Divisionals, records, and teardowns

[Jeff Lee]

You're driving the car to the races or trailoring to the races? I get the impression your looking at driving the car to the races.
I once drove my AF/S Daytona by myself from Phoenix, AZ to Denver, CO where I set the AF/S record. It's about an 18 hour drive. Set the record (first 13 second FWD @ 13.26), tore down, slashed my wrist wide open because a wrench slipped off a really big nut, taped it and glued it shut, finally drove to the hotel with the car and magnetic stickers at 1:00 A.M., ran the first 100+ MPH FWD pass on the first round after tear-down, drove home, got a ticket for 85 or 88 MPH in the rain in NM and the cop said he'd been after me for about two miles and "didn't I see his lights?" I said "that 5.0L Mustang your driving might have caught me sooner if he had dropped it into passing gear at least."
So to say I wish the whole weekend was documented on video would be a huge understatement! Yep, one of those stories for the grandkids one day...
So I say go for it and just bring your tools, spare gaskets and plenty of good attitude. Just be careful that street fuel will not pass NHRA fuel check. That will be a major thorn in your side.

[Jimi B]

Yeah I was thnkin about the fuel deal this morn. Hmmm. But that is an awesome story!

[Jimi B]

what really sucks is I dont need to run anywhere near that gas lol. I could use 92 octane... maybe even 91 lol

[Mark Markow]

good luck at fuel check. if you switch fuels after driving there . you may have problems getting it flushed completely.

[Dean Feiock]

Originally Posted by Jimi B

What all has to be taken apart during a tear down? Is it the same every time? When can you set a record? Only during qualifying? If so would teardown be saturday night or sometime prior to first round? Or after eliminations? Lastly, dont you have to designate that you are going for a record run? If you happen to run faster than the index but are not going for a record run would you still have to teardown?

Im trying to finish my car up this week.. My body, mind, and bank acct our severely depleted this month... I am desperately trying to make it to Norwalk this weekend. My combo is something that I have been working for a decade, and am fairly confident barring new set up hiccups (which I am sure will be there, but just in case the perfect storm happens), should run very well. I dont think I have a tear down in me this weekend. Spare timing belt tensioner, gaskets, (money) effort etc hahah. Well thats a lie... Im always up for a good thrash, but Id like to avoid taking this think apart 72 hours after putting it all together when I dont even have it full sorted yet. Chicago, Michigan, Bowling Green, Cbus, Indy bring it on, but not this weekend! haha

Ill probably get picked on enough.. Wrong wheel drive, turbo, and Mitsubishi... (Under Chrysler in classification guide Mitsubishi Eclipse).... Dont judge a book by its cover though! I am not just a sport compact punk! I have crewed, driven, or built motors for Alcohol Funny Car to S/St except Comp, Stk, and S/Stk..

And while this is my thread and I can go off topic... Making it to Michigan, Cbus, and Chicago should have me at 3 grade points by july 25. On July 28 3 grade pointers can register for Indy. They always take 180 entries then 128 qualify correct? Looks like they haven't quite had 180 for several years. should I be in good shape for my Indy dreams?

When can you set a record? Only during qualifying? If so would teardown be saturday night or sometime prior to first round? Or after eliminations?

Teardowns are done after qualifying.

What all has to be taken apart during a tear down?

They can look at anything they want: carb, turbo, piston, crank, etc, etc. They will also check over the car for illegal chassis or suspension modifications, wiring issues, etc, etc.

Lastly, dont you have to designate that you are going for a record run?

You must put an R on the window.

If you happen to run faster than the index but are not going for a record run would you still have to teardown?

The whole point is to go faster than the index. You cannot dial less than your index.

Just for clarification, are you building a Chrysler or a Mistubishi. There is only one legal Mistubishi, a 1991 Pickup.

[Jimi B]

In regards to running under index, I meant record sorry. So if you run under the record but to not designate it as a record run, will you have to teardown? I think im going to wuss out and trailer this weekend if I stop playing on the internet and get this thing together. For reference this is the way the car looks as of right now:




And its a Mitsubishi. They are in the classification guide under dodge. 1994 in my specific case. Underneath all the Dodge cars, it has a separate section for Eagle/Mitsubishi.

[Dennis P Chapman]

If your not in the record lanes and you run under the record you do not have to teardown.

[Dean Feiock]

"So if you run under the record but to not designate it as a record run, will you have to teardown?"

If NHRA wants to look at it, you will be taking it apart, record or not. The point here is always have gaskets and tools with you.

Don't forget you need the proper safety equipment, liscense, fuel check valve, etc.

[Tim Kish]

If you go out with a combo they have never seen before and run under the record or even just really fast in general they could want to look at it. The teardown could range anything from just checking the turbo to pulling a rod/piston. It's in your best interest to go easy the first time out.

[Marty Buth]

National Records are only allowed to be set on Friday at Division 3 events.