Wheelie Bars are not needed for Safety on Stockers!

[james schaechter]

I think the best argument for wheelie bars in stock is that no one really uses them right now unless they really have concern for safety or at least damage to their car.

We tried them on our Nova when they were first allowed and found no need afterall. Really, after looking at it, I figured I would hit the rear bumper before any real bad things would happen.
On Bob Gipson's 65 Corvette, we put them on when the 396 went in. I think you could flip that car over without them if you miscued on the chassis set up. I feel a lot better having them on that car.

Honestly, the things that NHRA choses to draw the line on makes you shake your head when they allow lame factors and bogus cars into the stock guide without batting an eye.

In the recent times, the National event track prep has been an issue for many, you would think that NHRA would want to support any allowance that would help racers tune theirway out of that mess safely.

[Todd Geisler]

Originally Posted by Jim Wahl

It's because most of them are programed to leave soft and then increase power down track. Most of them 60' @ 1.35 or so. Otherwise there is no way a 1200 hp Cobra Jet can run on a 9" tire. Put a 12" tire on then and leave wide open and watch them run 7.90. Jim


.

That would be an incorrect assumption.

[Notch1320]

Originally Posted by Todd Geisler

That would be an incorrect assumption.

Don't stir the pot Todd! The elders don't like it.

[Alan Roehrich]

Originally Posted by Stephen Bell

I just don't understand why 1000 hp cars that run in the 8's at 155 mph plus don't need wheelie bars? I hope that this issue gets resolved... S.Bell

Because those cars are entirely different from class cars.

They use gasoline, and the same piece of asphalt. For the most part, that is where any similarity ends.

That is exactly what most people fail to understand about Stock Eliminator and Super Stock. Having to work within a very specific and strict set of rules and constraints forces you to do things entirely different than 99% of all of the other drag racers. It also forces the cars to work completely different.

For example, we have around 600HP, in order to go fairly quick at 3700#, we have a lot of gear, and a lot of converter. We get our ET in the first 1/8 mile. We have a 9" slick, and weight distribution is restricted. As such, in order to get all of that to the track with a 9" slick, we have to have massive and instant weight transfer. That is exactly what causes big wheelstands. That and torque. We make torque, and we multiply the crap out of it. Right there on the starting line.


Sure Pat, we can adjust the suspension to prevent the cars from doing big wheel stands. Then when the track prep sucks dog turds, we can't get the cars to hook at all.

Tell you what NHRA, you prep the track where I can count on it to hook, every, single, time, and I'll tie the front end down more.

Honestly, I don't like wheelie bars, I'd love it if we did not need them. The fact is, they're just something else to get in the way, and something else to be bothered with. But the rules and constraints force us to set the cars up in such a manner that wheelie bars are an absolutely essential safety device.