Nhra blues!!
 

My chassis was certified less than 3 months ago by IHRA to 7.50. I took the car this past weekend to Louisiana when I visited family and NHRA failed my certification. THere claim is that IHRA certifies to 7.50 way to easily and gave me a list of things I need to add before they will let me compete. Has anyone else had this issue? It is a full tube chassis with funny car cage C/M. NHRA wants an additional helmet bar and reomve and replace kidney bar 1/16 inch higher than it is now. Also claim dash bar is 1/2 too low.

Re: Nhra blues!!
 

Were you certifying to the SFI spec, or to the 8.50 non-SFI (straight out of NHRA rulebook)?

Regards,

Re: Nhra blues!!
 

SFI 7.50 by NHRA guidelines

Re: Nhra blues!!
 

Were the items they cited in the SFI spec with that level of detail?

I've had regular (not chassis certification) tech inspectors give me grief for things that are not in the rulebook, claiming that they were trained at the seminar to enforce the rule a certain way even if it was not in the book.

Re: Nhra blues!!
 

measurements are from chassis not floor pans as he measured. Said that was the way he was taught. Now I have a failure on file with NHRA so I am not sure if I could go to another certification and try again without changing anything.

Re: Nhra blues!!
 

Had some problems with my new car (kidney bar & crotch strap location) had chassis shop fix it for under 500.00 and by the way it's your ***** that's in the car.

Re: Nhra blues!!
 

Does anyone really think moving a bar 1/16 of an inch will change anything?
If it does I have been building things pretty loosely for a lot of years.
My 2 Cents

Re: Nhra blues!!
 

I agree 63. The inspector already had a chip on his shoulder because of the IHRA sticker. I heard him tell another guy "great, more IHRA junk" then walked over to my car. At first I didnt think he was talking about my car but I guess he was. This is an S&W chassis that was done maybe 3 years ago and updated last year. I am sure those guys know how to build a car by now.

Re: Nhra blues!!
 

I would try again with a different inspector. I just had my older (96) dragster nhra certified to 6.50-the tech guy did'nt like the way one diagonal was installed(did'nt look quite like what was in the sfi book)but gave me the sticker anyways(it was a recert-had a nhra 6.50 sticker already)maybe that was why he gave it to me.

Re: Nhra blues!!
 

I've built quite a few cars and have never had one fail chassis cert. For the most part the tubing dia. and wall thickness are the only real issues. Having a bar 1/16 of an inch misplaced is NOT a reason to fail a car. I've watched many times as other cars have been tagged and looking at the welds and fitment I couldn't believe they passed, being sure I could knock half the bars out of most with a hammer. I agree that you should run it through again just with a different inspector, his opinion of the IHRA and it's tech people should not affect his decision. And if it does he should be professional enough to keep it to himself. Joe

Re: Nhra blues!!
 

What track were you at.

Re: Nhra blues!!
 

Npr

Re: Nhra blues!!
 

Sounds like the tech inspector has bought into the NHRA Corporate Culture of Arrogance. Wonder why people hate the NHRA and their Bureaucracy

Re: Nhra blues!!
 

I am guessing you just got an inspector with his period! I know they are cracking down on helmet bars (as they should) but I am guessing if everything was good there, there is now way he would have failed you for 1/16". Good luck.

Re: Nhra blues!!
 

OK I spoke to Craig Hutchinson about my delima. The inspector was new and this was his second chassis certification. Craig said he should have passed the car with the information I gave to him. He has given me the name of an inspector here in SC/NC area that will do the certification free of charge. He also told me that he does not support the idea that sportsman racers cost more than made at an event but has no control over current management within NHRA. You can almost see wally turning over in his grave. I am sure this is not what he intended for NHRA to become.

Re: Nhra blues!!
 

Call Scott @ S&W...................maybe he could be of some help.

Rick

Re: Nhra blues!!
 

Thanks Rick. I got it taken care of already.