New roll cage

svt_coupe · 09-04-2002, 02:48 PM

Well... I can't stand it any longer. The Autopower cage is about to be removed from my car. I just don't feel safe running door-to-door with a bolt-in cage. While I think the Autopower unit makes a good Solo I and open track cage, it just isn't up to the level of a custom weld in cage. You simply can't compare a quality bolt-in cage to a quality fabricated, custom cage. The bolt in cage ties into weaker areas of the car (the floor pan and rear tire well) and does little to stiffen the chassis.

Tom Lewis and I were going to fabricate a "Tom Lewis Banana special" but since Tom isn't even working on his OWN car...... well, you know...

Sooo... Monday after this weekend's event, I will remove the bolt-in cage and prep the car for a custom road racing cage. The car is going to the Delta Group, owned by Walt Pucket. Walt will fabricate and install the cage - he is one of the best fabricators around and I can hardly wait to get his cage installed. He's had experience with many different types of road racing cars and his cages are among the best. Walt is an ex-Team Lotus factory mechanic, an ex-Speed Vision World Challenge driver, and is currently co-driving Phat-S' (Adam Richman) ITA CRX in SCCA enduros (they are currently 1st for the SEDiv, I believe). His accolades are many (too many to list) and I am excited to have Walt do his magic on my car!!

Not only will it be a competitve advantage (a good roll cage will stiffen the chassis dramatically and thus make the foundation for a good suspension), but I will finally feel safe diving into the corners with Hoover the Hillbilly and "Brakes are optional" Pantas right by my side.

I'll have to post pics of the final product. I will undoubtedly be very proud of it so I'll have to show off my latest saftey item.

98banana · 09-04-2002, 04:17 PM

Sounds like a dang good plan! Sorry I can't help, but I'm sure you'll get one hell of a cage. One better than I could build. (But it'll cost you more!

)

Thomas Moran sent me an e-mail the other day saying that he spoke with Chris Hall of Panoz a few weeks back and Chris was the lead instructor when I crunched into the wall. He said he had never seen anybody hit the inside wall that hard in a driving school and it worried him. He went on to say that whoever built that cage did an awesome job!

I'm so proud.

But really, you will feel safer with it. When I put mine in, I noticed right away the stiffness, but the feeling of safety was just as dramatic of a change.

What type of door bars are you going with?

redsnake99 · 09-04-2002, 08:02 PM

I remember my first ride in Whistler after the mod package was done. The chassis was stiff and so was I (figuratively speaking).

svt_coupe · 09-05-2002, 02:18 PM

Dave - LMAO!!!

Yeah, I wouldn't mind a Tom Lewis special. But, since you aren't even working on your own car...

Walt said he's got a stonger type of door bar than a NASCAR style door bar. It's supposedly much better for a road racing application. I have a feeling it involves triangulating the upper and lower bars via a "K-shape"... but I may be wrong. We're supposed to talk about it this weekend at Lowes (he'll be there on Saturday). I'll fill you in when I get more details.

By the way.... I want to give a VERY LARGE and VERY PUBLIC thank you to John Pearson. He helped me install my MM stuff. Also... thanks to Diane (his wife) for the scrumptious meals. Mmmm.... cheesburgers....

Jason - thanks for the company on the ride to John's last night.

I seem to be thanking a lot of people in this club all the time. Without some of our club members, there is NO WAY I'd be racing this year. Tom, John, Jason... I can't thank everyone enough. This sport attracts some truly first class people. I'm honored to have such good friends in this club and this sport. I don't know if there is a way to say thank you sufficiently.

98banana · 09-05-2002, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by svt_coupe
...
I seem to be thanking a lot of people in this club all the time. Without some of our club members, there is NO WAY I'd be racing this year. Tom, John, Jason... I can't thank everyone enough. This sport attracts some truly first class people. I'm honored to have such good friends in this club and this sport. I don't know if there is a way to say thank you sufficiently.

sniffle...sniffle...

That's what this club, and this sport for that matter, is all about. It's really cool to get a helping hand without even asking for it.

johnbasf · 09-05-2002, 07:22 PM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by svt_coupe
Jason - thanks for the company on the ride to John's last night.

I would like to thank Jason also. Without him you would STILL be LOST.

johnbasf · 09-05-2002, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 98banana
sniffle...sniffle...

That's what this club, and this sport for that matter, is all about. It's really cool to get a helping hand without even asking for it.

What Tom said.

SIUNARA · 09-05-2002, 07:47 PM

Glad to hear about the cage Bryan, sounds like you are getting it done right. It will be worth the piece of mind alone I'm sure...not to mention the safety and chassis stiffening benefits!! Definitely post pictures when it's done.

I agree with the above statements...you guys (and gals) are great people, and I feel very fortunate to have met you!!

johnbasf · 09-05-2002, 08:07 PM

Group HUG,

98banana · 09-06-2002, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by johnbasf
Group HUG,

Not sure if I want to go to Lowe's now!!!

98BlueVert · 09-06-2002, 06:41 AM

You guys are getting mighty touchy feely in here. I'm getting kinda worried about you.

justagt · 09-06-2002, 08:27 AM

Nothing like a group hug with John and then finding a little tobacco juice stain on you shoulder.

See you guys in a couple of days.

svt_coupe · 09-06-2002, 11:57 AM

dayum... that was a funny string of quotes

johnbasf · 09-06-2002, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by justagt
Nothing like a group hug with John and then finding a little tobacco juice stain on you shoulder.

See you guys in a couple of days.

Or on your chin!!!!

justagt · 09-06-2002, 02:47 PM

OK, that's it, I am skipping out on this weekend.

09-04-2002, 02:48 PM	#1
svt_coupe Bryan Shugg Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 961	New roll cage Well... I can't stand it any longer. The Autopower cage is about to be removed from my car. I just don't feel safe running door-to-door with a bolt-in cage. While I think the Autopower unit makes a good Solo I and open track cage, it just isn't up to the level of a custom weld in cage. You simply can't compare a quality bolt-in cage to a quality fabricated, custom cage. The bolt in cage ties into weaker areas of the car (the floor pan and rear tire well) and does little to stiffen the chassis. Tom Lewis and I were going to fabricate a "Tom Lewis Banana special" but since Tom isn't even working on his OWN car...... well, you know... Sooo... Monday after this weekend's event, I will remove the bolt-in cage and prep the car for a custom road racing cage. The car is going to the Delta Group, owned by Walt Pucket. Walt will fabricate and install the cage - he is one of the best fabricators around and I can hardly wait to get his cage installed. He's had experience with many different types of road racing cars and his cages are among the best. Walt is an ex-Team Lotus factory mechanic, an ex-Speed Vision World Challenge driver, and is currently co-driving Phat-S' (Adam Richman) ITA CRX in SCCA enduros (they are currently 1st for the SEDiv, I believe). His accolades are many (too many to list) and I am excited to have Walt do his magic on my car!! Not only will it be a competitve advantage (a good roll cage will stiffen the chassis dramatically and thus make the foundation for a good suspension), but I will finally feel safe diving into the corners with Hoover the Hillbilly and "Brakes are optional" Pantas right by my side. I'll have to post pics of the final product. I will undoubtedly be very proud of it so I'll have to show off my latest saftey item. __________________ Bryan Shugg #67 American Iron East

09-04-2002, 04:17 PM	#2
98banana Registered User Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: North, SC Posts: 1,928	Sounds like a dang good plan! Sorry I can't help, but I'm sure you'll get one hell of a cage. One better than I could build. (But it'll cost you more! ) Thomas Moran sent me an e-mail the other day saying that he spoke with Chris Hall of Panoz a few weeks back and Chris was the lead instructor when I crunched into the wall. He said he had never seen anybody hit the inside wall that hard in a driving school and it worried him. He went on to say that whoever built that cage did an awesome job! I'm so proud. But really, you will feel safer with it. When I put mine in, I noticed right away the stiffness, but the feeling of safety was just as dramatic of a change. What type of door bars are you going with? __________________ Tom Lewis Nothing fun to drive...

09-04-2002, 08:02 PM	#3
redsnake99 SCMC Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: NV, NY, SC Posts: 1,257	I remember my first ride in Whistler after the mod package was done. The chassis was stiff and so was I (figuratively speaking). __________________ Dave Stanfield - SCMC 424

09-05-2002, 02:18 PM	#4
svt_coupe Bryan Shugg Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 961	Dave - LMAO!!! Yeah, I wouldn't mind a Tom Lewis special. But, since you aren't even working on your own car... Walt said he's got a stonger type of door bar than a NASCAR style door bar. It's supposedly much better for a road racing application. I have a feeling it involves triangulating the upper and lower bars via a "K-shape"... but I may be wrong. We're supposed to talk about it this weekend at Lowes (he'll be there on Saturday). I'll fill you in when I get more details. By the way.... I want to give a VERY LARGE and VERY PUBLIC thank you to John Pearson. He helped me install my MM stuff. Also... thanks to Diane (his wife) for the scrumptious meals. Mmmm.... cheesburgers.... Jason - thanks for the company on the ride to John's last night. I seem to be thanking a lot of people in this club all the time. Without some of our club members, there is NO WAY I'd be racing this year. Tom, John, Jason... I can't thank everyone enough. This sport attracts some truly first class people. I'm honored to have such good friends in this club and this sport. I don't know if there is a way to say thank you sufficiently. __________________ Bryan Shugg #67 American Iron East

09-05-2002, 07:22 PM	#6
johnbasf Registered User Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Lewisville,NC Posts: 3,234	[QUOTE]Originally posted by svt_coupe Jason - thanks for the company on the ride to John's last night. I would like to thank Jason also. Without him you would STILL be LOST. __________________ John Pearson

09-05-2002, 07:47 PM	#8
SIUNARA Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: State College, Pa. Posts: 490	Glad to hear about the cage Bryan, sounds like you are getting it done right. It will be worth the piece of mind alone I'm sure...not to mention the safety and chassis stiffening benefits!! Definitely post pictures when it's done. I agree with the above statements...you guys (and gals) are great people, and I feel very fortunate to have met you!! __________________ Don Page 95 Cobra

09-05-2002, 08:07 PM	#9
johnbasf Registered User Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Lewisville,NC Posts: 3,234	Group HUG, __________________ John Pearson

09-06-2002, 06:41 AM	#11
98BlueVert Registered User Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 503	You guys are getting mighty touchy feely in here. I'm getting kinda worried about you. __________________ Todd Shanaberger 98 Atlantic Blue Convert. BBK Long Tubes, BBK H-pipe w/cats, 4.10's, Flowmasters, Pro-M 77, Steeda Pullies, Steeda LCA's, Eibach Pro Springs, Hooker Chrome 4pt Rollbar, Chrome Cobra R's, Custom Snake emblem shift knob, Scott Winger letters, UPR Power Pipe, Steeda Race Wing, Tokico 5 ways, 306rwhp/303rwtq SCMC # 415

09-06-2002, 08:27 AM	#12
justagt Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Salisbury, NC Posts: 412	Nothing like a group hug with John and then finding a little tobacco juice stain on you shoulder. See you guys in a couple of days. __________________ Will #32 joegibbsracingoil.com

09-06-2002, 11:57 AM	#13
svt_coupe Bryan Shugg Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 961	dayum... that was a funny string of quotes __________________ Bryan Shugg #67 American Iron East

09-06-2002, 02:47 PM	#15
justagt Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Salisbury, NC Posts: 412	OK, that's it, I am skipping out on this weekend. __________________ Will #32 joegibbsracingoil.com

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