Hello!

I will be using my locost for the road, trackdays, sprints, hill climbs and solo's (and maybe autotests).

The question I have is, should I fit a full cage? or would a standard bar suffice?

What other options for a full cage do I have?

I've noticed the caterhams have a cage that routes along the rear arch and along the door bar.

Can people post some pictures of some roll cage options, so I can have a look?

Thank you!

Chris.

You will need to check with the relevant motorsport bodies as to the regs for the events you listed.

Have a look on the MK site i think they have a pic of their red rocket on there which had a full cage IIRC.

none of the events I listed actually require a cage under MSA regulations. They all have road classes.

It is more a question of safety to be honest.

I wouldn't fancy rolling one without a complete cage.

My car will be used for the same sort of things and I didn't want a full cage so I think I'm going to go for something like this...

http://locost7.info/files/chassis/rollbar.jpg

...but with a removeable bar from the middle of the hoop to the passenger footwell.

Mark

Fozzie on here has a full cage on his motor by the looks of it, u2u him for some info im sure he will be wiling to give you advice/tips.

Hi Chris,

My car will be used for the same sort of thing and I had a roll cage welded in by MK. If you have a look at my photo archive you can see the chassis with the cage.

I intend eventually to race it so thought a full cage is best but will also probably add a bolt-on side impact bar as in my opinion that area is still very vulnerable.

The events you mention are not quite the same as racing but maybe you'll enjoy it and then want to go racing so a roll cage now may be better. Bear in mind that a full cage is quite heavy but in my view safety is one of the most important things.

HTH,
Rich.

Dern, I am using that roll bar (it is an ST item). It is a taller, racing bar, which is stronger and also a bit heavier than the road spec one.

Adam

quote:

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Originally posted by colmaccoll
Fozzie on here has a full cage on his motor by the looks of it, u2u him for some info im sure he will be wiling to give you advice/tips.

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Hi Fozzie,

Interesting that you say they wouldn't be so keen if it was welded, why would that be??

Also, are you implying that the MSA 'blue book' says it cannot be a welded cage??

Rich.

Shortie, thats the impression i got too.

Fozzie, Just had a quick skim through your archive,.........thats one nicely finished car old boy. And one of the shiniest engine bays i have seen, did you do the paint yourself?

Col,

Can't believe that to be the case for the MSA as most racers have a welded in cage, I guess because it's stronger.

Rich.

Ta Col! My step-son painted the green!


Rich, Welded is not stronger! Not everyone is an excellent welder, and welds fatigue,weaken and rot, and what exactly is it welded too?
The plates and bolts go right through the chassis, so no chance of the welds or floor giving out if ya doing a few 360 rolls! All in my most humble opinion of course! but I know which method I would put my trust (and life in) and those of my fellow competitors!
I have uploaded a couple of relevant extracts from The Blue Book into my photo archive. HTH

Always remember:- 'It can be dangerous out there'!

ATB fozzie

Fozzies car has to be seen to be believed, it really is a show winning piece. And she even built the engine in the front room!

Ned.

hi chris
if you have a look at a user called mookaloid on this site we recently did a cage for him in cds with removable diagonal ( rac approved ) we also do this in t45 as well as a full cage which can be seen @ www.mnrltd.co.uk look under vortx RT+

Regards

Marc

Mine is welded directly to the chassis via reinforcement plates, all built as part of the chassis by MK.

Extract from the Blue book says that welded is fine as is bolting.

Rich.

weld or bolt, just personal preference i guess

Ned.

Marc,

Just out of interest could you provide side impact bars that will bolt onto the roll cage? My cage is identical to Fozzies but would like some side impact protection aswell.

Rich.

I suppose so Ned although I am genuinly interested which is stronger. I have always thought a weld would be stronger but have no engineering background so really just interested in the differences.

If bolting is stronger should we not be bolting our chassis together

Rich.

As in my previous postings what I say is all my interpretations and My Opinions!

But, case scenario:- you get T-boned it bends side frames, how do you get into it to repair it? grind off cage, or just undo bolts and lift it out? and repair car

In my opinion welding is fine if you are competent, and you have used the sandwich plates to 'spread' the load as per the book.
In my opinion spreader plates and high tensile bolts makes for a safer plan of action.
The choice, as they say, is yours!

ATB fozzie
BTW loads of engineers in t'family

[Edited on 22/10/04 by Fozzie]

Fozzie,

I see what you are saying, I am just a bit suprised as most of the race cages in RGBLocost racing seemed to be welded and not bolted.

Surely the plate is welded to the cage and the cage itseld is welded where the bars meet anyway so why not bolt the whole lot together if bolts are stronger?

Rich.

I have am bolting my roll bar in. I trust Stuart Taylor to be good enough at welding, as they do it most of the time but I do not trust myself (as I am 13 and have had about 1 years practice).

Adam

Rich,
Do want you want! (in the nicest possible way).
I am only pointing out my findings, after many years of being involved with race preparation and too many years of experience of mangled race cars (not mine I hasten to add).
I personally am not a competent welder, hence I asked MK (who are) to do my cage.
As I say, the choice is yours!
I will take a picture of the cockpit floor if you want!

fozzie

hi rich yes we could make you bolt on / bolt off sidebars

with respect of weld on / bolt on
when you bolt on a cage you hace to either

1. weld a plate to the tube for the bolts to pass through
2. weld a boss into the tube to pass the bolts through
3. weld an insert ( safety devices type door bars ) to enable bolting

so bolt on / weld on take you pick as both have weld on mountings as such.

With respect to mounting of front cage feet the most appropriate place for strength is the bulkhead outer uprights or floor pan corner near your feet ( not cockpit floor near to seat mountings as anyone who has rolled one of these cars will tell you )

hope this helps

regards

marc

[Edited on 22/10/04 by marc n]

Thanks Mark, once I have got the car finished may give you a shout then about the side protection bar.

Also must mention that I really like your scuttle bonnet design with the moulded areo screen as a digidash could potentially be fitted in front of the driver instead of in the middle.

I notice on your site that it says these are available only to people building a Vortx, just wondered whether in the future they will be available for everyone?

thanks,
Rich.

hi rich
thanks, glad you like the scuttle took me a week and four tins of easyfill to creat that, my god you should have seen the dust

they will probably will be available to others as will the rest of the bodywork eventually.
For the time being this body styling combined with the chassis designs ( car and bike engines are different chassis ) helps define our car from others and ads to the appeal and exclusivity of it

regards

marc