Removable rollbar for an F348 spider

I'll let Bighead Dennis comment from an FCA event perspective. But I'd recommend strongly against a 348 spider as a track car. A roll bar that was worth anything would not be easily removable.

LRP's rule for example is:

• Open cars must be able to pass the “Broomstick” test – the roll bar must be of sufficient height to ensure that the top of the driver’s helmet sits below the line from the top of the roll bar to the top of the windshield. Furthermore, the roll bar must be fixed and visible at all times when the vehicle is on the track.

 

Is it doable? Sure. Is it safe? Well, it's safer than NOT having one, but it's up to the driver to decide if it's safe enough for him/her.

Keep in mind that a Spider is far from an ideal track car; it'll be fairly flexi-flyer. But we do see a few spiders at the track, and the owners are enjoying themselves, so who am I to say? IMHO, I'd do it if it was my only track-worthy car, but I'd much prefer to do it in a coupe. I dimly recall that a fellow FChatter from NY state had installed a roll bar in his 355 Spider, and it *MAY* have been removable, but am not sure. If it is readily removable, then one must question how much safety it actually adds.


FWIW, I do have a 348/355 roll bar sitting in my garage that's for sale (not that I've listed it or anything, but I have no use for it now). But I'm not sure it'll install in a 348/355 Spider, without interfering with the top mechanism.

It was custom built for a good friend of mine, and she installed it in her 355 Berlinetta. After she decided to go racing with an M3, she retired the 355 from track use, removed the roll bar, and reinstalled the interior pieces that cover where the bar was attached. I bought it, then ended up buying a 355 Challenge shortly thereafter, so never got around to installing it.

The pics are attached:

0915: the plate where the bottom of the bar went on one side (the stock belt's hanging there just for the moment)

0916: another view of the same plate

0917: the place where the top of the bar bolts to the top rear of the passenger compartment; the two things protruding forward are where the eye bolts went for the harnesses

0918: mounting detail for the bottom plate on the drivers side

0919: closeup of plate on drivers rear top

0920: another view, drivers top rear

0921: the bar, from the front

0922: the bar, from the side

vty,

--Dennis
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