ok. contemplating building a car for an EVENTUAL honda challenge car. what i'd like to do is atleast get a rollbar in the car for track days/achieving a competition license. during this time, i'd like to keep the car streetable, (as far as rollover protection is concerned), so i'd like to ONLY run a roll bar. not a roll cage. would it be a wise idea to take it to someone who could weld up a roll bar and then later on add the front sections to make a cage? (ex. piper motorsports) or should i just get an autopower bolt in roll bar for now, and get the cage done at a later date? just trying to not have too many holes in the car.

 

I went the route you're thinking of. I had a rollbar welded in, and then had the rest of the cage done. I think it'll be better to just get an autopower rollbar first, and then later do a full cage.

If for some reason you want to sell your car, it'll be easier to sell since it won't have a permanent rollbar welded in. You'll be able to sell the rollbar too.

If you want to keep your headliner and b-pillar plastic covers, your weld-in cage won't be optimal since the bars won't be tight up against the roof and b-pillar.

 

If you can:

1. Find a used bolt in rollbar for your car.
2. Save money
3. Learn your car over the next year or so
4. Sell your current car after a the year or so of HPDE (can sell rollbar seperately)
5. Buy a built race car
6. Buy a tow vehicle and trailer
7. Get your license
8. Have fun racing

 

so consesus is to just get a bolt in. ok. thanks guys.

 

I did a weld in roll bar in my Prelude while it was a street car, and I wanted to keep my interior as well. Needless to say, I had cut the roll bar out and have a proper cage done. The roll bar would have been fine, but it didn't fit nearly as tightly as the cage because I wanted to keep the interior while my car was a street car. That was an expensive lesson!

I'd advise for a bolt in bar for now, then when you want to build a race car, then have a custom cage welded in.

davidnyc's advice is very good. I know I spent a TON more building my car than if I had bought a race car that was already built! Although when you're building, you can have everything done to your spec, especially the cage.

 

yeah, i know it's much cheaper to buy a race car than build it, but i'm only looking to compete in H5, so it's not TOO bad.. compared to any other class atleast. it'll be a while till i decide to actually run the car i want to, not to mention get a competition license.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by E-AT_me &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">yeah, i know it's much cheaper to buy a race car than build it, but i'm only looking to compete in H5, so it's not TOO bad.. compared to any other class atleast. it'll be a while till i decide to actually run the car i want to, not to mention get a competition license. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Trust these guys, it is just as expensive as any other race car. H5 or not, you will save a lot of money and time by purchasing a pre-built car.

 

yeah, i trust them. i'll have to see what's for sale when it's time to go racing.

 

talk to zephyr. he might have a cage lying around the shop still (i dont remember if he sold it or not) or know someone that has something for ya.
as far as getting an autopower, thats what i did. i bought an autopower 'race' rollbar way back in the beginning of my HPDE days. once i decided to pull the trigger and go racing, i just ordered the autopower u-weld kit, had dave from t&z auto weld it in and tweak it to make it fit nice (shameless plug) and thats it.
its not as pritty as a custom one, but it will pass tech, get me out there and keep me safe if i roll it, get t-boned, whatever.