Spider roll bar

[AlfaNeely@domain.elided]

Paul,
       I will send you off line an article I wrote some years ago about the 
roll bar in my 82 Spider.  Any one else wanting it, please let me know.  If 
lots of people want it, I can post it to the list.
       The "street" roll bar is totally inadequate unless you are really 
short.  The "street" bar comes up to about my ears and it lacks diagonal 
cross bracing.
       The Autopower "race height" roll bar should be the minimum.  It just 
meets what I consider the minimum requirements.  It will fit under the top, 
but the top has to be modified to fold past the roll bar.  I drilled out the 
rivets by your shoulder where the top bows pivot and replaced them with 
bolts.  Putting the top up or down took about 10 minutes.
       If you are quite tall, or long in the body, then even the race height 
bar is not going to be tall enough.  I understand the Mid Atlantic AROC 
chapter may require that the roll bar be an inch above the top of the helmet. 
Dana or someone will have to chime in on that part.  As for the BMW group, 
get their rule book before you spend any money.  In fact, the rule book is 
always the place to start.
       The national AROC Competition Code, including the Appendix or roll 
bars is on line at: http://www.aroc-usa.org/comp1.html

       By the way, SCCA is not in the business of approving roll bars.  They 
have requirements that must be met.  Plus no cars are allowed to race today 
with only a roll bar.  Full roll cages have been required since about 1996.

       I have always maintained that that way to learn to drive in snow is to 
find a big empty parking lot covered with snow.  Make sure there are no curbs 
to trip the car.  Then put the car sideways and practice driving it that way 
as long as you can.  That is fun and a good learning experience.  Not sure 
the security guard is going to like your using "his" lot for driving practice 
though.

Ciao,
Russ Neely
Oklahoma City



In a message dated 02/17/2003 6:11:24 PM Central Standard Time, 
owner-alfa-digest@domain.elided writes:


> Date: Mon, 17 Feb 2003 17:50:11 -0500
> From: "Paul  Misencik" <paul@domain.elided>
> Subject: Spider roll bar
> 
> Although it's difficult with snow and ice on the ground, I'm starting to get
> my ducks in a row to do some drivers schools and so forth in the Spider this
> year, and I guess I need a roll bar.  As much as I have an aesthetic problem
> with them...
> 
> If I'm going to run with the Mid-Atlantic Chapter and the BMWCCA and so 
> forth,
> am I correct in assuming that the "street" roll bar sold by IAP and others 
> is
> not acceptable?  Do I have to get one of the SCCA-approved "race" bars from 
> IO
> Port Racing or some other source?  If so, will this bar interfere with the
> operation of the soft top in any appreciable way?
> 
> Also, does anyone have a reccommendation on the best and/or most
> cost-effective choice?
> 
> BTW - I feel like a hooligan, but opposite-locking around in the snow with 
> the
> tail out and the engine roaring was truly a source of immense enjoyment for 
> me
> today.  I never seem to outgrow that!  But only when I'm pretty much alone 
> on
> the road.  I figure that the guy in the brand new Land Rover Discovery 
> (which
> could probably cross the Darien without any significant traction problems) 
> who
> is gripping the wheel in abject terror as he doddles along at 3 mph, has
> enough to worry about without me adding to his misery...
> 
> Thanks in advance for the help on the roll bar choice,
> 
> 



Ciao,
Russ Neely
Oklahoma City
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