Miata Mailing List: March 1994, Message #12
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   From: sling@dseg.ti.com (Steven Ling)
Subject: Rollbars
   Date: Tue, 1 Mar 1994 10:33:16 -0500

>From craig@cactus.org (Craig Boyle):

>If you are anything like average height, and still want to use the soft top
>and want to retain your head after a roll, don't expect the roll bar to
>help you. Solo II rules disallow the use of a harness in the Miata-rollbar
>case so you have a chance to duck to one side and save your head.

This is not my interpretation of the rules. Was this an SCCA official that
told you this? I was looking forward to using a harness. 

Excerpts from the 1993 SCCA Solo II rules:

3.3 Vehicle Safety
    A. Driver Restraints
       Seat belts are required in all cars. Installation of shoulder
       belts or harnesses is strongly recommended in cars with fixed
       tops or roll bars. Upper body restraints other than the factory
       system may not be used in open cars without roll bars meeting
       the full height requirement of Appendix C.

Appendix C -- Solo II Roll Bar Standards
A. Basic Design Considerations
    2. The top of the roll bar shall not be below the top of the driver's
       helmet when the driver is in normal driving position, and shall not
       be more than six inches behind the driver. It is strongly suggested
       that the roll bar extend at least three inches above the driver's
       helmet.

What this says to me is that if you install a roll bar a Miata, it is 
stronly suggested, but not required, that you use a harness also.  To use 
the harness, the roll bar must meet the height requirement. In Appendix C 
the height requirement is that the roll bar is not below the top of the 
driver's helmet. It is strongly suggested, but not required, that the roll
bar extend three inches above the driver's helmet.

Is your roll bar below the top of your helmet?

BTW, I have a Hard Dog roll bar on order. It should be here this weekend.
It's the mid-priced choice of the three that they offer, same bar as the 
single loop but with two rear braces, a cross brace and the optional harness
bar. Look forward to a report next week. 

                                  [][][]
     Steve Ling                                Texas Instruments, Inc.
     sling@dseg.ti.com                         P.O. Box 655012, m/s 31
     214-995-1378                              Dallas, Texas  75265