The Blue Book by the way is the rules and regulations for motoracing in the UK.
Not applicaple elsewhere, for trackdays or road use.
Sorry to raise this old subject again !Ā I was just about to order a TR Lane GP roll bar for the MK1.Ā Iāve had another look at the āstyle barā currently in place.Ā It would appear the hoops sit a couple of inches ābehindā the seat belt mountings.Ā I might have already pointed out, Iām 6ā 3" tall and quit wide around the shoulders !Ā Can anyone confirm whether the TR bar front hoop sits āin lineā with the seat belt mountings ?Ā If so, I reckon I will loose a couple of inches of shouler room as I have to drive with the seat right back with the backrest jammed against the rear scuttle.
I really donāt want to fork out around Ā£300 for something I might not be able to live with.Ā Iāve looked at various images of the TR device and I canāt really tell whether it will sit to far forward for me or not.Ā As you lot appear to be such a knowledgeable bunch I was hoping someone might be able to give me some advice (again) !!
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Not sure, but if you hurry you can get the GP bar for Ā£243 on MX5 Parts at the moment.
Ā This is a Tr lane gp xĀ .Ā As you can see the drivers seat is right back to the bulk head.Ā Be aware if you get a rear shunt without a helmet like all bars you will probably smack the back of your head on the bar. I have this bar fitted and iām 6ā1
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Thanks Nedski !Ā Looking at the picture Iām still unsure about the location of that front hoop.Ā I think that is going to cause me some problems because as Iāve said Iām tall and wide (not fat - just wide !)Ā I guess the only way to be sure is to sit in a car with one fitted.Ā Might go and see the very nice chaps up at Roddisons in Sheffield and see if theyāve got something I could look at and get a better idea.Ā Thanks again.
Just to add a bit more. Ā This is a Carbing bar and the leg goes behind the seat to the floor. It lost me a good 30-40mm of rearwards seat movement and I had to sell it as I need all the room I can get. The TR lane gives full seat travel.
This another TR Lane with the seat full back. The Bar does not inhibit seat movement. Ā There are other good bars in the market but Iām only familiar with the these.
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Iām thinking of putting a roll-bar in Little Blue, as Iām hoping to start doing some sprints and hillclimbs again.
Iāve been looking at TR Lane rollbars, and 5Race as well.
The comments re fitting the TR Lane bars are interesting, but my greatest concern is whether they are MSA-compliant.
If Iām reading the blue book correctly, the backstay should join the main hoop at an angle of at least 30 degrees to the vertical, which they donāt appear to do.
However, Hard Dogās M1 Sport appears to be a better bet, designwise, but photos can be deceptive.
Iām going to contact both TR Lane and 5Speed (Hard Dog suppliers) to see what they say!
Best regards,
MnB
Further to previous, I contacted Mx5parts regarding the TR Lane roll-bar, and as expected, they were very helpful.
The back-stay is apparently at an angle of 28 degrees to the vertical, as this is the maximum that can accommodate a folded, glass-windowed hood.Ā TR Lane have obviously supplied many roll-bars to sprinters, hill-climbers etc, all of which have presumably passed scrutineering.
However, the MSA regs require that angle of the back-stay is at least 30 degrees to the vertical. So I remain slightly concerned that having spent my hard-earned on the roll-bar, plus entry fees etc, etc, etc, a particularly zealous scrutineer aware of TR Laneās design might not let that 2 degrees pass. Or am I worrying unduly?
Iāve not yet had a reply from 5Speed regarding the Hard Dog roll-bar.
Iād like to bump this topic as I am preparing to take my NBFL / 2.5 Madge out to play on sprint / hillclimb events.
I am 6ft with 32 inch leg and broad shouldered.
1st question is a roll bar necessary for the competion level I am contemplating un modified production class with a Nat B non race type licence ?
Against all the extent advice I recently took a hire car round the Nurburgring without scaring anyone so am comfortable knowing my driving skills are unlikely to tax a roll bar, but there are of course the unforseen eventualities which would make such a device appealing.
2nd question can anyone of a similar stature make any suggestions as to which combination of TR Lane bar and helmet might make be a best fit, preferably while keeping soft top / hard top optionsĀ available ?
I intend to start with standard seat, usually it is either all the way back or two notches forward with the seat tilted back to the bulkhead, this season and if I have not cured my fever by the end of the year will look at upgrading the seating next year.
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Depends on the specific competition rules; they do vary for road going classes. Some will accept the car with a hardtop instead. Some will accept a Style bar. If you turned up, top down, without a bar, probably the scrutineer will turn you away. And keep your entry fee.
No rollbar that fits with a hood or hardtop, with the standard seat will clear the windscreen. In that respect, theyāre all a bit useless, as the top of your helmet will be taller than the rollbar. So you need to lower the seat. Additionally, there is a school of thought that doesnāt like the idea of a 4-point harness with a standard reclinable seat (the seat might break) or a 5-point or 6-point harness with a squishy squab (you canāt cinch the harness properly).
Its not your road skills that will tax a rollbar, its that gutter, that wheel digging into the grass as you go off. And there was the case of the Miata owner who flipped his car at less than 30mph, after hitting debris from a rock slide. His style bar collapsed, but that was immaterial, as his head contacted a small rock, instantly killing him. His wife-passenger walked away uninjured. An early adopter of the Harddog bar (which basically TR Lane and GPC copy) needed scalp transplants after rolling his car on the highway.
As always, consult the specific competition organisers, rather than trusting forums. Rules can also change from season to season.
My experience has been theyāll take a quick look at the rollbar and harness, but seem to be more interested in battery security, bonnet release and disabled steering lock.
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