[Matts]

So this will be my first season of HPDE and I'm looking very much forward to it. I have already memorized the flags and the rules, but have a concern on the setup. I will be driving my DD 2005 V6 Mustang which I use to race in Auto-X. As of right now I have stock seats with a 4 point harness that's connected to a Corbeau harness bar. Since I'm taking this car to a race track I'm looking to investing into a fixed back seat with an 5 point harness. Now to my concern, if I run this combination with no roll cage and I have a roll over then I'm screwed. So does anyone have any recommendations on fabricators to build a roll cage that could meet SCCA/NASA regulations here in Texas?

[Jazzer The Cat]

I agree, that to have a 5-pt. and NOT have a roll-bar, is going to be worse if you should roll-over. I am sure that there are some companies that sell a pre-manufactured roll-cage for your car, but will obviously need some assembly

I would look up the rules for both of those requirements and would contact the site owners of event, as they will have a direction in which you could begin. Be sure to consider in/out access, if you plan to use this car for DD as well.

Jazzer

[94racing]

In NASA you can't have a 4pt harness. Dunno abt scca. I'm running stock myself it works ok....ish I just have to hold myself in. you're seats hold you in better.

My plans if I make a rear bolt in cage is to put a race seat and a 6pt harness in but that's pretty far ahead.

Dad has a full cage with a 6 pt and a racing seat. once you're in you aren't moving side to side or forward but it's really comfortable.

[gtncpa]

I have the Autopower four point roll bar in my '08 Vert. It has a removable lower cross bar.



I have seen at NASA events guys run stock seat belts, 4 point and 5. One thing NASA requires is that the passenger and driver set up be identical unless you are running solo.

I am investing in HPDE seats for the 2012 season.

[94racing]

they sent an email about it at the beginning of the year. maybe its just great lakes area.

[Whiskey11]

Originally Posted by Matts So this will be my first season of HPDE and I'm looking very much forward to it. I have already memorized the flags and the rules, but have a concern on the setup. I will be driving my DD 2005 V6 Mustang which I use to race in Auto-X. As of right now I have stock seats with a 4 point harness that's connected to a Corbeau harness bar. Since I'm taking this car to a race track I'm looking to investing into a fixed back seat with an 5 point harness. Now to my concern, if I run this combination with no roll cage and I have a roll over then I'm screwed. So does anyone have any recommendations on fabricators to build a roll cage that could meet SCCA/NASA regulations here in Texas?

I don't know of any in Texas, but there is a company in California by the name of Blaine Fabrication that has been a huge hit over at Corner-Carvers.net. His cages have seemed to get great reviews from the overly critical and analytic folks over there.

Otherwise, I'm sure you could use just a roll bar from a company like Maximum Motorsports and weld it in. I would make sure to get it welded to something solid in the unibody (not the floor pans) and any place you have to go to the floor pan that it is reinforced under the floor pans to some SFC's or a boxed section between the SFC and the outer frame rails to be safe. I've wanted to do something similar but for AutoX it's overkill to have a cage in the lower prep classes.

[ReverendDexter]

Originally Posted by Whiskey11 Otherwise, I'm sure you could use just a roll bar from a company like Maximum Motorsports and weld it in.

The way the MaxMo bars are engineered, I wouldn't weld them in. You won't gain any strength over how they bolt in.

[94racing]

well it depends how they are put in though. im sure you could bulk up the mounting brackets some. personally though i would rather bolt in because you can always pull it back out and button the holes up. weld in thats a little harder.

[ReverendDexter]

Originally Posted by 94racing well it depends how they are put in though. im sure you could bulk up the mounting brackets some. personally though i would rather bolt in because you can always pull it back out and button the holes up. weld in thats a little harder.

Yeah, the mounting brackets are already pretty beefy. It's like 8" square 1/4" plate feet with matching backing plates. If you check their install instructions (all online at MaxMo's site) you can see what I'm talking about.

Oh, and while I'm thinking about it, OP the #1 thing an HPDE is hard on is your brakes. My stock foxbody brakes (okay, techinically they're stock '94 brakes, but they're effectively the same) turn to mush about about a lap-and-a-half.

You don't necessarily need a big brake kit, but if you haven't already, make sure you've got *good* brake pads (Porterfield, Hawks, etc), flush your brake fluid and replace it with an appropriate DOT 4, and replace the brake lines with a set of stainless braided ones. That will help a ton for brake longevity. Also, if your brakes do turn mushy while you're out there, even though they'll come back once they cool off you'll still need to at least bleed them when you get home if not do a full fluid flush.

[Matts]

Yes I have the GT 500 brake kit with slotted rotors,SS lines, and the Hawk plus pads and I've modified the front bumper for air cooling to the brakes.

[94racing]

Watch some YouTube videos and "practice" 2 handed SMOOTH driving on the street. Just take youre turns with you're hands at 3 and 9 oclock. Don't shuffle youre hands when you to go turn unless it's a 90 degree turn or something. That and practice pointing out flags in videos to make sure you know where all of the stands are.
94 is still workin on thedrivermod.

[RockRacing]

Where in Texas are you located? I had my cage built by a guy who works in Cresson. I race with a guy with a 2005 mustang who lives in McKinney if you are looking for someone who has already done a cage in a S197. Be looking to spend $3-4k if you want a full cage built for your car though.

Also, if you are planning in going to the first event in Houston next year let me know. I'll be there for sure.

[Matts]

Originally Posted by RockRacing Where in Texas are you located? I had my cage built by a guy who works in Cresson. I race with a guy with a 2005 mustang who lives in McKinney if you are looking for someone who has already done a cage in a S197. Be looking to spend $3-4k if you want a full cage built for your car though. Also, if you are planning in going to the first event in Houston next year let me know. I'll be there for sure.

Sounds like a fair price! I'm located in Abilene, TX. If I get everything together like my income tax I will be there. I might just have to settle for Group 1 or 2.

I just hate the idea of running on the track without a proper harness, seat and a well built roll cage.

Well if you don't mind, when you have the time can you send me your cage builders info. I would really like to get this ball rolling.

Thanks

Matts

[94racing]

You need to start out in group one unless you have suffecient pretrack history. And we decided ill need a cage and seat before group three. Its not that dangerous unless you have a dangerous driving style

[Matts]

No no not dangerous. I would rather invest into safety equipment than more horsepower. As we speak I have ordered my suit, helmet, gloves, shoes, underwear, HANS and belts. I'm still looking for a roll cage fabricator, but I'm in contact with Griggs Racing and may purchase their roll bar.

[94racing]

haha $$$ but they have nice products
they just need to do alot of work on the brakes

[jeffk24]

Hey Matts, I have actually installed a couple of bolt in cages in 2011 Mustangs from Autopower. I really like their quality and they are a pretty beefy roll bar. You can get their system in just a roll bar or as a full bolt in cage. Anyhow, I would tell you to go to their website...but it is pretty outdated and not all that helpful.

I'm located in Texas...actually Texas World Speedway, feel free to PM me if you are ever in the area and I can show you one of their systems.

[94racing]

^ dont forget to make an introduction thread

[bens98gt]

Also with brakes make sure you get something, well anything better than hawk hps or hp+. My car over heated the hps and I had brake fade like crazy. I ate the whole hps pad up in one weekend. Even My Hawk blues had some fade braking into 10a at Road Atlanta. Make sure you Have some air going to your brakes. Funny story, when drafting down the Back Straight at RA, braking into 10a I have brake fade because I was getting no air to the front brakes. No draft, and I had none. So be very careful and do tons of brake research.

[94racing]

^what i did for that was run brake tubing under the car to infront of the rotors and i made a bracket for the hose to clamp on. the air ducts were under the bumper didnt drag any. next is going to be just popping the fog lights out cause those are like mini collectors. ill probably just end up running it in the front bumper since i have the roush valance now.

oh ya i rand the autozone severe dutys they get a returned set of pads every time i run that weekend. i will have to say the last set of pads i had deteriorated and the metal got ahold of the rotor. good thing i have a machine shop.
hawk blues on the rear for next year and hps on the front...