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 | Q1) What is the difference
between a style bar and a roll bar?
A1) As the names
implies, a style bar is just that, a bar with style. It offers
minimal protection in a roll over and could in fact even lead to
additional injuries. This is because style bars are generally
attached very superficially at only two points (generally bolted
only at the top of the seat belt tower) and most will probably break off
at the attachment points and bend over if very
much force is placed on it.
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On the other hand a true roll bar will have additional
bracing to keep it from bending over or collapsing if lateral force is
applied. However, the additional bracing can make it somewhat less
attractive.
The Boss Frog Double Hoop Roll Bar design (patent
No. 7,032,927) follows the intent of the SCCA guidelines, and has undergone
additional testing to assure the integrity of the system. Because of
this, they can be certified for
both Solo I and Solo II racing events.
| Q2) Will the Boss Frog Roll Bar restrict
the movement of either seat?
A2) The
seat will go all the way back, with the seat tilted back. Your personal adjustment may be limited
slightly depending on your height, seat style, and additional padding.
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| Q3) Just how safe is a Miata
WITHOUT a roll bar?
A3) Well, by U.S. law it is a
requirement that the windshield frame on a convertible be able to
support the weight of the car. That means that if you gently
raise the Miata, flip it over and gently set it down, the windshield
frame won't collapse. |
Get it going at speed - throw it up in the air and slam it back down
on the windshield - now that is a different story. We have seen
the results of a Miata in a single rollover (soft roll) come out pretty
good. Sure the windshield was bent - but the people were either unhurt
(seatbelt engaged at the time of the rollover) or only had minor
injuries. Roll it more than that - the windshield gets pretty
flat.
Now the question is - who ever plans on rolling their Miata in the
first place? Then if they do - only rolling it over once?
| Q4) Can I install a Harness in my Miata with a Boss Frog?
A4)
Of course. Actually - there are at least three different ways. Probably more
if you want to get fancy. Each one depends on the type of connector your
harness has. Click here to
see an example
 | 1) H-Type, Loop ends. Loop one strap over each shoulder to the
verticals of the hoop. |
| 2) H-Type with snap ends, Install two eye bolts (or D-rings) on the
wall behind the seat and attach the ends of the harness there. |
| 3) For long straps with loop ends - wrap them both around the diagonal
rear brace.
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Also - on the Team Miata Resources page is a listing of Miata Clubs around
the country. Find one in your area and contact them. They can usually recommend
a good place to have it installed or perhaps someone in the club would
be willing to help you install it on a weekend.
If all that fails, check out the Yellow pages of the phone book and
look under Automobile - Performance Shops. Those are usually the types
of shop that are familiar with installing roll bars.
If you do have it installed by a shop - don't let them charge you
more than 6 hours of labor. Our guy only takes 6 hours to do
one.
If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area there are a couple of
places that we can recommend and even have the roll bar shipped directly
to them so you don't have to haul it around yourself.
| Q6) How much does the Boss Frog Double Hoop Roll Bars weigh?
A6)
Approximately 55 pounds. It also comes in 3 pieces (two hoops and the saddle). Making
installation a bit easier than other bars from the standpoint of getting the
bar into the car and in place. The Boss Frog ClearView is on piece but also
weight 55 pounds.
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| Q7) Does the boot need to be
modified to work properly with the roll bars?
A7) Yes.
The boot fits, but can't be snapped down entirely. For it to do
that, you will need to be take it to a car upholstery shop to have
it modified to be able to go around back bracing bars on the roll
bar. Upholstery shops that specialize in car upholstery,
usually don't have any problems making the modification.
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| Q8) Will my window lay flat
after I install the roll bar?
A8) Sort of. The window part (clear part)
will lay flat but the rest of the flap will sort of bend gently over
the back braces. Click
here to see for yourself. That is why we offer the No-Zip Windows
Protector. It solves this problem completely for plastic
windows.
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| Q9) Will the Boss Frog Roll Bar obstruct my rear
view?
A9) The center of the roll bar is
open, so there are no diagonals to interfere with visibility. It also means
that the soft top can be raised and lowered from the drivers seat (your
personal arm strength
permitting).
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| Q10) How does the Boss Frog Roll Bar work
with the Mazda factory glass windows?
A10) Perfectly. And also
works with the Robbins glass rear window for all years. It may work
with others
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| Q11) How does the Boss Frog Roll Bar work
with wind blockers?
A11) Frankly - we don't know yet because
we haven't tried any yet. On the 99+ cars, the factory wind block will
have to be removed.
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| Q12) Do both the Boss Frog roll bars work with a hard top?
A12) Yes - Unlike some other roll bars on the market, there is no interference
with any of the latches and nothing needs to be modified.
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| Q13) Will a Boss Frog Roll Bar work with
an older Miata equipped with a Robbin's Top glass rear
window?
A13) YES - the glass window in the Robbin's Top
just barely fits as does the Mazda (OEM) glass in the '99 and later Miatas.
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| Q14) Does any part of my Miata
have to be cut?
A14) The design of the Boss Frog Roll Bar does not
require any cutting into the chassis, unlike some other popular roll
bars for the Miata. It only requires cutting the removable package
tray and some of the carpet in that area. See the instructions for details.
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| Q15) Where do I find the SCCA Approval for the Boss Frog?
A15) On the subject of SCCA certification - Unfortunately, there is no
stamp of approval from a national SCCA body. It simply doesn't exists
anywhere (that would be too easy). What SCCA does is publish standards. The
Boss Frog meets or exceeds those published standards.
Understand that most roll bars/cages on most cars at most SCCA events are
one of a kind bars built by a guy who has a tube bender and a welder.
Anyone with a tube bender and a welder can make a bar. The hard part is
meeting the published SCCA standards. The regional safety tech guys are
there to see that the bar at their track events meet those standards.
Ultimately, it is up to the safety tech in each region, or even at each
event for that matter, (and there are over 100 different regions and
countless events) to make their own determination. So we’d have to take
the bar to all 100+ regional safety techs to have them look at it. But that
would only be as good as long as that safety tech held the position.
I know of one guy that went to SCCA events with an "approved"
roll bar for three years. The regional safety tech changed and suddenly his
previously approved bar was no longer approved. While the standards are
published, they are open to interpretation. So while a bar (any bar for that
matter) might be "approved" in one region, it might not be in
another.
On our web site we have a document with the SCCA specs and a
point-by-point of where the Boss Frog meets or exceeds those specs.
That spec sheet is there to make it easier for people to get approval
from their local SCCA Safety Techs. With that document in hand, it should
not be a problem. Also print out a copy of the destructive test and have
that with you. If any safety tech should ever give you a hard time about the
bar - ask to see the destructive testing for any other of the bars at the
track that day. That should shut him up. I also doubt that any certified
engineers have examined many of the bars at the track either.
To date the Boss Frog has run at a large number of SCCA and NASA track
events and no one has been turned away.
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| Q16) If I buy a Boss Frog for an older Miata ('90-'97) and later buy
a newer Miata ('99 or newer) and want to move the Boss Frog to the newer
Miata - will my old bar fit?
A16) Yes - Unlike some other roll bars on the market, the Boss Frog will
fit in any Miata from any year. It is just a matter of just removing the bar
from one Miata, drilling the holes in the other and installing the Boss Frog
in your new Miata. |
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Special Note for SCCA Autocross
Many
SCCA regions do not require a roll bar of any sort for Autocross events.
However, many regions require that if you equipment your Miata with a roll
bar it must meet the SCCA specs for roll bars to run in any of their
events.
Here is an example of what could happen. You arrive at an
SCCA Autocross event with a bar that does not meet SCCA specs, like the Hard
Dog Deuce, Sport or Extreme. Because it doesn't meet SCCA specs you can not
run. However, if you were to remove the bar (which would be very hard to do
on the spot) they would then let you run in the Autocross. (I know it seems
odd, but that is the way they run things.)
The bottom line is that is you ever plan to go near a track
with your Miata, you should get a roll bar that meets or exceeds the SCCA
specs for roll bars. |
A NOTE OF CAUTION - No roll bar, or
even a roll cage, is a substitute for good and safe driving habits.
NEVER feel that just because you have a roll bar you are "safe" and can
push the limits of your Miata further than you would otherwise. Even the
best roll bar can collapse if the accident is severe enough.
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