Roll Bar advice for the Miata needed

Jeb Brookshire · **Posted:** Mon Jan 21, 2008 10:42 pm

i am close to pulling the trigger on a roll bar for the Miata. I am leaning heavily towards the Hard Dog Ace. With at least one diagonal (I want two) it meets SCCA regulations.

I have several questions, is this my best choice? I want to be able to switch back and forth between hard and soft top and I can with this bar.

I also am thinking about adding a harness bar to this as one of the options. Which location is best, in the main hoop or between the rear braces? I am trying to plan for long term , where I will add a seat, but I don't know what kind, so is there a location that is more "generic"?

Thoughts?

Flyin Miata has them with free shipping through the end of the month.

Wes Eargle · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:47 am **Posts:** 3683

I would call Bethania Garage (makers of Hard Dog and local to Winston-Salem) and see what they recommend.

http://www.bethania-garage.com/

FWIW, a previous owner of my car got the single diagonal Hard Core before the Hard Core Hardtop option was made available and is about 3-4/16" too tall to install one.

Pete Guthrie · **Posted:** Tue Jan 22, 2008 1:36 am

i got one for my nissan, of course.. evidenced by time trials, and am happy with it. good custom fit too, my dog can navigate it into back seat.. i can put stuff back there,(back seat). i know it is not a miata, but i went with chris schimmel.. one of our own. he does good work.. ive never tested it, and hope to never do so, i like my car. however, you may wish to give him a call,
he'll ft it to you, and your needs..

Todd Breakey · **Posted:** Tue Jan 22, 2008 9:51 am

Jeb, that looks similar to the autopower (I think that is what it is anyway) that is in my Miata. My only issue with it is the fact that the vertical bar comes down right at the edge of the head rest. I think if I was planning on doing track stuff, I would be happier if it was like the Hard Dog Hard Core Hard Top that is positioned like the one in Wes' car. My car will probably see track duty at some point with the bar that is in it. If I get serious about the track thing (and by serious I mean "win the lottery") I will definately get the HDHCHT or a Schimmel equivelant.

Just my .02.

RobLupella · **Posted:** Tue Jan 22, 2008 1:58 pm

One thing to keep in mind is that the HDHCHTDD will fit under the hardtop and allow you to latch all 4 latches. HOWEVER, You also lose a bit of height so passing under the broomstick becomes more of a problem. The regular HDHCDD bar fits and allows the top to be installed, you just can not latch the side latches on the top.

Jeb Brookshire · **Posted:** Tue Jan 22, 2008 10:17 pm

Do you guys have pictures of the bars that are in your cars? Pics are hit or miss, especially given all the options on the Hard Dog site.

Robert Goodwin · **Posted:** Tue Jan 22, 2008 10:28 pm

Jeb, Chris just did a 4 point for my Subaru and did a spec miata
while my car was there. The guy drove from Hilton Head just for Chris'
work. My opinion is that dealing with Chris has value added and is worth
whatever. I'd be glad to discuss. You have pm

Pete Guthrie · **Posted:** Tue Jan 22, 2008 10:28 pm

i can take one in the daylight hours. phone fotos at night are pathetic. my car sleeps outside sadly. but tomorrow i can photograph my car if you want. even with my dog in backseat if you want. she can climb under while under way, the cross bar is angled up, to get things in and out of backseat easily.

RobLupella · **Posted:** Wed Jan 23, 2008 1:19 pm

I can do it this weekend or if you want you can look at it and sit in it. (I have race seats in it but they sit just as high as the stockers with the padding in :cry:

Let me know if you want and we can meet somewhere

Rob

Pete Guthrie · **Posted:** Wed Jan 23, 2008 1:35 pm

i just took some fotos of my car. i need some help putting them on the computer. but i dont know what quality they are, its very nice out. and the glare does not help, but we will see.

Chuck Frank · **Posted:** Sat Jan 26, 2008 11:56 am

RobLupella wrote:

One thing to keep in mind is that the HDHCHTDD will fit under the hardtop and allow you to latch all 4 latches. HOWEVER, You also lose a bit of height so passing under the broomstick becomes more of a problem. The regular HDHCDD bar fits and allows the top to be installed, you just can not latch the side latches on the top.

Bethania used to offer an offset latch setup for the side latches to clear the HDHC. Donna and I had all to do to clear the broomstick with our HDHC, would never have made it with the HT or sport bar. The HC comes with harness tabs installed. IIRC if you get one with a harness bar you will not be able to run the seat all the way back if that's important. The HC requires a lot less interior panel mods as well.

Wes Eargle · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:47 am **Posts:** 3683

Todd Breakey · **Posted:** Sun Jan 27, 2008 4:03 pm

Jeb,

Here's pics of my car so you can get a comparison.

Jeb Brookshire · **Posted:** Sun Jan 27, 2008 5:04 pm

I talked to Tom at Bethania and it looks like the Ace is the way I am going. he can do a couple of things to it to for me. I will have no problem using it hard or soft top and with the addition of at least one Diagonal, I will be SCCA compliant should the need arise. Thanks for the feed-back and pics!

Marty Howard · **Posted:** Mon Jan 28, 2008 10:13 am

jeb,
I have the HDHCDD in mine and I am able to use both the hard and soft top.

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Roll Bar advice for the Miata needed

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