Track days in a convertible

Hades

Hades

Hades

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Does anyone have experience of track days in a convertible? Specifically does the car need to have an inbuilt rollbar? I see a few people have said they track their MX5 but they don't have a roll bar. Or do they need the hardtop?

MX5 was just an example.
 
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Thanks. Considering a 944 convertible but these don't appear to have a roll bar so presumably this would be an issue for the track?
 
Keeping with the MX5 example I wouldn't expect the hard top to do anything beyond A) ripping off its mounts or B) smashing into a thousand pieces in the event of a roll.

For trackdays on road tyres I wouldn't let a lack of roll bar stop me. I can see why they are essential for racing though - http://youtu.be/OfWjXzvVoL0 :eek:
 
It wouldn't worry me as the car manufacturer would have tested its safety in a roll. But I'm wondering if the track marshals would insist.
 
Wouldn't bother with a 944 cab, they look awkward, much better off with the tin top.

Ref roll safety, we are talking about the 80's and very early 90's, if you roll a 944 or MX5 in stock trim you are going to have a very bad day indeed.
 
Thanks. Yes I prefer the coupe but the cab would be nice for the kids (appreciate zero legroom in the back). Track days would only be very infrequent but would definitely want to have the option.

Just looking around at this point. Not sure if I will get one.
 
Took my old MX5 on track without a rollbar and with the roof down, didn't have any problems.

Only problem is if you roll, there isn't any protection there.
 
Depends entirely on the event organizers.

You will be fine with most open days without any additional roll bars.

They tend not to let you have the roof down, not that it would be any benefit if you went the wrong way up. I often got told to put my sunroof back in on my 924 for example.
 
Tagged along with a mate doing a trackday session in an open topped MX-5 before at Snetterton

One thing that did amuse me was that the safety marshalls insisted that we wore a crash helmet if we wanted to leave the roof down though, I didn't need to if I raised the roof (bizarre bearing in mind the car was a soft top)
 
If you have a convertible and you are planning on doing the odd trackday then you should be OK, but just be aware that you are at greater risk of injury if the car does go over, be particularly careful exiting corners on days/venues where the ground is soft as it doesn't take a lot for a car to flip if you get it sideways on soft ground

If you are planning on doing more regular trackdays then seriously consider adding a structural roll bar, ensure that a line from the top of the bar to the top of the windscreen is clear of your head, even after you've allowed for the screen to drop a couple of inches (Ideally trace your line from the bar to the front of the bonnet to be on the safe side as this allows for complete collapse of the screen). Even with a bar you would still want to run a hardtop as well as this will spread the load and reduce the chances of the bar digging in if you end up on soft ground. If you have a full cage then the hardtop is probably not necessary.

If you're looking to buy a car for trackdays then just get one with a proper roof or plan to cage it from the start. Soft tops aren't worth the risk.
 
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lordrobs said:
Keeping with the MX5 example I wouldn't expect the hard top to do anything beyond A) ripping off its mounts or B) smashing into a thousand pieces in the event of a roll.

For trackdays on road tyres I wouldn't let a lack of roll bar stop me. I can see why they are essential for racing though - http://youtu.be/OfWjXzvVoL0 :eek:
Click to expand...

That's gotta hurt :eek: The term rag doll comes to mind when you see his arms flailing around!
 
lordrobs said:
Keeping with the MX5 example I wouldn't expect the hard top to do anything beyond A) ripping off its mounts or B) smashing into a thousand pieces in the event of a roll.

For trackdays on road tyres I wouldn't let a lack of roll bar stop me. I can see why they are essential for racing though - http://youtu.be/OfWjXzvVoL0 :eek:
Click to expand...

I was racing at that meeting before and after this race and that was the chaps first race. You can see one of our teams car in front of him as they enter the bend.
 
lordrobs said:
Keeping with the MX5 example I wouldn't expect the hard top to do anything beyond A) ripping off its mounts or B) smashing into a thousand pieces in the event of a roll.

For trackdays on road tyres I wouldn't let a lack of roll bar stop me. I can see why they are essential for racing though - http://youtu.be/OfWjXzvVoL0 :eek:
Click to expand...

How did that guy fare? in the first few seconds of the video you can see his head is actually higher than the roll bar so can't have done much to protect him. :eek:
 
breadturbo said:
How did that guy fare? in the first few seconds of the video you can see his head is actually higher than the roll bar so can't have done much to protect him. :eek:
Click to expand...

From memory he completely crushed his arm, at one point the car basically landed on it.
 
So what we're saying here is that a convertible isn't a good idea even if it has rollbars :(
 
I thought most modern convertibles were designed to be driven either way up?

DwO9Rzq.jpg
 
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