The covers sold by Hard Dog used to have a simple layer of foam (or at least, that's what mine had when I installed it back in 1998 or so). The new ones have formed SFI padding underneath, so they're an excellent combination of looks and protection.
I use a dual density foam in my Targa car to cover the bar right near my head. It's a full SFI pad with a softer pad over top. The biggest downside is that it's quite thick, about double the thickness of a normal SFI setup. The soft outer pad can be removed easily for when I'm on track. I always recommend a Sport bar unless someone's going to be doing a lot of track work. The Hard Core is just too close to the driver's head for my comfort, especially since every Miata driver is apparently 6'4" :) Keith Tanner Flyin' Miata [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.flyinmiata.com 1-800-FLY-MX5s (orders) 1-970-464-5600 (tech) 2008 FM Open House: August 14-17 > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Sonny Tu > Sent: Wednesday, August 13, 2008 6:59 PM > To: 'Tony Cooper'; 'Larry Alster' > Cc: [email protected] > Subject: RE: Hard Dog Hard Core fitment on MSM > > At the very least, put some SFI padding on the side that > faces the cockpit & then put some kind of cover on it to make > it "showy". > > My M2 HDSBDD has SFI padding plus a layer of "pipe insulation > foam" all under a vinyl cover I hand stitched on. I've had > many compliments on it & most agreeing it looks OEM. Best of > all, it fits under the soft AND hard tops. The HT rubs just > slightly at the upper corners of the bar/vinyl but the > squeaking is easily fixed with a generous dab of petroleum jelly. > > To get a look at how it looks, go to my website, click on > "Miata" at the bottom navigation bar & then click on > "M-Edition". Scroll down to see various photos of the car in > which some of them show the bar. > > I understand HD now sells a similar cover to what I did on my > own. But I don't know if it has SFI padding with foam or it > just has foam. > > Regards, > Sonny > > If everything is coming your way, > You're in the wrong lane!!! > > http://www.sonny2.com > > ________________________________ > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Tony Cooper > Sent: Wednesday, August 13, 2008 8:28 PM > To: Larry Alster > Cc: [email protected] > Subject: Re: Hard Dog Hard Core fitment on MSM > > > All, > > I had a friend literally "lose a day" at VIR when late > in the afternoon session he lost control in a corner, the > rear came around and hit a row of stacked tires. He was > belted in - 6 point, and of course had a full helmet. The > impact ripped the seat from the floor board mounts and his > head wacked the bar. If he had not been wearing that helmet > I am sure he would not be here today. He stands 5' 8" at > most. When he regained consciousness at the hospital he had > no memories past the point of driving up to VIR. Everything > that followed was wiped! > > I have worried about the height of the bars ever since > then. I'm not sure there is a good solution. For all > practical purposes the bar must be short to allow the soft > top to function. Having a roll bar without wearing a helmet > seems risky to me. > > Play safe. > > Tony > > Larry Alster wrote: > > I have 4 different versions of the bar > > Yes one of them is the HT > version, that's in Janice's car. > > The rest of them are just different > generations of the same bar. Yes it sits forward, that's how > you get the height. Am I worried about hitting it, no. I > think I stand just as much chance hitting parts of the top too. > > Larry > > White Knight 1991 Crystal White #99 CSP > Silver Bullet 1992 Silverstone #17 SM2 FM I+ > Turbo > Honey B 1992 Sunburst Yellow #99 SM2L JR > Supercharger > Whooosh 2004 Titanium Mazdaspeed MX-5 > > LowCountry Miata http://www.lowcountrymiataclub.net > <http://www.lowcountrymiataclub.net> > Masters Miata > RAGS 074 > > From: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Bryan Wyatt > Sent: Wednesday, August 13, 2008 6:51 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: RE: Hard Dog Hard Core fitment on MSM > > Sure you don't have the Hard > Core Hard Top, Larry? Believe me, the bar sits pretty far forward. > > -Bryan > > --- On Wed, 8/13/08, Larry Alster > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > From: Larry Alster <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: RE: Hard Dog Hard Core fitment on MSM > To: "'Shaun Bogan'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> , [EMAIL PROTECTED], "'Miata > Power List'" > <[email protected]> <mailto:[email protected]> > Date: Wednesday, August 13, 2008, 6:46 PM > > I have 4 different versions of the HDHC bars in > my 4 cars. > I don't see any seat travel issues with them and I'm not > really sure I'm going to worry about hitting the bar in a > crash. Before I hit the bar I would think I would have other > things to be worrying about. > > Larry > > White Knight 1991 Crystal White #99 CSP > Silver Bullet 1992 Silverstone #17 SM2 FM I+ > Turbo > Honey B 1992 Sunburst Yellow #99 SM2L JR > Supercharger > Whooosh 2004 Titanium Mazdaspeed MX-5 > > LowCountry Miata http://www.lowcountrymiataclub.net > <http://www.lowcountrymiataclub.net> > Masters Miata > RAGS 074 > > From: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Shaun Bogan > Sent: Wednesday, August 13, 2008 6:32 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; 'Miata Power List' > Subject: RE: Hard Dog Hard Core fitment on MSM > > Yeah, I ordered it > accidentally. I thought I had a Hard Core in my M1, but It's > actually a sport bar. I'm coming back from about a 3 year > hiatus from miatas. Picked up a MSM for my girlfriend > and meant to get the same bar for it that I had in my M1. > Pretty much > sucks. I love the way it looks, but I'm not so happy with > the "safety" for street use. I'm not really sure what I > should do about it. I didn't realize it was the wrong bar > till it was installed and I sat in the car. I doubt the holes > would all line up with a sport bar if I somehow found a way > to swap it out. I was also surprised at how hard the BSCI padding was. > Luckily, she sits farther forward than I do, but that doesn't > do much for me when I drive it. > > ________________________________ > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Bryan Wyatt > Sent: Wednesday, August 13, 2008 6:23 PM > To: Miata Power List > Subject: Re: Hard Dog Hard Core fitment on MSM > > You're seeing why the HDHC > isn't often recommended for most drivers. It sits very far > forward and, if you have the wrong seat, will severely cut > into your seat travel. It was the one thing I hated about > mine. It really has nothing to do with it being in an MSM or > any other NB (or NA, for that matter). > > Basically, the area under a top is a curve and > the farther forward you are on that curve, the taller the bar will be. > > -Bryan > > --- On Wed, 8/13/08, Shaun Bogan > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > From: Shaun Bogan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: Hard Dog Hard Core fitment on MSM > To: [email protected] > Date: Wednesday, August 13, 2008, 6:14 PM > > Can anyone comment on how this bar is supposed > to fit? It seems like it sits a bit too far forward. I can > easily hit my head on the side of the main hoop in a normal > street driving position. In a more upright track position > It's less of an issue. I ordered the bar padding as > well, but I still wouldn't want to hit my head on it. The > sport bar in my > M1 doesn't have this issue. I'm afraid that in a backward / > rear end collision at and angle toward the drivers side could > result in a seriously painful head to bar impact. > > Has anyone else seen this? > > Shaun > > _______________________________________________ > Miatapower mailing list > [email protected] > http://list.miatapower.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/miatapower > _______________________________________________ Miatapower mailing list [email protected] http://list.miatapower.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/miatapower
