HPDE in a 289 USRRC/FIA Cobra

[1795]

In vintage racing the rules are a little softer around roll cages. Mine is more than is required. I sent the pictures of the roll cage to SVRA (that's where the logbook is) and they liked it. I have raced the car in SCCA vintage races and have not had any complaints. Just reviewed the current NASA rules and could no see anything in the roll cage section that addressed open cars. The rules were designed around a car with a roof. Have you looked at the designs of the roll cage manufacturers that they reference?



My driver's side continues up to the hoop to provide two support points going forward.

Morris, on this site, raced a Kirkham 427 car in SCCA for many years. You could look at his design. It was raced in GT1, which is a very competitive race group.

You should also check with Factory Five about the possibility of using their roll cage for the challenge car series that runs with NASA. It may be possible to have them fit the roll cage to an USSRC/FIA car.

Jim

[crazycasey]

Originally Posted by 1795

Have you looked at the designs of the roll cage manufacturers that they reference?

I have. The one thing they all have in common is that they have rear-facing stringers off the main hoop. Over on the NASA site a Miata guy was saying he wasn’t allowed to run an HPDE in Arizona with one of the Hard Dog bars that is mentioned by name in the CCR, because his roll bar didn’t have a diagonal brace, and his rear stringers intersected the main hoop further than 6 inches (I think) down. Essentially they were enforcing competition roll-cage rules for HPDE. Maybe they guy was a jerk..who knows. Maybe I should look into SVRA...does SVRA host HPDE’s?

Originally Posted by 1795

You should also check with Factory Five about the possibility of using their roll cage for the challenge car series that runs with NASA. It may be possible to have them fit the roll cage to an USSRC/FIA car.

Jim

I actually did look into that. The competition car doesn’t have a separate roll-cage, it’s integral to the car’s structure (as required by NASA rules for the class on which it was based). Factory Five DID say I could fit the 289 body on the Challenge Car chassis, but they said they “would not support it”. Still waiting for clarification on exactly what that means, but, at the end of the day, the Challenge Car doesn’t look like a classic Cobra to me. I think I could probably figure out something like what’s in your car and keep it removable if I play my cards right. I’m pretty handy with a TIG torch and a tubing bender...

Thanks again for the ideas, Jim. I’ve got to check out Morris’ car.

[1795]

Good luck. SVRA does not support HPDE's as far as I know. I do know that some HPDE's do not like open cockpit cars, but then again a lot of them do not require roll cages either.

Good luck. Maybe you should consider vintage racing.....

Nothing like taking a cobra through corners at speed.