All racers please read this reminder!
 

I have been asked to remind ALL RACERS about the rule for being outside of your race car while warming it up. Please be mindful of other racers. If you want to hurt yourself well, you cant fix stupid, but i have seen the results of a non compliant racer and it wasn't pretty. Don't be afraid of policing yourselves, it can save someone and/or equipment.
There were several racers "noticed" this past weekend at the Grove, they will be watching at E-town.
9:5 JACKS & JACK-STANDS
No work may be done under any car in the pit area while the car is
supported by only one jack. Additional safety devices such as
jack-stands are mandatory to provide additional protection in the
event of jack failure. Failure to observe this rule is grounds for
immediate disqualification. Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, Top
Alcohol Dragster, and Top Alcohol Funny Car must use
cradles/jack-stand devices that attach to the frame (conventional
jack-stands prohibited) when working on and/or running engine in
pits with vehicle in a raised position. Jack-stand devices must be
constructed as to provide a minimum ground clearance of 7 inches
as measured from the ground to the outer diameter limit of the rear
tires.

9:14 WARM-UPS
It is mandatory that a driver be seated in the car in the normal
driving position anytime the engine is running, unless coupler or
driveline is removed from vehicle. The practice of transbrake
testing, converter stalls, line-loc testing, and/or transmission
warming is prohibited in all classes, in all areas of the event
except in starting-line approach areas beyond staging, or
unless vehicle is on jack-stands. Non-compliance is grounds
for disqualification or such other and/or action as deemed
appropriate by NHRA.

I don't mean to sound obnoxious, but we are talking about the potential of a very dangerous situation.

Thanks,

Debbie Moses

Re: All racers please read this reminder!
 

I'm good with all this, but how "zero tolerance" is it? Can a racer with no pit crew get booted for setting his timing with the car on jacks?

Dale

Re: All racers please read this reminder!
 

Please contact your Division Director for questions.

Re: All racers please read this reminder!
 

So, since I drive my car around to warm it up, I guess to test my trans brake once I return to my pit area I have to shut my car off, jack it up, put it on jack stands, get back in it, start it up and then test the trans brake, or risk disqualification!!! So that means, I will not know if I have an issue there until I'm all belted in, windows up and pulling out into the burnout box!

So, if there is a problem, will they give me time to drive the 1/2 mile back to my pit spot, at the maximum 10 mph, fix the trans brake issue, then come back up and make a run??? We all know that answer, LOL!

Re: All racers please read this reminder!
 

Am I to understand that if I am alone (usually always) I can't do anything to my engine that involves having it run unless it is on jack stands. I guess having it in Park, and the emergency brake on don't count??? Thrilled I'm getting old, less of this to look forward to. John Kissel K242

Re: All racers please read this reminder!
 

Anybody that will crawl under a car only supported by just a jack has got to be off their nut anyway.
A guy from my old neighborhood years ago had a car roll off of a jack that was unsupported by jack stands and got his chest crushed so severely he died a few days later. That occurrence has been a real incentive for me to use a set of jack stands, always.

Re: All racers please read this reminder!
 

These rules have been in place for a while now. Nothing new, just really never enforced. This past weekend, apparently there were more than the "normal" amount of people not following the "rule(s)". I am just letting you know what they are so you cant say you weren't forewarned.
Any questions/concerns should be directed to your Division Director and they will be more than happy to explain the rules to you.

Re: All racers please read this reminder!
 

Come on people......use your heads. I just saw a "GDOP" (G*d D*mn OLD PEOPLE) get out of his golf cart this very morning and it ran off without him then ran into a car door. Major crunch job as most new junk is made out of recycled tooth paste tubes. I think a race car with the engine running will do much more damage. Maybe even run over someone. Have someone sit behind the wheel....all you need to do is ask and someone will say SURE THING. I've seen it happen MANY times at the races over the years. I have known 2 friends over the past 40 some years get KILLED when their car fell on them and squashed them like a bug. One was in his garage at home. Those floor jacks will blow out when you least expect it and your reaction time is no where near a .000.
Just my 2 cents. Its your life !

Re: All racers please read this reminder!
 

Not a problem. My car has become quite accustomed to sitting on jackstands.

Re: All racers please read this reminder!
 

All of these rules are made because there are racers who are just plain Stupid. Most of these rules cost the average racer $ (header Tethers) because racers are not responsible for themselves or equipment. We would not have these rules if NHRA/IHRA did not have to police stupidity.

Re: All racers please read this reminder!
 

I have approached racers, told them that its unsafe & in the rule book. All I got in return was the stink eye. (looking at me like I'm the A-hole, no comments please) lol I remember back in the day, someone checking a trans brake in the lanes at E-town. Lets just say it wasn't pretty . E

Re: All racers please read this reminder!
 

You should continue to approach them anyway. Just because they are stupid enough to put their own self at risk doesn't give them the right to jeopardize those around them. Obviously you have to remind them in a friendly but firm manner but remind them none the less.

Re: All racers please read this reminder!
 

This should cut down on the tribal, transbrake test mating call that echos through the pits of most events.

Re: All racers please read this reminder!
 

Most track should offer an area that anyone can operate their trans brake in, where there is no danger to anyone. Jack stand are a must, just two weeks ago I saw a young man with his family under his car without jack stand, I left my pit and brought him two good J.K.S and he refused my offer. All I could say to him is that his pregnant wife won't be able to save his du$& ar&e when the car come crashing on him! Some people you can bring to the water but you can't make them drink it.CR

Re: All racers please read this reminder!
 

This is the way most .90 guys (myself included) set/test throttle stop rpm before actually making a run. If we have to put it up on jack stands to do it, so be it, not a big deal.

Re: All racers please read this reminder!
 

thanks Debbie , we all can use a reminder where safety is concerned!!

Re: All racers please read this reminder!
 

doesn't make a lot of sense for guys like me with a manual trans...
never seen one just "drop" into gear...

Re: All racers please read this reminder!
 

Didn't somene get killed out west several years ago, testing a trans brake, and crashed into a trailer.

Re: All racers please read this reminder!
 

OK I am too old - but I never needed NHRA to pass a rule for me to use jack stands even when it is inconvenient and so much work and very time consuming - OMG

"COME ON MAN"

You need a rule for that ...

Ron

Re: All racers please read this reminder!
 

NHRA has apparently also decreed that electrons flow from the cathode to the anode, and therefore the shutoff switch is on the + side. The laws of physics and common sense do not apply at NHRA races.

Re: All racers please read this reminder!
 

The problem with having common sense is having to deal with the people who do not

Re: All racers please read this reminder!
 

Actually, this makes sense in a race car. If the cut-off were on the ground side and metal contacted that terminal or wire in a wreck, the circuit would be complete and current would flow to all the engine electronics and fuel pump. Cut the positive and current to the systems is stopped.

Dale

Re: All racers please read this reminder!
 

Accident at Fontana

http://www.competitionplus.com/drag-...nt-claims-life

You hear it all the time in the pits with people and there trans brakes.

Re: All racers please read this reminder!
 

Rusty2211 is right. Listen any morning in the pits and it sounds like Jurassic park.
Why is there a need to "test" the throttle stop RPM? Every NHRA accepted delay box is digital and the desired RPM is set to a particular value. Have you ever "tested" it and found it to not be the RPM that you set? It sounds like something that is done habitually and has no real useful purpose, sort of like motorcycle riders who cannot let their bikes simply idle at a stop light and have to continually wing the engine. No purpose, just a habit and an annoyance, but a dangerous one in this case.

Re: All racers please read this reminder!
 

"Every NHRA accepted delay box is digital and the desired RPM is set to a particular value" Absolutely, completely wrong! Just the opposite is true. You CANNOT set or control throttle stop RPM with a legal delay box!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: All racers please read this reminder!
 

Mr Harris, the amount of time a car is on the throttle stop is controlled by a delay box but not the rpms. The rpms while on the stop are controlled by the blades that close, and changing weather conditions can affect what the rpms are.

Re: All racers please read this reminder!
 

I will never and have never been under a car without jack stands, but I'm plenty guilty of not being in the car with it running with it sitting on the ground to check timing, look for leaks or whatever else. This year at Houston National event I had a funny noise in the engine after my second TT. I worked on the car for several hours and when I thought I had it fixed, I fired it up and was still hearing a squeaking noise. I had the car on the ground idling with my wife's SUV parked in front of it. I was listening trying to pinpoint where the noise was coming from. Next thing I know an nhra official had jumped a muddy ditch and was walking my way. I knew what was coming so I shut then engine off, listened to the lecture and just said "yes sir" and he left. He wasn't very friendly but hey I was breaking a rule and he did have to jump that muddy ditch to come lecture me. The car was in park and the wife's car was 5 ft in front of it. I think maybe this is one of those deals they are just getting fired up about enforcing the rule for some reason. I have seen plenty of nhra regulars with their stuff running facing the pit roads etc with nobody in the car...sometimes though, like those nice corner pit spots, it depends on who you are if the rules are enforced and what rules are enforced. Stuff like this and the tether rule is why I only run the big show once a year any more.

Re: All racers please read this reminder!
 

Then correct Rich67stang, not me. I haven't ever run a car with a throttle stop so what do I know? I know that there are dozens of cars testing something, stall speed, two step setting, whatever. In any case the situation remains the same. Anyone on any morning at any NHRA event can hear countless cars testing whatever it is they are testing and it isn't the stock or super stock cars that are doing it. If the racers are conforming to rule 9:14 as quoted in the original post, then have at it. If not, then don't gripe about being called out for it.

Re: All racers please read this reminder!
 

X2, the generator exhaust rule is seldom enforced, I think it is a good rule, just should be enforced EQUALLY, no matter where you are parked or who you are.

Re: All racers please read this reminder!
 

Bill I agree 110% but the vast majority of offenders are comp S/C S/G T/S and T/D or go by the Alcohol pits sometime and check out those jokers usually on 1 jack stand and a pair of those cheapie drive up tin ramps. :rolleyes: T/S guys are getting just as crazy we'ver seen several of those things fall off of their lift jacks from over zealous motor winging especially down south certain tracks like rockingham and clay city have zero pit patrol and try to say something to one of those guys and right away they want to fight Truthfully I'm getting too old for that ***** so I just go get our german shepherds Lucy and Neko and let themm do the negotiating. ;-)

http://www.moneymakerracing.net/elizabeths_page

Re: All racers please read this reminder!
 

A lot of SS guys warming their stuff up in the mornings drive to the end of the return road, nobody close by, and turn around sit on the trans brake for a few seconds to put some heat in their ATF. I don't think anybody is "testing" their trans brake or 2 step.

Re: All racers please read this reminder!
 

Throttle hung open on a dragster coming into staging at Capitol City last weekend. Took out 3 other cars.

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