Fuel cell

[HandOverFist]

I too would put one in the latest Stocker build Alan if allowed. I just emailed NHRA tech and asked the question...let's see what they say about it.

[Sean Marconette]

It clearly states "Must be in stock location" This is also the same for a battery. A few years ago batteries were being moved where people wanted to put them in the engine compartment. They are also supposed to be in the original as produced location.

Honestly why would you want to put 20-30 lbs on the front of the car when you can use it to your advantage for rear ballast? If you have ever raced at a place like Heartland Park Topeka, it is nothing to go through a lot of fuel just getting from the pits to the staging lanes and back. If you run your car light it could bite you.

Sean

[HandOverFist]

Originally Posted by Sean Marconette

It clearly states "Must be in stock location" This is also the same for a battery. A few years ago batteries were being moved where people wanted to put them in the engine compartment. They are also supposed to be in the original as produced location.

Honestly why would you want to put 20-30 lbs on the front of the car when you can use it to your advantage for rear ballast? If you have ever raced at a place like Heartland Park Topeka, it is nothing to go through a lot of fuel just getting from the pits to the staging lanes and back. If you run your car light it could bite you.

Sean

It is anything but clear Sean..."stock location" is referring to a factory tank, not a fuel cell. A cell located in the trunk is not in a stock location.

[Sean Marconette]

Stock location sure isn't in the front of the car either! Unless it is a Volkswagen bug! "Trunk floor
may be modified to accommodate fuel-cell sump. Where OEM gas
tank is in the trunk floor," They sure state TRUNK several times. Last time I checked a trunk of a car was in the back. Good luck and maybe there will be another amendment to the rulebook for better clarification.

Sean

[Jim Caughlin]

Double negatives don't work in regard to the rule book. In other words, saying 'the rule book didn't say I couldn't do it' will usually get you booted. Trust me, I've been there more than once. There is a 'not within the spirit of the rules' catch all that applies in these cases. Maybe the wording is a little confusing but it's pretty clear to me that they meant to say that a replacement fuel cell need to be in the stock location, I think it's safe to bet that a fuel cell in the engine compartment is going to get bounced.

Jim Caughlin
SS 6019

[Bob Mulry]

This is the exact reason that NHRA considers us a pain in the butt......

[HandOverFist]

Originally Posted by Bob Mulry

This is the exact reason that NHRA considers us a pain in the butt......

I don't understand that reasoning. The majority of NHRA race vehicles already have fuel cells mounted forward. At any rate I have sent emails asking the question.

[Bob Mulry]

Originally Posted by HandOverFist

I don't understand that reasoning. The majority of NHRA race vehicles already have fuel cells mounted forward. At any rate I have sent emails asking the question.

The reasoning is..............

If in your mind, after reading the rulebook it looks like it would pick up your car and pass tech, just install it and let NHRA at the track make the call......

You might get lucky and pick your car up........

Plus you would be the only racecar with this trick that makes a racecar faster.....

Usually that's how it's done........

[Rory McNeil]

Originally Posted by HandOverFist

I don't understand that reasoning. The majority of NHRA race vehicles already have fuel cells mounted forward. At any rate I have sent emails asking the question.

Really, you believe that the majority of NHRA race cars have fuel cells mounted in the front? Thats certainly not the case of the race cars I see. Maybe the majority of dragsters and funny cars......

[FireSale]

Originally Posted by Rory McNeil

Really, you believe that the majority of NHRA race cars have fuel cells mounted in the front? Thats certainly not the case of the race cars I see. Maybe the majority of dragsters and funny cars......

A quick glance at the contents of the 2014 rule book shows something like 28 classes of cars that compete in Lucas Oil and Mellow Yellow races. About 20 of them allow foreword fuel tanks. That’s “most” in my book.

Dale