Convertibles on a Road Course

[20ducks]

Are convertibles without a roll cage/bars allowed on road course tracks in the midwest, I.e. Heartland Park, Hallett and soon to be the Ozark track?

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[JimC]

It depends upon the event and track. I was able to run in Michigan at Gingerman in August for the Mohawk Track Experience. But when I checked with the tracks near me in North Carolina I was told I need a roll bar.

So call/contact the tracks you are interested in and ask them what their rules are.

 

[Davesvt2000]

It depends upon the event and track. I was able to run in Michigan at Gingerman in August for the Mohawk Track Experience.

I was there too !
great event, looking forward to this year !

I was in my 2020 GT350 next to my friend with his boss 302 Laguna Seca

 

[JimC]

I was there too !
great event, looking forward to this year !

I was in my 2020 GT350 next to my friend with his boss 302 Laguna Seca

I think that we were just up pit road from you.

 

[luc]

You have to be very dumb to take a convertible without any roll over protection on a a race track
As for any organization to allow it, they either have to be stupid or very greedy or both

 

[20ducks]

You have to be very dumb to take a convertible without any roll over protection on a a race track
As for any organization to allow it, they either have to be stupid or very greedy or both

All of us peons lower your eyes to his lordship luc, for the wise words he has bestowed upon us plebes.

 

[Flyhalf]

Convertible on track without roll bar is an idea i wouldn't encourage

 

[20ducks]

Convertible on track without roll bar is an idea i wouldn't encourage

I totally agree.

 

[CJJon]

I have a Watson bolt on roll bar. There is a local track to me that has a driver school that I am going to hit up and they require it. It also helps stiffen the car.

I am able to bolt it in myself, barely. With two people, it's a three beer job. I don't plan to run it all the time as I have a spider top, so I just leave out the seats and panels. If I didn't have the spider top, then I would just run it full time with the seat in and modify the panels to fit.

 

[Norm Peterson]

Convertible on track without roll bar is an idea i wouldn't encourage

Strictly paced parade laps, maybe.

I've seen a car roll at autocross (fortunately for the two occupants it wasn't a convertible). It was probably a 'perfect storm' of poor choices in car setup and driver inputs, but still . . .


Norm

 

[luc]

All of us peons lower your eyes to his lordship luc, for the wise words he has bestowed upon us plebes.

Here what has happened:

And the only reason driver and instructor walked away is because I enforced the”broom stick” test at my club and forced the owner to install a roll bar if he wanted to run with us

 

[JimC]

I have a Watson bolt on roll bar. There is a local track to me that has a driver school that I am going to hit up and they require it. It also helps stiffen the car.

I am able to bolt it in myself, barely. With two people, it's a three beer job. I don't plan to run it all the time as I have a spider top, so I just leave out the seats and panels. If I didn't have the spider top, then I would just run it full time with the seat in and modify the panels to fit.

I was looking at the Watson roll bar. It doesn't look like a complicated installation. Should be easy for someone with welding skills to add a tab for swing out door bars for drag racing (turning the 4 point into a 6 point). I had a 6 point custom built for my 2006 convertible - sold it last year because with the changes between the S197 and S550 it wouldn't fit.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Convertible on track without roll bar is an idea i wouldn't encourage

Once was enough.

 

[jimbabwe]

For those with the Watson roll bar - I assume you can open/close the top with the roll bar installed? Been thinking of picking one up to start participating in track days in addition to autocross.

 

[JimC]

I'd be very surprised if the design didn't allow for the top to open and close.

Never had an issue on my 2006, but that was a custom roll bar that I had made and installed.

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