That looks like fun.

I'd like to do a track day again. It's been forever.

VA has personal property tax on cars. So people do like to register their cars elsewhere. Of course, VA also sets of checkpoints in neighborhoods and apartment complexes to enforce that.

What were requirements for soft top cars? I always assumed you needed a cage to track a convertible?

It would be fun to take the 1er to a couple of track days now that it isn't as critical for me to get to work in it as it used to be.

Depends on the group. It ranges from blanket ban, to roll bar, to certain convertibles are allowed (I think that the PCA falls into this category, but I haven't looked in a while), to "go for it."

Yes; this group seemed to be of the "go for it" variety. There was an S5 and an F-Type SVR and a Ferrari California and a 911 Turbo cab, in addition to my car, along with the Miatas. This was run by TrackDaze, though it was a private event organized by some corporate folks down here.

PCA events that I've run generally require a fixed roll structure that passes the broomstick test, meaning a broomstick from the windshield header to the roll hoop has to clear your helment. 987s (and I assume later Boxsters) are generally OK, 986s and 911 cabs generally aren't, at least in stock form.

When I ran them, PCA events also generally required either you to run with the top up or to use straps to restrain your arms in the event of a wreck (that's what the Spyder guys did). Not sure if they still require that. The one yesterday let ppl out with their tops down.

Interesting. Not unreasonable requirements, IMO.

After watching that Mustang flip over? Not unreasonable at all...

I also wouldn't put much trust in bolt in roll bars, unless you know that they are actually attached to something solid.

In particular, factory seats are designed to fold over in a crash so that your spine doesn't become part of the crash structure. Fixed back seats and harnesses combined with sketchy roll bars is one of the worst combinations out there.

Edit: If you look closely at the below picture, you'll see the feet of the roll bar sticking out the floor. I still have no idea how the driver escaped that crash, but it certainly wasn't thanks to the roll bar.

That's horrifying and frankly, poor design and/or construction. The loads have to be properly transferred to the chassis.

Is that a newer merc SL? Hard to see on my phone .