20 replies to this topic

[Dan]

A cage without proper belts is going to be a bad idea - you've got your priorities back to front I'd say...

That is pretty much my exact point. Assuming people fit harnesses with a cage is one thing but it simply doesn't happen. Most cages are fitted to road cars just for the sake of it and people bung them in without a further thought to the risk, my point is simply that they should fit harnesses and stronger seating too along with the cage. You will get flung around inside most cars, not just Minis during a crash whether you roll it or not. The standard steel work is a lot further away from you than parts of a cage are. Driving through Belgium last month we were on roads bad enough to throw us out of our seats at 30 or 40 MPH and my head hit the headliner (not the roof) several times. If there had been a roll cage tube behind my head a simple pot-hole would have proved to be enough to get me a concussion. The roll cage tube that runs behind your head will hit you in the worst possible place on your skull if you are lifted out of your seat, the easiest part of your skull to sustain a fatal injury.

(are there Ti cages out there?? - I've worked in professional motorsport for well over a decade now and never seen a Ti one in a proper race car).

I was under the impression that T-45 contained some titanium, it seems I was wrong and it's actually a chrome-manganese steel.

[mini93]

the T45 cages are really only reduction in cross sectional diameter because in the smaller diameter holds same strength and a larger, thicker walled CDS

[Jammy]

I phoned one of the three well known roll cage manufacturers in the country (at least to the Mini scene) a month or two ago. They said, if its just for road use then they don't see a problem with pipe lagging, but for motorsport, if its got to go passed scrutineers, then proper FIA approved padding is needed.

Personally I've always been of the opinion that if you're going to spend several hundred pounds on a roll cage, why scrimp a few quid for proper padding, but thought it was an interesting point to add, given the source.

[mini93]

i have to admit, my rally car has normal pipe covering stuff (dispite me preaching previously) however its got me through MSA scruteneering many a time.
The propper padding does seem VERY much better than pipe covering (not on my priority to change right now though)
When i build my next car i will be using propper stuff though (not a mini)

[CharlieBrown]

There is an in between solution and that is foam padding that is thicker one side.

I have the details for it somewhere but can’t find it at the mo.

It is not pipe cladding it is specifically made foam roll cage padding.

I will see if I can find the details……


found it:

http://www.rallydesi...roducts_id=1684

[JetBLICK]

Personally I've always been of the opinion that if you're going to spend several hundred pounds on a roll cage, why scrimp a few quid for proper padding, but thought it was an interesting point to add, given the source.

At £27 for less than a meter, a 'few quid' it is not.

http://www.demon-twe...BSCIFIA36BLK-38

Proper 'cage padding is hard stuff too, in a crash without a helmet, it still wont be pleasant to hit. Id imaging you could still get knocked out, or injured.


There are companys selling what is more or less pipe lagging as rollcage padding, its simply not FIA approved

http://www.demon-twe...p;pcode=LON6570

(edit, charlie got ther first)


IMO whether you pad your cage or not, if you have an otherwise standard interior and you dont have a helmet, your asking for trouble. Solid mounted buckets and harness' FTW!

Edited by JetBLICK, 12 September 2008 - 11:28 AM.