Miata Mailing List: April 1998, Message #84

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Dan Scolnick wrote:
> 
> At 07:06 PM 3/31/98 +0000, Ony Anglade wrote:
> >I also want to add my $0.02 to the "rollbar debate".
> >
> >The Lone Star Region PCA has a series of Driver Education
> >Events at TWS and they require rollbars for open cars ONLY
> >on the top 3 levels of experience.
> 
> hmmm, strikes me as odd.  The people with the most experience are the ones
> that NEED the added measure of safety.


The people with the most experience are the ones that are required the
added measure of safety because they are the ones closer to taking the car
to limits where the worst things can happen. At least that is the apparent
reasoning for the PCA here.


> 
> > The lower 2 levels (green
> >and blue) do not require rollbars. People in any of these
> >two groups have an instructor assigned for the weekend and they
> >don't drive by themselves until the instructor feels that they
> >are ready.
> >
> 
> It was made quite clear at t-hill that the instructors were not required to
> ride in cars without rollbars.  Additionally I think the car that rolled
> was not an experienced track driver (but I could be wrong).


I only provided the data point from the PCA events here in Texas. I was not
trying to compare or imply that there was anything wrong with the setup
or organization of the Thunderhill event. 

I understand that there are some instructors that will not get in a 
convertible without a rollbar and I can understand them. I think that 
having at least a class for convertibles without rollbars for people 
with no or low track experience should be restricted in such a manner 
so that they can have fun and learn, but making sure that it is 
at a speed or level that would make it hard for them to get in "real" 
trouble if they loose it. I think it also depends on the track. 

I think its great that people here put together these track events.
It is making a lot of people think about how they drive, have fun
and learn from fellow miata enthusiasts. We need to plan on of these
Miata track events here in Texas!

-- 

Ony Anglade 
QOA000@ftw.mot.com