Passenger Side Roll Hoop

[mdross1]

Sometimes it's hard to keep opinions civilized,must be the human condition.Just got off a Harley Forum and was called selfish because of not wearing a helmet.Wow! that serves noone.As long as we have the right to choose our path in life then there will be the head butting.Democrats, Republicans and Independents will vouch for that.

[Silverback51]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Obviously you've been talking with morons; a group with whom you no doubt fit in with to a "t".

Now I have hung out with Jim a few times and don't consider myself a "moron", so now you have drug me into this. And for that matter, neither is Jim a moron.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Silverback51

Now I have hung out with Jim a few times and don't consider myself a "moron"...

Nor do I, John. "Imbecile" is clearly more appropriate. But if you keep at it, maybe we can elevate you to Jim's group.

[legenmetals]

I think that if your are going to drive a fiberglass car to the point of flipping it you should not have a passenger in it and you should have a full roll cage. I do think that the odds are greater of a frontal or rear impact so I added shoulder harnesses and rollbar padding to eliminate frontal impact with the steering wheel or dash and any contact with the rollbar itself. At the end of the day its all about what you like not the other guy. I like meeting the owners more than judging their cars.

[ZOERA-SC7XX]

If I was going to race my Cobra (fat chance) I'd have a full roll cage like the FFR and Shelby race cars. The single bar just adds to the realism of the original, nothing more. Like I said before, as unpadded roll bar (without a helmet worn by the driver/passenger) is dangerous, more so than no bar at all. The only exception I see is a high-back seat to keep the head away from the bar in an incident.

[Rickd]

It's all a matter of personal aesthetics .. I wouldn't consider a car with 2 roll bars .. unless it was dirt cheap and then I would have the second one removed, have the holes filled, and the car repainted. That's my opinion. Think they look "goofy". Some people like them ... chocolate and vanilla. And I haven't seen any comments on this thread, outside of the original posters reaction to a perceived insult, that have approached "hate".

[digginfool]

And I'm still undecided. Leaning more towards using another vehicle to gain solo status. I wonder if they'll let me take my wife's Excursion on the track. Maybe my Monaco Executive motorcoach. Nah. I'll rent a Focus from Hertz for the weekend. Seriously, though, I really haven't made up my mind regarding the 'look.' Mtpockets' BDR is gorgeous (only because it looks exactly like mine sans dual hoop and decals) but I love the single hoop look as well. It's a tough decision. After I saw the flip in the "Don't Do This" thread, I was convinced I wanted a second roll hoop just in case because you never know and anybody in the passenger seat during that flip was dead. There was zero protection. I do have to say I find it very humorous how the SPF and ERA guys want to knock down the BDR and FFR guys. At the end of the day, they're all replicas. It's kind of like Cubans and Puerto Ricans. They each think they're better but they only grew up on islands two hundred miles apart from each other and both share the same heritage.

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by digginfool

And I'm still undecided....
...After I saw the flip in the "Don't Do This" thread, I was convinced I wanted a second roll hoop just in case because you never know and anybody in the passenger seat during that flip was dead. There was zero protection.

Yep, saw the "Don't do this" too. I can't work out why that car flipped. A friend flipped his car when he came around a corner, onto an 'unannounced' resealed section of road, the type where they spray on tar and then spread gravel. In a couple of seconds he went from wheels on the road to wheels in the air. No roll hoop/loop/bar, lucky to be alive, car needing 'some bodywork'.
So, I know it happens, but at the same time how common is it? A Cobra, with its c-of-g maybe 18" off the ground, must be just about impossible to flip unless you hit something. How many have personal experience of a rollover?

If you go ahead with fitting a second one, what about painting/powdercoating it black? Less obvious that a pair of chromies...
Cheers,
Glen

[RodKnock]

He must have gotten tired of kicking Ellie.

[Wbulk]

You would be surprised how easy it is to flip a car without hitting something. Over the years I have investigated a lot of roll over accidents. Typically for some reason the car went sideways at speed causing the tire to roll away from the rim. The tire then immediatley loses it's air and rolls away further from the rim edge. The rim then catches the asphalt, digs in a flips the car. You can just about always see the exact point on the road where the rim caught and flipped the car. Cars with lower profile tires tend to roll less as they tend to slide rather than the tire roll off the rim.
Even the best of drivers can get into a situation where he is trying to avoid an object or car, or deer, and finds himself sideways. Speed, weight, tire sidewall width, all play into if a tire breaks it's seal and loses it's air, and the rim digs in and flips the car.

[xb-60]

Yep, understand that Wbulk. We are talking Cobras here though, cars with low weight, very low centre of gravity, well enough balanced fore and aft (front-mid engined), typically with wide, low profile (60% or less) tyres. How hard is it to roll the tyre off a rim on a Cobra? The pressure exerted (low weight and large contact area) by the tyres makes then more likely to slide than roll the tyre off, yes?
Any personal experiences out there of rolling a Cobra?
Cheers,
Glen

[Wbulk]

I've seen two videos of FFR cars on road courses flip. One was caught on a dash cam from the car behind. On a previous thread a year or so ago this whole topic was discussed in great detail and another issue that was brought up was the Lemans filler caps. Many of the replica brands do not use a regular gas cap inside of the Lemans flip top. Some have them as standard equipment. With a single roll bar as the car rolls the Lemans release lever can get pushed and the fuel goes everywhere. I'm a firm believer in guys doing what like with these cars but for me and my passenger I like double roll bars or a full width bar.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by Wbulk

I've seen two videos of FFR cars on road courses flip. One was caught on a dash cam from the car behind. On a previous thread a year or so ago this whole topic was discussed in great detail and another issue that was brought up was the Lemans filler caps. Many of the replica brands do not use a regular gas cap inside of the Lemans flip top. Some have them as standard equipment. With a single roll bar as the car rolls the Lemans release lever can get pushed and the fuel goes everywhere. I'm a firm believer in guys doing what like with these cars but for me and my passenger I like double roll bars or a full width bar.

Were these FFR's spec racers? My only comment here is that FFR cars are generally home built and the SPF's, CSX's, Kirkhams, and to some extent ERA's, are generally factory built. Maybe all manufacturers' cars have flipped at one point or another, but the original 1960's era Cobras were raced for many years, including Dick Smith going 198 mph in one. But, no, they're not as safe as your Camry.

I think having an interior gas cap under the Lemans cap is smart. That's why I added one.

[zzmac]

Anyone have that link to the "Don't Do This" video? Thx

[ERA Chas]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

I think having an interior gas cap under the Lemans cap is smart. That's why I added one.

Jamo had a neat trick to safety wire the cap for competition. Made it so you could just barely slide the wire off the hinge for gassing up on the street. I've used it and it works.

[RodKnock]

Thread:

http://clubcobra.com/forums/showthre...hreadid=109482

Video:

[Wbulk]

RodKnock, yep that was one of them.

[Bill Bess]

Gee, I never thought of the added safety value of an interior gas cap under the Le Mans flip top cap....I now feel better. I too, do appreciate my passenger roll bar because I don't want anybody to die in the cobra.
It's all common sense regarding safety....any car can flip over, especially if your turning at 100 mph.
Yikers!

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Bill Bess

Gee, I never thought of the added safety value of an interior gas cap under the Le Mans flip top cap....I now feel better.

Here's a shot of the ERA cap. I can almost imagine how scary it might be to be roughed up a bit, hanging upside down, trying to unsnap your belts, and watching gas trickle out and run by your hot pipes.

[Wbulk]

Based on Patrick's picture I made my own about a year ago. Old picture.



The fill neck comes up through the truck. The aluminum trim ring goes over the top of the neck and the Lemans cap goes on top of that. Picture color is bad for some reason. Had a bad color day.