essex

Seems like a really bad idea


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-J3xLgNmjE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFDTp_V6wDU

SovXietday

If it is built correctly, aluminum can be just as strong as any other material. Just needs to have a different geometry and supported differently. Must suck like hell to weld though.

Walterronny

if they make it, pretty sure they proved it.

Jimmy21

i don't see the issue. It has twice as many cross braces as a similar steel cage, but with less weight. Seems like a win win. It also doesn't need painted, which can add some weight

detuned

It's Monster Tajima... I wouldn't worry about his methods haha. He continually beats the PPHC record.

tepid1

Electric car?

c jackson

No.

Alum will never be just as strong as steel.

Jimmy21

Maybe as far as compression strength and tensile strength but comparing one frame to another, with all the extra cross braces, I'm pretty sure it will be just as strong. Not to mention that if this car is wrecked, they can just build a new one. Not like your daily driver where if you wreck it you are going to be pulling dents out

essex

His car is faster than this car...I don't see that aluminum cage helping in a crash like this

https://honda-tech.com/forums/welding-fabrication-53/jeremy-foley-crash-cage-pics-3080691/

Jimmy21

holy jeez. I didn't realize those were the potential crashes....... I still think aluminum would be just as strong as steel, but man that crash makes me nervous about anything

The Original Whitey

Porsche ran an aluminum cage back in the day before the majority of sanctioning bodies outlawed them

2point2

I heard Boeing, Lockheed, and Airbus use aluminum. They may change their minds after reading this thread.

SovXietday

Comparing just the material no, but a structure yes.

jere

AL cages are common in Japan. Just look at their time attack cars

ThatSlowEvo

^The hit in a TT race is going to be much different than a Pikes Peak car, I'm sure it's an alloy which is stronger than steel. Nobody is going to use pure aluminum to make a cage for a Pikes Peak car.

njn63

Also people are ignoring tubing thickness. It's not like cages are solid 4130.
So are Cusco cages. Doesn't mean they're safe.

*Boostwerks*

Three words: Isle of Man? I'm sure you know, there is always a Risk VS Reward in racing. It just so happens that there are people out there with the ***** to take more risk than the average sactioning body allows (thankfully).

Not my cup of tea, but if diagnosed with terminal cancer I might reconsider.

jere

Yeah I wouldn't trust one, plus AL work hardens. So who knows how long the lifespan of AL cage would be.

WhiteSlips

That's what I was thinking....