Best 4 pt bar?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,743
Likes: 37
From: Stockton Ca
Best 4 pt bar?
As part of my dream to drive my 74 from Stockton to Thunderhill Raceway.
Then do a few laps and drive home?
I'm not shooting for a lap time, I will run hard long wearing tires! lol
I'm race prepping as I go.
I think a bar is required, there are several bolt in 4 pt bars.
I'm looking for best fit.
Does anyone have some experience to share?
TIA
R
Then do a few laps and drive home?
I'm not shooting for a lap time, I will run hard long wearing tires! lol
I'm race prepping as I go.
I think a bar is required, there are several bolt in 4 pt bars.
I'm looking for best fit.
Does anyone have some experience to share?
TIA
R
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,246
Likes: 7,837
From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Perhaps you should double check that Bar requirement with street tires.
None the less, I like to stop at the bar, most times I order Bourbon and coke. Sometimes beer.
But never go out onto the track after stopping at the bar. In fact our local track has strict rules against it.
None the less, I like to stop at the bar, most times I order Bourbon and coke. Sometimes beer.
But never go out onto the track after stopping at the bar. In fact our local track has strict rules against it.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2024
Posts: 188
Likes: 70
I can't help with the roll bar. But, Here's a famous race car for sale not far from you that might work......
https://corvettemike.com/used-corvet...e-l88-racecar/
https://corvettemike.com/used-corvet...e-l88-racecar/
Last edited by Nikolai122; Dec 27, 2024 at 05:01 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,246
Likes: 7,837
From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Are you totally certain a street car on street tires is required to run a roll bar? I understand different tracks have different rules, but.......
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,246
Likes: 7,837
From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Oh, OK. I was a bit confused. Run mine on the track every so often. Helmet yes. That's about it.
Safety? In a vintage car on a race track on street tires?
Safety? In a vintage car on a race track on street tires?
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,246
Likes: 7,837
From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Yeah, I get that. Probably part of why I have 4 ex wives.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 888
Likes: 753
From: SW Desert
Roll bars in a street car are a recipe for disaster. While a serious rollover on track is possible you're more likely to get in a minor street accident (no helmet) that results in your head contacting the bar leading to a concussion or worse. 
A harness should be accompanied by a HANS or similar neck restraint. For a harness system to funtion correctly you need a PROPERLY installed race seat. You'll also discover that the majority (I'm thinking all) of harnesses are not DOT approved. Bad news again if you're in a wreck and the insurance company attorneys get involved. Early on in my HPDE hobby I was lectured by experienced individuals: Safety equipment is either factory original or full race. No mix and match. I'm pretty sure the track you're going to will have a street group that will satisfy your desires. Hook up with an instructor, cinch up that factory three-point and have some fun.
A harness should be accompanied by a HANS or similar neck restraint. For a harness system to funtion correctly you need a PROPERLY installed race seat. You'll also discover that the majority (I'm thinking all) of harnesses are not DOT approved. Bad news again if you're in a wreck and the insurance company attorneys get involved. Early on in my HPDE hobby I was lectured by experienced individuals: Safety equipment is either factory original or full race. No mix and match. I'm pretty sure the track you're going to will have a street group that will satisfy your desires. Hook up with an instructor, cinch up that factory three-point and have some fun.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,720
Likes: 554
From: Seattle Washington
There is no such thing as a bolt in bar. One can be fabricated but its just more work than a welded in one. And as soon as you get to a track that requires a bar when they see the bolts there going to say no. To put in a true 4 point bar you need to lift the body off the frame about 6 inches to weld the doubler plates to the frame Then once the holes are cut in the fiberglass lower it back down. Then fiberglass it back to and around the bars. Keep in mind that shortly after the first test drive the joints between the fiberglass and the bars will break and from now on whenever the car driven it will have the most god offal screeching sound from the flexing of body and frame.
You might find such a thing as a Harness Bar. It will bolt into the mounting locations of the Seat Belts and will provide a cross bar to attach a 5-point harness. These are made for C4 and newer cars. Don't expect it to pass any Track inspection but it may or may not make you feel safer it's up to you. I used one of these at a track day and the car still had the original seat belts, so I wore both.
You might find such a thing as a Harness Bar. It will bolt into the mounting locations of the Seat Belts and will provide a cross bar to attach a 5-point harness. These are made for C4 and newer cars. Don't expect it to pass any Track inspection but it may or may not make you feel safer it's up to you. I used one of these at a track day and the car still had the original seat belts, so I wore both.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 185
Likes: 113
Roll bars in a street car are a recipe for disaster. While a serious rollover on track is possible you're more likely to get in a minor street accident (no helmet) that results in your head contacting the bar leading to a concussion or worse. A harness should be accompanied by a HANS or similar neck restraint. For a harness system to funtion correctly you need a PROPERLY installed race seat. You'll also discover that the majority (I'm thinking all) of harnesses are not DOT approved. Bad news again if you're in a wreck and the insurance company attorneys get involved. Early on in my HPDE hobby I was lectured by experienced individuals: Safety equipment is either factory original or full race. No mix and match. I'm pretty sure the track you're going to will have a street group that will satisfy your desires. Hook up with an instructor, cinch up that factory three-point and have some fun.
A harness should be accompanied by a HANS or similar neck restraint. For a harness system to funtion correctly you need a PROPERLY installed race seat. You'll also discover that the majority (I'm thinking all) of harnesses are not DOT approved. Bad news again if you're in a wreck and the insurance company attorneys get involved. Early on in my HPDE hobby I was lectured by experienced individuals: Safety equipment is either factory original or full race. No mix and match. I'm pretty sure the track you're going to will have a street group that will satisfy your desires. Hook up with an instructor, cinch up that factory three-point and have some fun.I dunno. I feel like driving an old car like this on the street is pretty similar to riding a motorcycle - if you have an accident, you're going to have a bad time regardless.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 2,116
Likes: 156
From: Mid West
Cruise-In III Veteran
The only harness I could find that is street legal is the SCHROTH Profi II-FE asm 4 point (can be upgraded to 5 or 6 pt). It isn't made with the same material as racing harnesses, but is made from DOT legal material which stretches more like OEM belts and has the correct street legal latch with the big ugly RED button required on modern cars. It also is designed to allow the body to twist similar to an OEM 3pt belt to prevent you from slipping down under the lap belt. I used them when I was doing HPDE's and will use them again once I get the car back on track in a year or so.
If you use a racing harness without a HANS you are actually worse off than OEM because the belts don't give much and puts alot more load on the neck resulting in injuries or even death in an hard accident (i.e. Dale Earnhardt ... rest in peace). They are expensive but you don't have to replace the SCHROTH Profi II-FE asm 4 point belts on a regular basis like racing harnesses.
https://www.schroth.com/en/racing/st...i-ii-fe-asm-2/
If you use a racing harness without a HANS you are actually worse off than OEM because the belts don't give much and puts alot more load on the neck resulting in injuries or even death in an hard accident (i.e. Dale Earnhardt ... rest in peace). They are expensive but you don't have to replace the SCHROTH Profi II-FE asm 4 point belts on a regular basis like racing harnesses.
https://www.schroth.com/en/racing/st...i-ii-fe-asm-2/
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 14,406
Likes: 8,212
From: Napa Valley California
I have a 4 point bar I was planning to use in my 73.
It was built from a jig for our C3 frames and was manufactured by a company that builds them for street and race cars.
My plans for the car changed and I might be willing to sell it if you are interested.
It was never installed and is still in the original shipping packaging.
Send me a PM.
It was built from a jig for our C3 frames and was manufactured by a company that builds them for street and race cars.
My plans for the car changed and I might be willing to sell it if you are interested.
It was never installed and is still in the original shipping packaging.
Send me a PM.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,716
Likes: 280
From: New York
As part of my dream to drive my 74 from Stockton to Thunderhill Raceway.
Then do a few laps and drive home?
I'm not shooting for a lap time, I will run hard long wearing tires! lol
I'm race prepping as I go.
I think a bar is required, there are several bolt in 4 pt bars.
I'm looking for best fit.
Does anyone have some experience to share?
TIA
R
Then do a few laps and drive home?
I'm not shooting for a lap time, I will run hard long wearing tires! lol
I'm race prepping as I go.
I think a bar is required, there are several bolt in 4 pt bars.
I'm looking for best fit.
Does anyone have some experience to share?
TIA
R
- HPDE
- Time trial
- Racing, but just for a few laps?
If you’re doing a High Performance Driving event (HPDE) you will most likely not be able to just show up and drive. You usually must join a group. In the Northeast groups like EMRA, NASA, BMW, etc. do these events. The good thing about this is you will get an instructor. You can do as many laps as you want, and it is not a timed event. Also, since it is not racing, you can insure your car for the track event. Time trials are a similar, except you are put in a class and timed at the end.
Please reply as to the type of track event you are considering.
Back to your original question about rollbars….There is an autocross and racing forum here: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...roadracing-23/
There may be people in your area who can advise you. I had mine custom built out of chrome moly steel. Buying a prefabbed bar and having it installed runs about the same price.
Last edited by cottoneg; Jan 1, 2025 at 09:55 AM.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 416
Likes: 11
From: Merrick NY
Reviving this thread. I have a 70 restomod thats about to get into a shop and finally finished (Long story). The car will need new seatbelts and my new seats can be set up to run through both the seat frames and I was considering 4-point harness belts, unfortunately is seems they no longer make a sharkbar for this year, what are my options?
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 14,406
Likes: 8,212
From: Napa Valley California
Look up Autopower Industries in San Diego, CA.
I purchased my 4 point roll bar from them.
The fit and quality are perfect.
They make street, full race roll bars and full cages for all C3 Corvettes.
They were great to deal with and their customer service was awesome.
I purchased my 4 point roll bar from them.
The fit and quality are perfect.
They make street, full race roll bars and full cages for all C3 Corvettes.
They were great to deal with and their customer service was awesome.