There is nothing quite like watching a rally car blaze through the countryside on an exciting race weekend. The cars run a series of routes that are chosen to challenge both the driver and his crew. These stages can range from flat asphalt and mountain passes to snow, ice and desert sand. The winner is determined at the end of the day when all the teams’ times are added together. The team with the lowest total time is declared the winner.
A crucial component of a rally car is the roll cage. The safety feature protects the driver in the event of a rollover and ensures that the car can continue to drive after an accident. While it is easy to find bolt-in cage kits for rally cars, these do not provide the same level of protection as a fully welded structure.
Fortunately, there are plenty of qualified chassis builders folkracebur and professional cage builders willing to build a safety cage for your racing or street car. They can also help you figure out what type of tubing is best suited for your application. The correct tubing will vary depending on your race class and the rules of the sanctioning body overseeing your event.
When starting to build a roll cage, it is important to take your time and not rush the project. Taking your time to make sure everything is square and correctly positioned will save you from welding yourself into a corner later on. Taking the time to pre-notch all the tubes will also make the job go much smoother. It is also important to mock up the cage before you do any serious welding. This will give you an idea of what it is going to look like and how the parts are going to fit together.
Another aspect of building a roll cage that is often overlooked is the use of base plates. These plates are placed everywhere the cage touches the floor and help to keep it from flexing during hard driving. Without these plates, the cage could rip right off the car in an accident. To combat this issue, L-Con fabricated its own plate that is drilled and dimple died for strength and weight savings. This plate is then installed anywhere it is needed in the car.
Mild steel and Chromoly DOM tubing are both popular choices for racers looking to build a safety cage. Both materials offer a good balance of cost and strength, with Chromoly offering more strength for the same price as mild steel.
Almost any sanctioning body, whether it is LEMONS tech inspection or NHRA, will have detailed information on the size of tubing that is allowed and how it must be welded in their rulebook. If you are not sure what type of tubing is required for your race class, it is best to call or email a tech specialist at a JEGS location near you and have them answer any questions you may have. It’s very likely there is a cage builder within a hundred miles of you that can make a cage for your race or rally car.