Roll Bar in a Convertible Question
 

Can anyone tell me why in the NHRA Rulebook about roll bars it says in the E.T. section "in convertibles running11.00(*7.00) to13.49(*8.25)..." and in the STK section it says, "Mandatory in AA/S through M/S, AA/SA through M/SA, in all convertibles..."

I don't understand the inconsistency, am I missing something?

Re: Roll Bar in a Convertible Question
 

removed post.

Re: Roll Bar in a Convertible Question
 

I got the email, Your first response was mine also.;)

Re: Roll Bar in a Convertible Question
 

I don't think you're missing anything necessarily, Sean. IIRC, used to be E.T. convertibles 11.00 to 13.99 needed rollbars. 10.99 and quicker needed cage, just like hardtops, with some exceptions for hardtops with unaltered firewall/ floorpans. Now it's 11.49 for rollbars in E.T. instead of the old 11.99/ quicker. I can't think of another example where they've back-tracked on a safety requirement.

As far as requiring rollbars down to M/S it probably goes hand in hand with the jacket/pants thing.

Personally, I don't think I'd want to race a convertible without a rollCAGE. JMHO

Re: Roll Bar in a Convertible Question
 

I can understand that. I have a Shadow convertible that is somewhat of a play toy and after seeing Jimmy Malones car in ND a while ago It started the wheels spinning. I remember reading the ET portion and knowing at mid to low 14's my car was legal without one. Then I read the stock rules and saw that about all convertibles must have bars and wondered why NHRA did that. Thanks for the reply.

Re: Roll Bar in a Convertible Question
 

Why do Art and I running SS/GS (14.30 index) have to have a roll bar, jacket, pants and trans shield - because it is easier for them to police if everyone has the same rules in same class AND the car in the other lane that is sliding through the lights next too you could be going 150mph. The AA car next to you takes you out in the lights you'll know why you have a roll bar/cage

Re: Roll Bar in a Convertible Question
 

I get that. My question was more about the inconsistancy of the rulebook. ET racers don't have to do... but stk racers do have to do...

Re: Roll Bar in a Convertible Question
 

While that logic is unarguable, it's funny when I have raced 7 second dragsters in gamblers races in my 14 second street car without even wearing a helmet.

It's just kind of funny. The stock rules used to be extremely lax. You could run 9.90 wearing a t-shirt. Now, in order for me to run 12.0 I have to have a cage, full jacket and pants. But if I go to a bracket race I can wear a t-shirt and a helmet and I'm all good.

They relaxed the street car rules and then when total ape **** on the stock eliminator rules.

Where is the logic? Oh wait... it's NHRA. I forgot, there isn't any.

Re: Roll Bar in a Convertible Question
 

There have been many inconsistencies between Bracket and Class rules. At a S/SS race I did at Quaker City Raceway in 1999 or 2000, a racer (John Musial, I believe) had his H/SA there, and had no jacket. The track would not let him run without it. He told the track that Stock rules didn't require a jacket. The tracks response was that "Here, you're an 11.99 and quicker bracket car, so you need the jacket". He was able to borrow one from a fellow racer. It always puzzled me, since (at that time), a low 10 second Stocker could race in a t-shirt, but a high 11 second Footbrake car needed a jacket. In March 2004, myself and Billy Nees were both DQ'd in tech at another S/SS race I was putting on at Mason-Dixon Dragway for a crack in the windshields of our cars. Stock required a windshield to be "in good condition", but bracket rules say windshield "must be in good condition and free from cracks". So, my car that had raced nearly half a year in NHRA/IHRA (including the US Nat'ls) was not allowed to run. Same with helmets. Required in all NHRA/IHRA classes, but only in bracket cars that run quicker than 14 seconds, and/or faster than 100 mph (varies by track, I believe). I'm sure these are just a few of many irregularities in rules between the two. I guess it would be easier if some safety rules were universal across the board. I think that's why NHRA changed the rules in regards to jackets and other things in Stock a few years ago.

Re: Roll Bar in a Convertible Question
 

Wasn't there a black mustang on one of the Pinks all out that got
DQ'd after he made it into the top 16 cars because he was running
in the 9's without a NHRA license and no window net?

Don't they ask any questions during the tech inspection??