NHRA Leagal? Quick Q..

OK, What exactly do they mean when they say.. You're car's not NHRA Legal if you donnot have the DS loop, or a blowdown tube for your nitroous...etc, etc...

Does that men I cannot run at ALL? Or just in bracketed races/events?

I"ve read somewhere before... I may not be right. But I'm pretty sure if you run past a certain E.T., you must have a DS loop to run at all. I'm not sure about the nitrous though.... what track was this at?

Though I thought they just changed the rules to allow lower ET's before needing that equip... I don't remember for sure.

oh.. what's up bud?

I haven't been to the track yet. But I don't want to go all the way down to El Paso and get booted because of lack of required equipment.

DS loop required for ANY car on slicks or sub 13 second times

edit: sub 13 not sub 12

^ Hmm... I've got some saving to do then... damn... more parts to get....

does your track look for said items?

I have never added a DS loop to my car and it runs low13's. My previous car was the same.

The rule, as I remember it being is if you run faster than a 13.99 then you need a Helmet and a DS Loop..

My track only checks for helmets.
If you run 10.99 or faster you need a cage.. (I think I remember that right..)
Those they do check for.

I've never been to the track. I need some stuff before I go. I WANT to go before the end of the season, I just ran low on $$..

I need..
-DS loop.
-Helmet.(Just in case)
-Different tires for my stock wheels.. (not racing on my Rebels) BFG TA's prolly
-Have to get my new T56rebuilt trans in.. w/ McLeod clutch
-Fix broken lug stud, and throw in my 160* stat.

I know when I last had my Z, it was Helmet for 13.99 and faster, and DS loop for 13.5 and faster. Of course this was at Gainesville Raceway, about 5 years ago.

I've been wanting to get out to El Paso and run the Impy again, hopefully I'll haveve have a CAI shortly for it.

^ let me know when you go... Either get my pnone # or PM me. I'm on here daily... We can meet up.... I'll have to at leat get a Ds loop..

are driver and passenger side windows mandatory? or can it just be window nets...

If you get a helmet, make sure it has a Snell2000 rating. Mine is just a plain old snell DOT motorcycle helmet and this weekend at Atlanta the tech dudes said I couldn't use it :(

The blowdown tube is important though if your running nitrous, most tracks no matter how slack they are will check for this if they do tech inspections.

a blowdown tube is only necessary if u are using ur bottle in a passenger or hatch style car, if its in a trunk or a car i belive u dotn need it.

this is what ive been told and ive been reading up on IHRA rules for my track

Keep in mind that some tracks go by the IHRA rules, not NHRA. The rules are similar for both organizations, but there are differences.

NHRA rulebook can be purchased at most drag strips for about $10. Here are the NHRA basics:

All cars require a DS loop, unless they have a torque tube (like a C5/C6 Corvette).

You need a Snell SA2000 or newer (M-spec certifications are not sufficient) helmet if you are running 13.99 or faster.

Roll bar mandatory in all cars running 11.00 to 11.99, convertibles running
11.00 to 13.99.

Roll cage mandatory in cars running 10.99 or quicker and exceeding 135 MPH.

Fire jackets required for drivers in cars faster than 11.99.

Drivers in cars running 9.99 and faster must have jacket and pants, meeting SFI spec 3.2A/5.

Master cutoff for battery required for any car where the battery is relocated to trunk.

Battery must be securely mounted as described in the NHRA rulebook.

Catch can required for coolant overflow.

NHRA chassis sticker and license required for cars 9.99 and faster.

After market harmonic balancer mandatory on all cars running 10.99 or quicker

Shirts and full length pants required, regardless of class, E.T. or M.P.H.


AFAIK, IHRA does not have the DS loop requirement for all cars. If you're running 13's, my experience is that they'll check for a helmet and send you on your way.

The 2006 version of the NHRA rule book relaxed the requirement for the roll bar in closed cars to <11.50 seconds, and convertibles to <13.50 seconds. This was an attempt to encourage true "street" cars to participate at the track, rather than race on the street.

The requirement for a roll bar below 11.00 seconds for closed cars applies only to those cars running over 135mph. You can run the roll bar to 10.00 as long as you don't go over 135.

http://www.nhra.com/tech_specs/ETQuickRef.html

You need windows and they need to be up. Having a driveshaft loop is just common sense. A good helmet only has work work once. It makes sense to comply with the safety rules. Cqll your local track and ask them about any "track rules" that may be in effect. Some tracks also post rules on their websites.

You can get either the NHRA or IHRA rule books from their respective web sites for ~$10. Kind of interesting. I doubt their rules are "evidence based" as some seem to make a lot more sense than others. But a rule is a rule. If you are going to play, play by the rules! If you are running sticky tires or a have a high-po setup, a DS loop is a good idea even on the street. Although DS breakage usually only occurs with sticky tires on a prepped surface, it can be ugly and a DS loop is pretty damn cheap.

At most local tracks IF you aren't acting like an asshat and your car looks clean and in good condition and appears relatively stock the main thing they will look for is the helmet, belts, and roll bar if applicable. Once you exceed 135mph or get into the 10's your car may actually get a tech inspection. You had better have chassis certification, etc. once you start running quick enough or you can really make yourself unwelcome at your local track. They are (understandably) concerned about liability and remember, kinetic energy goes up as the square of velocity!

At the local track a car got up on the guardrail last week. He was going "only" 135mph through the traps and it rolled 8-10 times. It was quick enough that it was hard to be sure. Destroyed a car worth at least $75,000 but the driver was unhurt. This stuff DOES happen.

Rich

The 2006 version of the NHRA rule book relaxed the requirement for the roll bar in closed cars to <11.50 seconds, and convertibles to <13.50 seconds. This was an attempt to encourage true "street" cars to participate at the track, rather than race on the street.
Doesn't it seem a little strange, then, that all cars are required to have a DS loop? Yeah, it's a great idea, but not everyone wants to / can afford to purchase one and install it.

If you can't afford a DS loop, you shouldn't be racing your car. Here's a generic bolt-on DS loop from Summitt for $20.95.

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=SUM%2DG7900&N=700+%2D47965+115&autoview=sku

http://static.summitracing.com/global/images/prod/large/sum-g7900.jpg

Rich

If you can't afford a DS loop, you shouldn't be racing your car. Here's a generic bolt-on DS loop from Summitt for $20.95.
Rich

:bow: You could go ahead and just save the $20 and then do somemore damage to your car, yourself, and possibly someone else. I can't understand why some people want to cut corners on safety equipment.

I'm not saying I want to cut corners. I'm saying I haven't installed one yet. I have every intention of doing so someday.

I was just pointing out the irony about relaxing one rule in order to encourage people with 100% stock cars to race at the strip instead of on the street, while maintaining another rule that requires something aftermarket to be added to almost all RWD cars.

For the record: A DS loop may only be $20, but what about someone who doesn't do their own work, or is new to the car-modding scene? They'll need a couple hours of free time, and they'll also need to buy a floor jack, jack stands, and couple wrenches.

I just bought my first house a couple months ago. I don't yet have a floor jack or jack stands. I don't have any extra cash. Not even $20.

My birthday is coming up, and my father in law is taking me drag racing. Luckily, we're going to an IHRA track, where you don't need a DS loop unless you're running slicks or going faster than 11.50.

I'm not saying DS loops aren't a good idea, and I'm not saying anyone would be better off without one. I'm just pointing out some irony in the rules.

The NHRA rule for a driveshaft loop is as follows:

Diveshaft loop required on all cars running 13.99 (8.59) or quicker and utilizing slicks, except vehicles running 11.49 (7.35) seconds or slower equipped with street tires.

The NHRA rule for a driveshaft loop is as follows:

Diveshaft loop required on all cars running 13.99 (8.59) or quicker and utilizing slicks, except vehicles running 11.49 (7.35) seconds or slower equipped with street tires.

That's typical of how they write those rules. have to read it two or three times to be sure you know what it means. Why don't they just say this?

Cars using slicks running quicker than 14.00 or street tires and quicker than 11.50 need a driveshaft loop. All others are exempt.

Rich

That's typical of how they write those rules. have to read it two or three times to be sure you know what it means. Why don't they just say this?

Cars using slicks running quicker than 14.00 or street tires and quicker than 11.50 need a driveshaft loop. All others are exempt.

Rich

That would take all of the mystery ot of life.
You want to read a good section to try to figure out? Take a look at the flywheel shield section.

That would take all of the mystery ot of life.
You want to read a good section to try to figure out? Take a look at the flywheel shield section.

that makes me go crosseyed trying to read it.