Wow... one day I want to be Hella Cool like you.
Steve...

 

Well, seeing as you asked, I'll tell you

When I won my Championship at Rockingham Dragway I started the season with my car (see sig). But after a few races into the season my car broke and was laid up for the rest of the season because I didn't have the money at the time to get it fixed. I was ahead in points, so I didn't want to just give up the season because I didn't have something "fast" to race. The only other thing I had to drive was my old '88 Chevy conversion Van with 200,000+ miles on it. It would run high 17's (Isn't bracket racing great? )

The first week I ran the Van, I did it as sort of a joke. But when I won the race due to good reaction times, the big tank being deadly consistant and my competition choking because they had to give me such a big head start, I thought 'what the hell!' Much to the dismay of my competition I went on to win the Championship with that old worn out Van running high 17's

Was it fun racing that season? You're damn right it was fun! And it was even more fun at the yearly banquet accepting my Championship and all the other stuff and telling all my racing friends who had to give me 5 second head starts (because they had fast cars) that it had been a blast racing with them that year. But for some reason they didn't look very happy about it

Sure it's fun to go fast. But racing is about the competition too. And when it comes to winning races I'll take a consistant car over a fast one anytime - and take the money home with me

 

I'm amazed how many people are offended by my last remark. I post my view supporting the rule from NHRA for safety and some smartass replies to me and I return a statement in defense. I was giving my point of view and if I prefere not to race at a drag strip if my car only ran 12's then why would those of you respond as if being insulted? That's just my preference. IMO! If by me stating what I said heats you enought to become opionated or insulted then I'm sorry to all those who are running 12's and 13's and happy with it! Never thought I would have offended adults? Possiblly the age of the members that responded have something to do with it?

Makes no difference to me what ET's a person runs but look at the facts for what they are, NHRA is a drag racing sanction for drag racers with drag cars. Now for all of you that are complaining about the possible new rule coming up that would effect you, why not try to see what logic NHRA is using to determine there decision? Well I for one understand the safety issue and weather the car runs 13.99 or 24.99 if by some act of god that the car would end upside down on the roof or I should say the super supportive,super strong T-top/Convert roof the driver will be fully protected and as safe as a driver with a hard top? Right? Wrong!

Ya I agree that chances of a car running these speeds will more than likely never have such incident but one fact that remains present is we live in a society of litigation and law suites. Now if you happen to lets say get killed drag racing your STREET CAR at the local NHRA DRAG STRIP do you honestly think your family is going to just let this go? I doubt it and the first thing they will do is seek counsel for pain and suffering.

Still can't understand why NHRA is considering the rule?

Here's another way to look at, maybe NHRA tracks owners really don't want street cars running on there drag race track and by enforcing this new rule it would deter some of the street cars from racing at the facility? As silly as this may sound, truth of the matter is most good tracks really don't want street cars running because of a few reasons and one being street car tires have a tendancy to release oils picked up from the street and onto the track surface causing the track to become slick in areas.

Also street cars run anti freeze in the cooling system and if you don't understand that one then well I guess OK.

As for me comprehending I think those of you may want to take some of your own advice. For example why not ask your self do I have a drag car or a street car? Reality is you,me and ever other speed nut have to come to terms one day and ask our selfs what do I want? Is it a street car,drag car or street/drag car?

Well if your trying to race at a drag strip and drag racing is what you like then build a drag car and or comply with the sanctioning body rules. Update your car to your class and be done with it.
If it be a street car then have a fast street car and don't worry about NHRA rules.

And yes I do understand how much fun it is to be competitive weather or not you have your mothers mini van or dad's new 10 second Hennessy Viper or your F-body that runs 12's when the time comes or the impulse to be competitive don't kid your self you have raced on the street before and always have street racing scene. Personally I think street racing is more fun but thats my opion.

 

Feel better now?

Btw, in case you forgot NHRA's heritage, it began with the idea of taking the cars that were racing on the street and getting the racing off the street. They were ALL street cars in the beginning. NHRA has not forgot their heritage, which is why they actively support high school programs and STREET classes. They know that the vast majority of hard core drag racers start out with a street car and "graduate" to a purpose built drag car - not the other way around. Where do you think classes like Stock and Super Stock came from?

-------------

 

They have been enforcing this at Houston Raceway Park - turning away ttop cars. I will probably not go the track for a while if this pans out. Why spend 3-10 bones, add >75lbs, make geting in the back seat more challenging if you'll barely be able to bust 13.0s? Kinda stinks...

You know, I didn't even want these ttops. Maybe they'll make an exception for me because I never use them .

Ryan

 

I dont want to read this whole thread just make this one comment but this came up on my local board a while ago, and it doesnt really seem to be a solid ruling.

We have made some calls to the NHRA and the general consensus seems to be that if the T-Tops are in the car is considered a hard-top. The rule only applies if the car has the tops out.

 

I have not read the entire thread but I called English Town Raceway Park and the tech person I spoke to said that rule is false and he has never heard of this rule.

I also spoke to some knowledge able folks that run thier fast cars (11s and better) all the time at different tracks and are aware of most of the rule changes and they also say this is false.


Thx,
Claude

 

I was at Route 66 on August 17. Nothing was mentioned. They are a pretty strict NHRA track. I just showed the my Snell 2000 rated helmet, he did a quick walk around, and off I went to run 13.40s all day. The techs there love these cars. I don't know how old the rulse is. The first I heard about it was Sunday. I'll check the Route 66 website for details. I hope it's false. The rule would take the best street cars of the track, which goes against NHRA's heritage.

 

Don't confuse people with the facts.... ruins all the fun.

 

Welcome to my word....see ya at the track

Q

 

Hardtop 4th gens are not really any safer than T-top 4th Gens!. A hardtop car is nothing but a thin fiberglass shell to replace where the t-tops go, and some thin metal on each side to support the sides of the shell. In any sort of roll over, it's not going to protect you any more than a T-top would. So the rule would be stupid.

I don't believe this rule will be made. This will screw over the old school guys (including some Mustangs as well) just as much as it would screw us over. Would it impact me personally?? No, right now I'll pass down to 10.0, but if I had to follow the rag top rules, I'd only pass to 11.0....I'd hate to have to a 10 point cage once I get going a little faster.

I'm not worried, I doubt this will happen. IMO it should be MPH and 60' based anyway, not based on ET. Cars seem to wreck most either from higher speeds (hence the MPH), or hard launches gone bad. Seems to make sense to me.

 

So what kinda bar would be required for a t-top car running 10.0 or slower, a 10 point? I have a wolfe 6 point right now, but I have often thought about adding some bars near the t-top area for extra safety in case of a rollover, whether at the track or on the street. Adding some bars like this would make it like a true cage.
Ed

 

You need a cage to run faster than 10.0, if your car is a hardtop or T-top. So, you should be ok now with what you have.

Rich Krause

 

Well, I kinda disagree with that. If your seat belt does not fail, you will be in much better shape than if there was no roll bar in there at all. The seat belt would basically prevent your head from hitting the roll bar. If the seat belt fails, you will probably be toast either with or without a bar. Without the bar, your head will be hitting pavement.

If you can show proof of your statement, I would believe it.

 

A bar, as long as the main hoop is far away from your head(NHRA rules cut it a BIT close!) is ok in a street car.


a cage is a BIG NO NO in a street car. your head will strike the bar in an accident.