Roll bar pad option

[D-CEL]

It’s not often that I agree with that ……guy with two roll bars but IMO, a padded roll bar has value. So I set out to build something that offers a minimum level of protection, but is not a visual catastrophic abortion.
So I got out some fiber-board and duct tape and started cutting and bending. Sitting in the car and feeling for the contact points, I formed simple sheet skeleton over the front of bars where your head would touch in a crash. Once I had the shape, we (Body shop foreman and great fabricator) duplicated it out of .100 sheet aluminum, formed it over some scrap tubing and welded the pieces together. He then added about a inch of high density foam a stitched up a fantastic black vinyl cover and some heavy duty Velcro straps. It’s nice because it offer the impact protection, but is almost unnoticeable when installed and comes right off if you want. We have plans to build and sell the standard roll bar version.

[RodKnock]

This one looked slick:

Headrest

[D-CEL]

While I agree it offers better protection, I was looking to keep the bar as open and unencumbered as possible. And yes I will be cleaning up the bolt/nut on the rear bar.

[patrickt]

I think it's great. Unfortunately, a number of guys around here will have to be hit in their Cobra before they pay attention.

[TButtrick]

Originally Posted by patrickt

I think it's great. Unfortunately, a number of guys around here will have to be hit in their Cobra before they pay attention.

It's not that you have padding, it's that you have padding x2

sniffle, sniffle

I think that 289 bar looks great. Well done.

[DougD]

D-CEL
Nicely done! I'd be interested in one to fit my CSX. I also like your bar grommets/ Where did they come from?

[TButtrick]

When you get hit from the rear, that bolt through the third leg should hold your head still and prevent any further nerve damage until the medics get there.

[ZOERA-SC7XX]

If you were to hit your head hard on the roll bar, the padding won't save your head from severe injury, but it might be less messy. Only the combination of a newer Snell rated helmet AND roll bar padding could save your ass (head). It would still probably kill you. Cobras, in my opinion, are probably more dangerous with roll bar(s) than without. They are mostly just for looks, and maybe, just maybe, would keep the car from crushing you in the event of a rollover. By then most likely you would already be dead. If you really care about your passenger, don't have a bar behind their head. These cars are fast and can be killers if not driven safely, and are only marginally safer than a motorcycle. With that being said, I'll still be driving my ERA this summer with my single chrome roll bar behind my head and hope they never come in contact. Maybe I need to have my head examined.

[legenmetals]

Looks *****in! This is what I came up for my Contemporary! Dosen't look that great but niether will my head if it hits the roll bar.

[Got the Bug]

Originally Posted by TButtrick

It's not that you have padding, it's that you have padding x2

sniffle, sniffle

I think that 289 bar looks great. Well done.

Patrick was afraid that his roll bars were going to freeze, so he used extra insulation. This two roll bar gotta be padded or your life is at risk stuff is like a record skipping in the same place.

[Blas]

D-CEL,
A very unique solution. And the execution look to be very well done. I would like to suggest that the nut and bolt for the rear brace should be reversed to expose the back of your head to the smallest projection possible in the event of a collision. I take it you must me of shorter statute so the top of the bar is not a concern for you head? Remember, in the event of a rear end collision, your body will move backwards and up I believe. But a very well executed job overall.
FYI: When I made my hoop pad, I wanted something to absorb some of the impact in the event of a collision. My original design utilized a aluminum back plate with a foam cover. After much deliberation, I decided on plywood for the back plate, covered with a closed cell foam pad and an covering to match my seats. I wanted the finished pad to extend well beyond the eyelets for the shoulder harness so I set it inside the hoop to make it thicker. The theory being the plywood woud absorb some impact and probably crack in half... which is a good thing. The closed cell foam would also absorb some impact. Lets hope I never need to test the design.

[Blas]

Deteted - Duplicate post

[D-CEL]

Thanks everybody for the positive comments. Those are the standard SPF roll bar grommets (That are on permanent back order!!)
I really made it for lesser impact type events (like the one I experienced.) It was never intended to be a fail safe. And with that I accept that the risk with this solution and know full well that some impacts will not be survivable. Such is life with an old race car on the street!
No the bolt on the down bar is not staying!! That was my body shop trying to help out.
I have a low profile stainless 12 point that goes in there.
Funny is, I am considering cutting that down bar completely out , fixing the body again) and making a new one, with the correct angle like the orig. cars. Only recently did I realize how shallow the SPF angle is! Now I can’t stop looking at it and it’s really pissing me off!! LOL

Jason

[ratsnst1]

Originally Posted by legenmetals

Looks *****in! This is what I came up for my Contemporary! Dosen't look that great but niether will my head if it hits the roll bar.

I would like to do the same but with two roll bars, love the look.

[ZOERA-SC7XX]

That looks more like a headreast, but it looks safe.