New Rule Revision For Stock and S/S
 

On www.nhraracer.com a new rule revision for Stock and S/S dated 9/12/2017 has been posted.

The old rule read...Driver and passenger-side seats must be identical in appearance.

The new rule reads as follows:

If a full-sized corporate OEM driver’s seat is used, the passenger seat must be identical in appearance to the driver’s seat. If a full-sized aftermarket driver’s seat is used the passenger seat must be full-sized and identical in appearance to the driver’s seat being used or must be a full-sized corporate OEM passenger-seat.

That means an aftermarket passenger seat cannot be drilled full of lightening holes or have the upper portion/head rest cut off. Its time for a few racers to buy a new passenger seat because they butchered the seat.

Re: New Rule Revision For Stock and S/S
 

I know this isn't going to be a popular statement with some. But Now that we are racing against 150+ MPH Copo's etc. I honestly think ALL Cars running in Stock/SS should have a min of a 6 point roll bar, and belts.

Re: New Rule Revision For Stock and S/S
 

This is comical. NHRA let's factory race cars compete in stock, some running parachutes, yet real stockers are being B**ched at over passenger seats modifications like a missing head rest?! This is almost as comical as Barton's class wins counting towards his national point total and putting him in the Top 10.

Re: New Rule Revision For Stock and S/S
 

I like this revision and I think it's aimed at some of the newer style SS cars. The passenger seat looks like crap when they cut the top section off.

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Does this mean i can use a Kirky race seat and leave the oem passenger seat in place? Ya i know iam a little slow.

Re: New Rule Revision For Stock and S/S
 

Yes that is correct

Re: New Rule Revision For Stock and S/S
 

That means the Passenger Side Bucket has to be a real seat D

Re: New Rule Revision For Stock and S/S
 

I think 150+ MPH Copo's etc. should be in their own eliminator, instead of changing the rules for 16 second cars.

Re: New Rule Revision For Stock and S/S
 

Sooooooo, I can use aftermarket aluminum cylinder heads and intake manifolds on certain Stockers. I can use a cold air hood on certain Stockers even though it didn't come with one. I can use the wrong trim parts on certain, wrong year Stockers, in the wrong class, get it hit with HP and that's all OK. I CAN'T lighten the stock seat or mix and match stock seats but I CAN put light weight aftermarket seats in any Stockers. I think I've got it now.

Re: New Rule Revision For Stock and S/S
 

Hey, you forgot that you can run a 327 intake on your 283 stocker, AND if its a Nova you can run a deep sump oil pan....LOL

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Yeah, what he^^^^^^^^^^^^ said!

Re: New Rule Revision For Stock and S/S
 

As I was told, the rule was implemented because the creativity of some racers using a tall bucket seat for the driver and using a short seat on the passenger side to save weight.

Re: New Rule Revision For Stock and S/S
 

How much weight savings can you actually get by cutting off the head rest? I think lighter clothes would work just as well. I can't believe with all the other problems out there they would jump on this. Outcry from the fans must be unbearable. Is it high on the list or job justification.
Mike

Re: New Rule Revision For Stock and S/S
 

I'm thinking that cutting off the passenger headrest is more to get better rear vision than a weight factor. The interesting variation on this is you can use two low back seats and attach the headrest to the roll bar / cage, totally legal.

Re: New Rule Revision For Stock and S/S
 

Actually, I think what's going on here is that certain tech guys that really care about S/SS, see things, for instance at Indy, that are getting way out of control, even more so, if that's possible.
They do what they can, when they can, by reporting on it.
They don't have much input on the bogus parts and hp's that are accepted.
We know where that comes from.

Anyway, thank you for trying, if this is the case.

Re: New Rule Revision For Stock and S/S
 

I agree Mark, But while they are in Stock and I'm being caught at 150 mph, I'm seriously thinking of putting a 6 point in the Escort. Mainly because I'm not keen on the idea of picking a Bowtie or Blue Oval out of my ***. Ask Marty Buth about his experience, with a Cobra Jet crossing lanes.

Re: New Rule Revision For Stock and S/S
 

Agreed. I had an eye-opener running the Turismo at a bracket race a few years ago when a car going 140+ crossed into my lane past the finish line and tagged the wall. If he would've lost it at half track, he would've gone THROUGH me. I brought this up at a Div. 3 race a few years ago, and got blank stares.

Re: New Rule Revision For Stock and S/S
 

Rules allow you to put a roll bar in any stocker if you want to.

Re: New Rule Revision For Stock and S/S
 

If this is the case why doesn't it state that no holes ! I asked about this earlier this year and was told that they wanted the same seats i.e. two factory or two aftermarket not one of each

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When I first saw these cut down aftermarket seats in a "Stocker" (photo from indy 2017) I thought the owner was trying to emulate the look of the o.e.m. low back originals. No big deal.

I'll side with some others here. With all of the bogus crap that has become "Accepted", and "cut down aftermarket" or "mismatched driver - passenger seats" becomes worthy of a midseason "rule" change? Unbelievable.

Re: New Rule Revision For Stock and S/S
 

Never thought about the visibility part, but those "new fast cars" seem to be catching a car, not looking back. With the short seats, wouldn't they require headrests on both sides to look right?
Mike

Re: New Rule Revision For Stock and S/S
 

My personal opinion, after seeing the outcome of bruises and injuries on other racers that have experienced accidents, and taking in to account the current speeds, I will not go low cost, or use a fiberglass or metal seat with just a cover, or compromise because visibility on a racing seat.

In my new Comp car, I am using an FIA approved seat, with support and cushioning to protect my body in the event of an accident and also allows me the use of a HANS device.

Yes, they are expensive when compared to an aluminum Kirkey, nevertheless, I will never compromise my safety.

The two brands I recommend are Cobra and Racetech.

For the passenger seat, I purchased an Ebay, Chinese made, racing seat that looks identical to my FIA approved seat and it only cost me $75.00.

Below is the Cobra seat I am using and next is the Racetech seat used by many in their drag cars.

Re: New Rule Revision For Stock and S/S
 

I would like to know how after market seats got into stock in the first place? Just about any seat can be redone, so I don't see the reasoning. But the tooth paste is out of the tube now.
Here again, you pay your membership monies to NHRA for them to police and maintain a category. But NHRA just ignores what stock roots were and just plows along with decisions about (we don't want to check anything) rules that bastardizes the originality of stock.

Casey Miles
248H

Re: New Rule Revision For Stock and S/S
 

This stuff cracks me up! I stood on the starting line at Indy,. I observed multiple and I mean multiple, sub 10 second stockers running without the required safety equipment . No neck collars, no window nets, no gloves, open face helmets, and less than sfi/5 jackets and pants. This included factory shoot out cars,stockers,and AH Hemis. So now NHRA wants to worry about a passenger seat that nobody rides in ..... how about some competent tech persons / observers !

Re: New Rule Revision For Stock and S/S
 

Casey,
If you do a search, this subject has been discussed to death.'
My opinion, with the high speeds involved, an OEM seat is not as safe as a good racing seat as regards to protecting a driver.

Re: New Rule Revision For Stock and S/S
 

With all the bad mouthing of this new rule revision on this thread alone, can it be that there may be more modified/lightened/butchered aftermarket passenger seats out there than was originally thought? The tech guys must have been reporting enough to their bosses for this rule revision to happen.

Which leads to the next question - how many on here are upset because they've got to buy a new passenger seat? And with NHRA admitting they read this forum, could they be taking notes?

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What a frickin joke,,,,hmmmm, ported heads, **** that don't belong,on and on and on,,,,some kind of performance advantage I missed? I put in a cut down passenger seat when I realized the driver couldn't see out the pass side of car,,,, wait till you see how I fix it ???? WHATEVER

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The bogus lightened seats I used to do couldn't be caught,,, and worried about the less than quarter pound in weight from the cut down seat ? get real,,,, sadly no one at nhra has a CLUE,,,, about ANYTHING,,,, ha ha

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So I can replace my stock bench seat with 2 lightweight aftermarket seats as long as they match.... how does that work if the car doesn't require a roll bar. Seat belts.?

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I said it before, and if any of you stocker guys ever would have looked at some of the newer SS cars with the chopped down pass seats you would understand what's going on with this revision and embrace it, not bitch about it.

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At Indy I observed a class car with a 9.9something dial get stopped at the staring line during eliminations and the starter opened the door and asked where the drivers gloves were. The dial was immediately changed to 10.00 by the starter to the tower and the car allowed to run.

We are all big boys and girls. Shame on us for not complying with the rules.

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Well, Mr. carbuilder,
The way I see it is you just might have to talk your customers into building 68 Camaros from now on.
Put your headrests on the roll bars, and they're good to go.

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Whos bitchin,,,, not me,,,,, and what makes one think I don't build Camaros ???? Its just a seat, that NO ONE rides in,,, whats the big deal,,, who cares ???? seat or no seat,,,what difference does it make ???? Really ,,,,

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No seat is called bracket racing and you should know that.

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The rules have been clear since it's inception, but...when you get too creative, you will be caught.

Stock Eliminator

UPHOLSTERY
Must have full factory-type upholstery for year/model claimed,
including factory-type floor mats or carpet, door panels and headliner,
and front and rear seats. Interior gutting prohibited. Driver’s seat
tracks may be bolted down. Sun visors optional. Rear seat may be
removed when roll bar is installed; area must be carpeted or
upholstered equivalent to factory specifications (no bare paneling).
Full-size aftermarket or corporate OEM front seats permitted; must
be upholstered and supported. Driver and passenger-side seats
must be identical in appearance. See General Regulations 6:2.

Super Stock

UPHOLSTERY
Must have full factory-type upholstery, including factory-type floor
mats or carpet, door panels, and headliner, and front and rear
seats. Interior gutting prohibited. Driver’s seat tracks may be bolted
down. Sun visors optional. Rear seat may be removed when roll bar
or roll cage is installed; area must be carpeted or upholstered
equivalent to factory specifications (no bare paneling). Full-size
aftermarket or corporate OEM front seats permitted; must be
upholstered and supported. Driver and passenger-side seats
must be identical in appearance. See General Regulations 6:2.

Re: New Rule Revision For Stock and S/S
 

What good does it do to quote a book full of "rules" that change from division to division, official to official and day to day and is most likely to be interpreted by who gave who a little brown envelope or who bought who dinner last night?

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You saying the democrats are running nhra now Billy? LOL!!

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We're not allowed to get political. BUT, we are dealing with an organization that makes it's headquarters in southern California when it owns perfectly good property in Indiana.

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We're not allowed to get political. BUT, we are dealing with an organization that makes it's headquarters in southern California when it owns perfectly good property in Indiana.

Billy
The main reason for this is Indiana has chiggers. California does not.

Re: New Rule Revision For Stock and S/S
 

The less the Rules are adhered to, the less there is integrity in Stock/Superstock which most of the racers running the class enjoy about it. As for running stock style seats...I recently hit the wall @ 120MPH with stock style seats in my SST car, I will never sit in anything but aftermarket safety seats again.