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Given all of the discussions about HPDE and the fun people have, I am looking into what options may exists for me given I have a convertible.
I recall reading that the Z06 is "track ready" stock but am not sure it includes convertibles or if they are excluded by virtue of being convertible.
Is there literature from GM stating one way or another? or is there a roll-over rating for the car that HPDE events accept?
In the likely scenario that it isn't track ready, meaning with roll over protection, are there any GM approved or otherwise reputable companies that are adding roll bars? With the aluminum used throughout, I'd think that welding anything is problematic and from what I've read, not all HPDE events will accept a bolt on roll bar.
Does anyone have any ideas? suggestions? thoughts?
NASA will allow them with an approved roll cage or a letter/documentation from GM stating the driver and passenger are protected in the event of a roll over. That is directly from them via email.
Funny how they build a Z06 Convertible with a Z07 option with all the great track ready equipment....but you can not use it on the track.
Thank the lawyers for that....we live in a very litigious society....you race your convertible ...roll over...and then you sue the track for letting you run your convertible....
Certainly a fabricator could design and build one. However, your interior would have to removed, and carved up a bit.
It would be worthless as a simple bolt on. It needs to be anchored to the chassis. I believe the "roll bars" offered for previous gen cars were purely about appearance, having no functional value.
Chin seems to allow convertibles without a roll bar. I had a student last year at Summit Point with a C6 427 convertible. I wasn't thrilled with a newbie in a 505 HP car and no rollover protection but at least he was a good listener.
I'd reach out to Piper Motorsports and see what they can come up with. They are very experienced at building cages for the aluminum frames on Corvettes and can help you figure out what is possible to meet your goals.
Chin seems to allow convertibles without a roll bar. I had a student last year at Summit Point with a C6 427 convertible. I wasn't thrilled with a newbie in a 505 HP car and no rollover protection but at least he was a good listener.
I'd reach out to Piper Motorsports and see what they can come up with. They are very experienced at building cages for the aluminum frames on Corvettes and can help you figure out what is possible to meet your goals.
Near zero chance of tracking a convertible. The roll bar has to extend 2 inches above the drivers head and with a helmet on, my head touches the interior top. If the bar came that high I don't see the top ever being able to close again. Plus the convertible mechanism will dictate anchor locations which is compounded by the fact that in order to install a steel cage/bar on an aluminum chassis they have to weld aluminum plates specially made to accept steel plates that they cam then use for the cage/bar. These are sized in a way that the convertible mechanisms may not allow for it.
Piper hasn't done a C7 yet so he was only speculating.
Damn.
On a side note, the staff over at Piper are a great bunch of guys....when I do get another car, I'll have them install a bar in it.
I ran my convertible at a track in NC however it was a private event at nccar http://nccar.us/ an acquaintance rented the track and invited a bunch of us
Last edited by dashotgun; Mar 31, 2017 at 02:49 PM.
I went ahead and bought a c6z06 with built motor trans and diff. Same horsepower as the c7 z06. I just didn't want to cut a rollbar into the c7Z. Plus I don't have to worry about the car doing HPDE duty.
The struggle I am working thru is making sure with a race seat and helmet can I get a 6pt. Bolt-in that is NASA and SCCA approved and it pass the broomstick test in the coupe. I have been told bolt ins will pass if done correctly.
Looking at a custom 6pt or RSD to get there. Main concern is I do not want to gut the car yet, but with helmet and hans don't want to be higher than the rollbar and get seriously injured if the car gets on its lid.
Zenica, if you look hard enough, you'll be able to find a couple of promoters that allow convertibles. We were able to find a group that gave him the thumbs up to drive his Camaro SS Vert without an installed cage.
Another option I have seen people do, though I have not done it, is to rent a C7 for their first track day...
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.
HPDE and a convertible
