Door Handles

These universal door handles are 200 mm long and 20 mm wide, in black, red or blue. They give a firm, simple grip for opening or closing a door where the factory handle has gone or is awkward to use, as is common in stripped track cars.

Door cards, with their handles, armrests and speakers, are among the first parts removed from a competition car to save weight. A plain handle keeps the door easy to close from the seat, even when the driver is strapped in.

Safety comes before looks. The driver must be able to open the door from inside without searching, and rescue crews from outside. Keep both factory releases working, or replace them with clearly marked ones.

Two details guide the choice:

• Colour: red or blue stands out against a bare or black door panel, so the handle is found at a glance. Black keeps a quieter look.
• Space: at 200 mm long, the handle needs a flat, solid area of that length, ideally over a frame member of the door.

Fix each end with bolts and a backing plate or rivet nuts, since a thin panel tears under a hard pull. Mount the handle where it falls to hand with the seat in its driving position and the harness done up. Check the fixings now and then, as door slams loosen them over time.