27 replies to this topic

[minispaniard]

It's 'one of them' isn't it.

You can't predict what accident you may have. In some cases the cage will save your life, in some it may cause more damage to you. I'd be interested to know the actual statistics, but I suspect that they don't exist.

My personal feeling is that a properly padded cage will be safer in almost all case even if you don't have a helmet on. But a paddded cage is not as sexy as an unpadded one. I think the word dangerous' in this thread is a little missleading. Remember the MSA allow rally cars to drive between stages without the occupants wearing helmets.

MSA regs actually specify padding the cage where any part of the body is likely to hit it in an accident.

agree. also note on the Endurance rallying formula, a cage (at least rear one) must be fitted but use of crash helmets is not mandatory...
as said above, it's one of them. it may save you or kill you... your call!

[stretch tech]

race/rally minis or styled minis = yes

road going minis or for anything else = no

[Old Bob]

I think you need to look at the entire package. Roll cage (Full or just rear with diagonal) plus properly mounted race seats and FIA approved safety belts has to be good. Certainly safer than having a crash in most 'rust improved' Mini shells.

But, if you still want access to the rear seats and you want to keep standard belts and front seats then they are potentially dangerous.

My opinion anyway.

Bob

[Mabird]

Steve has a roll cage in both the 1978 Lunatic Mini and also in the Minibusa, but these are both competition cars

[mini93]

whats a rollcage? looks like a bunch of scafold to me

[Artful Dodger]

whats a rollcage? looks like a bunch of scafold to me

only because your mini looks like a climbing frame XD

[mini93]

shush!

[oltonlad]

mmmmm, yeah they look good in a mini and one of my mates was saved by having a full cage in his road mini a few years ago when he was on a country road in devon and he had to swerve to avoid a car driving in the middle of the road towards him, his mini went up an embankment and rolled over, he would most certainly have been either killed or very seriously injured if it wasnt for the cage being fitted because the roof was well squished around the cage, the mini was a write off and it had only been on the road for a month after a total restoration.........he was really pissed off!

[waddle]

i know about the agument for your head hiting the cage , but do you realy need a helmet? i mean with harneses and a big bucket seat is it realistic that your head can hit it,

just asking as the only experience of a cage in a mini i have is mini stox, and a kirkey seat, and there was no way i was hitting my head off anything in that ....

[TA2DMAC]

I really dont see a differenced between hitting your head on the cage or the car buckling and your head going through the windshield.
A properly designed and padded cage with a good harness is not a problem.

I like the look and if you have the right set up, your much safer if you are involved in an impact.

[mini93]

i know about the agument for your head hiting the cage , but do you realy need a helmet? i mean with harneses and a big bucket seat is it realistic that your head can hit it,

just asking as the only experience of a cage in a mini i have is mini stox, and a kirkey seat, and there was no way i was hitting my head off anything in that ....

depends on cage design. Im close to hitting my head in my mini but not quite, even more so with my helmet. a taller person would.
My friend hit his head off his cage in his peugeot 205 rally car on a road test when he was crashed into by a truck. i was in the car with him. he hit his head off the cage, i didnt... altho he did manage to hit me in the face with a flailing arm. bad concussion from that one!

helmet he would have been fine... helmet and hans im pretty sure he would have been fine enough to roundhouse kick the other idiot driver in the face!
No point scrimping on safety!!

[waddle]

when i get my project its going to be a road going track car, so i need to find a seat that has big bits on the side, im prety sure ill get pulled if i drive round with a helmet on , either way id rather risk hitting my head in a solid car rather than get impales by the steering wheel but my head being fine if you get my drift

[leaky]

Could just do what one of the local boy racers have done near me and put some black tape on the 3 rear windows. Funny thing is until you are really close it does actually looks like a roll cage hahaha.