Russ @ Racetech Fabrication finished my cage on Saturday. It came out VERY nice, and I'd recommend him to anyone willing/able to travel to Portland Oregon for a cage. Wanted to thank "Johng" again for the hint.

Last time I tried to link a photo from my Fotki acct, I couldn't make it work, but here goes>>



I've taken quite a few pix of the process, which are at this link>>> (Start on about page 3)

http://public.fotki.com/GoKart...cetec/

Russ did a few things different on my car. He's continuously studying new cage designs, and incorporating things he likes into his cages. I really like what he came up with on this car. He primarily builds tube frame race cars and cages. Racetech Fabrication can be reached at the link in my sig below.

Yesterday I got it all masked off and primered. I like yellow/black/red together, so I think I'm gonna shoot the cage in red. Could be interesting.


Modified by Shortbus at 10:09 AM 7/21/2003

 

Nice cage man

Is there any footwell protection? Might be something to think about while you at this stage...

I would also suggest using a flat, nutural color for the cage. In the sun, my yellow cage/cockpit can create a glare... I would think red might cause the same effect.

So, when are you going to get the car on-track?

 

Wow.
Did he put the roof back on for you too?
Again, wow.

 

I am impressed; looks very nice and I could feel reasonable safe driving surrounded by that cage. I won't ask how much cause it's beyond my wallet at present but it does look well built and expensive.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bulldog_RS20 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Nice cage man

Is there any footwell protection? Might be something to think about while you at this stage...

I would also suggest using a flat, nutural color for the cage. In the sun, my yellow cage/cockpit can create a glare... I would think red might cause the same effect.

So, when are you going to get the car on-track?
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Would have been nice to put plates on the firewall and front strut tower's but that's illegal. I'd say it's a pretty damn safe cage. I really like what he did with the X brace in the rear. It should work real nice to project side impact loads to the rear strut towers instead of me. He also did a nice job of the nascar bars and halo area.

Yeah.... still not sure on the paint. But with the rest of the car being dark gray inside, I might just be able to get away with red!

I'm planning to tow the car to PIR on Aug 2 so that Rick and the boyz can stamp my cage and start a log book for the car. Still hope to get in a couple track days to shake the car down this year.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by madhatter &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Wow.
Did he put the roof back on for you too?
Again, wow.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Actually, we decided to leave the roof off for now to make painting the cage easier. We're going to bond it on and use a few tack welds once the paint and other interior work is complete. He does nice work! Thanks for the Wow.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DB1-R81 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I am impressed; looks very nice and I could feel reasonable safe driving surrounded by that cage. I won't ask how much cause it's beyond my wallet at present but it does look well built and expensive.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yup... I think I'll feel real safe in the car. He's had several bad rollovers himself, and is very concious of safety. He used some additional bars for side/sholder protection at the nascar bars, and a vertical bar to the drivers side A-pillar to keep it from collapsing in a rollover. Due to the length and slope of the A-pillar in the CRX, they're a little easier so smoosh.




Modified by Shortbus at 9:02 AM 7/22/2003

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Shortbus &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Would have been nice to put plates on the firewall and front strut tower's but that's illegal...</TD></TR></TABLE>

I count six attatchement points, right? Your allowed 8 in It and although you can't penetrate the firewall, you can brace the footwell area with the additional 2 points allowed. Have Rick comment on it when he ok's the cage...

BTW - Did you buy that trailer?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bulldog_RS20 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I count six attatchement points, right? Your allowed 8 in It and although you can't penetrate the firewall, you can brace the footwell area with the additional 2 points allowed. Have Rick comment on it when he ok's the cage...

BTW - Did you buy that trailer? </TD></TR></TABLE>

Cool.... I'll check that out. We were going to attach the front crossbar in 2 more points to make 8, but the location of the heater control box, blower, and steering assy make that kinda difficult. I'll see what Rick has to say, and add a couple bars accordingly.

Thanks Greg.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Shortbus &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> I really like what he did with the X brace in the rear. It should work real nice to project side impact loads to the rear strut towers instead of me. </TD></TR></TABLE>

That caught my eye. Never saw a design like that. Great looking cage man. Looks like you got a really good price too.

 

****, this kicks serious azz. I'll seriously consider having my door bars updated to this configuration.



I've heard firewall braces are a good idea in the CRX. Russ wanted to do them in my car. Your cage looks pretty stout as it is, but they can be done so they're out of the way. Here's a shot of how he did mine. I was able to put the ECU back in the original location. Mrs. Johng wants to do another shopping spree in Portland (no sales tax), so I'll try to make it down for the next Confrence race.

 

My only comment:

The doorbar looks nice, but is your elbow trapped between the diagonal upright and the seat?

 

This cage really looks awesome! I just had one installed but if I was in the area I would definitely lookinto this guy.

I do have one concern but the rules may be different in SCCA than NASA. NASA calls for the main hoop to be braced diagaonally in the same plane as the main hoop. It seems that on your construction the diagonal brace makes a a couple of jogs as it goes from the main hoop above the driver's head to the opposite floor.

The portion behind your head seems to curve to provide additional room and as it hits the center brace it jogs forward. I always perceived the "same plane" meaning the diagonal brace would be "hidden" if viewed directly from above.

Anyway this may mean nothing but since it is such a beautiful job and required the removal of the roof, I would hate to have to see alot of work done if it required any modification.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 743 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

That caught my eye. Never saw a design like that. Great looking cage man. Looks like you got a really good price too.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Thanks! I thought that it was more than fair for the cage he built. He really is a wiz, great craftsmanship. I'm smilin' big!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by johng &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I've heard firewall braces are a good idea in the CRX. Russ wanted to do them in my car. ... Mrs. Johng wants to do another shopping spree in Portland (no sales tax), so I'll try to make it down for the next Confrence race.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Thanks for the pix. I'll have to check into that with Russ. I'm sure he'll toss a couple of those in no problem. He did kinda "overbuild" for the speeds that this car will run, but that's how I like to do stuff anyway. I'm curious about the floor bars now, but I feel real good about how the cage came out. Especially about side impact and rollover protection. He used heavier guage steel in the side bars. It's real stout.

The next conference race is Aug 2. You and "Mrs Johng" are more than welcome to crash at our place. We've got lots of room and plenty of safe parking for the racecar. Thanks again... I'm sure glad that I found your post when I did my search of the forum. Couldn't be happier with Russ @ Racetech!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Crack Monkey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">My only comment:

The doorbar looks nice, but is your elbow trapped between the diagonal upright and the seat? </TD></TR></TABLE>

Thanks. Actually, it doesn't interfere at all. I'll pad all of that as well, and currently the seat is just sitting in the car. I wanted to get the cage painted before final mounting.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rickpeak &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">....rules may be different in SCCA than NASA. .</TD></TR></TABLE>

The rules must be a bit different. Russ has built many SCCA cages, and I'm sure that it'll be no worries. I'm planning to tow the car to the next race at PIR and have the cage stamped. It's all DOM 1 1/2 inch x .095 or better. Hope not to have any difficulties. The nice thing is that if I do, the roof is still 100 percent removable. This is how it looked when I left home this morning&gt;&gt;&gt;


Russ told me that it's guaranteed to tech, or he'll fix it. IMHO, and from my experience.... it's rare to find someone as good to deal with as he is. I'm sure it'll tech, and if it didn't for some reason, he'll adjust accordingly. Can't wait to get it all put back together and on the track!

 

Brad, I get asked all the time about who does good cagework for a good price around here, and now I know of two great cages from this place!

I think it would be worth the trip from Seattle for one like that.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JHill &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Brad, I get asked all the time about who does good cagework for a good price around here, and now I know of two great cages from this place!

I think it would be worth the trip from Seattle for one like that.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Thanks Jim. Yeah, I'm very happy with what Russ came up with. I had really considered doing a Kirk bolt in cage thru you, but with my height and the fact that the wife had already budgeted for a custom cage..... I decided to go the custom route. Can't go wrong for the price IMHO.

In case you wanna pass the info on to others....

Racetech Fabrication
6400 SE 101st, Bldg 2B
Portland, OR 97266

Russ Nyberg / Owner
Phone) 503-254-6706
Web) http://www.racetechfab.com
e-mail) russ@racetechfab.com


Any word on the Sparco stuff??? BTW, I tried on a Sparco size 62 and it didn't fit half bad. If I don't go custom made, we'll be talking!

 

My only concern is that in a roll over, the the bars that come from the main hoop to the rear "shock tower" bar may overstress the "shock tower bar" since they are mounted directly to it, as opposed to a box by the unibody shock towers.

I would think that the upper bars would come down to the unibody shock tower and then you will weld a bar between those two bars, not the other way around like you have it.

Just a comment, not a full criticism.

 

Really like the cage. Welds looks very nice. Like I said before, your car is awesome! Your not over-looking any detail... I know its going to be one helluva race karr.

 

work well done..that cage is sick.

 

nice

 

Thanks all,

Appreciate all the comments n suggestions. I've taken all of them up with my cage builder and race steward. So far, everyone's been real impressed with the cage. I've got to give big thanks to Russ@Racetechfab for the great job he did. I hope to get it stamped Aug 2 at PIR if all goes well.

Painted it last night. Anybody out there painted a cage before.... What a Beeyatch that was. 1 coat primer, 3 coats paint, 1 coat clear. Since you have to spray paint in a million directions, it seemed pratically impossible (without a downdraft booth) to get it perfect everywhere. The damn overspray is always landing on your work. I uploaded some more pix if anyone's interested. They're in my Fotki account at the link below. The Fotki acct might be a bit slow, it's had over 2700 views in the last 3 days.

I'd be happy to give hints to anyone who's wanting to do this. Just PM me. Here's what it looked like last night when I was done....

 

Oh No! A red roll cage! Didn't anyone tell you? Everyone knows red-caged cars are slow. Even moreso than yellow. J/K