Question - when did roll-cages become mandatory on USAC Sprint car, Midgets, Champ Dirt cars?

I"m thinking in 70 or 71.

Greg, I wish I could help, but that was before my time! LOL. Bob

USAC made cages mandatory on midgets and sprints starting with the 1971 season. Champ Dirt cars didn't make cages a requirement until 1972.

Correct. They were “recommended” for midgets and sprint cars approx. mid year 1970 (sorry...that was 50 years ago, so I don’t remember the exact date) and mandatory for the 1971 season. If I remember correctly, “bolt-on” cages were acceptable for two years after they became mandatory, then they had to be an integral part of the chassis/frame.

I was in the ball park lol Hell I"m old too.

Thank you gentlemen - know a couple of knowledgeable guys who swore up and down it was 1968 - what started the discussion was

Did Gil Hess have a cage when he died at Salem in 1970?

Yes, he did.

According to hamb, after Pat O'Connor at Indy, in 58, they were added to the 59 rule book.

That would have been roll bars, not cages.