Big silly rookie question
 

I think I'll have my 87 Lancer turbo ready to go Stock racing, and it looks like I'll have to head to a Divisional in ID or BC to run. My big silly question is, how does the whole teching, registering and classifying the car for Stock go? All I've ever done is run sportsman brackets at home. Just wondering what I need to do ahead of time, and what to prepare for at the event. Thanks in advance!

Re: Big silly rookie question
 

What combination do you run? Most cars are eligible to run three different classes (it's natural class, up one, and down one). Once you tech in in a particular class, you can not change it. Might want to head to the scales before teching, to see what the car weight is (with driver), to see what adjusments might be needed. Some cars will do "better" in a different class, based on weight and Index.

Re: Big silly rookie question
 

As far as what you'll need when you go through tech and registration:

-Your NHRA Stock Competition license and NHRA membership
-Tech card filled out accurately and completely

They will check your helmet, that it meets specs, and for a seatbelt. They may ask to have you open your hood and trunk to look at things (make sure battery is secure, overflow tank of sufficient capacity, etc). Once they OK and pass you, you're done until the first time trial. Like I said earlier, you might want to check the weight at the scales before teching, in case the car is heavier/lighter than you may have thought (all scales can read different). If you can not add/take out enough weight to make that class, you may have the option of moving up or down a class, as long as you can meet the minimum weight with driver.

Re: Big silly rookie question
 

Well, 1 rookie to another here is how it went in Div 2 in Atlanta

Pay at the gate
Park in pits
Unload car
Drive over to Tech.
Wait your turn
Beg the Tech to be merciful.
Let them show you and tell you what is good, dont say anything just take in info, take notes if need be (my memory can be ****e when thinking about other things)
Make corrections as they suggest (I forgot Push Off Pull On label on wrap) So some masking tape and a marker and voila. I asked for a pretty detailed tech since it was my first one with the Drag Pak Challenger and my first Stock Eliminator build. They said everything looked great.
They asked weight questions, car min, etc, car actual , then told me to run to scale to double check if I wanted to be sure (I was 5 heavy for what I told them, maybe the old man didnt eat breakfast :)
I had a former tech at the track come out to hang with us, he helped make sure the paperwork was complete and accurate, painless and simple but I had left a section blank I thought they were supposed to fill out, I was wrong. Make sure all your I's are dotted and T;s crossed and ledgible.

Take Tech card to trailer
(In our case we had to get numbers and provisional or temporary liscences) I strongly suggest getting a competiton number before hand (call your div office) but well in our last minute way, Bill Holt took great care of us and was great to us and helped us get everything handled even gave us Div 3 numbers and voila.
They gave me stickers and told me where to locate them on the car for the Div event.

Wait for the Stock Eliminator call, and go to staging lanes, hand them punch card. Let them punch it.

Go stage and run.

In my case the BEAST that was the "Crackin Rosie" 2004 Pacifica, change CD to something good and make a pass....(I used Cruise at 55 but :) The old man in the DP car, but the tech on the Pacifica was the same , a little easier since it was bone stock :)

2 Tracks here I run at home, 1 tech consists of, "Hey you only have 4 lugnuts ! Hey next time you come I wanna see 5 next time you show up "Uhhh ok so I cant run until I have 5 ?" "No youre good I said next time" (that actually happened when I was younger.

The other "Your battery and holddown arent legal" Uhhhh... its a BRAND NEW CAR !, Still you have to change it next time ???? Uhhh,....I dont think so.

The point is, Ive been at worse in "Bracket Bombing" tech wise.

The NHRA people were great, I just told them Im new and have no clue.

The other racers were equally helpful , they knew I didnt know and told me anything I asked.

It was painless, except the 13 quarts on oil on the starting line.

hope it helped ?

Just "wing it" people there were great and when doing something wrong they not only told you, but told you how to do it right, and with the honest intent of help....everyone.

Re: Big silly rookie question
 

Excellent advice!

Re: Big silly rookie question
 

[ Once you tech in in a particular class, you can not change it. Might want to head to the scales before teching, to see what the car weight is (with driver), to see what adjusments might be needed.

Good advice, the first time I teched my chevelle as a stocker, I had issues with weight and went up to the tower to change designations twice. All this effort earned me was a visit from the head tech inspector for verification that me 'velle fit into the claimed class.Double check and recheck your safety equipment as the div 6 guys pay particular attention to those items ,other than that be ready for some schooling! Oh try and get the guy that is smiling he is more likely to have a sense of humor and less likely to take his foul mood out on you!

Re: Big silly rookie question
 

All good advice, don,t forget your fuel check valve.
Jim

Re: Big silly rookie question
 

thats a biggie right there,,with your fuel injected car you can put a shut off valve in place of the schrader valve off the fuel rail gmonde

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Ummm... Your going to have a hard time doing any of the above since your car is not in the classification guide.. Can your car run 10.90?

Re: Big silly rookie question
 

1987 Dodge Lancer is in there. I think the turbo version would be the 135 cid, 146 factory, 160 NHRA-rated motor.

Re: Big silly rookie question
 

Print out a tech card off NHRA site must login in to get to it you can fill out all the info online. In stock there are quit a bit of other info that is needed to be filled in that a normal racer doesnt fill out like Adv HP, Adj HP, Head#, Intake #, Carb#, all this you want to make sure is right for your combo make and year. Just because your car is a certain year does not mean the Numbers on your heads and intake are going to be right for what are in the guide lines for your car, mine did not match had to claim a differant year because of intake numbers and everthing else matched up to the year I was changing it to. Drooze said it very well to his experance tell them you are new to stock they are very helpfull. If you allready have question Email Dave at Div 6 ahead of time he response very quickly. See ya in Boise.

Re: Big silly rookie question
 

Tha nks for all the pointers and info, it really helps alot!

Re: Big silly rookie question
 

Is it the 135 cid motor in your car?

Re: Big silly rookie question
 

Yes, 135 cid turbo

Re: Big silly rookie question
 

The Sedan 4 door breaks at 16.50, making it a natural BF/S, meaning it can also run A and C, with weight adjustments. The Sedan 4 door SE, breaks at 16.86, and will fit the same three classes. It's factory rating is 146, with an NHRA rating is 160. So you will multiply 160 x the class weight break, add 170, and will give you the minimum weight for each class, as follows.

AF/S 13 x 160 + 170 = 2,250 pounds minimum weight (seems highly unlikely that your car could get to the class' minimum weight. Class Index is 13.85 seconds.
BF/S 16 x 160 + 170 = 2,730 min wt. Class Index is 14.65 sec. This is the closest weight to the cars natural factory shipping weight.
CF/S 17.5 x 160 + 170 = 2,970 min wt. Class Index is 15.15 sec.

Hope this helps.

Re: Big silly rookie question
 

Thank you very much for that info. I was wondering what class I'd be in. Think I need to see what it'll do, and I'm betting I'm closer to CF weight because this thing is loaded to the nines. I'll go get it on a scale this weekend and go from there. Thanks!

I also have an 86 Lebaron GTS, and it's manual windows, non-tilt etc, probably would be a great car too, and lighter, and I could always swap stuff over since the mechanicals are the exact same. Guess I'd better get to work!

Thanks again!

Re: Big silly rookie question
 

86 Lebaron GTS 4 door with the turbo 135?

Re: Big silly rookie question
 

All versions listed for the Lebaron in 1986 (LEBARON, Sedan 2 Dr, 2588, Convertible, Town & Country SW 4 Dr, and GTS 4 Dr, all have weight breaks betwen 16.10 and 17.16, and all fall as a natural BF/S, and all can run A and C also. 146 factory HP rating, but NHRA rates this year motor, in this year car(s) at 155. Factory Shipping weights run from 2,495 pounds up to 2,685, depending on body type.

AF/S 155 x 13 + 170 = 2,185 pounds, 13.85 Class Index
BF/S 155 x 16 + 170 = 2,650 pounds, 14.65 Class Index
CF/S 155 x 17.5 + 170 = 2,883 pounds, 15.15 Index

Re: Big silly rookie question
 

Wow, I might be showing my age or my ignorance, but when I think "lancer turbo".. I'm not thinking about no dodge.

Re: Big silly rookie question
 

Alright Ive got the CAPITAL Stupid question here.....

Does the car HAVE to run in the F classes ? I just reread the rules and while the F Classes I dont see anything that keeps them in there specifically ? How wrong am I on this ? I entered the Pacifica as a Q/SA was it supposed to (i.e. HAD to Go in as CF/SA ?., 17.98lb/hp)

My understanding (and please I just came up with this on my "own" from reading the rule, is that it CAN be entered in the F classes if it is FWD, but nowhere in the rulebook I see does it say it HAS to ?)

Cheers

Im dying to hear an answer on this.

Chris

Re: Big silly rookie question
 

Yes, according to ...somebody.

Polhill tried to run his FWD Escort in W/Stock a few years ago, and was told NO.

Of course, that may depend on who you ask.

Re: Big silly rookie question
 

Chris, yes they do. A few years ago, Steve Polhill, took his Escort that ran EF/S, and tried to run W/S (almost the same weight break). After one or two runs, they told him he had to run a FWD class. I believe he was even quick enough to get the W record that weekend (October Indy Nat'l Open). Steve can fill you in more on this, in case my memory is incorrect.

Re: Big silly rookie question
 

Thats intersting, I would say if that IS in fact true the rule is poorly written the word "reserved" means allowed but not required as in the context it is used in the rulebook in regards to the F classes.

Which would mean only FWD can run in it but are not limited to it. I guess I spent way too much time in my life reading legal docs.....any lawyers wanna chime in on this ?

I do believe you, Im just confused, seems like that needs EXPLICITY stated in the rules, not just assumed by both NHRA and the Competitors.

Other classes, SS, SS/GT etc make explicit explanation of what is allowed in what and required etc. Why not stock ? Simple wording I would say.

Interesting, I just talked to Bachelder about something else and he confirmed that they MUST run in the F classes..........

Guess it was an accident to let me run across in Q/SA (mine too :D:D:D

Lol....oh well live and learn, thanks all......

Re: Big silly rookie question
 

Drooze, Maybe they thought your Pacifica was all wheel drive? Tom

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Lol...maybe, funny an AWD can run regular classes ?!?!? What if I put it in 2 wd mode ?:D

Re: Big silly rookie question
 

Charles Blossom had a turbo GMC Cyclone V6 (I believe that's what it was), that ran in AT/SA (when NHRA still had seperate Truck classes). Rulebook states "all AWD vehicles must have treaded front tires".