Trying to find out for sure at what speed will I have to get a cage. I thought it was 11.0 or faster. Someone was telling me it was 11.49 for a 6 point, and 9.99 for a full cage. Does anyone know for sure?

 

for nhra you need a 5 point at 11.99, ihra 11.49. full cage nhra is 10.99 if you have an altered firewall and 9.99 if the firewall is stock.

 

That's the general rules for hard top cars. Convertibles have their own set of rules.

Basically if you run under 12.00, get a 6 point roll bar installed. If you run under 10.00, get a full cage. That's all assuming you have a hardtop/T-top car and the firewall is still original.

If you're running high 11's under IHRA rules and don't have a roll bar, they can't force you to get one but if you're running high 11's, you should be getting one installed anyway just for safety. A typical 6 point roll bar will add about 70 pounds to the car but will also stiffen up the body.

Any time you're running quick enough to require a roll bar/cage, you also need a 5 point harness which is date coded for 2 years and you need a single layer fire jacket.

 

NHRA 2006 rule book, Section1A, Frame 4; Role cage mandatory in cars running 10.99 (6.99 1/8) or quicker or any car exceeding 135 mph. In full-bodied cars with unaltered firewall, floor and body from firewall rearward, wheeltubs permitted), running between 10.00 (6.40 1/8) and 10.99 (6.99 1/8), roll bar permited in place of roll cage. In convertables running 10.99 or quicker or exceeding 135 mph, roll cage mandatory,

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2189634

 

So NHRA is allowing cars to run 11.00 to 11.99 without a rollbar now?

 

Probably so that the guys with stock C6 Z06s and the new Vipers can actually race.

 

This is what I had understood the current rules to be as well. Does anyone else have a different opinion on this matter, or is it pretty much set at anything faster than an 11.0 and thats when I will be needing a cage?

 

The range between needing a roll bar and a roll cage is getting slim. By the time you get to needing a roll bar, you might as well go all the way and get a full cage.

With a simple 6 point roll bar, all the tubes are 1-3/4" diameter. With a full cage, "most" of the tubes are 1-5/8" maximum and all the secondary tubes are only 1-1/2" so although you're adding more tubes to make a full cage, you're not adding a whole lot more weight. I never did weight all the tubes when I installed my full cage. I modified and added a few extras like a sill bar.

 

The key to a light but strong bar or cage is using CM vs. mild steel. The smaller diameter bars with CM are also a plus when used on a street car. The problem is cost, CM is a lot more expensiive.

Rich

 

Plus not everyone has a TIG welder to install it. MS you can do it with a MIG.

 

No. You still need at least a rollbar if you are running quicker than 11.49 (it used to be 11.99) If you haven't altered the firewall, floor or body (from the firewall rearward, wheel tubs allowed) you can go as quick as 10.00 with just a rollbar.

From the 2006 rulebook:

Section 1A

Frame:4

Rollbar

Rollbar mandatory in all cars (including T-tops) running 11.00 (7.00) to 11.49 (7.35), in convertibles running 11.00 (7.00) to 13.49 (8.25) and in all dune-buggy type vehicles running 12.00 (7.50) seconds and slower. Permitted in all cars.

The NHRA lowered the time to 11.49 to try to encourage more people with fast street cars to race on the strip and not on the street.

 

You and I agree on all points. Basically, with the full interior you can go 10.00 now with a roll bar, then at 9.99 you will need a cage.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2189634

 

I wasn't disagreeing with you. I was just answering the question posed by Stephen 87 IROC

 

NO. He was quoting rollCAGE not rollBAR.
IHRA and NHRA have come to an accord on the rollbar issue. I have both 2006 rule books as I'm the keeper of the rules for our local car club. In a non-convert. you can run down to 11.5 at any track without any bar or cage.
If your car has the factory floor and firewall then you can run down to 10.00 with just a 6 point (which in all of the pics and descriptions is a 5 point, no passenger door bar necessary)

 

so if im planning on running low 11's thru mid 10's but nothing further in the future, what do i need? i have a 8 pt on order now, can i get away with the 6 or just say screw it and but the cage? its a sunday car too, anyone have any pix of the cage interior? wanna see how difficult it is to get in and out