NHRA Tether Rule Update

[63corvette]

Originally Posted by SSGT Mustang

Maybe this question has been asked before since it's so incredibly obvious, but why don't they just print the requirements for what would be considered a legal tether and be done with it?

Not a requirement that you have to use one manufactured by a vendor, but something similar to any other general requirement, such as....what would be considered a legal roll bar/cage? You make the tether according to the requirements, or you don't pass tech. Simple as that.

An SFI approved tether? That's just insane.

I agree.
We can fabricate/build our own cages etc. but we are not skilled enough to build a header tether?
I have mine installed right now and plan on having the tech personnel look at them at the next two Division races and two National events before the end of the race season.
I do not really want to but I will add the 1/2 inch welds on each tube before I purchase a set of Approved tethers as set forth in the rules. I feel the 1/2 inch welds will crack with expansion and contraction during the heat/cool process but that is what NHRA wants I will do just that and leave my tethers in place.
From what I have heard and read from other racers this is a major issue with the way NHRA has handled it. I just do not understand why NHRA wants to run their racers off over such a silly new and my way or the highway rule.
Just My 2 Cents
Rick Cates

By the way my compete tether system was fabricated for less than $30 for both sides.

[treessavoy]

All this Bull S**t over a non-problem, incredible!

JimR

[Dinsdale]

Originally Posted by treessavoy

all this bull s**t over a non-problem, incredible!

Jimr

exactly...............

[David Lee]

just another way fo for the NHRA to extort money from manufacturers and racers,

[Crew Chief]

I hear this mandate came down from NHRA's legal department after an incident where someone was hit by a collector that came off in the water box. If that's the case, they would want legitimate companies making the tethers because liability would then fall back on the manufacturer in a lawsuit.

[SSGT Mustang]

Originally Posted by Crew Chief

I hear this mandate came down from NHRA's legal department after an incident where someone was hit by a collector that came off in the water box. If that's the case, they would want legitimate companies making the tethers because liability would then fall back on the manufacturer in a lawsuit.

I heard that too. But don't know how they can try to sell that explanation with a straight face when they promote fuel cars that explode and send shrapnel everywhere, including whole funny car bodies, at least a few times every year. You see cars losing their hood or hood scoop, nitrous backfires, lost blower belts, broken rear ends. The list goes on and on. I've seen each of those examples more than once, but never a lost collector.

I like going into the fuel pits to see and hear the cars fire up before their run, but always stand about 20 feet back because I'm just waiting for one of those things to blow up with everyone around it. I can't believe that it hasn't happened yet.

Nevertheless, the collector rule, no matter how they try to spin it, just seems like a poorly thought out "solution" to an almost non-existent problem. It's a sign of an incompetent bureaucracy at its best or worst, I can't decide.

Hell, if they expect tech to look under every car for approved tethers, then surely they can require them to look underneath cars for a properly fabricated tether made by the average racer. It's not brain surgery to make a pair of these things.

[astikhossw]

Aristophanes ????

[gsa612]

Originally Posted by Crew Chief

I hear this mandate came down from NHRA's legal department after an incident where someone was hit by a collector that came off in the water box. If that's the case, they would want legitimate companies making the tethers because liability would then fall back on the manufacturer in a lawsuit.

In this incident how was the collector secured?, did it have mounting tabs, were the bolts and lock nuts there?.Were they stainless with the spring mounting deal?. I cannot see how the collector can come off, if you have 2 tabs welded on 2 pri. pipes and 2 on the collector secured with 1/4 bolts and steel lock nuts.Unless the pri. pipes or collector are so badly rusted and blow through.In that case the pri. pipe can blow before the pri. clamp on the tether rendering it useless.This deal is an insult to a racers intelligence by NHRA!.

[Jody Lang]

Rust, loose bolts, no bolts it doesn't much matter. Fact is that exhaust pieces have fallen off during burnouts and down track.

In one case it was during the burnout and the piece came back and broke a leg.

One question I have is... Why SFI on collector tether, but no SFI requirement for ladder bar tether???

We should be able to piece together our own system.

[treessavoy]

Originally Posted by Crew Chief

I hear this mandate came down from NHRA's legal department after an incident where someone was hit by a collector that came off in the water box. If that's the case, they would want legitimate companies making the tethers because liability would then fall back on the manufacturer in a lawsuit.

I was at a track where someone standing behind the burnout area was hit by a pebble thrown out by the slicks doing the burn out.

So how are we going to tie down all the rocks and pebbles at the strip?

JimR