Where is it legal to add ballast?

[Larry Hill]

And don’t forget to honestly answer the What happens if..........question!

I bought a car that had 127lbs in the box SECURED by two 3/8 bolts on a single thickness of trunk floor pan. On top of that the rear firewall was mostly carpet. I hate to think what would have happened at speed in an accident.

[Andy Friar]

Originally Posted by mjacquesjr

General Regulations Section 21, page 19
General Regulations
Requirements) is permitted. Removable weight must be securely
mounted to the frame or frame structure by a minimum of two
1/2-inch-diameter steel bolts per 100 pounds, or one 3/8-inch
steel bolt per 5 pounds; all other weight bars, pucks, etc. must
use minimum 1/2-inch-diameter SAE grade 8 bolts for attachment.
Hose clamps, wire, strapping, tape, tie wraps, etc. for securing
weight or ballast prohibited. Acceptable forms of ballast are 1)
Heavier gauge steel floors (i.e., 16- or 18-gauge, heavier gauge
and/or plate steel prohibited); 2) Frame reinforcing cross members;
or 3) the addition of protective equipment such as roll bars,
flywheel shield, etc. If additional ballast is needed and is permitted
by Class Requirements, it must be permanently attached to frame,
bolted with two 1/2-inch-diameter bolts per 100 pounds, with nuts
welded to bolts. Maximum amount of removable and/or permanent
ballast, unless otherwise stated under Class Requirements, is 500
pounds. Cars running 8.49 and quicker are limited to 250 pounds
maximum, per SFI chassis specification.

Seems counter intuitive that welding a nut to a bolt, which then makes both more brittle in that area, is the rules solution. If this acceptable for weight boxes, they why do collectors need tethers and not just welded bolts to nuts? Why is there not any, or very minimal rules, about how to mount an aftermarket race seat? I weight 275#, so I am 3, 1/2" bolts worth. I might be using logic and thinking too much though...

[Adger Smith]

If your car is a big wheel stander you might move it between the rear suspension and trans cross member.

[Billy Nees]

I remember a real good article on ballast done by Sheldon Gecker in the National Dragster(?) quite some time ago. It might be worth trying to find.

[west coast]

Best place for ballast is at the end of the track, waiting for you to it pick up.

[Dean Feiock]

Originally Posted by Andy Friar

Seems counter intuitive that welding a nut to a bolt, which then makes both more brittle in that area, is the rules solution. If this acceptable for weight boxes, they why do collectors need tethers and not just welded bolts to nuts? Why is there not any, or very minimal rules, about how to mount an aftermarket race seat? I weight 275#, so I am 3, 1/2" bolts worth. I might be using logic and thinking too much though...

The requirement that the 1/2" bolts for permanent ballast be welded but the 1/2" bolts for the removable ballast can remain unwelded is probably not specifically for safety. It's probably more about honesty. And I don't think we are talking about welding the bolts so hard that they get cherry red. A little spot weld or a small amount of braze has passed tech all the time.

[my69396]

Are we talking stock as 100 lbs is all that is legal of removable weight.

[Larry Hill]

West Coast do you race a Camaro with a water leak?

[e vassar]

Originally Posted by west coast

Best place for ballast is at the end of the track, waiting for you to it pick up.

I know this was meant in jest,but be careful folks. Awhile back D4 was checking everyone at fuel check for loose ballast inside the car. A few racers got bounced!

[Tom Meyer]

The requirement that the 1/2" bolts for permanent ballast be welded but the 1/2" bolts for the removable ballast can remain unwelded is probably not specifically for safety. It's probably more about honesty. And I don't think we are talking about welding the bolts so hard that they get cherry red. A little spot weld or a small amount of braze has passed tech all the time.
_Or an nice bead of silicon covered with a quick coat of paint. Just joking.