Changes 2016

[Jeff Teuton]

I don't like the 5 suits. Just too hot for a fat guy. I am a fat guy. I am the Professor Emeritus of fat guys. That is why I put small motors in my car(s). And then the full face helmet; remember a fat guy has a fat face. Then gloves, then a neck brace around a fat neck. My 2 cents.

[Eric Merryfield]

Originally Posted by Myron Piatek

That's a good and logical point that has been brought up before. But to put things into perspective, the disparity is even greater in Stock, especially since the factory race cars were introduced. Some are in the high 8's and have the opportunity to race against Stockers in the mid-teens.


Full cages, full face helmets and SFI 5 suits would be prudent in slow stockers because of this, but it isn't beneficial to the health of our sport. No easy solutions or suggestions that I can see, at least not without more controversy.

As with a lot of changes, there are going to be a few unintended effects of the comp license requirement for "slow" FSS cars.

The no license SS/JA and GT/HA and slower allows a lot of older drivers to compete who may not be able to get a pass on the Comp Physical, also allows the younger drivers to get their feet wet in the 10 second and up SS classes.

This will not be the case with the FSS and FGT cars.......I guess I should send a email, but rules as currently revised may have a chilling effect on participation at least in SS.

Eric

[Michael Beard]

Originally Posted by Stewart Way

Michael
One reason NHRA does the safety requirements by class is that in tech, how does a tech man know how fast a car will go? Ask the Racer?

That's exactly how it works. Racers must certify that their car and credentials meet the necessary requirements. Read the paragraph on the tech card where you sign your name.

Someone comes thru tech and when asked he says 10.50 because he has no cage or -5 suit and the car runs 9.50 or faster.

Then the driver is subject to disqualification and/or suspension.


I don't know why it is in the slightest way controversial to suggest that rules should have the same standards for everyone, at any event.

[Sean Cour]

Two strikes.....

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by Sean Cour

I personally think anyone running super stock, should be outfitted with all the same safety equipment as a SS/AM car. The reason why is ......we run these fast cars in elims, and if one gets out of shape and comes across the track and hits us at the finish line, we all will wish we had the same safety apparel as they have. It's a safety concern, no matter what class, slow, or fast you run. If you can't afford it, you shouldn't be racing. My 2 cents.

LMAO ..So maybe you should have to present your stock portfolio or a bank letter of credit at tech?
No thanks, buddy. I'll take my chances

[Bryan Worner]

[QUOTE=Michael Beard;487585]GT/HA rules have not been changed for 2106. Rules are being fabricated arbitrarily.



I said they should, not that they have changed.

I'm agreeing with you on some things. At the Dutch, I was told, running SS/JA, that I had to wear my neck collar because I was running faster than 10.00, that it was not a class specific rule, but an ET specific rule. I totally agree with you that there are too many inconsistencies with these safety rules. However, like I say at work, better to be safe than sorry! I would much rather have the security of that roll cage and extra protection of that safety gear, than to not have enough!

Will I be putting a parachute on my car? Not anytime soon, although it would be nice to have if the brakes failed. Maybe if a manufacturer pays contingency I might! lol.

[Sean Cour]

Strike three! I'm OUT!!!

[GTX JOHN]

I often run SS/JA and SS?KA and I have a full CM Cage Certified ever two
years. However, I am also Old and Fat..............I can not get a Physical Cert
and almost all my buddies are in the same boat. That would be the end of
Super Stock for all of us. Our wagon in O/SA and P/SA also has a legal
roll bar and current Harness in it. If we had to put a cage and a parachute on the old gal.running 12's we would park it too.

On Friday Nights at the Street legal Program I regularly run my new Z51 Corvette in the 11's at around 120 MPH without anything except long pants!

My Dentist runs his late Model Mustang on street tires 9's at around 135 to 140 with no more than a factory seat belt......I forbid my kids from driving it................................................ ............................................
when I saw how fat it went! The track is full of outlaw cars that are as fast or faster on Street legal nights.........Are those cars safer than my 10 second Super Stock or 12 Second Stocker...

Those cars run on a unpreped track.......I think the effort should be spent
on changing the rules on those rather than my 10 Second Super Stocker
that has raced for 30 years without a problem.

[Jeff Teuton]

Cour, since you are out, you are appointed to summarize this cause nobody is gonna send it to the committee folks. Either post it on here or send it to me. I got the members and it needs to go in tomorrow at the latest. Most of these meeting take place this weekend. Send it to me and I will take the flak for sending so much stuff. The agenda is pretty open now as I understand it.

[Carl Weisinger]

Originally Posted by Michael Beard

I have already e-mailed both Bruce Bacheldor and Dave Mohn regarding the arbitrary safety rules thrust upon the "Factory" cars. Bruce never responded. Dave said he would look into it, after I approached the argument from one of NHRA's highest priorities: "CYA".

What will the insurance company say if there is a SS/JA or GT/HA in an accident that is deemed "safe" by NHRA running 10.00 with a roll bar, -1 jacket/pants, no Competition License, etc., when at the same time they will have 10.50 & slower cars that are required to have a full roll cage, -5 jacket/pants, Competition License, etc. in order to be deemed "safe" by NHRA?

Which is safer, a 3350# car with a 275HP 360 running 10.50's, or a 3350# car with a 275HP 340 running 10.50's? When the safety requirements of a vehicle change based solely upon the decals on the windshield, there's a problem. Safety rules should be based on ET, MPH, and chassis construction, period. If they want to make every car in the country 10.99 & quicker require a full roll cage, -5 suit, Competition License, etc., fine, do that, but the rules should be the same for everyone, not arbitrary based on what year the body or engine is.


Last year, when NHRA created the new Factory classes, they combined sticks & automatics, and utilized the stick index, which resulted in various levels of index hits for automatics. There are a number of Super Stock classes that have sticks & autos combined, in which the autos get a 5% weight break. My question was: if they get a weight break, why don't I? *OR* If I don't, why *do* they? I don't really care which way it is, but I *do* expect consistent application of rules.

The worst thing was that despite numerous back-and-forth e-mails, NHRA absolutely ignored the question entirely -- not only refused to address it with so much as a "no comment" or "because I said so", but refused to acknowledge that the question had even been *asked*! Absolutely staggering.

Michael,

NHRA, as far as I know, specifically states that drag racing is a dangerous activity with the possibility of serious injury or even death . (Or something like that). Fact of the matter is that there is no such thing as a safe race car or a safe race track. Some are just less dangerous than others. I feel your pain on the class deals. My 290HP SS/JA car (no rocket ship I might add) falls into the category of not needing all the "stuff", as say the same car with a 275HP Drag Pak engine in the FGT/H class it will run. The 383 engine is out of the car with no plans to freshen it up or upgrade any components (like it would help Ha-ha-ha). I've put my money in the 360 combination. So, there you have it.

Over the years I have "collected" several Super Stock cars and will have a stocker next year too. I can run all of them in IHRA with the car and driver safety equipment they have AND without the hassle of a physical and the possibility that I may be taking a medication that NHRA doesn't like. At this point, I'll have to upgrade car or driver equipment in 3 of my cars and go through the physical/license process to run any of them in NHRA. I like the NHRA people and the racers just fine. I won't quit trying to comply with all they demand. But, if they run me off with rules I can't comply with for one reason or another I will simply have to go somewhere else. Or quit.

PS. Thinking about putting mufflers on my FGT/H car. What kind are you running on yours. (Not really. This part was strictly to blow smoke at Mark Tishken)