RacePro Engineering

Fellow racers,

I know this is a REAL L-O-N-G S-H-O-T , but, does anyone have a cage that is not being used?

( Then, once the laughter subsides . . . . . )

Maybe a bolt-in that was used for awhile, and then removed? Perhaps a weld-in that was ordered, but never installed?? MUST fit the C4.

Just thought I would inquire before ordering new - there is a 30-day wait.

Thanks,
Ed LoPresti
six zero seven - five three five - four two three seven
RaceProEngineering [at] Verizon [dot] net

rfn026

The best cage design is the one used on the '89 Challenge cars.

Richard Newton

RacePro Engineering

Hi Righard,

First, let me state that I do not doubt your blanket statement. I just need a little more substantiation.

A skeptic like me is always wary of absolute superlatives, like BEST, WORST, FASTEST, QUICKEST, PRETTIEST. Would you take another moment and write WHY the '89 Challenge Car cage design is so good? I am particularly interested in the aspects of [1] safety (including intrusion), [2] adding to chassis rigidity, and [3] weight. Lastly, are these Challence Car cages available commercially?

Any and all observations will be appreciated.
Ed

RacePro Engineering

Still looking for that . LONG . SHOT . Anyone?

TJM

Racepro Not a Bar but I have a set of photos of one, but they don't look like they would be legal?

Richard does that meet the current rules, say fro NASA?

Curios because I am doing one as we speak. Seeing he Guy with the bender and welder this week.

TJM

rfn026

I'm not sure if a Challenge cage is even available. The reason I say it's the best is because of the engineering that went into it. GM knew the C4 chassis - really well. They should have of course.

Then they put all of their engineering effort into designing a cage using this knowledge. Most cages are simply a really good guess. People copy things from other cars that make no sense.

I can't tell you how many C4, C5 and C6 cages I've seen where the cage actually extends through and in front of the firewall. That totally defeats the purpose of the front crush zone. The crush zone is desinged to disipate energy. Put the roll cage up in front of the fire wall and all of the energy goes into the center section and and driver. Not good.

If you get a chance look at a Pratt and Miller C6. That's the ultimate in roll cage engineering. At least for the moment. The new Nationwide cars are another great example of the current state of the art.

Guys, it takes engineering skills.

Richard Newton

RacePro Engineering

TJM,

Thank you for the offer of photos, but that will not be necessary. We will most likely just get one of the commercially available ones. I am simply hoping to avoid the three-to-four week wait by picking up a used or uninstalled one here.

As far as the 1989 Challenge Car, safety specs on cages rarely change these days, using a combination of material type, outside diameter, wall thickness, and raced weight; so I am certain that cage is fine for SCCA and NASA, and probably FIA, too.

Bringing us to your installation. I am certain you already know this - but - if you are planning on competition, make certain your new cage meets the sanctioning body's minimum requirements. Good luck with the fabrication.

Ed

RacePro Engineering

Richard,

Thanks for the elaboration. I am going to investigate this a little more.

Of course, it is quite common practice to extend tubular runners fore and aft of the cage, to tie in the suspension points (like shock towers). This adds a considerable amount of chassis rigidity. I have never actually seen portions of the "cage" itself placed outside the cockpit firewalls.

Best,
Ed