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#1
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A question about safety rules for bring-your-own-car days at the local raceway
When racetrack have days when they are open to the public, do they hold cars to the same rules as during official racing? I'm considering putting a turbo'd engine in my firebird, which could put out 650hp. The car is not a race car, it'll be a street car that may see more than a few road trips so a full roll cage will be a little inconvenient. If I want to bring that kind of power to the track will most raceways require a roll bar or other NHRA safety features?
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#2
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Typically, if you make a pass that's faster than you are safely equipped, it's "slow it down or go home".
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#3
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All depends on the track and the event. Houston Raceway used to be real picky if you clicked off faster than a roll bar rule and did not have one. The last few times I have gone there is not even someone in the timing booth giving slips to check. Heck last few you have to download their app to even get your times!
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Skip Fix 1978 Trans Am original owner 10.99 @ 124 pump gas 455 E heads, NO Bird ever! 1981 Black SE Trans Am stockish 6X 400ci, turbo 301 on a stand 1965 GTO 4 barrel 3 speed project 2004 GTO Pulse Red stock motor computer tune 13.43@103.4 1964 Impala SS 409/470ci 600 HP stroker project 1979 Camaro IAII Edelbrock head 500" 695 HP 10.33@132 3595lbs |
#4
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I got in trouble in St Louis (Gateway) this year, even though they have an app for timeslips, after ripping a string of 9.80 passes with no cage. The starting line official is the one that noticed I didn't have the proper personal protection (ie, no gloves, and no neck collar) for 9 second ETs, and notified the race officials. I was able to get it slowed down to 10 flat and was ok at that point. K
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'63 LeMans Convertible '63 Grand Prix '65 GTO - original, unrestored, Dad was original owner, 5000 original mile Royal Pontiac factory racer '74 Chevelle - original owner, 9.85 @ 136 mph besthttp://www.superchevy.com/features/s...hevy-chevelle/ My Pontiac Story: http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=560524 "Intro from an old Assembly Plant Guy":http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=342926 |
#5
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Sorry but I quit drag racing when you began being disqualified for going too fast and got into Autocrossing instead.
Some I agree with such as scattershields and driveshaft loops. Others I can see (extra equipment above a certain speed). But losing because you go too fast, give me a break. Even in the last century I could design a computer to go the same speed every time (easier than the controls for "hard ride" in an F-16) but then is not a test of my skill, just the skill of programming.. Frankly I trouble understanding drag racing on TV today - how do people still spin the tires when they talk about setting Traction Control on their laptops ? "That does not compute". |
The Following User Says Thank You to padgett For This Useful Post: | ||
#6
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"Sorry but I quit drag racing when you began being disqualified for going too fast and got into Autocrossing instead."
Getting way off topic here... but how would you propose dragstrips run an event that could draw 100s of participants and not be a yawn fest? Without today's bracket racing, it simply comes down to who spent the most money to go fast. If that fits your fancy, a lot of tracks hold heads-up events with the only rule being big tire or small tire. In addition, "muscle car" races are setup with half second index brackets. Of course a computer can be programmed to run a constant speed- just look at self driving cars today. But if it were that easy, every drag race would end up in a tie- if the track permitted the use of such computers... I believe modern type bracket racing saved local drag racing and helped it prosper. It allows a broke 18yr old to go compete against racers with deep pockets and still have a chance to win. Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
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68 Firebird-- Street/Strip - 400/461 Eagle Forged Bottom End & Ross Flat top pistons. KRE 325 CFM D port, Ultradyne 263/271 @.050, .4267 lift. Crower Solid roller lifters and 1.65 stainless rockers. Quickfuel 1000 on Torker2 intake and 2" open spacer. Hedman 1.75" headers. TH400 w/brake. Ford 9" w/3.80 gears & 28x9 Hoosier pro bracket drag radial. Best ET: 1.35 60ft, 6.29 @ 107.20 mph, 9.99 @132.33 mph. 3,300 race weight |
#7
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To the OP, basically yes. If you want to tune your 650 horse car to get the most out of it, you will probably have to make it a race car. If your satisfied to make one pass and get kicked out, then so be it. I laugh every time I see the advertisement for "Texas safe streets night". It will go on to implore you to bring your car to the track instead of running it on the streets, which I agree with that concept for sure. However, it would be more accurate for them to tell people they'll have to spend thousands of dollars, and make their street car LESS safe to drive around on the streets(roll bar to head etc)
Personally I don't wanna cut up my classic for the occasional trip to the track. Also personal opinion it's a sign of the times where we are to be legislated or regulated into submission "for our own good" of course...
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'65 Tempest 467 3650# 11.30@120.31 |
#8
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The short answer, as has been said, is yes. The check for safety at tracks is constant, (at least @ NED it is) and inline with whatever time your car runs, regardless if its a "street" car or a "race" car
I'm not one for being over regulated, and don't like authority any more than the next guy, but I have to disagree with the statement that roll bar, or any other safety gear makes any person or vehicle LESS safe to drive around on the street. If its all done properly and you know how to operate it (5pt harness for instance) it all works to protect you.
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. Mark S . Who needs nice and pretty, when you can have mean and nasty? KRE Aluminum headed 463CID 73 LeMans. Used to run 10.6x @ 124.55. 3700lbs . So much for 2020...shootin for 9s in 2021...and in 2022 apparently.....looks like 2023 as well. >>My 73 Build thread |
#9
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Aside from you crashing yourself, the worse that happens is you make a killer pass and they ask you to get X modification done before you come back. Its not like you go to jail.
They will do an initial tech, but most of the time its pretty lax. Both of the 1/8th mile tracks around here and even the big track at Indy they have never opened my hood. They just ask me if I have my battery in the stock location and if I have a safety loop. Then they ask to see my helmet. That said I drive my car in. Indy gets more in depth with cars that trailer in and look like they reel of 150mph ETs. I would also say you probably arent going to be as fast as you think you are. Getting the power is only the first step. Your initial passes likely wont yield the ET the engine is capable of making.
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1967 Firebird 462 580hp/590ftlbs 1962 Pontiac Catalina Safari Swapped in Turd of an Olds 455 Owner/Creator Catfish Motorsports https://www.youtube.com/@CatfishMotorsports |
#10
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1970 Lemans Sport. Granada gold. Stockish 350. |
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Spaceman Spiff For This Useful Post: | ||
#11
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Our local tracks on street car testntunes are pretty easy on the tech. I think mainly because the real street cars have become faster and faster over the years. Many newer cars with simple mods and many without mods run under the rollbar or safety rule ets. The tracks know this..as long as its a "test n tune" and not competitive racing they let it slide. Otherwise 95 percent of the faster street cars on a test n tune night wouldn't be running.
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466 Mike Voycey shortblock, 310cfm SD KRE heads, SD "OF 2.0 cam", torker 2 373 gears 3200 Continental Convertor best et 10.679/127.5/1.533 60ft 308 gears best et 10.76/125.64/1.5471 |
#12
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Thought speeds was why many changed to 1/8th mile and not 1/4 as gentlemen and the horse intended.
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#13
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1967 Firechicken, 499", Edl heads, 262/266@0.050" duration and 0.627"/0.643 lift SR cam, 3.90 gear, 28" tire, 3550#. 10.01@134.3 mph with a 1.45 60'. Still WAY under the rollbar rule. |
#14
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From what I gather, they dropped that last 300 feet because it wasn't making a difference in who won the race. The only thing that might happen was the cars going airborne.
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#15
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Freaking Houston Motorsports 1/8 mile where the Camaro did it's maiden voyage tech was "this your car" Ok here you go! Track and other cars were so scary we made 2 passes and left. When they were running 1/8 then 1/4 at Sealy they were fairly lenient. My 78 TA ran 6.90s @ 100 in the 1/8 no roll bar no hassle. There was a guy at the old DAPA Pontiac Southern Nats with a nice 65 GTO gold I think drop top no roll bar that swore it had 650 hp, don't think I ever saw him make a pass. They jumped on me for going too fast no roll bar.
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Skip Fix 1978 Trans Am original owner 10.99 @ 124 pump gas 455 E heads, NO Bird ever! 1981 Black SE Trans Am stockish 6X 400ci, turbo 301 on a stand 1965 GTO 4 barrel 3 speed project 2004 GTO Pulse Red stock motor computer tune 13.43@103.4 1964 Impala SS 409/470ci 600 HP stroker project 1979 Camaro IAII Edelbrock head 500" 695 HP 10.33@132 3595lbs Last edited by Skip Fix; 07-01-2021 at 03:02 PM. |
#16
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Gainesville Raceway is NHRA owned so they go by the book, no exceptions. The one inconsistency, as I see it, is the roll bar rule that dictates a roll bar for cars running 11.49 down to 10.00. Okay, I get it but I have always contended that the rule should be based on speed as well as e.t. It bugs me that my son's car can run a 11.40 at 118 and be required to have a roll bar, but some ricer can come out and run a 12 flat at 130 and not be required to have a roll bar. I have seen this many times as they have no performance down low but when the turbocharger really gets wound up they run big speed #s.
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69 Bird w/1970 400 block(409 cubes), #64 heads, hyd. roller, Q-jet by Jeff E., original interior, ps, pdb, th350, and 3.73 gears. Pump gas, street driven muscle. 3800 lbs. race weight. Best, 11.39 @118, my son's car. 79 T/A w/463, Scat crank, Eagle rods, Icon pistons, Lunati solid roller, 262/270, KRE 325 heads, Northwind intake, QF950 carb, full interior, ps, pdb, th350, and 3.73 gears. Pump gas, 3650 lbs. race weight. 10.68 @ 126 so far... no tuning yet. |
#17
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"dropped that last 300 feet" if that is what they thought perhaps a lack of math is the reason. 1/4 mile is 1320 feet, 1/8 is 660
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#18
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For me it is a little effort to load drive an hour+ unload to get kicked off for no safety equipment. Although last smaller rental I was at a new Demon was clicking off in the 9s not even a roll bar!
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Skip Fix 1978 Trans Am original owner 10.99 @ 124 pump gas 455 E heads, NO Bird ever! 1981 Black SE Trans Am stockish 6X 400ci, turbo 301 on a stand 1965 GTO 4 barrel 3 speed project 2004 GTO Pulse Red stock motor computer tune 13.43@103.4 1964 Impala SS 409/470ci 600 HP stroker project 1979 Camaro IAII Edelbrock head 500" 695 HP 10.33@132 3595lbs |
#19
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That would bo good. Butt they cut back 600'. I can do that hard accel on highway on-ramps.
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#20
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Took mine to track after putting turbo`s on to try to tune a good launch and was letting off half track and officials noticed, So when I finally let her rip a 9:76 and just rolled window down just a crack to get slip my day was over LoL
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