same problem where the storage location for the top occupies the same space as the roll hoop would. 2003 Baja 5MT 2016 Outback 2.5i Premium w/Eyesight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KartRacerBoy Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 An 80s Indycar driver, Mark Dismore and his family, have a kart track east of Indy. Mile long and I've seen 100 mph on my track computer on that course. It's a mile long with some pretty fast sweepers (70 mph). The one mile track is FAST. Nothing to make you pucker your butt like wheel to wheel karting at those speeds. Great fun even if a little terrifying at times. It is the most kick ass kart track I've ever seen. Even Road America's track can't compare. Great stuff. https://www.facebook.com/NewCastleMotorsportsPark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodan Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 Most of the NC guys that are serious about tracking are running a removeable hard top. You may be right about the soft top NC, as I haven't researched it closely, since it wasn't applicable to our car. I know they do make bars for the soft top NC, though. Not sure if the top still works. The ND is going to be a b*tch to fit a roll bar. It was one of the things talked about at Summer Camp, as they had an ND there. There's very little space under the soft top for a bar... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KartRacerBoy Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 I wonder if the stock rollbars for the NC and ND are even substantial enough to withstand a rollover or are they just for show? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodan Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 I would bet the faster karts get close to 100mph on the Grand Junction track. I was topping out ~70, and I'm sure the V8 and turbo cars were in the 90s. I've gone plenty fast on bikes, but I can only image what 100+ feels like with your ass 3" off the pavement! edit: the stock rollover protection is structural. It's just not very tall... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodan Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 You can see a little better in this shot how short the stock hoops are... they just come up to the top of the seat... http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/RodanAZ/Miata/BTrack%201_zpshndp0u9e.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KartRacerBoy Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 I would bet the faster karts get close to 100mph on the Grand Junction track. I was topping out ~70, and I'm sure the V8 and turbo cars were in the 90s. I've gone plenty fast on bikes, but I can only image what 100+ feels like with your ass 3" off the pavement! edit: the stock rollover protection is structural. It's just not very tall... Usually my fiberglass seat was about an inch off the pavement. I tried lowering my seat once at my local track to deal with some handling issues. Didn't work out. By the end of the first race the bottom of the seat had been worn through by the pavement and I was having to try to hold myself up above the bottom of the seat so my ass didn't get rubbed raw by pavement burn. I did have to buy a new racesuit for modesty purposes after that weekend, though, as well as a new seat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitetiger Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 The NC is the third gen miata? How difficult is it to remove those "rollbars" to put a real one in for Solo SCCA racing on a road course? Me? I used my helmet as a rollbar in karting. extremely easy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitetiger Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 I wonder if the stock rollbars for the NC and ND are even substantial enough to withstand a rollover or are they just for show? they are decent but most people wont pass the broomstick test with a helmet on. If you plant on driving past 8/10ths on a road course, a taller roll bar with forward support is definitely a wise purchase. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KartRacerBoy Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 they are decent but most people wont pass the broomstick test with a helmet on. If you plant on driving past 8/10ths on a road course, a taller roll bar with forward support is definitely a wise purchase. Unless you're used to racing karts. I still have a white helmet with a black rubber racing stripe from when my motor seized on a straight going 60 mph with a kart a few inches of my rear bumper. Up and over me he went. Drove up the back of my kart, my back and my helmet, and his rear tire left a nice stripe on the back and top of my helmet. Hurt for a couple of weeks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitetiger Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 well, yes, karts are certainly a different animal, but then again, karts dont weigh over 2000lbs, so having one fall on top of you may not be as serious(of course it is still serious) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KartRacerBoy Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 Watch Europeon historic racing vs US historic racing. Here we require the old cars to be modified with substantial rollbars. No so in Europe. And in Europe they actually RACE the old beasts as opposed to what passes for racing in the USA. Just different tolerances for risk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitetiger Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 no doubt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris GTO TT Posted August 6, 2015 Author Share Posted August 6, 2015 Oh speaking of roll hoops last week I ordered a Blackbird Fabworks single diagonal roll hoop. Have to ensure I'm ready for Laguna Seca the first weekend in October! 2003 Baja 5MT 2016 Outback 2.5i Premium w/Eyesight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodan Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 Nice! They're stuff is beautiful! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris GTO TT Posted August 6, 2015 Author Share Posted August 6, 2015 Yeah but very expensive too their single diagonal is $300 more than my NA Hard Dog Hard Core bar. I would have gone back with Hard Dog but the NB Hard Core bar doesn't include a built-in harness bar. 2003 Baja 5MT 2016 Outback 2.5i Premium w/Eyesight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodan Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 Yikes... their stuff is really nice, but geez.... Couldn't you just have bought $20 worth of DOM tubing and had a local shop weld it into a Hard Dog? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris GTO TT Posted August 7, 2015 Author Share Posted August 7, 2015 Yeah, though I got my Hard Dog during a free shipping sale so reality is the difference total would be more like $200. The GT3 bar from Blackbird is like $825 before shipping and tax 2003 Baja 5MT 2016 Outback 2.5i Premium w/Eyesight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodan Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 Mmmmm.... 6ULs.... http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/RodanAZ/Miata/DSC_1092_zpswqnprnqf.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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