I have a 2007 Pontiac Solstice. It's stock. I'd like to run it in S5 in scca time trials. My question is about the roll bar and other safety requirements. Unless I'm just dumb, the scca says cars after 2006 that are 4cylinder with an OE drivetrain don't need a roll bar? Am I reading this right? My friends aren't helpful either. And tbh I'm just confused at this point.
Here's a helpful little graphic from the SCCA site. It's for TNiA but they stipulate that your roll bar has to meet Time Trials rules, so this should apply:
Apparently SCCA has three different "safety levels". TNIA (for whom that flowchart was made) uses the most lax Level 1 - so while a TNIA bar (if installed) has to meet Level 2 regs, the fact that you don't need a roll bar on some cars for TNIA does not mean you don't need on for Time Trial. Time Trial events may use Level 1 or Level 2 depending on the event, and Level 2 will require a roll bar.
https://timetrials.scca.com/pages/safety
Find your local SCCA tech inspector and read the regulations for your event(s) to know for sure.
In reply to AMiataCalledSteve :
that's brilliant
In reply to Keith Tanner :
local scca tech inspector....that's a good one. But if that flow chart applies to a time trial event. I can take my bone stock 2007 solstice and run it. Correct?
Turbo 4? If no, then seems the answer is yes.
and for the more knowledgeable, what was the basis for selecting 2006 as the cutoff? Someone angry with memories from 2005?
Also realize that certain tracks have convertible rules that would trump any sanctioning body rules at that track. VIR I believe has their own set of rules if I'm not mistaken.
Your basic understanding is correct. The caveat is, as mentioned above, some states and/or specific tracks have their own requirements that overrule that. So check the details of the specific event(s) you're considering entering to be sure.
Then there are those of us that would think: "Why would you not want to have a rollbar, regardless of the type of event?"
In reply to Purple Frog (Forum Supporter) :
Ironic as a person who also races a single seater I thought the same thing.
Windshield frames do not a rollbar make. But, then again i can't press up 3500 pounds anymore.
camopaint0707 said:In reply to Keith Tanner :
local scca tech inspector....that's a good one. But if that flow chart applies to a time trial event. I can take my bone stock 2007 solstice and run it. Correct?
IF, yes. But SCCA runs some time trials under the more stringent rule set according to their documents. And if you can enter, you can find someone to ask. Ask an organizer first, it avoids unhappiness.
glueguy (Forum Supporter) said:Turbo 4? If no, then seems the answer is yes.
and for the more knowledgeable, what was the basis for selecting 2006 as the cutoff? Someone angry with memories from 2005?
The Miata got factory roll hoops (mostly for show) in 2006. I'll bet they got sick of Miata owners asking why their stock parts weren't good enough.
glueguy (Forum Supporter) said:and for the more knowledgeable, what was the basis for selecting 2006 as the cutoff? Someone angry with memories from 2005?
SCCA (and other sanctioning bodies) are liability averse...so they do anything they can to avoid being "subject matter experts" on safety things. This reduces exposure for negligence in the case of litigation. In 2006, the federal rollover regs/testing got overhauled, so SCCA uses that as a minimum requirement, and their insurance coverage is priced accordingly.
This is also why the words "strongly recommended" are used with the topic of rollover protection in even the mildest of SCCA motorsports categories (e.g. SCCA Solo Street category). But nobody does it.
You'll need to log in to post.
