13 replies to this topic

[Bench Racer]

After Sebring on the production/GTL site:

 

peter zekert GTL driver wrote:

"The areas the inspectors wanted padding went well beyond areas where the helmet could touch. One inspector told me to pad any area where even my hand could touch."

Very interesting, this current roll cage pad rule below compared to the 2004 and 2007 roll cage pad rules.

"All portions of the roll cage subject to contact by the driver must must be padded with a minimum 1 inch of material." The word must is a mandatory word.

The 2004 and 2007 rule refers to "drivers helmet" using the word shall (mandatory) and the current rule refers to "driver".

 

[DrDomm]

9.4.G.1 (from the 2010 GCR in front of me)

 

And this does not have to be SFI, correct?  That's only recommended.

[mhiggins10]

I had a SOWDIV inspector note that it had to be SFI rated when I did my annual tech in 2013.

[Bench Racer]

2014 SCCA GCR
G. BASIC DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
1. All portions of the roll cage subject to contact by the driver
must be padded with a minimum 1 inch of material. Padding
that meets or exceeds SFI 45.1 or FIA 8857-2001 (curved
padding), or SFI 45.2 or FIA sports car head rest material (flat
padding) specification is recommended.

[DrDomm]

From 2014 GCR...

 

G. BASIC DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

1. All portions of the roll cage subject to contact by the driver

must be padded with a minimum 1 inch of material. Padding

that meets or exceeds SFI 45.1 or FIA 8857-2001 (curved

padding), or SFI 45.2 or FIA sports car head rest material (flat

padding) specification is recommended.

[DrDomm]

Damn...too slow!

[Alberto]

Cool.  I'm ahead of the curve on this one.  

 

Padded those areas using the same SFI rated stuff spec'ed for head contact when I build my car in 2010.  Padded the downtube near the steering wheel and my knee and ankle.  Seemed like a good idea at the time.

[Keith Novak]

They make a dual density padding that may offer better protection for your hands and lower legs.  It consists of a soft outer layer and a dense inner layer. 

 

The high density stuff is softer than the cage tubing but it's still pretty stiff.  If your arm hits it for example, your arm is likely to deform much more than the padding.  The soft outer layer of the dual density stuff will compress and decelerate your arm more gradually before it compresses enough to reach the high density inner layer. 

[Johnny D]

They make a dual density padding that may offer better protection for your hands and lower legs.  It consists of a soft outer layer and a dense inner layer. 

 

The high density stuff is softer than the cage tubing but it's still pretty stiff.  If your arm hits it for example, your arm is likely to deform much more than the padding.  The soft outer layer of the dual density stuff will compress and decelerate your arm more gradually before it compresses enough to reach the high density inner layer. 

 

This ?

BSCI's innovative Dual Durometer SFI Roll Bar Padding

http://www.ogracing....l-bar-padding-3

 

J~

[Keith Novak]

This ?

BSCI's innovative Dual Durometer SFI Roll Bar Padding

http://www.ogracing....l-bar-padding-3

 

J~

Yeah.  I think one or more other companies may make a similar version too.  It isn't cheap but it has the fire worthiness properties of the SFI/FIA padding, the high density layer to prevent bottoming it out, and the soft outer layer for soft tissue impact without too much extra bulk.  It's an "optimized" solution.  In my opinion you don't need all that everwhere and can use different padding in different places to improve your safety but I think that stuff is a pretty elegant solution to put all the desired attributes into a compact package.

[mhiggins10]

2014 SCCA GCR
G. BASIC DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
1. All portions of the roll cage subject to contact by the driver
must be padded with a minimum 1 inch of material. Padding
that meets or exceeds SFI 45.1 or FIA 8857-2001 (curved
padding), or SFI 45.2 or FIA sports car head rest material (flat
padding) specification is recommended.

Noted for the 2014 annual- thanks!!

[jwr]

The comma prior to the "or" separates the rule into two.  The first is named and therefore mandatory, the second is recommended.  

[Peter Olivola]

That is an incorrect interpretation.  There is no compelling language in the second sentence.

 

The comma prior to the "or" separates the rule into two.  The first is named and therefore mandatory, the second is recommended.  

[DrDomm]

The comma prior to the "or" separates the rule into two.  The first is named and therefore mandatory, the second is recommended.  

 

Yeah, that doesn't make sense.  The spec after the comma is for the flat padding.  All just recommended.  There are cheaper products of the same quality.