vansprinkle

So, I have just completed my first DE and my instructor thinks I should put a proper cage, seat, harness, and fuel bladder in the car. My plans are to use the car for Honda Challenge or PT, but until then I just want to be safe.

I know where I want to go with the seat and harness, and would buy proper equipment that I could keep for a long time.
And I can wait on the fuel cell for a little while, so I am not worried about it yet.

I am questioning if I should buy a proper NASA legal/Nascar Bar/Weld in cage, or just buy a 4 or 6 point bolt-in cage for now. I could sell the bolt in cage when I am ready to upgrade. And I dont really have $3k to spend on a cage, seat and harness.

So, first, would you guys suggest getting a simple bolt in cage?
And, do you guys know where I could buy one of these simple bolt in cages?

petern101

Honestly if you are going to to do it, I would get a legal welded cage if you serious. You can't race in those series without it anyways so why cheapen out and waste money on something that will only work for DE's???

If you don't have money, wait. Your life is more valuable than $3000.

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71dsp

The only bolt in cage that I'm aware of for the Prelude is from Autopower. Kirk might have something, but you'd have to contact them. The Autopower cage is okay. Side impact protection is not very good, IMO, but you can't expect too much for a cage that's less than $1k. Keep in mind the Autopower cage is a minimal cage. It doesn't have adequate driver protection, IMO.

Until you are ready to make the commitment to do HPDEs regularly or make the jump into W2W racing, I'd wait on spending that much money on a seat, harness, cage, etc.

One thing is for sure, you don't need a fuel cell. The OEM fuel tank is located in such a good location, and works fairly well as long as you keep it above 1/4 tank or so. Most of the people I know personally that run in HC don't run fuel cells since the tank is very well protected in the car. I did some research and to properly install a race spec fuel cell in the Prelude is going to run at least $1,500 and likely closer to $2k.

If you don't have $3k to spend on safety equipment, forget about a custom cage. A custom cage alone will run $3k. IIRC, mine was right at $2,400 and that was 3 years ago. Steel prices have gone up quite a bit since then.

A seat is a good idea, as it makes driving the car much easier, but I would not install a seat and harness without a proper roll bar at a minimum. If you're going to install harness, install them properly as well. People that mount the shoulder belts to the rear lap belt mounting points are taking serious risks.

I do agree with Peter, though. You need to decide how much your life is worth.

My car is equipped with a custom cage w/NASCAR door bars on the driver's side, with some additional bracing here and there. I use a semi-custom Ultrashield RR seat with a halo and an IO Port seat back brace. I did sit in a Sabelt Tarus seat, and I really liked it. I'd consider changing if I had the money. For my harness, I use a 6 point belt by SafeCraft with aluminum adjusters. Very trick harness. I use the 2" HANS friendly shoulder belts. I never go out on track without my HANS. There are other very good brands, out there obviously, so choose carefully.

Mugenlude

I agree with everyone above regarding safety items because you need to be safe... however, be aware that installing a cage and one of these seats in your car is going to make driving it on the street a hazard without a helmet.

You mentioned that this was your first DE, personally, I think that building a car for track use is a serious commitment of money and you need to be sure this is what you want to do because you aren't going to get most of the money back. It's not like you can spend $3k on cage and get 75% of the cost back when you want to sell it (like most parts). If you are serious about racing you should look into purchasing a used race car, you will same money and time.

Yes, have a cage while tracking a car is the best scenario, however, lots of people track their daily driver without them. You just need to be sure to drive within your limits, and keep in mind that you need to drive the car home from the track (assuming this is your daily driver).

I just think that starting to building a track car after one event is "jumping the gun". Do you have previous racing experience? ovals, dirty track, carts, etc.?

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pswarts

I just had a new cage and the 2 nets installed, sunroof skin, cut-off switch, fire extinguisher, and tow hooks installed for 4200 on my 97. Cage was 3500 alone but it's structurally part of the car and I feel really safe in it. It is definitely not cheap to do it right. In today's competitive racing, car preparation is pretty key which is why I spent a little more.

I run my 99SH daily driver in HPDE's and it's pretty stock. I have a seat for it but need a harness bar installed so I never put it in. Other then that, good tires and better brake pads should be enough

vansprinkle

i have done a few more events and am totally dedicated to it. i have a lot of past experience with auto-x and do feel very committed to auto sports in general.

i have seats and harnesses on the way and next week will have a partial custom cage installed in the car. mainly the main hoop with harness bar, but will have some additional support in the rear of the car (I will later have them go in and finish the cage, including Nascar bars, nets, etc). i am ready to get out there and be serious, but i do need more track time and experience (but I think everyone does, unless your Michael Schumacher or "The Stig"). I am trying to take everything in stride and not jump into it to quickly.

i totally agree with buying a pre-built, ready to drive race car. for $5-7k you can get a damn good HC car with spare parts. i however have always been the guy to do things for myself. if I'm driving a race car, I want to be the one who built it. i was able to pick up a decent shell for super cheap and have actually made my money back on it from selling off old parts. it is a lot of work and a lot of money, but at the end of the day it is mine. whether i win or lose, it will be in something that I have built. Plus my wife was really pushing me into doing it on my own. She knows how much I love working on cars and knew that I would appreciate it a lot more if I did the build from the ground up.

Steel has gone up, and cages have become more expensive. One good thing about the economy being the way it is, is a buyers negotiating power. The shop I am having do the cage has been dead for the past few months. They are more than happy and eager to get my business. I am confident that they are giving me a good price and great service.

71dsp

Who is doing the work, and what's the price? When are you planning to do a comp school? I'm hoping I'll be out at TWS with NASA on Aug 2/3. I'll be racing in PTB or PTC, not sure which yet.

vansprinkle

Lucas Auto in Houston. I think the price will be between $2500 and $3000 for the whole thing. He has enough left over tubing that he can cut me a good price on materials. His next shipment of metal will be more expensive, and so will his cages.

I am not sure when I am planning on doing the school. I really need to look into it and get on the ball. I still have more work to do on the car to be competitive. I could get the safety equipment together, take the class and go racing, but I'd be so far behind you guys it wouldn't even be like I was there. I am quickly moving up the ladder in DE's and should be moving into the third group this weekend.

I am planning on attending the NASA event, because I am so close. I will not be driving in it though. I will get my driving out of the way this weekend, and will have the car in the shop having the cage put in next weekend.


[Edit]What school did you guys go to?[/Edit]

pswarts

If you are building a race car, get your license and go racing as soon as you can if that is what you want to do. Now that I've raced, DE days just don't seem important anymore. Last weekend was my first races since I got my licenses last year because my race car broke last year and I only just got it fixed. Been driving my daily driver for DE's . 20+ DE days at 500 heavier pounds and then finally the race car was ready again. I'm a mid pack car in H2 Honda Challenge. I'm sure I will be one of the last at the National SCCA ITS races I'm going to be doing in August but I don't care. I just want to be out there and I want to be side by side. I just filled up August with Race days. Think of them as DE days on steroids. Treat the races as DE learning days. You learn so much more driving next to someone. Once you've done the racing, DE's seem a little boring unless you are learning a new track.

NASA does offer a comp school a couple of times a year (at least in NE). Do that, get your rookie status and go racing. I went through Bertil Roos at Pocono. They are comparable to Skip Barber but offer more track time and are a SCCA certified school. The instructors were awesome. Expensive though just like Skip.

vansprinkle

some pics of the cage:













I am in the middle of painting the cage and the inside of the car. There is a lot of cleaning up inside the car to do, so some of the interior pics look messy, but that will be taken care of.