Diaper required at Division 1 Tracks?
 

I don't post that often but this,has been eating at me. Had a buddy of mine go to Mason Dixon this weekend to test. Was told he would need a diaper to run the next time he comes. This was going to be a track rule for any car 9.99 and quicker,was told Maple Grove and Cecil County were also going to enforce this rule. If this is true is this going to be enforced at the points races and combo races. As it is I have no plans to install one on my car. How can NHRA tracks enforce a rule that NHRA doesn't have in the rule book. This is getting as bad as the dirt tracks having there own rules for each track. Anyone care to comment?

Bunk Miller
SS/FA 1725

Re: Diaper required at Division 1 Tracks?
 

Same rule here at Tulsa for bracket races.

Re: Diaper required at Division 1 Tracks?
 

Why do people fight a insurance policy !

Ask the young man that was killed in his bracket car this past weekend @ San Antonio, blew the motor , thru the traps and hit both walls..... No Diaper !

A $ 169.00 diaper just might have saved his life................


I'm so confused !

Rick

Re: Diaper required at Division 1 Tracks?
 

Division 1 is requiring that all bracket cars faster than 9.99 or 135 have a diaper. As far as I know, this is not going to apply to Stock and Super Stock. I could see an instance of this where a local track might require a Stock or Super Stock car to have a diaper if they were going to run a test and tune or bracket class.

I bracket race my Corvette a lot, so I had to install one. It was a pain to get on and I had to order a $500 + custom fit diaper. My Dad is not planning on installing one in his SS/DA Corvette, unless NHRA tells him he has to have one.

Hope this helps.

Jeff Jewell

Re: Diaper required at Division 1 Tracks?
 

Our tech director said there is no talk of requiring diapers for S & SS.

They aren't required here for S & SS cars unless bracket racing.

If I ran an engine-on-a-stick I wouldn't give one a second thought either.

Re: Diaper required at Division 1 Tracks?
 

Go to http://www.sanantonioraceway.com/

Re: Diaper required at Division 1 Tracks?
 

If I'm a track owner and am liable for what happens at my facility, I'll require whatever safety equipment I want - or I won't open the gates.

Re: Diaper required at Division 1 Tracks?
 

A diaper could well have saved the driver on the 10 second bracket car.

http://www.yellowbullet.com/forum/sh...458130&page=13

Re: Diaper required at Division 1 Tracks?
 

This is a very 'gray" area when it comes to what safety rules class cars have to use. We have dealt with this a few times with the ASRA races. Usually the car has to fit the rules for the class it's built to race in, not the type of race that it is racing in.

Bottom line is it's up to the track. They may let you test, or run specialty races, like Stk/SS combo's, but if your going to run every week for points you'll need all the safety equiptment required for the bracket your running.

Remember, it's your ***** in the seat, as racers we try to ignor the thoughts about the consequenses of our sport. Things break, accidents happen, it's up to YOU to make sure your car is as safe as possible, and sometimes it's still not enough!

Larry, in no way is this last paragraph directed at you, I understand the situation that many stock and SS races are facing with the diaper rule. Good rule, but can be very difficult and expensive to fit a diaper correctly on most class cars.

George Mirza
ASRA B.O.D.

Re: Diaper required at Division 1 Tracks?
 

I have first hand experience with racing accidents and I can tell you that anything that we can do to possibly prevent them is a good thing. As most of you know, we own a speed shop and everytime that someone comes in to buy there "NEW" seat belts, I hear the same old line "There is nothing wrong with my belts, NHRA is probably getting a kick back." As they complain while they spend their $70 for seat belts they normally follow that telling me about the thousands of dollars that they spent on their car so that they can pick up a tenth of a second. Something else that we all need to understand, something like the diaper rule, effects more than yourself. If you want to run old belts or no belts, if you hate yourself that much than so be it, but running a diaper prevents you from running in front of the person in the other lane and affecting their life. I have learned something over the last 10 years of my life. I love racing, I love it so much that even after the thousands of runs that I have made I still shake after a round of eliminations, but I love my life more. I love my wife, my son, my family, and my friends a whole lot more. We spend a lot of money racing and to be honest the safety aspect is probably one of the cheapest things that we spend money on. So we spend $70 every 2 years for belts. Maybe $500 for a diaper if you need a custom diaper. Pants, jackets, gloves, neck collar. That is it. So lets estimate on the high side you spend $1000 for safety equipment. I would have to think that most people would probably say that to go to a points race or national event for the weekend would probably cost them the same. So tell me is your life worth that weekend? It isn't for me.

Re: Diaper required at Division 1 Tracks?
 

Tell me more about these diapers. Sometimes cars unload or break while in the air and come down hard, sometimes touching the pan. If the diaper is torn is it required to be replaced in order to be acceptable? I would think that it would be.
What happens when an engine lets go and starts a fire? Does the diaper put out the 4-5 qts. of oil that it retains?
Will the diaper stop all parts from exiting the diaper? What I mean is it bullet proof?
Will the extra time spent changing the oil and looking for leaks cause more problems than it solves? Some aren't much on doing regular maintenence is what I'm refering to. An oil soaked diaper might be flamable?
What about the rear area of the block? I've seen cranks let go and take the flywheel and part of the converter with them.

I agree with some that have said. I am more worried about the car in the other lane than I am my car. Just look at some of the wheel alignment junk from pictures of cars in the air.

Re: Diaper required at Division 1 Tracks?
 

First, let me say I am not one to oppose safety, but if safety is the issue, then why is it not a mandatory rule for all NHRA, IHRA, etc. and why only 9.90 and quicker.

My understanding is that the diaper does not have to be SFI approved, can be homemade, just so you have somthing to catch the oil and does not have to be fire proof. What if I have a small leak (that I am not aware of), have a diaper on and since the diapers are not fireproof, the leak could soak the diaper and cause a fire due to hot headers, etc.

Having a full bodied SS car makes it even more difficult to put on a diaper than say with a dragster due to header placement, tie rod running thru the oil pan among other things.

Not being required to have a diaper to race SS but being told I cannot test at my local track because I do not have one does not sit well with me.

Danny Henderson
SS/GA 1795

Re: Diaper required at Division 1 Tracks?
 

In comp we have a choice between a diaper and a belly pan-we use belly pans on our cars since they are so much easier-I don't know if you could build a belly pan to fit the frames of a stocker or super stocker, but if you could, see if the track would accept them as an alternative to a diaper.

Re: Diaper required at Division 1 Tracks?
 

Since Hagerstown MD (Mason-Dixon Dragway) is the only NHRA Division 1 track we currently race at with our series, I sent an e-mail to Elmer (track owner) about the diaper issue. That NHRA does not yet require diapers on most Sportsman (S/SS and .90 cars), and as such, would we (S/SS) get a pass for the Lee Sherman S/SS Race in November? My e-mail first, and Elmer's replies:

"Hi Elmer. I had a question, that was brought up on a racing messageboard for Stock/Super Stock racing. It was stated that NHRA DIvision 1 is requiring an engine diaper/containment device on all 9.99 and quicker bracket cars. NHRA has, however, not mandated them for NHRA Sportsman racers at Division 1 Nat'l Opens, LODRS Divisional Events or National Events. So, would the S/SS cars competing at the Lee Sherman race in November be required to have a diaper to compete there? Diapers run up to $500, and I don't know how many of the 12 or so 9 second racers we would have in November,would want to pay that much to only need it once or twice a year. Thanks."

Elmer's two replies:

"Under current rules if operating as a stock or super stock event , bracket rules would not apply"

and a few minutes later:

"Also keep in mind that there is no certification or spec on what is a engine diaper it could be a metal tray with a pamper in it. I think you will find this to be true. The rule was put I place more for track oil downs than for other reasons in my opinion. However any thing that keeps oil off the track and from under the tires of a race car can't be a bad thing."

So, for the 10-12 Class cars that run in the 9's that we would get, it looks like you will be OK for the two S/SS races we'll have in November.

Hope this helps...I know several people here (Larry, Larry, Dan and Jeff) participated at H-town last November. So it looks like you will be OK for this year. Thought it appears for a normal weekly test and tune, you will need an oil-containment device.

Re: Diaper required at Division 1 Tracks?
 

I think I have a little more than $169.00 invested. I had to make some rather extensive mods for the diaper to perform properly, but I am glad I did it. Athey race cars did it, actually, I don't have the ability or know how to do any of this. Custom billet oil filter remote, etc.

Re: Diaper required at Division 1 Tracks?
 

You are right about it not having to be SFI approved for most classes (classes requiring SFI diapers are spelled out in the rule book under class requirements) but it does have to be NHRA approved, (list can be found on nhraracer.com )So your homemade diaper idea will not fly.

Re: Diaper required at Division 1 Tracks?
 

I understand the issues w/the S/SS cars fitting them in tight quarters and not an easy on and off. But I cant say enough about the benefit of having one . Unfortunately I've tested them both in my S/G car and my TS car over the past 2 seasons. Both incidents happened on top end around 1000'. Both engine failures were huge, rods thru the pan, and in the TS car I broke the block. The diapers both held 95% of the oil (very minimal cleanup for the crews) and all the pieces of block and rods were in them. Both times I was able to stop the car safely, and park it out of the groove. These $200 items saved my cars and possibly my life.
Just my .02

Re: Diaper required at Division 1 Tracks?
 

To reply to your quote about not allowing self-made diapers, below is the exact wording from a local track regarding what is required.

"CARS & DRAGSTERS
7.50-9.99 Oil Retention device must be employed Can be self made or purchased online (no SFI rating at this time)"

Danny Henderson
SS/GA 1795

Re: Diaper required at Division 1 Tracks?
 

I put one on my super stocker last year because I like my self. thanks DRE

Re: Diaper required at Division 1 Tracks?
 

unfortunately i am an old guy, so i remember in 1966 my dad driving at 80 mph on rte 95 in a 4 door chevy with 2 kids and no seat belts. Today I do not even pull my car out of the drive without putting on a seat belt after being run into 3 times by idiots. Think about it

i think DRE that advertises on this site sells diapers for 169.00, sounds like a good investment to me.

Re: Diaper required at Division 1 Tracks?
 

Belly pans can be "home made", diapers can not.
Also remember if you are going to run any D1 track bracket race you will need one 9.99 and faster. That's a D1 Summit series rule.
Also, just a reminder, don't forget your pit vehicle insurance and registration (mentioned in another thread).

Re: Diaper required at Division 1 Tracks?
 

As has been said, required in NHRA Division 1 for bracket racing when running 9.99 and quicker. I installed a custom fit DRE diaper on my former Super Stock car. The fit was good but too tight at the oil filter which Dennis will fix. The install was quick and easy and no mods were required to the headers nor relocation of the oil filter.

Re: Diaper required at Division 1 Tracks?
 

I think EVERY car that goes down the track should have a engine diaper. It has been the BEST rule they ever came up with. :D