Hillclimb rollbar/rollcage

289, FIA & Daytona topics
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Ferngar
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Hillclimb rollbar/rollcage

Post by Ferngar »

After competing for the last 6 years with my Ginetta G4 in hillclimbs/sprints I fancy using my Hawk 289.
The local head scrutineer for the southwest of England said he would love to see me out competing in the car but he feels that I would need a full rollcage.
My question is; are there any 289 replicas competing in hillclimbs/sprints in the UK and what have they had to fit (roll hoop, full cage) to satisfy Motorsport UK requirements?
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peterc
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Re: Hillclimb rollbar/rollcage

Post by peterc »

Suggest that you contact Thunder Road Cars in Cheshunt who I believe compete in a replica Cobra.
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Ferngar
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Re: Hillclimb rollbar/rollcage

Post by Ferngar »

Thanks for that Peter , I'll give them a call.
peterpjb
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Re: Hillclimb rollbar/rollcage

Post by peterpjb »

I saw a video of Robert Bremner at Chateau Impney 2017 or 2018 without full cage
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clive
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Re: Hillclimb rollbar/rollcage

Post by clive »

Rob's car is an original 289 and the roll bar is similar to those on the Hawk cars, but the Hawk one is more form than function as it isn't strong enough.

Image
Cheers, Clive.

(If I'm not here I'm in my workshop or on the golf course!)
Ferngar
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Re: Hillclimb rollbar/rollcage

Post by Ferngar »

I'm pretty certain that the rules are different for original cars.
Motorsport UK (MSA) require at the moment 200 vehicles produced in a 12 month period to go into "limited specialist production class". This requires a substantial roll hoop with rear facing supports or go into "Sports Libre" which requires a full cage and the use of a Hans device. I am hoping when the 2020 Blue book appears that the rules have been relaxed. Fingers crossed.
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peterc
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Re: Hillclimb rollbar/rollcage

Post by peterc »

The noticeable difference with the roll over bar fitted to car 36 is that it is considerably higher than the standard Hawk item. Otherwise I would have thought that the Hawk item is strong enough judging by the thickness of the support frame.
I think the normal rules are that a straight line between roll bar top and top front of the bodywork must be above the drivers helmet.
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Last edited by peterc on Thu Sep 26, 2019 5:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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David Large
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Re: Hillclimb rollbar/rollcage

Post by David Large »

I am not an expert on this topic but I do compete in sprints and hillclimbs in Sports Libre. There has been a great deal of difficulty in several classes of car as to the suitability and safety of roll bars and roll cages. My car is a Radical PR6 (11 years old) and I am required to wear a Hans Device. There have been no complaints from scrutineers about my roll cage to date but I know that people competing in Jedi single seaters have had significant problems involving modifications to be made by the Jedi factory.
I think it is pretty unlikely that there will be any relaxation of the current rules.
The diameter and wall thickness of the tubing used to make roll cages, the degree of slope of bracing struts and the forward / backward slope is carefully specified in the Blue Book and I am aware that some competitors have been asked by scrutineers to confirm the tube wall thickness of the components used in their rollover protection.

As Ferngar says it gets more complex when all of the classes are considered.

Peter: A statement like this "Otherwise I would have thought that the Hawk item is strong enough judging by the thickness of the support frame" will not help anybody.

Regards,

David Large
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clive
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Re: Hillclimb rollbar/rollcage

Post by clive »

I certainly wouldn't trust the integrity of the Hawk roll bar to protect me!
Cheers, Clive.

(If I'm not here I'm in my workshop or on the golf course!)
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David Large
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Re: Hillclimb rollbar/rollcage

Post by David Large »

My question is; are there any 289 replicas competing in hillclimbs/sprints in the UK and what have they had to fit (roll hoop, full cage) to satisfy Motorsport UK requirements?

I have seen a BRA 289 competing in MSA events in the north midlands in recent years - but I cannot recall the rollover protection details. I will do some research - I may have a photo of it somewhere since I have a BRA 289 as well.

David
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