Rules for broomstick test

Chad Culbertson · **Posted:** Wed Oct 21, 2015 7:47 pm

Hey guys, so I just bought a Miata....

It's got a Hard Dog hard top roll bar and Momo Start seats (which I need to now go on a diet lol).

I pulled the hard top off and checked out the clearance with my helmet on, I do fit under it, but not by a huge amount, there's maybe and inch tops. If I lose some weight i'll probably fit down in the seat better, it's very tight currently.

With a bolted on hard top does it even matter from a passing tech perspective?

Does it matter as long as i'm under the stick? I've read some groups require minimum 2" under.

RickyBeam · **Posted:** Wed Oct 21, 2015 8:24 pm

It should be 2". (I'm sure there's a rule book somewhere. for TT.) I've never seen anyone actually check any driver+car at an HPDE. Actual SFI rollbar padding; that you do need. (pool noodles won't do shit if you hit them.)

Chad Culbertson · **Posted:** Wed Oct 21, 2015 9:20 pm

RickyBeam wrote:

It should be 2". (I'm sure there's a rule book somewhere. for TT.) I've never seen anyone actually check any driver+car at an HPDE. Actual SFI rollbar padding; that you do need. (pool noodles won't do shit if you hit them.)

Yeah, it's got some kinda stuff zip tied to the roll bar, it's pretty hard though and guessing the weather has done it's toll on it. I'll be looking to replace it for sure.

I think 2" will be doable but will probably require me getting rid of the slider for the seat.

Chad Culbertson · **Posted:** Wed Oct 21, 2015 10:05 pm

Looks like the padding that's on it currently is likely SFI stuff, it feels really stiff but maybe that's normal. I kinda assumed it had hardened over time or something.

RickyBeam · **Posted:** Wed Oct 21, 2015 10:35 pm

The SFI stuff is, IMO, "light weight rock" :-) It's a high density foam. It will not compress between your fingers, and permanently deforms when it does compress. It's all over the Duff car if you ever want to see any. Apex will allow the 10% club discount on the stuff (if you buy enough.)

Chad Culbertson · **Posted:** Wed Oct 21, 2015 10:39 pm

RickyBeam wrote:

The SFI stuff is, IMO, "light weight rock" :-)

It's a high density foam. It will not compress between your fingers, and permanently deforms when it does compress. It's all over the Duff car if you ever want to see any. Apex will allow the 10% club discount on the stuff (if you buy enough.)

Yeah, this is SFI for sure then, this car spent some time on track at THSCC events, so i'm sure it was setup properly at some point. It does feel like "foam rock" haha.

JamesMilko · **Posted:** Wed Oct 21, 2015 11:02 pm

I doubt anyone in a Miata actually passes the broomstick test legitly.

Chad Culbertson · **Posted:** Wed Oct 21, 2015 11:52 pm

JamesMilko wrote:

I doubt anyone in a Miata actually passes the broomstick test legitly.

You would have to be a damn midget almost lol.

I'm not exactly tall 5'8.5" or so and 33-34" inseam per the tape measure. I have the seat most of the way back in order to get ok leg room, so I don't have a huge amount of torso i'm dealing with.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Thu Oct 22, 2015 8:03 am

Chad Culbertson wrote:

JamesMilko wrote:

I doubt anyone in a Miata actually passes the broomstick test legitly.

You would have to be a damn midget almost lol.

If Milko can't pass, it can't be passed as he is an actual midget. :wink:

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Thu Oct 22, 2015 8:04 am

Chad Culbertson wrote:

Looks like the padding that's on it currently is likely SFI stuff, it feels really stiff but maybe that's normal. I kinda assumed it had hardened over time or something.

SFI padding is supposed to be stiff. It's designed for a helmet impact, not other body parts that are not in a helmet.

Andrew Jonell · **Joined:** Mon Mar 23, 2009 6:43 pm **Posts:** 1350

Hashim's car had SFI padding; you're good. It might be UV damaged and warrant replacing, but it's SFI stuff.

Chad Culbertson · **Posted:** Thu Oct 22, 2015 12:14 pm

Andrew Jonell wrote:

Hashim's car had SFI padding; you're good. It might be UV damaged and warrant replacing, but it's SFI stuff.

Yeah, it looks fairly old so I probably will do that.

I'm pretty sure i'll gain another inch or so once I make my fat butt lose some weight, pretty sure I don't sit completely into the seats anyway, more like wedged in, lol.

The wife said it was cool to buy the Miata if it made me actually lose some weight to make sure I fit better, also it would be much more comfortable.

Dustin Fredrickson · **Posted:** Fri Oct 23, 2015 8:48 am

Chad Culbertson wrote:

Andrew Jonell wrote:

Hashim's car had SFI padding; you're good. It might be UV damaged and warrant replacing, but it's SFI stuff.

Yeah, it looks fairly old so I probably will do that.

I'm pretty sure i'll gain another inch or so once I make my fat butt lose some weight, pretty sure I don't sit completely into the seats anyway, more like wedged in, lol.

The wife said it was cool to buy the Miata if it made me actually lose some weight to make sure I fit better, also it would be much more comfortable.

If it's the same stuff I put on originally, that padding on the main hoop is the Hard Dog Pre-Formed SFI-based stuff, and the cross bars have SFI sticks. The main hoop was under the HD leather/vinyl custom covering the entire time I had it, which I'd assume is fairly UV blocking.

FWIW, I was only ~ an inch under the broomstick when I was running it as well. Malia and I were sharing the car at the time, and had to keep the drivers seat on sliders, but if I didn't have that restriction, I would have absolutely fab'd up hard mounts and taken that seat down another inch. Take a measurement for yourself in the passenger seat for comparison, as that one is hard mounted to the floorpan.

Chad Culbertson · **Posted:** Fri Oct 23, 2015 10:34 am

Dustin Fredrickson wrote:

Chad Culbertson wrote:

Andrew Jonell wrote:

Hashim's car had SFI padding; you're good. It might be UV damaged and warrant replacing, but it's SFI stuff.

Yeah, it looks fairly old so I probably will do that.

I'm pretty sure i'll gain another inch or so once I make my fat butt lose some weight, pretty sure I don't sit completely into the seats anyway, more like wedged in, lol.

The wife said it was cool to buy the Miata if it made me actually lose some weight to make sure I fit better, also it would be much more comfortable.

If it's the same stuff I put on originally, that padding on the main hoop is the Hard Dog Pre-Formed SFI-based stuff, and the cross bars have SFI sticks. The main hoop was under the HD leather/vinyl custom covering the entire time I had it, which I'd assume is fairly UV blocking.

FWIW, I was only ~ an inch under the broomstick when I was running it as well. Malia and I were sharing the car at the time, and had to keep the drivers seat on sliders, but if I didn't have that restriction, I would have absolutely fab'd up hard mounts and taken that seat down another inch. Take a measurement for yourself in the passenger seat for comparison, as that one is hard mounted to the floorpan.

Yep, I also need to lose some weight, I can barely squeeze into the seat as is and i'm sure that's not helping.

I noticed the passenger seat was not on sliders and looked about an inch shorter, pretty sure that would put me close to 2" clearance. I'll have to go sit in it and see for sure.

I don't anticipate having multiple drivers so getting rid of the slider probably won't be an issue.

brettmcwhorter · **Posted:** Fri Oct 23, 2015 2:18 pm

Chad Culbertson wrote:

Looks like the padding that's on it currently is likely SFI stuff, it feels really stiff but maybe that's normal. I kinda assumed it had hardened over time or something.

I have the SFI 46.1 stuff on my s2000 and it's hard as a rock. It has to be if your head/helmet slams into it with a lot of force. It's not made to not hurt you, it's made to keep you from shattering your skull :thumbsup:

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