[Jake Robb]

Hi all, I'm new here. My name is Jake. Some of you may know me as a moderator at CamaroZ28.com.

I have an '02 Z28 M6, and just enough racing experience to know that I want to do it as often as possible. Some CZ28ers recommended that I come over here to get the advice I need, since everybody over there seems to prefer drag racing. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/loco.gif)

I've tried drag, and it's fun, but autocross and open track days are a lot more fun! I haven't tried road racing yet, but to be honest I'm not sure how it differs from an open track day. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Jake Robb]

Read through that thread last night. It's pretty eye-opening.

I saw someone hit a wall at 100+ at a drag strip in a 2001 Z28. No cage. The airbag deployed and she walked away. That's really the only major crash I've seen (in person). Despite that, I'm not ignorant about safety, nor do I harbor any delusions about how safe I am behind the wheel from disaster. However, at the same time, the car is my spring-summer-fall DD, and any sort of cage is pretty much out of the question. I have a driveshaft loop, but that's about it for safety mods (unless SFCs count -- I would think they help a little, but again, no delusions). Are there other things that you guys would recommend I install or use in the absence of a cage? (I could go make a tech thread about this...)

[cccbock]

Read through that thread last night. It's pretty eye-opening.

I saw someone hit a wall at 100+ at a drag strip in a 2001 Z28. No cage. The airbag deployed and she walked away. That's really the only major crash I've seen (in person). Despite that, I'm not ignorant about safety, nor do I harbor any delusions about how safe I am behind the wheel from disaster. However, at the same time, the car is my spring-summer-fall DD, and any sort of cage is pretty much out of the question. I have a driveshaft loop, but that's about it for safety mods (unless SFCs count -- I would think they help a little, but again, no delusions). Are there other things that you guys would recommend I install or use in the absence of a cage? (I could go make a tech thread about this...)

Someone may come up with something, but having done what you're prepping to do about 4 years ago, I can tell you that there really is no good substitute for a cage.

LG Motorsports used to sell a "harness bar" for our cars, and you can occsionally find one on ebay or other boards. It is a poor substitute, but better than stock nothing at all. It allows you to use a racing harness instead of the stock seat belts, thus keeping you in the seat better. It provides no crash safety whatsoever. It works much better with an aftermarket seat designed for harnesses...meaning you should install it with a racing style seat. This would be a REAL PITA just for a track day. Many of the HPDE style events require you to use the stock seats and seatbelts in a "stock" car for insurance purposes....mainly because they don't want to take responsibility for providing a high level tech inspection of aftermarket parts. Not to mention, our cars have gone through fairly rigorous crash testing just to drive on the street. Sometimes hardening the vehicle (including SFC) without the adequate restraining systems and safety gear is a bad idea.

A couple of manufacturers offer a "roll bar" for our cars. This is a far cry from a cage, but a giant leap up from the harness bar mentioned above. They can be bolted or welded in and the interior carpets and plastic can be trimmed to fit. Mine and my son's came from Wolf. You can get them with/without side bars. The nice thing about these is your back seat can stay in and you can keep the stock seats and belts if you want. But the obvious upgrade here is to install a racing seat and proper harnesses. Back seat might not work too good for anything but little kids, or your dog.

Long way of saying that to get any significant increase in safety is going to cost you, both in street driveability, and in real dollars. I think it has been said, but I would try a few events in your totally stock car, then decide where to leap next. As you get more comfortable with the events, the needed upgrades will become apparent. I suspect you will be wanting better brakes/cooling, and something substantial to keep you in your seat in the corners. Followed shortly by wheels/tires.

When you start ripping the interior out of the car to save a few pounds, you'll know you're hooked. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/cool2.gif)

my$0.02

bock