Cages that do not cut the door
#24
AFAIK X style door bars are still legal for most sanctioning bodies. I Wouldn't exactly feel safe with them, but it's not like you'd think about it while driving.
Also, With NASCAR bars, put them high up. It makes getting in and out a pain, but look at the other cars on track and see where their bumper meets your door. A Bumper punch from a VW GTI is the exact opposite of my idea of fun.
Also, With NASCAR bars, put them high up. It makes getting in and out a pain, but look at the other cars on track and see where their bumper meets your door. A Bumper punch from a VW GTI is the exact opposite of my idea of fun.
#27
X-style doorbars are much more rigid. If you are keeping the windows operational, and not going into the door panel, then x-style is the way to go.
I had a custom cage built a few years back for a track Miata that I drove to-and-from the track. The cage allowed full use of a '99 glass-window soft top and the power windows, all in my NA Miata.
To answer the original question, I am not aware of any off-the-shelf cages that allow the use of both windows. For a while, Spec Miata required you to keep the factory door panel on the passenger side, so most cages had an x-style door bar on the passenger side. MiataCages and others may still do this. I suppose you could call them and ask if they would make you a cage with x-bars on both sides.
That said, find reputable local builder and go that route. You'll have more control over what you get, and this is particularly important to you, since your request (a roll cage built for a daily-driver) is rare.
IMHO, custom weld-in > bolt-in.
#28
I think most people here are mis-understanding what I am going to do with the car. It will be a full **** out track car within a year, trailered to/from the track. But for now I have to drive it to the track on the street. Because of that I want to keep my windows operational. I also want a cage that is built really tight to the roof (Like this... http://store.awrracing.com/products/...005-Miata.html).
#29
Our racecar has an older miatacage.com cage in it and it fits pretty tight to the roof. I can't grab the topside of the bar which makes egress more difficult. I have to grab onto the roof, uncomfortable but not that big of a deal.
Dislike for x-bars is simple mechanics. Hitting the x only loads those two tubes and it loads them in bending. They will yield right into your side. Nascar bars put more load onto the main hoops and the door bars are already bent the other way. It'll take a harder hit to make the bars bend back at you and even then the're far away. I'd be willing to bet the main/front hoops would pretzel before the bar hits you
If you know you're always going to have the windows down when driving you can make lexan travel windows to keep the rain out when parked or on the trailer
Dislike for x-bars is simple mechanics. Hitting the x only loads those two tubes and it loads them in bending. They will yield right into your side. Nascar bars put more load onto the main hoops and the door bars are already bent the other way. It'll take a harder hit to make the bars bend back at you and even then the're far away. I'd be willing to bet the main/front hoops would pretzel before the bar hits you
If you know you're always going to have the windows down when driving you can make lexan travel windows to keep the rain out when parked or on the trailer
Last edited by Asx; 09-02-2010 at 07:30 PM.
#34
Former Vendor
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They're called "NASCAR" bars because that's where they originated. They provide significantly more side impact protection vs. an X-brace door bar, and they are usually easier to get in and out of as well.
#35
I think most people here are mis-understanding what I am going to do with the car. It will be a full **** out track car within a year, trailered to/from the track. But for now I have to drive it to the track on the street. Because of that I want to keep my windows operational. I also want a cage that is built really tight to the roof (Like this... http://store.awrracing.com/products/...005-Miata.html).
#36
The main reason is I will for the most part be driving it to->from the track. I don't have a tow vehicle. Our local track is 30mins from my house and Seattle/Portland/ORP are a few hours. I live in a condo, and can't have a full on car trailer and I can't really afford a tow vehicle right now.
So I want the windows operational.
Again... this thread was purely to find out if they exist. Not to start an argument. I may end up taking a road trip to LA and have TC designs build me a cage. Or find someone a bit closer than can replicate it from photos.
So I want the windows operational.
Again... this thread was purely to find out if they exist. Not to start an argument. I may end up taking a road trip to LA and have TC designs build me a cage. Or find someone a bit closer than can replicate it from photos.
#39
Elite Member
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Its in the bay area, about 6 hours north of LA. Any competent cage builder should be able to keep the windows working fine. You can even zip tie the windows in the up right positions like i do now. I do it to wash the car and keep dust out of it while its parked.
As you can see, window is in and up with no mechanism holding it there, when i get to the track i snap the zip ties and yank the windows out. Zip tie them back in when i go home.
I would NOT want to have a side impact with that cage.
As you can see, window is in and up with no mechanism holding it there, when i get to the track i snap the zip ties and yank the windows out. Zip tie them back in when i go home.
I would NOT want to have a side impact with that cage.