Here are two links at Yellow Bullet about this. What is bringing this up is NHRA is talking about cutting back certification of Mild Steel cages to an 8.50 or slower this next season, according to inside sources.
We contend that properly welded and fabricated Mild Steel is safer than the brittle .083 C/M is.
This petition has been signed by aat least one NHRA Tech Inspector already.
Discussion link
http://www.yellowbullet.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=35627
Petition link;
http://www.yellowbullet.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=35660
My thoughts about this;
I know this,
I see remains of cages after serious crashes made from mild steeel and the cages are intact in one peice just bent slightly.
I see remains of serious crashes of cages made of the .083 Chromolly and I see cage material torn or sheared. I see jagged tube ends from the tearing. I see welds or material surrounding the welds fail.
I like light weight but if I am in a serious crash I would feel much more secure knowing my cage isn't going to break up.
In the older days the C/M cages were mandated to be .095. Now they are .083. What is there to make them safer except more tubes used now. Those same more tubes are now used in Mild Steel cages and that is the safest in my opinion. Also formerly Mild Steel Cages were mandated to be .125 wall, now most are .135 wall.
Most newer M/S Cars are built to a spec with tube bending and welding construction of bar orientation to rival or look like a Bickel or Quartermaster C/M Cage and chassis. The tubing strenth is in there. The builders are using Prints from those Professional Chassis Builders.
Ed
Post this at other forums and boards if you agree, please. [/url]