RS Motorsport :: Classic Speed Restored

Are these the two styles you are refering to. I cannot understand why one would be considered stronger than the other. Is there a short layman's reason?

This is the setup in my mk2.

I don't think I said stronger, but safer; even though it is both, and probably tougher and stiffer.

Think of the car being hit on the side intrusion crossover point with the X brace and gussetts.
It is going to want to yield at the thinnest point. which is the cross. This is also where you have two major welds and no matter who says what a welded junction can reliably be said to have different strength properties.

With the truss style there is twice as much material and it is bowed slightly out to resist intrusion, there is no strength-critical weld linking 3 tubes, and a hell of a lot more pelvis and leg protection.

The gussets in the style of your sketch actually might make it more likely to bend in at the junction because it becomes the weakest link. Sometimes with this sort of design the tubes are 2 continuous lengths but overlap notched where they passed for the minimum weakening.

As a sad side note, Gregg Hansford was speared by a 'X' style door cross member that completely failed in that fatal accident.

latest from COTF.

http://www.v8supercars.com.au/cotf/tabi ... fault.aspx

I am into safety but I would still like my car to be able to move

It is interesting to note that the driver's side intrusion bars are different to the other side. I suppose this means that they believe there to be no difference to the torsional digidity of either option?

I am leaning towards the parallel intrusion bar option similar to this v8 taxi car design. I have also tried to contact a few suppliers of aluminium honeycombe to see about prices.

Touring cars don't have a co-driver so don't need the strenght/weight on that side!

If he still working there Roger? Although Lance did not actually say so I sort of got the impression he wasnt there.

I have already told Lance that when I drop the shell off I want to have a very long discussion about what I want/need. I will have to largely go by their experience and knowledge.

.............and out of all that................

If I was going whatever way, Id look into more structure in front wheel wells, as most impacts are understeer off rally stage, into something. Feet are the easiest damaged.

He'll get that included if he goes forward to the struts properly.

was going to triangulate to the front towers. Lance said that isnt done much although went on to say the Andrew Cavelli Mk1 (Classic Adelaide winner) did have it.

Will be keeping the heater bubble (blower fan only no heater) so triangulating back to the bulkhead area will not be possible.

A lot of cages are built with a view to Early Model 3J (Improved Production) rules which prohibit tower bracing.

From the fabricators point of view tower bracing work is quite demanding and not particularly rewarding.

OK, car is with Lance and I have spoken at length with him about my requirements and what is possible (working around the large seats!).

He will;
Triangulate to the front towers
Under dash bar (although he said this is not done much )
main hoop behind the rear seat brace
single diagonal in roof
sleeving of front leg bends (in lieu of sainz bar)
cross in main hoop
single diagonal in rear legs
rear legs tied to turrets
cross style side intrusion although exact style/design to be dictated by space
harness bars in main cross


Due to the seats he cannot fit a bat from the main hoop to the bar above the door opening although he is going to try to gusset it. CAMS regs do not allow the use of smaller diameter bar hence the gusset.

I will check with him fi he intends to put a bar from the end of the side intrusion back to the rear turret as I believe from previous discussion this is needed.

What are your views on putting a bar between the rear turrets to assist in a side impact in the rear??? Would that also stiffen the rear end and improve handling?

Pics. This is the result after a lengthy discussion with Lance. The front suspension pick up is as per Andrew Cavellis old Mk1. The door bars look a little offset cos they are! This was dont so that they fit around the seat. They bend into the door slightly although I do not believe they will hit the door. If they do then a FBH is needed

His work looks great.

Added a few pics of my spit also!

more...

more....

It's nice to finally see some pics of you car.

That's a lovely cage

Thanks. The brief I gave Lance was "Make it strong........"