Making my Duetto into TT car

[Alfapwr]

Hi Y'all,

I want to start doing drivers schools and time trials, but it's going to be a while before I can afford and build a Giulia Super track toy.

I have a near perfect Duetto with suspension mods and nice wheels and tires. I would need a race legal roll bar that either is partially or fully removeable ( any suggestions on where I can find such an animal would be helpful), a helmet, a harness, and a overflow bottle for the radiator.

I guess my real question is: would I be screwing up my car ???

I could put something like a bra or vinyl to protect the paint in the front. I don't know what else I could do.

Any suggestions would be helpful.

Thanks,

Dan Walker
AROSC

[italcarguy]

Dan,

I don't think it's a good idea. Your Duetto is one of the nicest, most original cars down here in So. Cal. that I have seen.

You are gonna be out there on the track and worry about messing up your car with rock chips and other crap the track has to offer. If you aren't worried about this while at the track, you are gonna be pissed when you get home.

If this doesn't bother you, by all means go for it. Or, just tough it out, the right car will come up. You should call Dirk at Italspeed. He might have a Ti that would be in the same class as Norm.

As for a roll bar, you'd probably need to get one made. Autopower has street ones which allow the top to go up without removing it. I am sure they have race ones, but you won't be able to put the top up.

[conedriver]

Dan,

The Autopower internet source I used was IOPort Racing. I needed to replace the old bar in my Spider to comply with AROC height rules (the old bar fit inside my convertible top, but had a "legality bump" welded on for additional height, could be unbolted to erect the top, but didn't fit the rules because it wasn't a "continuous single hoop" ).

I wanted to buy an Autopower "Race" roll bar with a high hoop, diagonal brace, and shoulder harness mount as required by AROC rules. There was a design in the on-line catalog that met these requirements, and was also narrow enough to allow room at the cockpit sides for the top mechanism. This is no longer available and the only product they would make had the hoop width set out at the edges of the cockpit, eliminating any room for the folded top mechanism.

I found an old style Autopower race bar, with the more narrow high hoop, and use this in my '76 Spider by disconnecting the top mechansim at the pivot/mounting points to allow the top bows to be raised over the top of the roll bar. once erected, I secure the top frame pivots by placing bolts in the holes to secure to the body. The top has to bulge a little to clear the roll bar, but the entire technique works well. This technique was suggested by Russ Neely, AROC Competition Chairman.

Based on the above, it sounds like you will need to have a custom bar fabricated. Doesn't the Duetto top design allow everything to be completely unbolted, including the fabric?. This should allow the entire top to be removed, then replaced over a tall roll bar.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alfapwr Hi Y'all, I want to start doing drivers schools and time trials, but it's going to be a while before I can afford and build a Giulia Super track toy. I have a near perfect Duetto with suspension mods and nice wheels and tires. I would need a race legal roll bar that either is partially or fully removeable ( any suggestions on where I can find such an animal would be helpful), a helmet, a harness, and a overflow bottle for the radiator. I guess my real question is: would I be screwing up my car ??? I could put something like a bra or vinyl to protect the paint in the front. I don't know what else I could do. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks, Dan Walker AROSC

[Alfapwr]

Hi guys,

Anthony, I'm afraid that I think you are only too correct. I know that I could fab up some kind of convertible roll bar, but bottom line is that I don't want to screw up my car ( thanks for the nice comlpliment by the way ). If anyone knows you should.

Oh well, at least thinking doesn't cost $$$ !!!

Later,

Dan