The cal trac bars are a great value, they have quality parts, and quality construction. Mine are 22 years old or more, still look brand new if I wipe them down. I can totally understand people making their own, lots of people do that with a wide variety of items, myself included. I have a hard time justifying buying a knock off of something like this, maybe it is because I remember when they came out, and that it is a real racer who created and makes these things?