NHRA Tether Rule Update

[jmcarter]

Originally Posted by 63corvette

I did get a very nice email back from NHRA refusing my submission for the tethers submitted last week.
At least they did answer my email and submission.
Below is the email.
Rick Cates

Hello Rick,

I am the right person to contact regarding the upcoming 2014 tether regulation.

I understand your concern with the current list of approved header collector tether manufactures, however I would like to indicate that we have recently received several additional submittals from manufactures to accept their tethers for use. Therefore the manufacturers, type, and cost will be changing soon. We cannot accept requests from individuals for one off tethers , due to the number of requests we would receive which would inundate our resources as well as make it very difficult to regulate in the field. If you would like to work with a manufacturer to market your idea, we would be glad to review their request for potential approval. The NHRA Technical Department will also accept a minimum ½” (half inch) stich weld located each primary tube as an alternative to the tethering system.

I hope you understand the reasoning behind our need to only accept Header Collector tethering systems from manufacturers willing to distribute NHRA accepted tethers. Furthermore, please watch www.nhraracer.com for additional accepted tether manufactures.


Best Regards,

Tim White
NHRA
Director of Engineering
10267 East US Hwy 136
Indianapolis, IN 46234
Office (317)387-7361
FAX (317) ) 291-4220

NHRA Plainband.gif
For further NHRA Racer information please visit www.NHRARacer.com

Great that they responded...hopefully they gave Mark Lelchook some formal feedback on the alternative solution he discussed with them at Indy this year. I don't think this whole deal has anything to do subterfuge or under the table dealings, just an Engineering group working with a liability-adverse bunch of bureaucrats and the corresponding absence of common sense approaches. This will hopefully result in a reasonable cost solution. On my chassis car (yea, I know our classes are a different animal) I initially balked at diapers but when I dealt with Diaperman and put his on I quickly recognized I was getting a good value that increased safety.