Roll cage paralysis HPDE

[Oskar]

I run 5+ HPDEs/year and I have decided it is time for a cage. I'm going to hire this out and have found a local builder I'm thinking of going with. This builder mainly does drag racing cages, but has built some cages to SCCA specs. I am struggling with pulling the trigger for fear that I'm going to miss something important in the build. What should I look for in this build?

I know this is not a lot of background, so please ask more clarifying questions. I'm really hoping to get some input from those of you that have experience in this area.

Thanks!

[anyonebutme]

How do you use the car the rest of the time?

What type of seats do you have?

Do you have full interior? Namely do you have A and B pillar covers. Door panels?

Mainly I'm trying to gauge what type of cage you are going for. If this is a street car, your choices become harder.

[Oskar]

How do you use the car the rest of the time?

What type of seats do you have?

Do you have full interior? Namely do you have A and B pillar covers. Door panels?

Mainly I'm trying to gauge what type of cage you are going for. If this is a street car, your choices become harder.
Good questions. This is a track only car with minimal interior. Currently have the dash installed, but willing to cut this up as needed. Everything else is stripped. No pillar covers or door panels. Corbeau fixed back seats.

[J. Fast]

Two front downs. X the doors. X the main hoop if you're going to have a passenger on occasion. Add two downs to the rear shock towers. Add an overhead bar incase your upside down and get hit. 1 3/4' .120 Dom in mild steel. Brace all horizontal to vertical perpendicular to plane changes, 12 bars for basic. 13 with roof collision possibility. 15 if your door to door and have the aero that can induce lift and roll.

[Oskar]

Thanks J Fast. My builder seems to think 1.5" .120 Dom is sufficient. What are your thoughts on that? The car is around 3200lbs with a full tank of gas.

[anyonebutme]

NASA rules say 1.75x.120 minimum for cars from 3K-4K lbs. I don't know about SCCA but I'd say it's same in most cases.

Now HPDE isn't going to spec your cage, but I'd stick to roadracing rules anyways.

[Oskar]

SCCA would require 1.5x.120 for my car. I only do HPDE so far. But there is always that chance I'd want to run with NASA. Probably would be wise to go with 1.75x.120.

[J. Fast]

6512

Nothing wrong with overbuilding a bit. The weight difference is only 20lbs or so. Do you plan on hogging out the doors? Last cage I built a saddle into door configuration worked out real nice. Unfortunately you have to ladder bar for the most room, but it's safe if it's door to door and there's no chance of driving off cliffs or swiping a tree and needing a supernode.

[Erron Spalsbury]

For years the spec has been 1.75"x.120 DOM for cars over 3k pounds.
I would check a number of places before using just one spec.
Silver State Classic
NASA
SCCA
LeMons
ChumCar
Texas Mile
Rally America
Just to name a few....

Wouldn't you rather be over spec than unsure when it comes to safety gear? In my humble opinion of course, it's your car, your life, etc..

These pics are over a year old now, but shows how I built my most recent cage. This is .120x1.75" DOM Mild seamless.