Rolling over a convertible... without a rollbar
 

...will you die?

no.
-ted

search..
as with everything, it's conditional.
here's what happens at highway speeds.

https://www.rx7club.com/se-rx-7-forum-35/rx7-t2-vert-totalled-708249/

Rolling any car is bad juju, but you will not necessarily die. If you are concerned about rolling over, then install a roll cage and padding approved for SCCA competition. A simple roll bar will help a little, but not that much. Note that the crummy ricer "roll cages" (Cusco, Monkey Bars, etc.) are mostly for looks.

My 88 coupe street car has a roll cage, as did my 84 coupe. My 88 convertible doesn't have one because I don't drive it fast and it is mostly stock.

after looking at that thread it made me think about the s5 owners. a lot of those guys have airbags. if you get knocked out you wouldn't be able to tuck your head.

Yes and no, depending on the situation!!

you can die rolling over at any speed in any kind of car, hardtop or convertible... just depends on the circumstances of the accident

You could wear a helmet, maybe that would help :P

Why do people think you would have the time and sense to voluntarily tuck your head or duck down in the event of a roll over? If you're getting into that much trouble you are likely not even thinking about a rollover until the moment it happens, at which point you are stunned that its happening. This has been the story that I've gotten from a few racecar-drivers who have had the experience.

I think more than likely you would be pushed into the passenger compartment by the ground, and survive.

The reason why i am aksing is because i am considering buying a roll bar. I am definitely not buying it for loooks, i just want to be safe in case i roll over, roll cage is not an option as it will definitely make the vert look weird.

In the SE section there are some photos (or used to be) of when HurleySurf24 wrecked his turbo vert...he got lucky although his head got cut up from the road.

ok after reading the above thread, i am now getting a roll bar. Now how do i know if the roll bar is functional or not?

A single hoop will probably get crushed just like the windshield if there is much forward movement when the car rolls over. During an autocross I had a car roll over on the corner that I was working, and it was nearly stopped when it rolled over. It had a full cage, but I think a simple roll bar would have been fine in that situation.

Have it fabricated by a professional race shop.

is it SCCA/NASA approved? that will answer your question.

This!!

I can say from first hand experience, that all you can do is try to hold on. To the people that say just push yourself down, how? Do you realize how much force is going on from rolling? I have permanent scars from my upper legs rubbing/bouncing off the dash, and my head bounced off the window multiple times, so I don't understand how your suppose to hold yourself down, there's just to much force fighting against you...


To the OP, the verts have a rollbar in the top, its just the top obviously has to be up. If I were you I would definitely get a roll bar, but I might be being a bit bias...

I beg to differ for a few reasons, one is experience. After writing off more then a handful of cars (I like to go fast, and push the limit) I have walked away from everyone unharmed well no a bruised arm once. This includes a 170km to zero (hit a 25 metric tonne tractor with no lights and night) a full burn of a car after crash, rollover and once ditch hop.. well more of a ditch clearence. Reguardless of the accident I was able to prepare myself every single time, because I was expecting it. Since he asked the question he expects the possibility of the worst happening so he has a head start on the situation... all depends if he knows what to do when it comes time to. But really, if you think you wil roll it then put a damn cage in, i mean wheres your sense? I dont want to see your car and your body on the news when I turn the tv on cause this is preventable. Just keep in touch with your senses or better, get a cage

100% Correct.

At the least you should get a roll bar built to SCCA spec.
Be prepared, there's a lot of G's that disagree with where you want to be..

Make SURE the cage is PADDED for street use, because having a roll cage can actually kill you rather than save you if it is improperly installed or lacks soft/thick enough padding.

yep, and that one time you will be expecting a pole to come straight through the windshield while you are skidding on your roof?

while i do like to tell people that reaction time is a good reflex to excercise it won't always save you because you won't always react perfectly.

point is, verts are just damn scary in a rollover, there is no denying that. if you don't think so, go try it and tell me how it went.

just consider yourself lucky. any of a number of things beyond your control could have happened in a split second that you couldn't react to.

i would imagine rolling over in a vert - things like... a pothole, or curb - becomes more dangerous than the roll over itself?

very very true also, luck had helped me out on many occasions, so have seatbelt and airbag. Personally I will never own a vert, one of the reasons is rollover, other is its not my style ;) But again, you are right when you say things can happen in a split second that you may never be prepared for, even if you are "prepared" for it. I was actually lucky that the seat on my rollover broke allowing me to lie down in a sense... but believe me I was holding on to the console with everything I had, when it was all said and done I thought I ripped my arm off, turned to be a badass bruise. Two accidents were also not my fault at all which I had no reaction time for, but lady luck was with me. You can never be too safe, build some bars of buy some at the least.

Thanks, never thought about that. How do you "pad" a roll cage? Is it similar to insulting copper pipes lin plumbing?

you buy the high density padding.
it looks similar to a pool noodle
but don't use a pool noodle...

haha +1
Ask the builder to do it

See http://www.cris.com/~Asam/20B.html

The rollbar works with the top. At the time is was installed it, it met SCCA Solo I requirements. I've attended several DE events, and it's always passed tech inspection. Check with Mitch Piper at www.pipermotorsports.com