Miata Mailing List: October 1994, Message #18
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   From: "Kate W. Hughes 607/974-3861" 
Subject: Roll Bar padding
   Date: Mon, 3 Oct 1994 10:28:22 -0400

    Jack wrote:
    > 
    RE:  Padding:  Car Guys requires that the bar be padded.  They sell the
    stuff at various performance equipmt. places; it's fairly easy to find 
    in a
    fairly large metro area (DC).  If you get lucky, you may be able to 
    find
    pipe insulation sleeve at a hardware store, which will likely be 
    cheaper.
    It's the same stuff,
    <
    
    	It's _not_ the same stuff.  Pipe insulation is _not_ designed to 
    diminish impact, only to insulate.  It will _not_ help at all in a 
    crash, although it will be provide protection for you passenger's teeth 
    during regular driving.
    	I've been looking for the appropriate stuff since a passenger 
    suggested to me that her teeth were in danger of a quick head-turn.  
    Then I rode in the passenger seat and agreed.
    	The correct kind of padding is a one-time-only thing, just like 
    your helmet; crash with it once and it has saved you at the expense it 
    itself, as it's designed to do.  It is engineered to dissipate the 
    impact through the crushing of all its little cells.  Pipe insulation 
    is made of a different kind of plastic and is designed to be flexible 
    and airtight (or at least air-inhibiting).  On the regular road, I'm 
    not wearing a helmet and I _really_ want the right kind of padding on 
    the roll bar.  So will your passengers.
    
    kate
    '91 Mariner Blue (gasp! no padding yet!)