dyintorace wrote:
Another good resource is this website: http://www.izzyscustomcages.com/. I've traded emails with the owner on a few occasions and he is both super nice and super helpful.
Thanks man! I don't get back here very often due to login issues...
The biggest thing to keep in mind when looking at cage designs (especially on the web) is that you don't necessarily know what the builder had to take into consideration for the final design.You never know what the customer ultimately wanted done. I've had some requests that many would consider very odd for a racecar.
Read the cage rules and know them well. Talk with your builder and be sure you both are on the same page. A lot of drag builders don't know a thing about NASA/SCCA specs and Rally America has WAY more specific rules. I've seen plenty of people waste money on cages that wouldn't pass tech where they ultimately wanted to run. It's pretty obvious when the builder just builds it the way they always have and never actually look at the rulebook. For the buy vs. build debate, I'm cutting out a cage in about 2 months because of missing welds and poor design in a pre built/logbooked car. Just because the car has competed doesn't mean you don't go over it with a fine tooth comb.
For dropoff, have the seats in position so the builder can place the harness bar at the proper height as well as see where your elbows, lap belts/sub strap mounts etc will be located.
Go with the double bend X over the traditional 3 bar X. Also, add a sill bar. Bars should be backed by other bars at nodes whenever possible. Sometimes, it's not feasable, but it should be the norm rather than the exception.
What Adrian said.
