Competitor safety - 5.2.5 - Cockpit width

[The Mad Prof]

Hello,

I am curious and looking to build my own chassis soon, this regulation states -

5.2.5. With the exception of cars of periods A to D have
bodywork providing a minimum transverse cockpit
opening width of 81cm. This width may not be
interrupted.

So am I correct in thinking that this width is the full length of the open cockpit, let's say steering wheel back to head rest? It seems jolly wide if that is the case?

Thanks for your assistance,

James

[redturner37]

Errrr, doesnt 'transverse' mean across the cockpit, not longitudinally. and the bit about not being interupted means that you can't put any chassis tubes across it and you cant have a rigid cover on the passenger side. You would probably have to re read the rule book as I think this part refers to vehicles which may have a passenger space.....

[The Mad Prof]

I meant the transverse width of 81cm at both the front of the cockpit and the rear, I will have another look at the rules, makes sence for a passenger carrying car, not a single seater though?

Thanks for the reply,

James

[The Mad Prof]

Hmm It is listed under all vehicles?

[redturner37]

I suspect that you have misread something somewhere because I doubt if my cockpit is more than 600mm wide. I will measure it.....

[The Mad Prof]

It does say bodywork, rather than chassis, so maybe single seaters are exempt because of the lack of non-structural bodywork?

[Fireblade]

Brings back memories of F750 scrutineers wandering around with fold up templates for cockpit openings and disputes over whether the left side passenger space really was one or not.

[Steve Wilkinson]

Originally Posted by The Mad Prof

It does say bodywork, rather than chassis, so maybe single seaters are exempt because of the lack of non-structural bodywork?

Most of the carbon-fibre tubbed single seaters don't have "bodywork" that restricts the acces to the cockpit as the tub does that job.

[The Mad Prof]

True, so if I am putting together some preliminary designs, I can fit the cockpit to me rather than the 81cm rule?

I apologise if I sound a bit slow, designing to poorly worded regulations is new for me!

Kind regards,

James

[The DOA]

You want drawing number 19.17 on page 274 for circuit racers as I think basic hillclimb chassis must conform to the same rules (though am not 100% on that!) without the side impact requirements. Even if you dont need to meet these regulations, its worth considerign why they are applied to single seaters and designing the chassis to conform to this cockpit opening space (I cant understand how drivers get out of chassis made to these dimensions having sat in a few and a narrower chassis would only make it worse IMO).http://www.msauk.org/uploadedfiles/m...t%20Racing.pdf