[underscore]

Originally Posted by snowfarmer

Not every collision results in a rollover, rather the opposite, the vast majority of collisions on public roads are not rollovers. Take a look at the top of the seat back on the stock Miata seat, it sits below the rollbar. In a front or rear impact there can be enough whiplash that the back of the occupants head smacks into the rollbar with unpleasant consequences.

The back of a racing seat sits higher and is between the roll bar and the occupants head and the seat back/base is one piece and flexes less. Additionally, on a track the occupants(s) wear helmets and roll bar padding is required (at least in SCCA and Spec Miata). In a high energy rollover collision like one might encounter at a track, one has a roll bar in conjunction with racing seats (and maybe a 5 point racing harness), helmets, and roll bar padding, now your roll bar is making you safer.

Yes there are some scenarios on the road where a rollbar might provide a benefit in a rollover collision but there are way more collision scenarios where the roll bar isn't going to help and in fact may hurt.

I dunno, I looked at the ad for that Miata and nothing in the ad pointed to a car that has been modded for track use. Yes, the owner could have un-modded it, but if one's going to do that, pull the rollbar as well to sell it, there's always someone looking to make their Miata more safe....

Makes sense, I'm used to seeing the roll bars that are about the same height as the top of the seat so you wouldn't be able to contact it. I'm also short so the idea of the head being higher than the top of the headrest is foreign to me