[flash]

about 25 units



without getting into discussions about how many hoops and pieces are required for specific classes of racing, the cab unit is designed to be able to be raced, but requires all of the optional components



the unit for the hardtop would have exactly the same capabilities

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[JWahlsten]

I'm interested in this for DE usage only. There is no way I'd go door to door racing without a full cage. I know some guys do, but the risk of side intrusion is much greater with free passing and aggression than at a DE. A gutted 944 is a better call for a throw away than a 60k mile 968 M030.



Additionally, I wouldn't put my kids in the back of a car surrounded by metal tubes. How much time are you thinking to get this in and out, or is it an option?



Of course my wife would like me to get a cab, so maybe I should just trade for/buy an LSD cab and get your chassis stiffener for that...

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[flash]

lol - well , there is one for sale.............



after removing the harness bar, there would only be 2 tubes on each side that would remain, so you could leave it - it wouldn't be much of an intrusion



but, should you decide to remove it, you are probably looking at about a half hour to remove it

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[JWahlsten]

Thanks Flash, I'm more than willing to spend a few hours getting my car ready for the track the couple of times per year I actually get to do it. So, 30 minutes to pull it out is no big deal.

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[sawood12]

Hi, first time on this forum, but i've been an avid reader for a few months now. Is there any scope for a half way house solution? There is a good market for those who wouldn't need the device to comply with race regulations but would like the benefit of chassis stiffening, harness bar and some improved roll-over protection for track days as opposed to racing. It seems to me that the market you are targetting might be limited as those who race and require the compliance to race specs will most likely opt for a 'proper' race cage (I know I would) whereas those who merely dabble on track days are looking for a more cost effective solution.



I'm thinking about something along the lines of the Redline concept but improved since you have identified several design shortfalls. I know that there would be a worthwhile market here in the UK if the price was right.



Any solution that bolts in and out shouldn't present that much of an issue for most people. Just a suggestion.



Regards, Scott

'87 951

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[flash]

that's really what this unit would be, but i would build it to fit the race spec, which aren't really that tough

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[Cloud9...68]

[quote name='Scott' post='39292' date='Aug 2 2007, 06:21 AM']There is a good market for those who wouldn't need the device to comply with race regulations but would like the benefit of chassis stiffening, harness bar and some improved roll-over protection for track days as opposed to racing.

Regards, Scott

'87 951[/quote]



Agreed! That defines me (and I would assume many others) to a "T"

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[sawood12]

[quote name='flash' post='39296' date='Aug 2 2007, 02:44 PM']that's really what this unit would be, but i would build it to fit the race spec, which aren't really that tough[/quote]



OK, but the reason why the Redline product looks so attractive is it's cost and simplicity. Personally the only thing I don't like about the Redline product is that there is no triangulation of the spars that attach from the main hoop to the rear seatbelt points, but apart from that it looks prett good. If I were to buy the Redline product i'd be inclined to add a couple of welded trianguation pieces to stiffen that joint up, but apart from that I fail to see many major shortfalls of that product - but I don't count myself as being an expert in these things so will bow to your more informed analysis of it's structural integrity.



It seems to me that by over-engineering a similar product and therefore greatly significantly increasing its cost you are limiting the potential market. Ultimately it is not rocket science and for weekend track day warriors something cheap and chearful, but effective, would be a big hit. Anyway I will watch the development of this product with great interest.



Cheers,

Scott

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[flash]

the biggest shortfall is there is nothing to prevent the mounting points from simply shearing the bolts off, or ripping those weld nuts right out of the frame when presented with a vertical load - you need a landing that spreads that load out - that's why it is required for any racing unit



all but useless as a roll bar, but it should work fine as a harness bar, and it should stiffen the frame up some

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[flash]

i should have an opportunity to try a fitment check of a mock up next week

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[968crazy]

any idea on how much this will weigh?

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[flash]

about 25lbs

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[968crazy]

I guess I'll need to start dieting now so the car can gain some weight! I think I need one of these no matter what the price is!

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[Cloud9...68]

I don't want to bore you all with how my personal situation plays into my great interest in this chassis brace, but after doing about a half-dozen DEs to whet my appetite, I'm about to embark on what really looks like a dream come true. A race track called Driveway Austin (here's their website) has recently opened in the Austin area (about two miles from my place of work!) that's actually a driving academy. They take you through a five-tier program, from novice through instructor. Each tier contains a one-day course, followed by 10-20 (depending on the level) practice sessions to practice what you've learned in the class, and it ends with a test that you have to pass before moving to the next level. Each tier is performed on a different part of the track, starting with a short (~0.7 mile), low speed, highly technical section, and the succeeding tiers build upon this, opening more sections of the track, each of which exposes you to new challenges (blind turns, extreme elevation changes, and finally, a variety of high speed techniques, which are introduced in tier 3). I plan to sign up for the novice class next month.



Anyway, the reason I'm telling you all this (Flash in particular, of course) is that driving on the full course, which happens at Level 3, the advanced course which includes a long straight, requires that your car meet certain safety and performance criteria, which I'm sure will include some sort of rollover protection. So, if my driving progresses at a decent pace, I hope to be at the level where my car will need the chassis brace by late 2009/early 2010. Given the long lead times of getting a project like this rolling, as the cab chassis brace has painfully demonstrated, what's the likelihood that they will be available in the timeframe that I'll be needing one? And what do I need to do to get myself on the list? Thanks.

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[flash]

actually very good - if the test fitting works, since it is based on the cab unit, the new jig will be a no-brainer, and fabrication will be as easy - all of the other complications and logistics are the same, but shipping will actually be easier, due to the design change



before anybody asks though, unfortunately i cannot incorporate the design change that makes that shipping possible into the cab unit without compromising a lot of the chassis stiffening it does

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[Cloud9...68]

Great! Glad to hear. It seems to me that well-thought-out stiffening of the chassis should be the first major step down the path of making the car more track-worthy (though I have no plans of turning it into a pure track car). Gonna be a slippery slope, though, I'm sure...

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[968crazy]

updates?

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[flash]

as soon as it is tacked together, i can go fit check the prototype

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[mattipuh]

I'm also interested on this product, if it's stiffens the car and gives more safety on the track. Full rollcages are too heavy and costy to use in my car because I use the car every day, but some kind of rollcage would be nice to have.

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[flash]

the one for the hardtop won't stiffen the car as much as the one for the cab, because it is likely to only pick up 4 points rather than 6 (i'll explain that one later after i am sure), and the front will be bolted plates and not welded (no way around that one) - this allows for a bit more movement, and consequently a bit less stiffening



it would bolt in and out though, if you wanted to, and not have to be removed at all to use the back seats



cost is a whole different story - i haven't gotten that worked out yet



shipping to finland won't be good though

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