I'm going over the rules and I'm a bit confused. It says in the rules:

"The top of the main hoop shall not be more than six inches behind and not less than one inch above the top of the driver's helmet when he/she is in a normal driving position. In closed cars, the roll bar will be as near the roof as possible."

So does the 1" rule apply to closed cars?

We will be racing SCCA/ICSCC in the Norhtwest.

 

Generally the 1" rule only applies to open cars. They do not expect you to modify the roof of your car to make clearance for a roll bar to be 1" over your head.

Be sure to have an experienced fabricator that is familiar with SCCA rules build your cage/bar. There are much more confusing rules in the GCR when it comes to the design of a rollcage.

KirkRacing built the 6 pt. cage in my FC. The owner of shop IT races an FC and has been building cages for years and years.

 

Correct, you are typically NOT allowed to change the roofline of most production based race cars. Get the bars as close to the roof as practically possible, and as far away from your head as practically possible (within the no more than 6 inches away rule)

PaulC

 

you are required to have 1" of clearance minimum. this is sometimes difficult in production based cars with roofs. they also want the cage as close to the body as possible so that the cage will absorb the impact before the body deforms(remember cage is connected to body). this is the same reason for "nascar" type door bars. Also you want this clearance for your head so you are not sucking food through a straw the rest of your life after an accident. I have had to lower the floor in every race car I have built. my turbo II race car I had to lower the floor and move the seat to te middle of the car to get the proper clearance. I have seen alot of cages and drivers that don't meet these rules but even if the rule is not enforced it is the rule and should be adhered to for your safety.