Let's talk SFI padding

I just got me a (used) Double hoop Boss from Rollbar, in stainless (for less than a bottom end harddog, I might add) and it needs new padding.

I know I need the self adhesive half round stuff, and I know it can be had from anywhere from 13 bucks, to over 50 (for the amount I need), or even higher for the dual density stuff. and I want to trackday, autocross, and DD the car.. so I am pretty sure I will not be leaving the bar naked.

So I gots some questions:

1. How important is the SFI rating? would non-sfi suffice for my needs?

2. I can get red, black, and blue... if I wanted a different color could I plastidip or paint it?

3. I hear the SFI stuff doesn't take well to sun exposure.. would painting black with plastidip, help to solve that issue? (as like a protective layer)

4. Best places to get it?

5. Should I just get the premolded stuff from Boss frog? (as in will normal stuff have issues with the bends, and what is the best way to arc it?

Thanks.

here is a link, for those of you that have not heard of the Boss frog: http://www.bossfrog.biz/Miata_Rollbars.html

1. Don't know

2. Plasti-dip should be safe, dunno about paint.

3. Yeah that should help

4+5: Dunno

Followed the boss frog link and noticed that they have covers for the SFI padding, with a particular nod to being able to remove them for tech inspection.

You may find that some tech inspectors will not like plasti-dipped padding just because they can't verify what's under the coating.

GameboyRMH, are you certain it won't affect the padding? Isn't it some sort of vinyl/rubber/plastic with a carrier which evaporates off, leaving the base to harden? I'd be worried that the carrier/solvent would have an effect on the SFI padding...

It's possible I'm just being paranoid, but getting turned away from a track day wouldn't be any fun, and neither would finding out that the padding was deteriorated after all...

Wait....Do you NEED padding for a track day? and does it have to be SFI? May carpets aren't SFI... and I Have a VERY NICE helmet (for chumpcar.)

also, I don't want the covers.. because why get stainless if you cover it? I am just trying out options, opinions.

Sorry, not certain on all counts: just the first thing that grabbed me about the covers was the ability to remove them for inspection; not that you'd want covers, just that plasti-dip would also obscure the foam for inspection if that matters for any event.

Whether you need the foam or need it to be up to a particular spec is going to be organization by organization, I suppose.

That is a huge point though. I guess step one is finding out what the rules are at the places I plan to take the car. then I can work outward from there.

thanks.

ransom wrote: GameboyRMH, are you certain it won't affect the padding? Isn't it some sort of vinyl/rubber/plastic with a carrier which evaporates off, leaving the base to harden? I'd be worried that the carrier/solvent would have an effect on the SFI padding..

I'm not 100% certain, but I figure if it's safe for spraying over clear coat and rubber trim it should be safe for spraying over most anything.

I'd go the sfi route. Someone somewhere will require it, no sense buying it twice. Go with the pre-molded stuff, it doesn't bend well. If you care about aesthetics, cutting up the sfi pads will look like poo.

Option number two would be to sew up some fabric covers with velcro to secure it around the bar and padding. Hides the ugliness, but retains all protective properties. Looks much better, but you need someone that has the talent to sew it up properly.

The premise is you want the padding any place your head could contact.

sachilles wrote: Go with the pre-molded stuff, it doesn't bend well.

THAT was info I was looking for. if it doesn't bend well, I will get the stuff FROM Boss Frog.

Get the molded one, the stuff i had doesn't bend worth a damn. We put a rollbar in a girls mustang and she made some nice covers that velcros on to match the interior. She said it was pretty simple to do.

For a track day, you don't "need" padding like you don't need to take the fuel jugs out of the trunk if you don't plan on crashing.

You want padding and you want the good SFI padding anywhere your body can touch metal and double density stuff anyplace your helmet can reach. Assume most of your parts can stretch about 8 inches under load.