To be able to light the netherrack underneath the spit roaster i need to set up the cooker like so.
Any ideas to be able to place it ground level, but still be able to light the netherrack?

Actually i can do this,

I can't light this. I would have to break the 2 blocks in front of it and go down 2 more.

I can't light this either. i would have to break the blocks in front of it.

this is actually a known issue with forge and bounding boxes. maybe i'll just set it up so that when you try and light the stick, it tries to light the blocks underneath it.