Since, we are on a slightly related topic, has anyone had the opportunity to
install one of Autopower's BGT roll cages yet? I know the cost of a custom
cage is only a little more then price + shipping of a prefabbed one, but I'm
curious about the quality of the fit and design.
James Nazarian
71 MGB Tourer
71 MGBGT V8
85 Dodge Ram
----- Original Message -----
From: "Max Heim" <mvheim@studiolimage.com>
To: "MG List" <mgs@autox.team.net>
Sent: Friday, November 21, 2003 8:26 PM
Subject: Re: Chrome roll bar question
> I think Dean summed it up well. I entirely fail to understand the
attraction
> of a roll bar in a street MG. It has no more real function than those
silly
> wings on Hondas (which we love to make fun of), and it's inconvenient to
> boot. Just another "wanna-be" accessory...
>
> on 11/21/03 5:35 AM, Dean T. Lake at dtlake@erols.com wrote:
>
> > I know I've prattled on about this before, but I am prone to repeat
> > myself:
> >
> > For obvious reasons, the threat of rollover is in the minds of roadster
> > drivers; a roll bar offers the instinctive appearance of greater safety.
> > The reality is that rollovers are rare, and other kinds of collisions
> > are common. The net effect is that most aftermarket roll bars increase,
> > rather than decrease, the likelihood of injury. Even a highly engineered
> > race-body-sanctioned roll bar may actually increase the likelihood of
> > serious injury IF the occupant is not properly restrained in a racing
> > harness NOR wearing a helmet.
> >
> > Any roll bar that is effective at protecting the occupants AND does not
> > present its own set of hazards in a collision is likely to neither fit
> > under a soft top, nor be remotely attractive. I can see that "hoops" do
> > not present the same head-banging threat that some other aftermarket
> > type rollbars do, so their potential harm is lessened. As Paul says,
> > though, they do not likely offer much protection, either. If someone
> > can offer you some persuasive explanation for precisely how their roll
> > bar will indeed increase safety rather than lessen it, and the
> > installation is acceptable to you, then by all means go for it. Heck,
> > if it does nothing for safety but does no harm, and you simply like the
> > way it looks, then go for it. (I happen to like the look of the hoops
> > on the Miata, the MGF, and the BMW's.) Just don't assume any bar
> > automatically enhances safety.
> >
> > Rant over, discuss/rebut.
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