IHRA Hot Rod

[Jason Oldfield]

Originally Posted by hotrod

Thanks guys for all the info. One more thing Jason how did u mount that much weight in your car?????? What would be the best way to add 100 + lbs in my car?????

It wasn't easy!

Seriously, I added 3 small weight bars that were about 18" long and made of 2" x 3" square tubing (these weighed about 30 lbs. each), I added a one very large 2" x 3" weight bar that was about 48" long (this ended up being almost 100 lbs. exactly), and then I made up the rest with small 5 lb. lead weights bolted to the (stock) front cross-member. Again, it wasn't easy finding room in the car to put all this weight.

To add 115 lbs., I don't think you'll have much problem though. Chassis tuners could write pages about weight distribution, but you generally want to put the weight as low as possible on the chassis, and distribute it so that your weight distribution is close to 50/50 front to back and side to side WITH YOU IN THE CAR.

I don't know if you've ever scaled all four wheels of your car before, but if you haven't, before you just throw some random weight in there you might want to scale your car to find out where the best place to put the weight. I would expect any local professional chassis builder will have a set a scales, or find your local friendly circle-track racer, as they will definitely have a set.

If you can't find scales or can't afford to have it scaled, then I would put the weight as low as and as near the center line of the rear axle as possible.

Also, if you decide to make up 2" x 3" weight bars like I did, just make sure that you melt the lead shot that you put in the bar. If you don't, you'll end up with a bar that's only 60% as heavy as it could be, due to the air gaps between the spherical lead shot (trust me, I made that mistake). You can either just buy the raw materials yourself, or places like Bickel and Quarter-Max sell kits and completed bars. Here's a couple of links:

http://www.quartermax.com/details.ph...rchTerm=weight

http://www.quartermax.com/details.ph...rchTerm=weight

If you need more help, don't hesitate to ask...

[THE LEGEND]

Never seen a car weighed at an IHRA divisional. We do weigh at nationals though
Chip

[danny waters sr]

You never know now do you !!!!??????

[Rakhouse]

I have seen them weigh winners at NHRA divisionals and national opens.

Nick

[mcaruso]

Chip just keeps all that money he wins in the car to make weight

[THE LEGEND]

Marc,
You been talking to my wife? She figured out along time ago the car keeps the money! LOL
I'm in the vending business, as long as we don't run out of Honey Buns I'll be O.K.
Chip

[dak]

Here is my 2 cents about min. weight.
I run SST (NHRA). My car weighs @ 2850. So I know that I will be on the good side of minimum weight. That said. Everywhere I have run on theSaturday am warm up I will drive the car over to the scales. ...no fire suit ...low on fuel...no helmut and will go over the scale. I know that I am not a race weight but will still be over I have found that scales tend to be a little differnet no matter where I go... I raced at my home track 1 year and 1st round, they had an offical at the head of the lanes and had a sign in his hands to weigh after 1st round. He pointed at me and the guy I was to race and then pointed at the sign ...... I lost, the guy put together a .killer 1st round package....I followed him through to the scales and he came up 5 lbs light.....

He kicked up a big fuss his car was never light and so on....One of the guys that has raced just about forever asked him ..Did you go over the scales at all this weekend, and how much does your car weigh... Never went over the scales and had his car weight down to 2805......Carry an extra 50lbs and never have to worry about it

[Charlie Yannetti]

Be careful...... I got weighed at the E-town divisional last year....... BOY!!!....... was I shocked, but then relieved when I came up 10 heavy........ LOL