I'm replacing the cage padding around my head with the SFI stuff, and I found that it comes in 1/2, 3/4, and 1" thickness. Because my helmet brushes against the driver's side halo bar, it would be great if I could get away with the 1/2" thickness so that my head isn't knocking on the padding as often. I'll use the 1" stuff on the front and rear halo bars since it's all the same price and there's plenty of room before contact. Is 1/2" enough, or should I use the thicker stuff? I've never felt the SFI padding, so I don't know how firm it is. I've been using the standard cage padding and it's thick as hell but soft.

*edit*

Here's what I'm talking about:

 

1/2" is min requirement. just a fact, not advice.

 

I was just checking some of that out the other day. I saw the Longacre padding, and it was much denser than I had expected it to be. A little softer than say a Skateboard wheels urethane, maybe about a 65 durometer.

 

Wow, I knew it was firm but I had no idea it was thatfirm! Does anyone have any data on this stuff? The way I see it, there is a slim chance that my head will reach the front/rear of the halo, but my head is going to hit that dr side halo plenty hard. Is the helmet plus 1/2" padding good? How did they determine the min. requirement? It would be easy to say "just get the thick stuff" but I can hardly sit upright with thick padding so it's not a trivial decision. If I need 1", I'll learn to live with it.

Does SFI have a website that talks about this stuff? It's all a mystery to me. Thanks for the info!

 

Nobody knows? I always hear people suggesting this stuff over the cheap padding, so I figured there was some data to back this up.

 

Data??? Joe and Bill said it's the shiznit

Jeff - who has this on his rollbar, because it's "better".

 

Can't help you with a web site, but I did sit through a racer-safety class and the speaker compared the two types of padding. The SFI stuff feels harder because it's denser material and (believe it or not) cushions better under crash tests. The cheap stuff most of us use is not SFI rated and doesn't absorb impact very well at all. In fact, your helmet squishes it flat resulting in a harder hit.

$.02

 

Thanks for the info, guys. I guess I'm going to stick with the 1/2" unless someone tells me otherwise.

 

Travis:
KIRK sent me the 1" with offset hole. It is not super hard, but they tell me it is accepted at Tech. Yes-I too would prefer something thinner and as dense.

 

Always use the SFI rated hard stuff. It the only acceptable padding for NHRA. and those dragsters hit really hard. The soft stuff is barely better than pipe insulation.

 

btw, where do you get the SFI rated stuff? im thinking of converting over from the "pipe insulation" for safety and visibility. ioport sells the longacre stuff, but thats not SFI rated.

this is the only place google is popping up for me that is SFI rated.
http://www.bakerprecision.com/rollbar.htm

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tyson &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">btw, where do you get the SFI rated stuff? im thinking of converting over from the "pipe insulation" for safety and visibility. ioport sells the longacre stuff, but thats not SFI rated.

this is the only place google is popping up for me that is SFI rated.
http://www.bakerprecision.com/rollbar.htm</TD></TR></TABLE>

Summit Racing has SFI 45.1 Roll Bar Padding for $14.95/ea

 

couldnt find it on summit racing. wanna give me some clues?

 

You are looking for BSCI padding (try BSR Products - http://www.bsrproducts.com ??).

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tyson &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">couldnt find it on summit racing. wanna give me some clues?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Go to http://www.summitracing.com

- click on the "online catalog" tab at the top left
- click on "safety"
- click on "Roll Bars and padding"
- click on Summit SFI 45.1 Roll bar Padding

OR...

http://store.summitracing.com/...=ecat

at Jegs:
http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/nc...r=361

 

I just bought some cage padding after doing some research. My advice is to stay away from the cheap, soft pads if safety is a concern. I found these resources informative:

http://www.snikte.net/barpad.html

http://www.bmw-m.net/Digest/Ar...htm#2

I decided to buy padding from Rebco because it is identical to SFI 45.1 spec padding but cheaper because they didn't pay for certification. I bought some "Mini" and some "High Impact" pads.

http://www.rebcoperformance.co...id=15

Longacre sells the same stuff:

http://www.longacreracing.com/...id=21
http://www.longacreracing.com/...id=21

I just received my pads today from Rebco. They are quite hard. The High Impact pads are much bulkier than the Mini pads. They are adhesive backed for easy installation. My plan is to use the thick pads on the bars near my head (halo and roof bar), and the Mini pads for those farther away. The thinner pads are not as protective but provide for a more spacious cabin, better sight lines, and a cleaner look.

 

Good information. Thanks for sharing the links.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dyg2001 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

[url=http://www.snikte.net/barpad.html]
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Wow, great link. I think we all agree that the SFI style padding is the way to go. No argument there. However, this link actually has a table with impact data for the various thicknesses. Thanks!

 

I have 3 new sticks of the thick Rebco black pads left over from my install in case anybody wants to buy them.

 

Travis:
The GCR says that the minimum is 1/2". I used 1" for the halo and main hoop and 3/4" for everything else. I have seen the 1/2" and would only use it on the passenger side if at all. BTW: It is very hard to crush with your fingers; tie wraps will leave marks. It cuts easily with a very fine tooth hacksaw.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jc836 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Travis:
The GCR says that the minimum is 1/2". I used 1" for the halo and main hoop and 3/4" for everything else. I have seen the 1/2" and would only use it on the passenger side if at all. BTW: It is very hard to crush with your fingers; tie wraps will leave marks. It cuts easily with a very fine tooth hacksaw.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Heh, heh, we actually talked about this 6 months ago, when I posted this topic dyg2001 brought it back from the dead.

 

I still have those 3 extra sticks, brand new. Contact me if you want to buy them.

 

Anyone got pictures of it installed on their car?

And for an Autopower Roll Bar with brace and harness-bar, what quantity should I buy?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nEoMuGen &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Anyone got pictures of it installed on their car?

And for an Autopower Roll Bar with brace and harness-bar, what quantity should I buy?</TD></TR></TABLE>

IM jc836. He sent me some nice pictures of his install in his CRX. Very clean job. As for the roll bar, you'll only need 3 sections max. This will cover the main hoop behind your head and behind the passenger's head if you have one. Then you have a piece left over for the diagonal, but I'm not sure you even need that. The harness bar is pretty much out of the way (at least, all of this stuff is out of the way in my rex and ITR).