chaos4NH wrote:I spoke with the head of tech for White Mountain BMW yesterday at the NHMS Open House.
According to him, the BMW National BOD originally ruled that if a car passed, or exceeded the DOT 1995 rollover protection standards, they were good to go at BMW club HPDEs. He went on to say that after the national meeting last year, the BOD rescinded that decision and ruled that a full cage would be required in ALL convertibles. When I mentioned that some of our members ran with Boston last year without a cage, he said emphatically that it would NOT be allowed by Boston, or any other chapter, this year. He also said he was not 100% in favor of the policy but was required to enforce it. All you guys with supposed contacts with Boston Chapter better get on the phone with them and verify this. Just call me Sam, the myth buster.
supposed contacts? i'm a member of the chapter and was in fact a staff member last year. The rules for HPDE's for BMW Boston are listed as being the same as they were last year. It's all on the website.
the national meeting that you are talking about was indeed 'last year' - as in, before the season started. I contacted the Boston chapter specifically because of this meeting to make sure that they would continue allowing convertibles, and they did. It is up to individual chapters and their insurance policies.
I have posted this link already in this thread, but I will post it again for the click impaired:
http://www.boston-bmwcca.org/EventDescr ... hools.aspx - note the '2010' in the link title.
Convertibles
Rules for CONVERTIBLES are as follows:
Definition for Convertibles and Cars with Removable Roof Sections
‘Convertibles’ are defined as cars with retractable tops, whether soft-top or folding hard-top.
‘Removable roof sections’ include targa tops and T-tops. These are characterized by part of a fixed body structure above the passenger compartment.
Participation Requirements - Convertibles
Convertibles are not allowed to participate in sessions driven at speed unless the car is equipped with the following minimum requirements:
* An approved roll bar or roll cage. Both driver and instructor sitting up right with helmets are below the top of the roll bar.
* Five (5) or Six(6) point harnesses for both driver and instructor where belts are properly routed.
* Arm Restraints
Participation Requirements - Removable Roof Sections
Cars with removable roof sections are allowed provided that both driver and instructor sitting up right with helmets are below the top of the roll bar or roof line.
Exclusions - Cars equipped only with factory pop-up posts or similarly activated rollover protection are not allowed.
Approval for Event
ALL convertibles must be approved by the Event Chair in advance. Please contact the registrar before the event to discuss your configuration. If the vehicle does not pass the on-site Tech Inspection with regard to the rules above, you will not be allowed to participate and no refund will be given. If you have an open convertible with an approved roll bar and we are not able to find an instructor who is willing to accompany you on the track, your entry fee will be refunded.
)
