I think some people are missing the point on roll cages. Serious
autocrossers won't add a roll cage to stock, street prepared or street mod
vehicle because of the weight. A decent six point cage weighs over 150lb's,
most serious autocrossers would kill to loose that kind of unnecessary
weight and wouldn't voluntarily add it to their vehicles. The people who
want to allow weld in cages are not those who want to autocross their road
race car, they can already do that. Showroom stock can race in Stock.
Showroom stock with trunk kit's and Improved touring vehicles can run in SP.
The people who want weld in cages are those who go to the drag strip and/or
do open track events and want/need/have a cage for that and would like to in
SP or SM. Currently they can't. Also there are many off the shelf NHRA and
SCCA legal cages available. If someone wants to add an autocross legal cage
right now they potentially have to get one custom made where they will be
paying allot more for allot less.
This is the PROPOSAL, note proposal, it's not a done deal yet, as it appears
in the current FasTrack:
Change the first sentence of Section 14.2.G. of the Solo II Rules to read,
"Roll bars and cages must conform to Section 13.2.G in Stock Category,
except that roll cages may be either bolted or welded into the vehicle."
This would appear to allow NHRA style cages and the more simple road race
style cages (less front supports, door bars etc). That's a good thing. The
problem is when you read 13.2.G and Appendix 'C' there isn't a good
definition of a mounting/attachment point. GCR clearly defines what an
attachment is, I can't remember exactly but it's basically a plate up to
12inches on each side with any number of tubes terminating at it. If
Solo/Autocross doesn't define a maximum size there is nothing to stop
someone using a mounting plate that's unlimited in size. Imagine a
'mounting' that goes from the floor pan, up the dash panel and 'A' pillar.
The benefit from something like that may be worth the weight penalty.
Finally, as I said before this is only a proposal. Howard Duncan told me
that they have received feedback both ways on this and it's still undecided.
So, if you want weld in cages you'd better send a letter/e-mail in ASAP, it
only takes a couple of minuets to shoot of a quick e-mail.
Adrian Thompson
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