Motorsport News – August 14, 2019

Photos: mcklein-imagedatabase.com, LAT, Jakob Ebrey

Cages protect

the drivers well

hat is

the most

important

bit of safety

kit that a

racer can

have? Is

it a crash helmet? A HANS device? Or

fireproof overalls? It is hard to argue

against any of them, but certainly a

piece of equipment fitted to the machines

themselves, the rollcage, is one of those

items that is paramount in protecting

the life of a competitor.

When a racer buys a brand new

competition car, the rollcage is integral

to the structure of the machine. It is a

part of the car that is essential to the

construction and one that the rest of

the ancillaries can be built around.

For the national competitor, the

demands might be slightly different.

It could be that they are building their

own car or reconditioning one to take

on to the stages or circuits, and so it is an

area that clubmen need to know about.

It is an eye-opener that rollcages can

be bought already used. Dan Mayo,

the boss of motorsport preparations

firm MMS Technik, is a trained rollcage

installer and has been involved with

a number of projects for both the race

track and the rally stage. He explains:

“You can buy pre-owned cages, but this is

an area you have to be very careful of

if you decide to go down this route.

“You need to do your research, and

never buy anything unseen. Sure, it

will save you a couple of hundred quid,

and that is obviously going to be at the

forefront of your mind if you are

operating on a tight budget, but there

is a risk involved. But you need to make

sure of the quality of what you are

purchasing. Never buy a cage until

you have laid eyes on it – you could be

putting yourself in danger.”

Mayo estimates that a second-hand

cage could cost around £200, whereas a

racer could spend north of £500 for a

brand new piece of equipment.

“You need to make sure that it hasn’t

already been damaged in some way, and

a photograph on an auction website isn’t

going to give you that detail,” says Mayo.

“It is going to be worth your time to double

check that it is exactly what you want.”

Even if a competitor chooses to go

with a brand new cage, there are other

considerations to take into account.

There are various materials that are

used in the manufacture of rollcages,

and this can also affect the price.

“You have got CDS – cold-drawn steel –

be long before you do. You need to keep up

to date with the rules and ask Motorsport

UK for advice if you are unsure.”

There are two types of rollcage. A bolt-

in version will come with fixing points

to the floorpan of the car itself, while a

more integral cage will have up to 10

mounting points on the vehicle to further

strengthen the car and that, in turn,

will add some rigidity to the chassis.

While there is no need to get an

authorised rollcage fitter to fit the

cage – it is something that can be done

by any individual – there are other

requirements that a competitor needs

to take into account.

So long as the rollcage passes

scrutineering it is fine, but there are

areas that some might fall foul of. “There

is a minimum standard of welding that

is expected,” explains Mayo. “If a

competitor isn’t confident in this area,

try and find someone who has had a bit of

which is the minimum requirement for

Motorsport UK when it comes to what

you can use,” says Mayo. “You can get

T45 ones as well, which are made from

a lighter weight steel, which is better –

you are getting the same cage but for

less weight.”

Another area that it is worth swotting

up on before you buy any piece of kit is the

regulations for any particular series.

It sounds obvious, but scrutineers

will often tell stories of cars which are

presented for technical checks without

some of the most basic elements that

are written down in black and white.

There have also been cases where

cars have been excluded from events

for having too many parts bolted on to a

rollcage. While the driver might have

implemented those changes himself for

what he or she feels is extra protection

and with the best of intentions, if it is

against the regulations a car will be

kicked out and not allowed to compete.

“Depending on regulations, there may

only be a certain amount of points fitted

in your rollcage – six-point, 10-point,etc,”

explains Mayo. “Also, cross-diagonal

bars and roof diagonals are becoming

mandatory for certain types of rally

cars. You don’t need a roof diagonal bar

in circuit racing yet, but it probably won’t

Petter Solberg and Phil Mills have strong cages to thank for their lives There are several different types of rollcage

Advertising enquiries: 0203 405 8110 motorsport-news.co.uk AUGUST 14 2019 21

SAFETY IN MOTORSPORT

A HANS (Head And Neck Support)

device seemed unthinkable two decades

ago, but now it is standard equipment for

all rally and racing drivers.

Widespread acceptance of the device

was prompted by the death of NASCAR

legend Dale Earnhardt after an

innocuous-looking crash at

the 2001 Daytona 500, and

it came amid a spate of

fatalities from similar

neck-related injuries

in that disciple.

The HANS device

became mandatory

in Formula 1 in 2003

and soon trickled

down to the lower

rungs of the sport.

It is compulsory

across all national racing championships

in the United Kingdom now.

Some historic cars are exempt from

drivers having to use the device because

of their age, but competitors are free to

make their own choice to use them. It is

recommended that they do.

Prices for the restraint devices

start from £200 and go up

to £1200.

It is worth speaking to industry

professionals in fitment

of the devices to make

sure that the competitor

can move with ease, and

it doesn’t put them in

any discomfort.

Also, remember

that any Motorsport

UK-accredited scrutineer

will be happy to offer

any advice on the use

of the equipment.

A CAGE THAT IS VITAL

experience before. If you go to an

engineering shop that is very good at

making gates or railings, they will

not have the experience of getting a

rollcage up to standard.”

“For some of the points you have to get

to to weld, you need to be like an octopus

to get there. You need some supple hands

to get to the awkward bits. If you can

weld in a one inch square environment

and upside down, then you will get there!

But ask an expert.”

There is one piece of advice that any

expert will tell you when it comes to

fitting a rollcage, and it is something that

is inescapable, no matter what the budget

is that a competitor is working with.

Mayo concludes: “I would recommend

spending a bit more money and go for a

new cage and a proper fitment even it if

does end up being a significant part of

your outlay. Remember, this is about

your safety.”

Important device that is designed to save lives

The HANS device

is now mandatory

W

What should people look for when they are going to buy a rollcage? By Matt James

Photos:mcklein-imagedatabase.com,LAT,JakobEbrey

Cagesprotect

thedriverswell

hatis
themost
important
bitofsafety
kitthata
racercan
have?Is
vice?Or
fireproofoveralls?It is hardtoargue
againstanyofthem,butcertainlya
pieceofequipmentfittedtothemachines
themselves,therollcage,is oneofthose
itemsthatis paramountinprotecting
thelifeofa competitor.
Whena racerbuysa brandnew
competitioncar,therollcageis integral
tothestructureofthemachine.It is a
partofthecarthatis essentialtothe
constructionandonethattherestof
theancillariescanbebuiltaround.
Forthenationalcompetitor,the
demandsmightbeslightlydifferent.
It couldbethattheyarebuildingtheir
owncarorreconditioningonetotake
ontothestagesorcircuits,andsoit is an
areathatclubmenneedtoknowabout.
It is aneye-openerthatrollcagescan
beboughtalreadyused.DanMayo,
thebossofmotorsportpreparations
firmMMSTechnik,is a trainedrollcage
installerandhasbeeninvolvedwith
a numberofprojectsforboththerace

trackandtherallystage.Heexplains:

“Youcanbuypre-ownedcages,butthisis

anareayouhavetobeverycarefulof

if youdecidetogodownthisroute.

“Youneedtodoyourresearch,and

neverbuyanythingunseen.Sure,it

willsaveyoua coupleofhundredquid,

andthatis obviouslygoingtobeatthe

forefrontofyourmindif youare

operatingona tightbudget,butthere

is a riskinvolved.Butyouneedtomake

sureofthequalityofwhatyouare

purchasing.Neverbuya cageuntil

youhavelaideyesonit – youcouldbe

puttingyourselfindanger.”

Mayoestimatesthata second-hand

cagecouldcostaround£200,whereasa

racercouldspendnorthof£500fora

brandnewpieceofequipment.

“Youneedtomakesurethatit hasn’t

alreadybeendamagedinsomeway,and

a photographonanauctionwebsiteisn’t

goingtogiveyouthatdetail,”saysMayo.

“Itis goingtobeworthyourtimetodouble

checkthatit is exactlywhatyouwant.”

Evenif a competitorchoosestogo

witha brandnewcage,thereareother

considerationstotakeintoaccount.

Therearevariousmaterialsthatare

usedinthemanufactureofrollcages,

andthiscanalsoaffecttheprice.

“YouhavegotCDS– cold-drawnsteel–

belongbeforeyoudo p p

todatewiththerulesandaskMotorsport

UKforadviceif youareunsure.”

Therearetwotypesofrollcage.A bolt-

inversionwillcomewithfixingpoints

tothefloorpanofthecaritself,whilea

moreintegralcagewillhaveupto 10

mountingpointsonthevehicletofurther

strengthenthecarandthat,inturn,

willaddsomerigiditytothechassis.

Whilethereis noneedtogetan

authorisedrollcagefittertofitthe

cage– it is somethingthatcanbedone

byanyindividual– thereareother

requirementsthata competitorneeds

totakeintoaccount.

Solongastherollcagepasses

scrutineeringit is fine,butthereare

areasthatsomemightfallfoulof.“There

is a minimumstandardofweldingthat

is expected,”explainsMayo.“Ifa

competitorisn’tconfidentinthisarea,

tryandfindsomeonewhohashada bitof

whichis theminimumrequirementfor

MotorsportUKwhenit comestowhat

youcanuse,”saysMayo.“Youcanget

T45onesaswell,whicharemadefrom

a lighterweightsteel,whichis better–

youaregettingthesamecagebutfor

lessweight.”

Anotherareathatit is worthswotting

uponbeforeyoubuyanypieceofkitis the

regulationsforanyparticularseries.

It soundsobvious,butscrutineers

willoftentellstoriesofcarswhichare

presentedfortechnicalcheckswithout

someofthemostbasicelementsthat

arewrittendowninblackandwhite.

Therehavealsobeencaseswhere

carshavebeenexcludedfromevents

forhavingtoomanypartsboltedontoa

rollcage.Whilethedrivermighthave

implementedthosechangeshimselffor

whatheorshefeelsis extraprotection

andwiththebestofintentions,if it is

againsttheregulationsa carwillbe

kickedoutandnotallowedtocompete.

“Dependingonregulations,theremay

onlybea certainamountofpointsfitted

inyourrollcage– six-point,10-point,etc,”

explainsMayo.“Also,cross-diagonal

barsandroofdiagonalsarebecoming

mandatoryforcertaintypesofrally

cars.Youdon’tneeda roofdiagonalbar

incircuitracingyet,butit probablywon’t

PetterSolbergandPhilMillshavestrongcagesto thankfortheirlives Thereareseveraldifferenttypesofrollcage

Advertisingenquiries: 02034058110 motorsport-news.co.uk AUGUST 14 2019 21

SAFETY IN MOTORSPORT

A HANS (Head And Neck Support)

device seemed unthinkable two decades

ago, but now it is standard equipment for

all rally and racing drivers.

Widespread acceptanceof thedevice

was prompted by th

legend Dale Earnha

innocuous-looking

the 2001 Daytona 5

it came amid a spate

fatalities from simila

neck-related injurie

in that disciple.

The HANS device

became mandatory

in Formula 1 in 2003

and soon trickled

down to the lower

rungs of the sport.

It is compulsory

across all national racing championships

in the United Kingdom now.

Some historic cars are exempt from

drivers having to use the device because

of theira e butcompetitors are free to

to use them. It is

that they do.

e restraint devices

0 and go up

peaking to industry

ssionals in fitment

e devices to make

that the competitor

ove with ease, and

n’t put them in

comfort.

, remember

ny Motorsport

ccredited scrutineer

e happy to offer

advice on the use

e equipment.

A CAGE THAT IS VITAL

p you go to an

engineering shop that is very good at

making gates or railings, they will

not have the experience of getting a

rollcage up to standard.”

“For some of the points you have to get

to to weld, you need to be like an octopus

to get there. You need some supple hands

to get to the awkward bits. If you can

weld in a one inch square environment

and upside down, then you will get there!

But ask an expert.”

There is one piece of advice that any

expert will tell you when it comes to

fitting a rollcage, and it is something that

is inescapable, no matter what the budget

is that a competitor is working with.

Mayo concludes: “I would recommend

spending a bit more money and go for a

new cage and a proper fitment even it if

does end up being a significant part of

your outlay. Remember, this is about

your safety.”

Important device that is designed to save lives

The HANS dev

is now mandat

What should people look for when they are going to buy a rollcage? By Matt James