I spoke with a friend's wife and she said he is doing a Porsche Club of America Track Day this weekend. This will be his first. His stead is a first year Boxster so I think that is 1996. Either way, I know it's a first year. Other than some wheels, tires and brakes the car is bone stock.
The question I have is: Does PCA allow for Boxsters to run without roll bars? Are the factory hoops behind the seats considered roll bars by PCA?
I looked up the PCA tech inspection sheet and it reads: Cars running with soft tops closed require roll bar only (can be deployable).
a PCA member, they said you can add this bar and it will be allowed. https://www.bkauto.com/R_3030_Roll_Bar_Extension_p/r-3030.htm
i don't think it's a great idea.. once he buys a lap timer it's time for a roll bar.
I'm worried that he's signed up for an event that he wont pass tech for.
My 2000 Boxster S was accepted by SCCA for Time Trials with the factory roll hoops. Porsche designated the Boxster has having "factory roll-over protection".
I'd probably contact the organizers if you're not sure.
The main PCA DE page says this which seems a bit clearer: "Any make of car delivered with factory installed roll over protection meets the minimum standards for PCA DE events. In these cars, we recommend the soft-top be in the up position or the hard top installed. If the top is in the down position, an SFI and/or FIA approved arm restraint system must be used."
I'm also really curious to know what a "boxter" is. I asusme it's somehow 6/7ths of a boxster as the name suggests.
In reply to dps214 :
My Porsche ignorance is showing. 
Lucky for me I have mod powers to hide this ignorance buy correcting my typo of the car's name.
In reply to dps214 :
Yes, bottom of the page on the PCS Driver Education site, I found the following:
Equipment needed:
Coupes/Targas: A helmet with a 2015 or newer Snell SA, K, or M safety rating. All natural-fiber clothing, fully enclosed shoes (no sandals). Plus your car, of course, in good mechanical condition, which will be verified by a technical inspection performed by a local mechanic or dealer and double-checked at the track.
Cabriolets: All of the above, plus a roll bar.
Boxsters: All of the above. Boxsters have a built-in roll bar. Be sure that the top of your head with helmet on is below the roll bar when in a normal seating position. We use the “broomstick” test. Place a broomstick across the roll bar & top of the windshield. If you sit below that you will be allowed on-track. If you don’t fit, Boxster roll-bar extensions are available that may solve the problem.
So, I will take this to mean that the factory hoops are considered to be roll bars by the PCA and that my friend will be legal/allowed. Extra hoop only needed if you are too tall (which my friend is not.)
At least my PCA region has "driver ambassadors" as contact point for people who haven't had much or any experience with PCA DE. Might be worth checking if your friend's region also does and if so, hit them up.
I was the tech inspector Chair for Rocky Mtn PCA for the last three years. He's fine with the Boxster with the top up. With the top down he'll need arm restraints and perhaps that Brey Krause roll bar extender bar if he's really tall.
So tell him to just keep the top up on track and he won't have a problem.
Top up is the better choice all around anyway, unless he really doesn't fit with a helmet on.
