"sleeper" status vs. safety

502SS said:
At what point would you consider giving up a "sleeper" status to the way of safety?
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probably estimated ET, and what you actually do with the car, IE, I wouldnt cruise around with my family in a 8 second car with no safety equip.


but a ~10 sec car? go for it
 
I get safety equipment when i actually need it. For the 1 time a year I actually goto the track I dont feel a cage is necessary. especially since I dont drive around on the street with a helmet, its more of a liability
 
dave89iroc said:
probably estimated ET, and what you actually do with the car, IE, I wouldnt cruise around with my family in a 8 second car with no safety equip.


but a ~10 sec car? go for it
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Why wouldnt you? an 8 second car is no less safe than a 10 second car when youre putting down woodward at 45mph
 
cjmatt said:
I get safety equipment when i actually need it. For the 1 time a year I actually goto the track I dont feel a cage is necessary. especially since I dont drive around on the street with a helmet, its more of a liability
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You make the car safe for the track. Anything after that is a compromise. I've seen a car have the roof crushed at an auto cross. I'm sure the car was only used at the track once or twice, but the guy was close to racing wheel chairs. Even on the street (yeah, you're not racing on the street, right?) you can have serious damage to the car and you. Dave is right. Add the safety equipment according to track rules. Depending on the car, some equipment can be blended into the rest of the car. See the rules for F.A.S.T. racing and check out some of the cars.
 
Well, here's my problem..... this is for my Jeep, so hiding any safety equipment (cage/harness/etc.) is impossible as there are no doors/windows to hide anything. Right now, when we go to the dunes, it looks like every other Jeep out there with paddles. The problem I'm having, is that the cage is tied into the front frame, but only bolted to the body. Stock type seats with only a lap belt, and that's the extent of safety equipment.
Now, keep in mind that I'm sending power through a HEAVY transfercase, a front driveshaft, and front differential, so it soaks up a lot of power, but....so far, driving through the converter on even a small shot, it's been 75MPH in 300' on the sand. At the dunes, if the track is a little longer, I'll run 80MPH. Might not seem fast to the cars on this site, but fast enough to make for a bad day if it rolls at the top end, I'm in trouble. With a very short wheelbase, it's not the most stable thing in the world. I like the "sleeper" status of looking like all the other Jeeps out there, but I'm starting to worry about safety.
 
if you dont feel comfortble put the equipment in it to make you comfortble. i been 8.60s at 160mph without a roll bar. i know people who have died with all the proper safety equipment and i know people who got in bad wrecks with way less than what is required and they come out fine.
 
johnquick302 said:
if you dont feel comfortble put the equipment in it to make you comfortble. i been 8.60s at 160mph without a roll bar. i know people who have died with all the proper safety equipment and i know people who got in bad wrecks with way less than what is required and they come out fine.
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+2

But JQ your nuts 8.60 with no cage on the bumper im sure. LOL Yes I would try It but thats why I have the nick name. :-)
 
Good point JQ. I feel perfectly fine as it is, but the wife says she doesn't want to be a young single mom with 3 kids ;-)
I think putting a good cage in will "ease" the worries. I should be able to get a good solid cage in it without detracting from the "normal" Jeep looks. I've been thinking about that anyway to stiffen up the chassis. It flexes bad, so that would take care of 2 problems in 1.
 
with an open roof I would vote safety, if it was a car with a roof and OE body(not cut up) I would keep it sleeper.
 
if its your time to go, its your time to go, but i bet it would look really cool with a cage. just tell everyone its all show and no go. thats not a big block in there! lol.
 
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If you have a cage with a halo bar in a street car, you better make sure you wear head protection and have proper harness's.
 
see... its even stock displacement aint it? lol. p.s. i was just goin off your screen name as a hint as to what might of been in there.
 
Sleeper only works the first time you are out racing for $$. After that, you only fool the suckers that don't ask around.

If the wife wants you to have a cage, tell her it's gonna run $3k. If she bites, weld in a $500 cage and buy some speed parts with the rest :)
 
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