71OLDS
03-05-2007, 02:47 PM
How many of you have convertibles that run faster then 13.49 without rollbars and are still able to run at certain tracks/certain events?
I've been planning on adding a rollbar to my 71 442 convertible, but I'm hedging now. I expect to run 12s and hopefully 11s w/my car. I only plan on going to the 1/4 mile track a few times a year (I'm in DC, MD, VA area). I used to goto 75/80 Dragway but it's gone now.
I was going to add the NHRA correct 5 pt w/removable door bar and permanent rear cross bar, w/5 pt harnesses for all 4 seats (back seat too). The back seat passengers would have 5 pt harnesses to prevent head injury from the bars in front of them, above them, and to the side.
2 things have started to change my mind: Besides the obvious cost and issues of ruining the originality and the difficulty of even getting into the back seat, I thought I was choosing safety over everything. I've read some posts that although the rollbar WOULD provide safety at the track (w/a helmet), that it could actually cause injury/death while driving on the street due to any passenger's head contacting anyone of the bars....even at moderate speeds....the only way I can see to at least lower the chance of this is to require all passengers (front and rear) to wear a 5 pt harness at all times during street driving.
Next I was reading through a Buick site last night and found a post by several guys running Buick convertibles (11 and 12 second rides) that say they can run w/o a rollbar at the Buick events and certain tracks. Even those tracks that are more strict, you can get a few runs in.
So my question is how many of you w/convertibles running under 13.49 are able to get some 1/4 miles runs at your local track?
I'm all about safety but if I have to lose safety for street driving to gain safety at the track...it seems like a wash. If I roll my car and have no rollbar (at the track or street), I run a high chance of death or serious injury. But if I have a rollbar during street driving w/no helmet, the same risk is there. Add the loss of originality and the hassle of getting in and out of the car, wearing the 5 pt harness, and that I will spend considerably LESS time at the track, and now I'm leaning towards no rollbar.
Of course I also wanted to do some SOLO 2 racing at Fed Ex field parking lot here in DC since my car will be set up for corners/handeling...guess that will be out w/no rollbar for sure....
Any feedback/opinions etc are appreciated. I need to make a final on this in the next month.
Thanks!
-Joe
I've been planning on adding a rollbar to my 71 442 convertible, but I'm hedging now. I expect to run 12s and hopefully 11s w/my car. I only plan on going to the 1/4 mile track a few times a year (I'm in DC, MD, VA area). I used to goto 75/80 Dragway but it's gone now.
I was going to add the NHRA correct 5 pt w/removable door bar and permanent rear cross bar, w/5 pt harnesses for all 4 seats (back seat too). The back seat passengers would have 5 pt harnesses to prevent head injury from the bars in front of them, above them, and to the side.
2 things have started to change my mind: Besides the obvious cost and issues of ruining the originality and the difficulty of even getting into the back seat, I thought I was choosing safety over everything. I've read some posts that although the rollbar WOULD provide safety at the track (w/a helmet), that it could actually cause injury/death while driving on the street due to any passenger's head contacting anyone of the bars....even at moderate speeds....the only way I can see to at least lower the chance of this is to require all passengers (front and rear) to wear a 5 pt harness at all times during street driving.
Next I was reading through a Buick site last night and found a post by several guys running Buick convertibles (11 and 12 second rides) that say they can run w/o a rollbar at the Buick events and certain tracks. Even those tracks that are more strict, you can get a few runs in.
So my question is how many of you w/convertibles running under 13.49 are able to get some 1/4 miles runs at your local track?
I'm all about safety but if I have to lose safety for street driving to gain safety at the track...it seems like a wash. If I roll my car and have no rollbar (at the track or street), I run a high chance of death or serious injury. But if I have a rollbar during street driving w/no helmet, the same risk is there. Add the loss of originality and the hassle of getting in and out of the car, wearing the 5 pt harness, and that I will spend considerably LESS time at the track, and now I'm leaning towards no rollbar.
Of course I also wanted to do some SOLO 2 racing at Fed Ex field parking lot here in DC since my car will be set up for corners/handeling...guess that will be out w/no rollbar for sure....
Any feedback/opinions etc are appreciated. I need to make a final on this in the next month.
Thanks!
-Joe