Roll bar extension

[racer_d]

Originally Posted by porscheracer

I'm 6'2 and I am planing to buy the BK Roll bar extension. Anyone here have the same concern?

I was at the Porsche factory early 1998 right after the production boxster and I suggested redesigning the roll bar. I think Porsche was concern more about the cost then safety.

For track driving some, tracks and some clubs require its use. For street driving I don't worry about it.

I am only 5'11 and with the extension in place, the top of my head is flush with the bar (in overall height). Ideally, (from a racing/track perspective) the highest point of the rollbar should be at least 2" above your head. This is to help preserve your knoggin should you actually roll your car. The human head/neck combo isn't quite strong enough to hold up a 3000lb car, let alone 3,000 lbs with a lot of extra force thrown in.

That said, you will notice with the BK bar in place, that there is literally only fractions of an inch clearance for your roof to pass over. You literally run out of room putting anything "taller" into the car. My guess is that's why no one improved the current "band aid"

As for Tomshoons suggestion, my guess is that LIABILITY is the reason. Modifying the factory provided roll bar would certainly have implications in those instances where "its" failure resulted in a death.

I also think that in the early 1990s (when the boxster designs were begun) I can only think of the then "new" Mercedes SL and VW Cabrio as the only convertibles that had any factory roll over protection. The Boxsters "roll bars" spawned a heck of a lot of copycats (MB in the SLK, BMW Z roadters, Miata, Pontiac Solstice etc) to provide some kind of useful protection.

You will notice that on the 987 Porsche addressed this concern by making the rollbars taller to begin with.

My guess is that above 6'0, one would consider both the extension and an aftermarket seat that would allow you to sit lower, to provide more protection than you already have.