Posted: January 26 2005 at 9:46pm | IP Logged

Hi everyone,

This is my first post.  I hope you can help me on this question I have always had.

Can anyone confirm the necessity for a roll bar at Willow Springs?  I called the track today and I was told that if you are part of a private track rental and you pay for a track medical team, you can drive a convertible.  Without the medical support, you must have a roll bar.  Can anyone confirm this.

thanks

Posted: January 28 2005 at 10:48am | IP Logged

Bimota Guy wrote: John,  Are the current M3 convertibles okay as well?  I know they have some sort of roll protection built into the rear seat head restraints, but I don't know much more than that.

I'm not sure about other convertibles with factory roll hoops.  You should contact them directly to confirm. 

good luck,

john

Posted: January 28 2005 at 10:54am | IP Logged

john wrote: Willow Springs is very strict about rollbars in convertibles, and they won't let you drive with us or any group like us without a rollbar. It's a particular problem for vettes as there's no stock roll hoop. Cars like S2000's, that have stock hoops, are fine to drive at the WS tracks.

Actually, that's not totally correct.  A friend of mine who is putting together this event confirmed what I posted.  You can indeed run a convertible as long as you have a medical staff on site.  Some rules may be different with the class you run in.  I feel very safe running without the roll bar at Buttonwillow, so I don't see what the difference is a the Streets of Willow.  I had considered running at the Big Track or possibly an event at the Cali Speedway, but speeds are definately much higher and I would rather run with a street set-up rather than a full track set-up.  Either way, its a helluv a lot a fun. 

be safe,

john

Posted: January 29 2005 at 9:51pm | IP Logged

That question was for John of Speed Ventures. 

Posted: January 31 2005 at 10:17am | IP Logged

Bimota Guy wrote: John,  Are the current M3 convertibles okay as well?  I know they have some sort of roll protection built into the rear seat head restraints, but I don't know much more than that.

I believe M3's have the same "pop up rollbars" as 911's, and they're fine at WSIR.

Posted: January 31 2005 at 10:20am | IP Logged

Your friend must be running a "private track day", in which case they may not require a bar. We ALWAYS have an ambulance on staff and they still will not allow a convertible without a bar on either of the tracks. Looking at the Jordan rollover this weekend, I've gotta say I wouldn't want to drive WSIR without a bar: