Roll Cages vs. Roll Bars in higher class cars

[Michael Kilduff]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lee

Once you install a cage you have to follow cage rules. That means nets are required. NHRA looks at it that once your at that level of having a cage, even if it runs 15's, you have to conform to all of those safety rules.
Same as seatbelts. You can have a 15 second car with OEM belts and leave them there forever. But once you put aftermarket belts in, you have to recert or replace every two years.

Maybe the seatbelt rule is interpreted differently from division to division, but I have a P/SA that has an aftermarket belt dated 1994 in the car. The person I bought the car from went through NHRA Div 1 tech many times with these belts and so did the previous owner from about 1999 until 2007/8 or so.

I passed tech in IHRA Div 9 with the same belt in 2010, plan on taking it through tech again with that belt in 2012. I will inquire within the sanctioning bodies just to be crystal clear though before next season starts.

I would think a quality aftermarket belt and latch is about 20 times stronger and safer than a 44 year old factory original belt.