Randy Mans DQ?

[SSDiv6]

Originally Posted by Angelo DiTocco

The roof panels on this generation hard-top (1994-2002) Firebirds and Camaros are plastic / fiberglass from the factory and are glued on with an adhesive - they are not steel and never were - be careful with the assumptions..... They are also not easy to replace.
That can happen to anybody, can we just hope that the guy's car is ok?

I don't know if any aftermarket companies are making a repro but I do now they are not available from the factory nor have they been for a very long time. I tried finding one a few years ago and had no luck. The only option is to get one from a donor car and to get it off you have to use fishing line or piano wire, work it under the panel, and slice through the adhesive. It can't be peeled off with a putty knife.

Angelo is correct.

Depending on the year, both the roof and sail panels are either thermoplastic or fiberglass and GM discontinued them years ago.
When you go to the wrecking yard and try to remove them, it is worse than removing a windshield and they warp or get damaged. The OEM factory pieces were also defective and would bubble due to an issue with the epoxy and materials.

The aftermarket replacements for both the roof and sail panels are either fiberglass or carbon fiber.

[MoJo Risen]

Originally Posted by SSDiv6

Angelo is correct.

Depending on the year, both the roof and sail panels are either thermoplastic or fiberglass and GM discontinued them years ago.
When you go to the wrecking yard and try to remove them, it is worse than removing a windshield and they warp or get damaged. The OEM factory pieces were also defective and would bubble due to an issue with the epoxy and materials.

The aftermarket replacements for both the roof and sail panels are either fiberglass or carbon fiber.

It's good to know NHRA Tech officials are still getting technical facts wrong. Consistency is good.

[James Perrone]

Thanks Angelo I thought the roofs were steel
Why the dq

[jimmyparker]

I had a windshield tech who serviced body shops remove a roof skin for me a few years ago, he had a real long blade on a small reciprocating saw and worked his way under the skin to cut the adhesive, the hatch was off the car, don't remember if the windsheild was out or not.

[Mike Mans]

During first round yesterday the roof came unglued and ripped off the top of the car. When Randy went to the scales, tech inspectors saw what they felt was unacceptable modifications to the steel roof structure underneath the roof panel. The unfortunate reality is that the tech team does not have any schematics or diagrams to see what this car has for a roof structure from the factory, or they would have seen that there was very little material removed or trimmed away in this area. The material of the roof itself was not a concern or issue, it was the perception that the roof structure had been heavily modified - which it had not.

We have provided schematics to NHRA today to show what the factory roof structure looks like and the car is already undergoing the minor modifications to meet NHRA's satisfaction. We'll take the 2lb weight addition and move on with it and be ready for next weekend's event in Las Vegas.

I appreciate Lonnie Grimm's patience and candid conversation while we worked to better understand the rationale for yesterday's decision.

[J.R. Haddad]

For those of you who jumped to conclusions on this incident, I think
you should fight in your proper weight class. The Mans' family is so
beyond being legal and extremely intelligent, and they bring a awful
lot to our sport. Anyone who thinks this family would intentionally cheat,
is a bored conspiracy theorist.

J.R.

[MoJo Risen]

Originally Posted by Mike Mans

During first round yesterday the roof came unglued and ripped off the top of the car. When Randy went to the scales, tech inspectors saw what they felt was unacceptable modifications to the steel roof structure underneath the roof panel. The unfortunate reality is that the tech team does not have any schematics or diagrams to see what this car has for a roof structure from the factory, or they would have seen that there was very little material removed or trimmed away in this area. The material of the roof itself was not a concern or issue, it was the perception that the roof structure had been heavily modified - which it had not.

We have provided schematics to NHRA today to show what the factory roof structure looks like and the car is already undergoing the minor modifications to meet NHRA's satisfaction. We'll take the 2lb weight addition and move on with it and be ready for next weekend's event in Las Vegas.

I appreciate Lonnie Grimm's patience and candid conversation while we worked to better understand the rationale for yesterday's decision.

Tethers for T-tops now?

[Carguy49]

INTEGRITY. Looks like Mike and Randy Mans are total stand up guys. A situation happened, punishment was issued and they took it in stride. They are working WITH the tech people and making a bad deal good again.

Congrats to Mike and Randy and also to Lonnie Grimm for working with racers to fix a problem. KUDOS to them ALL.

[Lenny5160_v2]

Originally Posted by MoJo Risen

Tethers for T-tops now?

Has someone lost a T-top?