Tracking the Cab for DE's. What do you think?

[450knotOffice]

Guys, I'm going to throw this question out to the masses here. As some of you might know, I've tracked the 996 a couple of times now on the high speed big track a Willow Springs and absolutely loved it. What a blast. However, the car is my daily driver and I'm making payments on it so I'd prefer not to have a major problem while driving it on track. That leaves the Cab, which is just my "fun" car. If something happens to it, it's no big deal really. I'll just fix it when I can. I'm thinking seriously of doing what JeremyD has done, which is install a roll bar into the Cab and then having my way with it at some future DE's.

So the question I have for you guys is...what do you think? I know the Cab is in no way ideal for track days due to the fact that the chassis is not as stiff as that of a coupe but I'm not really in the position to be able to trade for a coupe and I'm really only interested in DE's anyway, not competitive events. One of our very own, Dan Byers, tracks his early 70's Targa, which basically has the same body flex issues as the cab (since they share the same chassis), and he does quite well with it and has an absolute blast. I know, having been towed around by him at Willow. As for rollover protection, I'd think that a roll bar (like a DAS unit) would be every bit as capable as the stock Targa bar.

So there ya go. I want to have some fun and am willing to do it in the Cab with a roll bar. I know it's not ideal, but I want some opinions on what you guys think (yes, I know...get a coupe...sorry, not in the cards right now).

Thanks guys.

[JeremyD]

Originally posted by 450knotOffice
As for rollover protection, I'd think that a roll bar (like a DAS unit) would be every bit as capable as the stock Targa bar.

Much more so - the roll bar is mounted on four seperate sides AND has the mid brace support

Originally posted by 450knotOffice
So there ya go. I want to have some fun and am willing to do it in the Cab with a roll bar..

and it's twice as satisfying when the coupes are giving you a point by...

[WPOZZZ]

Originally posted by JeremyD
Much more so - the roll bar is mounted on four seperate sides AND has the mid brace support



and it's twice as satisfying when the coupes are giving you a point by...

That's the only way I'd track a cab.

[450knotOffice]

That'd be the only way actually. No track I know of will allow a cab without rollover protection.

I'll add a little bit more about the Cab. The suspension was rebuilt by me a couple of years ago and has Bilstein Sports on all four corners, 22mm and 28mm t-bars, lowered to a little lower than euro, 7's and 8's with S-03's.

Jeremy, thanks for the PM. You are selling me on this idea.

[charleskieffner]

DO IT! and im having more fun than a barrel of monkees. go to pca showroom stock f-class rules......................and THEN STOP! by the time you have done everything to the rules, and legal you will have spent a wad of cash, your car will handle UNREAL, and you still will be able to sell it to the masses instead of a narrower group of die hard racers.

smartest thing i did was make a LIMIT to my evil ideas. and showroom stock is a gas!

money will be pointed at the following:

1) safety (fire suit/helmet/belts/fire system/ rollbar/etc.)

2)suspension

3)seats

4)tires

5)exhaust and a K & N!

6)race fuel

7)entry fees

8) STOP end of the road. NO MAS! you cant do anything else!

to quote PCA........."as it came from the factory showroom".

learned along time ago racing offroad. you will have MORE TIME PEGGING THE FUN METER with a stock/limited class car or truck than you will EVER HAVE with an unlimited car or truck(read that you will work your ass off to stay competitive). and the same holds true for porsches. and the value added bonus...........i can still legally drive it on the street, unlike many unlimited class cars.

[450knotOffice]

Thanks Charles. I'll check that out.

[bigrubberjeep]

Scott - roll bar with the non-water pumper is the way to go, I love your 996, but you don't want to cause any expensive harm to her while your making payments, it will hurt twice as much.

Besides, I am sure the 911 is in need of some track time, she's probably jelous.

[dfink]

Sounds to me like you deserve to receive C.R.A.P.

Cabriolet Racing and Performance.
Welcome to the breezy side invest in some C.R.A.P parts and have fun.

[JeremyD]

A few things to add.

The DAS roll bar and harnesses take me about an hour to install. No big deal, and I feel much safer.

The seats are stock - I am still keeping my eye out for a set of dark blue sport seats!

Tracking a Cabriolet is akin to having sex without a condem * sure either way is great * but you can experience and feel so much more with the lid off.

[Christien]

Are the roll bars easy enough to remove and install that you can pull them out between track events? I'm looking at a cab hopefully in the future that I'd DE with, but I don't want the roll bar in there all the time - I'm thinking kids in the back seat.

[North Coast Cab]

It will be the best car on the track for the drive home

[john d 81SC]

450 Knot - go for it with your Cab, otherwise look at all the fun you'd be missing out on. And by DE-ing your Cab, you can improve your driving skills.

Christien, I have the DAS bar in my coupe, and it's fairly easy too get in and out. I think it would be a piece of cake in a Cab.

[rmurph]

Good timing on this one as I am in the same position, 87 cab, and I want to enter some DE's with it. Rollbar and a fire extinguisher are the next installs. Had considered selling the cab and getting either a Targa or Coupe, but I believe you guys convinced me we can have the best of both worlds. I am considering either the DAS or I/O Port rollbar. Any suggestions. I/O Port with crossbrace can be had for around $ 500, DAS is running around $800. both before installation. How easy or difficult are they to install on 87 cab?

[SLO-BOB]

I say go for it! I was considering a cab just fo the extra headroom factor. Unfortunately, the BMWCCA DEs, which I attend often, will not allow cabs at their DEs, so I didn't go that route. From my PCA DE's, I know a good driver will scoot a cab around the track as fast or faster than anyone out there anyway. It's a great sports car. Use it! Obviously you need the rollbar. Also, don't be dissapointed that you will lose many seconds off your lap times vs the 996. Your old cab may be a bit slower, but I'll bet more fun. Besides, it's not a race.

This is a perfect DE setup. Simple, not too spendy, does it's job, and looks cool. The click in harnesses (if that's what they are) work great. No race seat needed.

[charleskieffner]

das sports install.............12 pak for you and intelligent friend. case of beer if hes a retard and cant figure out righty tighty!

in reality about 20 minutes! what you will have big FUN WITH is the seats and 5-6 point harness install. lots of threads on this.

[Joe Bob]

I have a bar that I am no longer using....interested?

[Todd Simpson]

No race seat needed.

5 point belts should be used with shells only. The holes for sub straps and shoulder belts are there for a reason.

Use the stock belts with stock seats or shells with 5/6 points. There really isn't any in between.

[JP911]

I say track it! Sure the cab won't be as stiff as the coupe, but I don't know that it will make a difference unless you're a serious racer for whom the additional stiffness would shave off a few tenths of a second. I've seen several 996s overheat on the track and it isn't pretty, so the choice to keep it to daily driving duties is a prudent one. You can beat on the Carrera until you're too tired to drive and it will be asking for more!

[charleskieffner]

if you enjoy being in space going around corners...........stay with the stock seats. its really fun trying to stay in one place all the way thru the apex and then repeat doing the opposite for the next corner(can you say levitation?). seats are very important!

remember rule of thumb.............what you do on drivers side must be mimiced on passenger side for instructors. ie. if you have arm restraints(you must), passenger side must also have.

[JeremyD]