What does everyone think about the Kirk bolt-in cages? I've got an option of buying one for $700, or having a weld-in one installed for around $1000. Considering I am running low on funds, I am probably going to buy the bold-in from Kirk. Are there any downfalls to the bolt-in?

 

Do a search, it's been covered as naseum.

That said, the general consensus seems to be that Kirk makes good stuff.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bosco500 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">What does everyone think about the Kirk bolt-in cages? I've got an option of buying one for $700, or having a weld-in one installed for around $1000. Considering I am running low on funds, I am probably going to buy the bold-in from Kirk. Are there any downfalls to the bolt-in?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I think Kirk bolt-ins are great for bolt-ins. I would never race w/ a bolt-in cage. I would also never look to save on funds around safety items. You have been racing a couple years out of Atlanta in an open wheel car right? Have you not seen enough cage deformations and drivers injured to not make this decision easier?

 

I'm with Adam. Don't skimp on safety items. *shudder*

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by phat-S &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I think Kirk bolt-ins are great for bolt-ins. I would never race w/ a bolt-in cage. I would also never look to save on funds around safety items. You have been racing a couple years out of Atlanta in an open wheel car right? Have you not seen enough cage deformations and drivers injured to not make this decision easier?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Seriously. Racing with a bolt-in on the fast tracks we have here in the SE is just dumb. I think Kirk sells a weld-in "kit" for a good price. I would look into that or save some money for a good cage.

 

I wish we had some pictures of Karl's car with the Autopower bolt-in vs. with the Kirk custom cage.
The difference is HUGE. So much so that it now gives Karl the ****** that he used to race W2W with that skimpy bolt in cage.

If you race F500s out of Atlanta we have probably met. I've been friends with Clint and Dan McM for a few years. My girlfriend used to co-drive their autocross car.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Catch 22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I wish we had some pictures of Karl's car with the Autopower bolt-in vs. with the Kirk custom cage.
The difference is HUGE. So much so that it now gives Karl the ****** that he used to race W2W with that skimpy bolt in cage.

If you race F500s out of Atlanta we have probably met. I've been friends with Clint and Dan McM for a few years. My girlfriend used to co-drive their autocross car.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes i'm sure we've met, as we race on a team (Clint and I). Anyway, about the bolt in cage. The only reason I was considering buying this cage is because I have been told by Danny Pitman of Pitman Performance, and also by Adam Malley of Pro Import Services that the bolt-in cage by Kirk is just as safe as the weld-in. I am confused as to why they would tell me this when they *could* try and sell me a custom cage built by them. I definately dont want to skimp on safety. Thanks for the responses.

BTW Catch - Dan is going to the SCCA school in Savannah in a couple weeks. He will be out on the track this year. That is why I got out of F500! lol.

 

The main things that bolt-in cages lack that custom welded jobs have are...

1. Fitment - custom bent and welded stuff can typically get much closer to the roofline, A-pillar, etc than a bolt-in. Also, many of the bolt-ins were designed with showroom stock (and the requisite interior) in mind - so they won't even come close to fitting well in a gutted car.

2. Base plates - most bolt-ins use a backing plate much smaller than the rule allow. With a welded cage, you can wrap the base plate around bends and make it larger, stronger, etc.

3. Additional bracing, gussets - I've never seen a bolt-in cage with gusseted joints and extra braces (petty bar, roof diagonal, additional diagonal across rear section, etc).

So, you could have Kirk send a kit that was fitted to a stripped car, with some extra bars, and maybe even some gussets, but by the time you do that, you could have just had a local fab guy weld it.

 

And, I agree with what others have said - don't skimp on safety gear. I raced for a few years with an Autopower. And I saw it withstand some nasty accidents. But, I probably wouldn't take that chance again - the door bar was inadequate, the halo was too close to my head, and there was none of the additional safety features that a good fab guy can include.

 

As cousin crack mentioned its all about fitment and mounting plates and door bars.

Most bolt-in cages only have one or maybe 2 door bars that will not protrude into the door. Having seen what I've seen, I will not race W2W without door bars that go all the way to the outside door skin on the drivers side. Bolt-ins just don't do this.

Custom cages will also (if well built) use the full 100 square inches of mounting plate allowed and extend them to the rocker panels. Bolt-ins don't do this.

Finally, bolt-ins are designed for cars that still have interior panels and headliners. Once you put one in a car that is stripped, you'll have about an inch of space that you aren't using that could have not only gotten the cage closer to the outside edges of the driver compartment, but farther away from your head.

Its not that a bolt-in isn't safe. It is to a degree.
A custom job is significantly safer. And Kirk does do a very nice custom cage. Mark tucks stuff in there so tight its hard to get it painted, which is a sign of a very good build.
Not an area to save money. Hold out for a custom job with 8 points and NASCAR door bars.

So Dan is getting licensed... Finally!
I'll be at Roebling, spending alot of time giving him a hard time.
Ask them the details of the story of how they chose Renee as their co-driver for nationals a few years back. They tried several females, and Renee spun the car multiple times on every run she made when she had her "audition." They chose her because she was the only one that wouldn't take her foot off the throttle no matter how sideways she was.

She never did get the hang of that little monster of a car, but damn if she wasn't fun to watch.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bosco500 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">That is why I got out of F500! lol.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Those are the only cars on track that sound worse than my old Spec RX-7. Not that I would refuse a seat in one if offered.

 

As far as quality, kirk cages are awesome. My brother had just a 4pt bolt in in his 93 rx-7 and it saved his life when he was at a dead stop and was rear ended at 60mph by a big bodied lexus. The motor was pushed all the way back into the drivers legs of the lex. my brother was knocked out when his head hit the steering wheel...but, he drove the car home. the only damage was part of the subframe was cracked. The police officer asked where the other car was when he arrived on the sceen. Also, Kirk is doing my cage in my EG. Plus they aren't that far away.