RE: Removable rollbar, etc.

["Brian Shorey" <bshorey@domain.elided>]

> Before I go any further, I'd like to say that from emails through the
> various Alfa Digests (okay, two) from bs feel I somewhat know him. My
> guess is Brian 'might' say something like, "This rollbar solution works
> for me. Don't ask me to defend it." Or...(?).

Or I might say "I hope it helps someone", which I hope it does.

Couple of comments inline.

<snip>
> My solution would differ somewhat from Brian's in that the removable
> down / cross brace to the passenger side would not allow for a passenger
> to be present. So, on the street, it (probably) would not be installed.

Fwiw, there's really no reason to make a passenger not fit when the fore/aft
brace is installed.  It's simply a matter of planting the base in the right
position.  Also, keep in mind that for some track events, you *must* take an
instructor with you.  This is more prevalent in lower skilled TT type
events, which is where you might expect to find somebody with a rollbar like
this one (as opposed to a full cage in a race car).

I also figured that on the street I'd remove the entire thing and run with a
street height bar (or none at all), which would allow for the use of the
top.

<snip>
> My question, is there any interest in this, realizing at the outset it
> would be perhaps more expensive than purchasing both an Autopower street
> and track set of rollbars? The positive being one can have the
> advantages of both (and more) and be able to switch quickly from one to
> the other.

Hmmm, if you're thinking of a system where the height of the main hoop is
adjustable (which would alleviate the need for a street and a race height
bar), don't bother.  In most, if not all, racing organizations I'm familiar
with the tubing of the main hoop can *not* be interrupted.  It must be a
single piece.

Also, in an adjustable system (I have seen one), if you raise the height of
the main hoop you change the place where the pads on the rear extensions
come to rest.

And don't think about making the main hoop extensible above where the rear
extensions are attached, again most sanctioning organizations prohibit the
main hoop from extending more than 6" above that point.

We took all this into consideration before deciding on our approach.

Fwiw, if it's any indications of the potential market for such a product, I
have heard positive comments from more than a couple of digesters who seem
to be interested in the same thing for their car.

I should also point out that if there is any intellectual property involved,
credit really should go to Paul Glynn - he fabricated a similar system for
Jim Hayes and his Giuletta a while back, with some refinements that's pretty
much what I ended up with.

If you decide to go ahead with it, good luck with it.  However I'd recommend
that you might have some level of success by offering something as an
'add-on' kit for the Autopower bar - sell the properly sized drilled and
tapped pads (or some other base mounting system you might come up with), the
fore/aft brace, and something that can be welded to the Autopower bar (or
resell the Autopower bar with the modification already made).  If you do
that you would also have a market for people that already have bars and
would like to add a removable fore/aft brace, or whatever.

bs

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