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I see that AROCA are listing roll bar padding as a requirement for their CAMS sprint events now, in line with the new CAMS regs. A bunch of NSW drivers will be coming down to Vic for the Interstate next month and for most of us it's the first time we've seen this new reg.

What is everyone using for padding? Where are they buying it? How much are they buying? Where are they fitting it? Any install tips? Also, how is AROCA applying the reg?

Phil, Revolution Racegear Auburn sell the Cams/FIA compliant padding. (They will mail it too). It is sort of a squared off semi circle for want of a better description. And it is hard as heck, if you were to hit it without a helmet it would hurt.

It has adhesive tape on the inside but you want to use cable ties to make sure it stays put. Cut it with a knife.

Edit.... Of course the FIA stuff is the most expensive. And any colour you want as long as its black.

My understanding is that there has been no change in the CAMS rules about where roll bar padding is required, but that if roll bar padding is fitted in an area that could potentially come into contact with a drivers helmet, then it has to be FIA or SPI 45.1 compliant. This rule was originally slated to come into effect from 1-Jan-2013, was postponed a few times, and is now been in effect at all CAMS events after 1-Jan-2014.
So, if you have a roll bar which could not come into contact with the drivers helmet, as is often the case with MX-5s, nothing changes. You might still want to upgrade any roil bar padding to meet the required standard anyway, just to avoid potential scrutineering issues.

Thanks for raising this Phil, and David's answer is consistent with my understanding. I guess the most important question is ... does AROCA require MX-5s with Brown Davis rollbars to be fitted with SFI 45.1 padding, regardless of the driver's seat position? What was the story at Sandown a few weeks ago?

ACDC in Canberra are now a Revolution Racegear outlet. Peter has heaps of SFI 45.1 padding in stock.

When I did Huntley hill climb few weeks back I had the sfi rated padding only where my helmet would come in contact. Bought it from VPW online.
Anyhow, the scrutineer said I needed to take all my mother padding out, even though it was on passengers side.
I pointed out that the understanding is helmet and body coming in contact.
So the passenger padding (old) stayed in and my side intrusion bar drivers side had to be taken out.
As my car is still road rego'd I also said I needed the passenger stuff in.

Anyhoo, for you blokes with just a roll bar at the rear you *should* fine. Full cages get the sfi stuff.

How many people have been killed, by non rated FIA roll cage padding?

A friend was seriously concussed. He hit the top cross piece of a cage, somewhere above the gear lever he thinks. In an MX5, with a good helmet, wearing a 3" harness, with a FIA seat, not a huge hit.

Anyway, Guran has asked the relevant question. How are AROCA's scrutineers treating this for BD style bars in MX5s?

Phil,

Depends on the scrutineer you get, however the good ones ARE policing the padding.

Essentially attached to the rollbar wherever the head MAY come in contact with it.
My seat is in front of the cage, however I have still fitted padding behind it around the approx perimeter of the headrest.

Sorry for the crappy picture below, but its the only one I could find of the padding.


Never had any issues since...

I used about 1/2 metre of the padding. Got it from Dean at Motorsport Essentials.

rascal wrote:Phil,

Depends on the scrutineer you get, however the good ones ARE policing the padding.

Essentially attached to the rollbar wherever the head MAY come in contact with it.
My seat is in front of the cage, however I have still fitted padding behind it around the approx perimeter of the headrest.

Sorry for the crappy picture below, but its the only one I could find of the padding.

padding.jpg

Never had any issues since...

I used about 1/2 metre of the padding. Got it from Dean at Motorsport Essentials.

Is that the SFI/FIA stuff, how does it go bending around corners? Ive got a MX5 Plus bar that will need to get done with the new stuff and was wondering how it will fit on bends..

Cheers

Thanks guys for all the comments and the PMs. Looks like it's red padding from VPW then.

At least the SFI stuff looks thinner than the old soft padding I used to use. That was so thick it blocked half the view out the back.

MLR wrote:Is that the SFI/FIA stuff, how does it go bending around corners? Ive got a MX5 Plus bar that will need to get done with the new stuff and was wondering how it will fit on bends..
Cheers

yes, it is the new SFI/FIA stuff. It's lousy at bending round corners, far too stiff.

I ended up cutting it into five triangular pieces to fit round the corner.
A few extra cable ties and it hasn't moved since fitting.

It's sold in two sizes:
- for rollbars 38-44 mm
- for rollbars 45-50 mm

Naturally a BD rollbar mics out at 44.7 mm. So do you stretch the smaller one the extra 0.7mm or put up with a loose fit on the larger one?

I recon .3 of a mm is within tolerance and might just turn around corners a bit better.


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manga_blue wrote::evil:
It's sold in two sizes:
- for rollbars 38-44 mm
- for rollbars 45-50 mm

Naturally a BD rollbar mics out at 44.7 mm. So do you stretch the smaller one the extra 0.7mm or put up with a loose fit on the larger one?

I'd go the bigger size, as at least it will fit over the bar and allow you to position it better.
The smaller size prob wont quite stretch over the bar and so will never sit right..

I've exchanged emails with cams over the last few days regarding padding on the standard Brown Davis roll bar. They are certain that padding is required. It's not how I read the rules, but I am happy to respect the decision. Just thought I'd share what I've been told so no one has dramas by turning up to an event without padding.