Post your dragweek rules questions here!

[Bamfster]

In response to the tech questions, last year at Topeka I waited in line for about 1 1/2 hours. Pulled into the tech building and Keith did his thing with the safety inspection. I then pulled foreward to the table with Jenny and Michelle and got my decals and t-shirts. No track official ever looked at or under my car!!

I did have HPT tech guy walk by while I was in line waiting. I expected him to at least ask what the car was capable of and look it over, but no, he just want to see my helmet and then signed off on the tech card. Not complaining ..... just not what I'm used to for a tech inspection.

[milner351]

1. for street cars, what's the helmet requirement?

2. how far back from the front U-joint is the driveshaft loop supposed to go? I found this - but this is for way more serious cars than mine:

SECTION 6A – TOP SPORTSMAN
Page 3
DRIVETRAIN: 2
DRIVELINE (December 13, 2010)
Each end of driveshaft must have round 360-degree driveshaft loops within 6 inches of U-joints. Beginning Jan. 1, 2012 driveshaft must be covered by 360-degree tube, covering the front U-joint and extending rearward a minimum 12 inches. Minimum thickness of tube is .050-inch chromoly or titanium. Driveshaft tube must utilize a minimum of four attachment points to the chassis, either bolted with minimum 5/16 SAE bolts or welded or 1/4-inch push/pull pins. See General Regulations 2:4.

Also found this on Helmets - I have to check mine....
NHRA Helmet Expiration Dates
Section 20, page 41 General Regulations
Label Expires
Snell 2000 1/1/2012
Snell 2005 1/1/2017
Snell 2010 1/1/2022
SFI 31.1A 1/1/2014
SFI 31.2A 1/1/2014
Label Expires
SFI 41.1A 1/1/2014
SFI 41.2A 1/1/2014
SFI 31.1/2005 1/1/2017
SFI 41.1/2005 1/1/2017
SFI 24.1 (JDRL only) 1/1/2015
SFI 24.1/2005 1/1/2017

[ksj2]

13.99 and quicker for helmet.

[moparman63]

tech guy looked mine over pretty good.but no fine tooth comb.he did ask about ets.

[Bamfster]

13.99 and quicker for helmet.

And I think snell 2009 or newer ....

Loop is 6" back from front u joint.

[JeffMcKC]

AS the day wears on, I think they check certain things to get the line moving

[CDMBill]

I had a cursory inspection at HPT, looked at helmet and belt and that was it. I follow the idea of having everything ready and keeping my mouth shut.

Snell 2000's are done, 2005's have until 2017 as list in the post above.

If I race a stick car it will have a loop, slow or fast, cheap insurance against a really ugly potential problem. I've never seen a drive shaft failure on a fast car, 15 seconds sure. A certain former cop car caprice comes to mind.

I can't see how adding a drive shaft loop voids a warranty.

[JeffMcKC]

LOL Is Eddie going to skirt the Pro Street N/A rules and be able to run in Pro Street with his Unlimited Floor Boards and Driveshaft tunnel he showed me new pictures of on his facebook page

[38P]

I can't see how adding a drive shaft loop voids a warranty.

It probably shouldn't. But anyone who has ever spent time around dealerships runs across a few "Melvins" in the service department who think they're some sort of Columbo-with-a-torque-wrench (or Sherlock-Holmes-with-a-service-order-pad) who try to create a big warranty-voiding stink whenever they spot any "unauthorized" modifications.

It's one thing to not mention that the car's been on a few race tracks if the topic never comes up . . . It's another to lie in response to "Inspector Clouseau's" direct questions about non-production racing equipment.

[BBR]

Like the rubber coated inner fenderwells isn't a dead give-away too. haha

[moparman63]

they cant legally void it for that.there are a million dealers.find a decent one with some sense.then be loyal to them.

[moparman63]

strikes me funny......all but one of these Qs has been about well established and published rules from ihra/nhra books.....nothing yet about the new quarentine rule,or a class with a judgement clause like gasser,etc.

[38P]

Like the rubber coated inner fenderwells isn't a dead give-away too. haha

I try to wash that off . . . .

Hey, I'm not saying I want Ford or the service warranty insurance company to fix stuff I broke (unless it's defective). When I wore the OEM front brake pads down to metal open tracking the car, I didn't go back sniveling to Ford on a warranty claim. I fixed it myself and got back on track.

(But when one of the Chinese replacement brake rotors (I bought parts-store rotors because it was quicker than having the OEM ones turned) broke completely from the hat after about 15 laps and put me "four wheels off," you bet I warranty-claimed that commie POS.

If I twist off an OEM axle or fry the clutch at the track, I'm not going to seek a warranty repair. I just don't want some hypertechnical "Melvin" trying to "deep six" my whole warranty if I have to get an electrical repair or engine fix because of "racing" or "unapproved equipment." One of the reasons to run a new performance car is that most of the complex and expensive stuff is covered by a warranty.

Sure, given enough lawyers, time and hassle, I might win a battle over the warranty's "no racing" provisions. But it's cheaper to avoid all that and keep the track usesage on the "Q.T." as much as possible.

[38P]

strikes me funny......all but one of these Qs has been about well established and published rules from ihra/nhra books.....nothing yet about the new quarentine rule,or a class with a judgement clause like gasser,etc.

I don't think the rule books (or local enforcement ) are very clear on the sticky DOT/driveshaft loop on a slow car business (and neither are the folks posting here, because I've gotten inrreconcilable answers)

[CDMBill]

I admit its my question but teh 325 drag radial question is legit in my view, especially as it follows years of any size drag radial and a restriction on bias ply slicks. I remain unclear on radial slicks but that's for someone else to look into, not me.