Roll bar questions?????
 

Well my kid is a shortie and we have a roll bar issue. The rules clearly state that the helmet must be 6" or less from the main hoop, I guess I could move the hoop to the midddle of the door but I'm hoping there's a different solution. Anyone have a similar situation? What's the NHRA's fix going to be?
https://i.imgur.com/HoKeCzJ.png
https://i.imgur.com/kR6Th6J.jpg

Re: Roll bar questions?????
 

The 6" is from the back of the helmet to the roll bar not the top.

Re: Roll bar questions?????
 

Absolutely, and we're 12+ inches away. By short I meant the seat is so far forward.

Re: Roll bar questions?????
 

A double hoop would be a fairly simple install. I think a call to your division tech director is in order.
Pete

Re: Roll bar questions?????
 

Add a Funny Car cage? It would close the driver in better and provide for better seat bracing with a cross bar.

Re: Roll bar questions?????
 

Looks like it is just a 6 point roll bar not a cage. I would complete the cage if it were me. Also appears the seat is on an adjustable base. push the seat back during tech and move it forward after. Other option would be to move the seat back and extend the pedals so she can reach.

Re: Roll bar questions?????
 

This is not a rule that is heavily enforced, I wouldn't worry too much about it. I think you would have to find a tech guy on a bad day to get bounced over this one. I've built a lot of roll bars and never seen this come up as an issue.

Jim Caughlin
SS 6019

Re: Roll bar questions?????
 

I have never been teched sitting in the vehicle. I would only be concerned if it were a safety issue for the driver.

Re: Roll bar questions?????
 

Obviously there is a safety issue here. The driver's helmet is over 12" from the main hoop. Also for sure the side bar in the car will be too low to match the driver in her forward seat position. I think you should upgrade to a cage. Add a halo and two forward down bars. Modify/change the side bar to suit.

Re: Roll bar questions?????
 

I just went over some things with our roll bar inspector for our area the other day. My question was adding some other bars, he said once the main design or requirements are met, any bar of ones choosing can be added with no size requirement. So with that thinking you could add another top hoop foward of the main one, even down some to get close to her helmet. Run one side down and back to seat bar and the other side down to side bar like a funny car cage. Maybe do another side bar to cross her shoulder-elbow, straight out then turn down at the new hoop intersecting point. Then back down to roll bar at the floor, just like the kidney bar. Seems rather simple to do. From what he told me they can be even 1-1/2 or smaller. As far as safety is concerned he said with a roll bar you actually have two cages, the car structure and the roll bar. What you have passes the tech now, just add what you want.

Re: Roll bar questions?????
 

Make an imaginary line from the top of the bar forward to the top of the hood. (in case the front a pillars collapse in a rollover) if she is low enough to clear that, I wouldn't worry about it. I rolled my mustang when it didn't have a roll bar (on the street) and the back half of the roof stayed up and only the a pillars collapsed. The front of the roof came down until the car was resting on the hood. It would be the same with a car with a hoop, the roof would cave in until the hood hit.

I'm just thinking down the road when either she's taller or someone else is driving and there's all these extra bars in the way and have to be removed again.

Re: Roll bar questions?????
 

Have spoken with tech today and I was informed they would be more concerned with head support than the hoops locality to the helmet, I'll also get a second opinion from a different tech person. So far all my questions to NHRA officials have been met with great courtesy. Thanks for everyones responses and help.

Re: Roll bar questions?????
 

Would love to have your problem Todd...my helmet is against the hoop every pass in the cramped/confined El Camino. :D

Re: Roll bar questions?????
 

I drove it once and the seat was back and I had to tilt my big noggin to see...:D

Re: Roll bar questions?????
 

I am tall from the waist up. With the stock seats my helmet was against the roof. When I put the racing seats in I bolted the seat directly to the floor and that fixed the problem with head clearance. Gen 1 Camaro.

Re: Roll bar questions?????
 

Go to Section 20 page 27 in the NHRA rulebook and build the rest of the rollcage. Problem solved.

Re: Roll bar questions?????
 

I thought this was going to be a team driving effort, I'm now seeing that any car she drives will be near impossible for me to drive. May have to buy another car.

Re: Roll bar questions?????
 

See how expensive kids are to raise? Now you need another race car! LOL!

Re: Roll bar questions?????
 

Not to butt in on your thread but I was reading Section 20 page 28 and saw this . " Aftermarket aluminum seats must have reinforced head rest. " I never been hit with this but I thought is mine?

Re: Roll bar questions?????
 

The reason the rule book states "Aftermarket aluminum seats must have reinforced head rest" came from the first time we saw them in tech years ago. The original high back aluminum seats were weak in the head rest area and could be easily bent back. The new rule was soon written and the manufacturers redesigned the upper portion of their aluminum seats.

Re: Roll bar questions?????
 

It's the stacker that will get me!

Re: Roll bar questions?????
 

If I have to that's ok, but for this car I would rather add the weight behind the axle.