[racer_d]

Technically, the visiable roll hoops you see on a 986/987 ARE part of a ROLLBAR system built into the car. It's a 4 point rollbar unit. There are schematics of the Boxster out there (I have seen them in print) that make it quite clear how structurally important and beneficial those bars are.

1) Check you local club/region before installing harnesses. PCA National has rolled out some new regulations regarding Harness installs and the seats used in conjunction with harnesses.

The main reason for PCA's ruling is because the STOCK SEATS, with built in headrests, do NOT allow for proper belt placement on the driver. For the shoulders, a "skinny" driver could squeeze between the belts in a collision. Also, the sub belt needs to be routed up under your crotch, not around the seat. That said, I beleive it is Schroth, who offer "improved" 4pt belts and sub belts that go around your seat, but it appears PCA's blanket ruling does not include these newer systems.

2) Most clubs, treat "safety" enhancements as "free".. ie no penalty for it, but again, check with the rulebook for the clubs you want to run with.

3) Personally, I don't encourage the use of 4pt belts or the use of harnesses with Stock seats because they don't secure a person as well as a "correct" system would.

4) Most AX's don't have a broomstick test (at least the ones I've attended on the East coast), simply do to the lower speeds and less likelyhood of rolling your car.

5) Some tracks (VIR for example) may require you to use a B-K extension. I believe VIR requires one whether or not you pass the boomstick test without it.

6) Some tracks allow for the use of a hardtop in lieu of the B-K bar OR the broomstick test.

7) In the end, it comes down to how rigorous rules are enforced, for where you want to run.