Porsche was not the be-all end-all for roll bars and cages. Some vintage photos of racers from that era in 911 suggest maybe Porsche were not as quick as some others to cotton on to the benefits of both safety / adding rigidity?
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There were pioneering specialists in the field. Matter are well known as supplier of cages to Porsche (however not sure when Matter first made roll bars and roll cages?)
Other companies were available both to factory teams and to individual racers. One notable example in this field being ALEYBARS Limited. They under leadership of John Aley were a pioneering specialist in the field and were a popular fitment; active long before the devices became mandatory — a British company they were earliest to spot the need for such things and fill the demand:
This is a bit of historical context on the parent company Safety Devices website:
http://www.safetydevices.com/about-us/history/
An ALEYBARS brochure from the 70s is in the history link. The brochure says it started 1964 so had idea even before 911 drivers were creating demand —see claim in the leaflet of being earliesff if maker un Europe (and acknowledgements* by credible organisation who would know firsthand that Aley was the earliest maker of roll bars and roll cages).
Leaflet shows some details of the variants that time — including the aluminium version that was once deemed acceptable! This brochure in link is for historical interest and sone things clearly outmoded by current standards. Having worked as an advisor to the global leadership I know the FiA are constantly updating the rules and regulations regarding safety equipment:
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Motor Racing magazine publications often featured adverts from ALEYBARS. This one featuring a Mini is evidently before UK decimalisation suggesting sixties?
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An advert from spring of 1972:
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This is a British 73 Carrera RS on a rally. I know it was fitted with an ALEYBARS manufactured cage. I suppose by then an off the shelf item for 911 application from this specialised cimpany given how prevalent 911 was in motorsport at that time.
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I’d be surprised if ALEYBARS who had been going since 1964, hadn’t made rollbars/cages for 911 before in 1971 FiA mandated cages they were were becoming adopted in motorsport from latter half of sixtes. However compared to other marques/models used in motorsport Porsche 911 probably sold in low quantities.
ALEYBARS Ltd were used by a number of factory teams eg BMC competitions Dept as well as smaller teams and no doubt privateers used them in the typical seen racing back then.
Papers on file show my 73 RS was once fitted with a bolt-in ALEYBARS cage when it was owned by a racing driver who went on to win class at Le Mans. Being British company ALEYBARS of the day were certified by the Royal Automobile Club the FiA ASN in UK. Five decades ago the paperwork was provided in an envelope like this:
Attachment 608293
The certification was proof to scrutineers it was homologated by the RAC was recommended to be kept safe in case needed to be produced in continental European events:
Attachment 608294
The ONS certificate infomation posted by Claudius is interesting:
“
Here the earliest paper about the Matter roll cage I found, issued 18. March 1971, provided by DMSB (Deutscher Motor Sport Bund).
BR Claudius”
Is the precise 18 March 71 date evidence of when Matter first made a certified roll cage product for 911? With roll bars/cages becoming mandatory racing equipment around then and Porsche 911 being popular in motorsport I can see why Matter would jump
in to developing and certifying them via German body ONS at that particular point. However the presence of
Carrera model on that certificate with 1971 date is intriguing because the date on the certificate predates the existence of 73 Carrera RS — March 71 probably even predates the Carrera RS project being sanctioned by Porsche management or the model being named Carrera so hue dies that chronology fit? While there is no doubt a valid reason — maybe the certificates colourful bottom edge suggests recent print — the anachronism in content certainly caught my eye.
Perhaps Matter were supplying earlier than 71 and this paperwork was just related to certification for new mandate but if Matter only supplying from around that date where were Porsche getting roll-bars/cages before? The work team were using Britax ( British) harness from UK in sixties so did source racing safety kit outside German makers.
Back to the mounting. Interesting comment about completions regulations of 70s requiring bolt mounting this article from the well regarded Motor Sport ( see last full paragraph left column)
Attachment 608301
Also interesting to read author’s view on why aluminium roll over protection wasn’t successful.
Steve
*PS. For folks interested in history of innovation in motorsport this link has an obituary for John Aley who died several years ago.
http://www.brdc.co.uk/Notice-of-Deat...ey-1930---2021
As context, the BRDC is a club of racing drivers who must meet criteria of success to be invited to join and whom collectively own the Silverstone Racing Circuit. Members include past president Sir Jackie Stewart and the late Prof Sid Watkins who are both recognised internationally for making the sport safer so this acknowledgement by BRDC for John Aley’s contributions to safety (which no doubt saved lives of many motorsport participants) carries weight:
“
John was something of a motor sport polymath. Racing driver, car club founder, race reporter, circuit manager, team manager, championship co-ordinator and car club chairman and president, he will be best remembered by a generation of racing and rally drivers for being the first person to manufacture roll bars for competition cars. Today it seems inconceivable that the use of roll over bars, let alone full roll cages, was not universal until 1971 when the FIA made them mandatory. Personal experience of being ejected from a rolling sports car during a test session at Snetterton had set John thinking along roll bar lines some seven years earlier in 1964 when he and Brian Wilkinson, who went on to found Safety Devices, produced the first Aley Bars.”
Originally Posted by 911MRP
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