Dixon Suspension
 

I'm Surprised no one has started this thread already?

So I guess I'm willing to stir the pot. My Honest opinion is NHRA has gotten a little power drunk when they suspend indefinitely a 3 time world Champion over an expired sticker.

Essentially that's what it boils down to. The car was Modified by a well respected chassis builder, is an exhibition vehicle now, and has never run at an NHRA Sanctioned event. They could and should have asked him to remove the sticker. That way no one would assume it was an accepted chassis. It's not like he was using a forged sticker it was just outdated. A slap on the wrist should have been enough.

Re: Dixon Suspension
 

Dixon and the chassis guy both made a bad decision, leaving the sticker on the chassis. Expect an appeal, fine and slap on the wrist.

Re: Dixon Suspension
 

Dixon shoulda known better. I've seen burnout pics at a track. Unknown which one, but if you've ever dealt with your local building/zoning dept. you know they don't like to be shown up (with all their "power"). Insert parallel.

Re: Dixon Suspension
 

Such a CROC of **** .....outdated sticker, never presented at a track for competition !
NHRA has gone overboard on this deal ....with TRAXXAS as a sponsor....

Re: Dixon Suspension
 

It's a TWO year expired sticker. If you went to a car show with an expired sticker do you think anyone would squawk? Or care? Much less make a scene, remove an expired sticker, and suspend you? NHRA, from all accounts, was fully informed in the whole process (idea and build) but got their nose bent the wrong way at SEMA and reacted like a spoiled rich kid. Let's see how TRAXXAS responds to that. I've got the popcorn. :eek:

Re: Dixon Suspension
 

Unless I read this wrong, Dixon and McKinney took a certified top fuel dragster, cut it up, welding in a section and a second seat, put it all together, and either reapplied or left the old Top Fuel certification sticker on the car....then took it to SEMA and showed it off as a certified 2-seat dragster. If that's not enough, McKinney did this as he sits on the SFI chassis committee. Is any of that incorrect?

Re: Dixon Suspension
 

It was displayed with an out dated chassis sticker. That's not showing it off as a certified dragster. An indefinite suspension is ludicrous.

The Chassis sticker on my car is expired at the moment. I guess I had better not let anyone see it.

Re: Dixon Suspension
 

I also read someplace that he tested at an IHRA track in Florida and at Edgewater, an NHRA track outside Cincinnati. But yes, he'll probably appeal and get a small slap on the wrist.

Re: Dixon Suspension
 

You better hope that NHRA doesn't read this site. Admitting you have a out of date sticker on the car is probably going to get you a nice leave and fine. I would suggest every one with a cert that is out of date rush to their car and get it off. You never know when the man is looking.

Re: Dixon Suspension
 

Years ago at Virginia I removed my outdated tag in the pits and drove to the spot to get certified. The NHRA official says " first time gettin a cert " and I say no 3rd time. He says " where is your tag ? " So I tell him I just took it off 5 mins ago. He says " why did you do that? " I tell him that it was outdated and I was trying to save him some time and I wanted to clean off the glue/stick. He says " You should have not done that because we like to see that your chassis has been previously approved and we like to remove the sticker so there is no chance it could be placed on another car." I swear I was there for over 45 mins.

Re: Dixon Suspension
 

Yep, when my chassis is recertified, the inspector always removes the sticker and puts it in his little book.

Re: Dixon Suspension
 

Same as my experience and as it should be to eliminate out of date stickers being applied to another car, which an unscrupulous seller could then advertise as "certified, just needs re-certification" Suspect that in Dixon's case the tag was removed when they did the modification and then reapplied. Seems like just a silly oversight in which case NHRA over-reacted, which makes me wonder if there's not some animosity between Dixon and NHRA. In any case the car had never been submitted for tech at a NHRA event. What's next? NHRA start giving suspensions ala NFL for violating some 'personal conduct policy'?

Re: Dixon Suspension
 

Ever try to remove and reapply an SFI sticker? Good luck. When you remove them, it shows "void" in the remains. Anything is possible, but I would be hard pressed to believe Dixon R&R'd an expired sticker, for any reason. I'd have to think it just wasn't removed when the mods to the chassis were done.

Re: Dixon Suspension
 

A slight touch off topic, however I was at a race a few years ago and a racer crashed hard into the wall. When his car was returned, to his pit area, a track official immediately came over and removed his cert. sticker. Is that a normal procedure ? Should add the cars front end was bent up pretty bad.

Re: Dixon Suspension
 

Watch the video, He made test passes WITH a passenger

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VM4_lqKr4K8

This is more than an expired sticker on a show car. This is a Top Fuel car with a passenger. Anyone can point me to the SFI spec for that?

Maybe if there was no video of the car making passes I could see this being excessive, but he made test passes with a passenger and ran it at a NHRA and IHRA track.

I surely hope NHRA doesn't jump on this bandwagon. National events are enough of a circuis already. I wanted to puke at the 2 seat S/C giving passengers an "experience". at the summernats a few years back. This is even worse.....

Re: Dixon Suspension
 

A chassis certification is only concerned with the cockpit, I doubt the number of cockpits makes any difference to the SFI spec. If both meet spec I don't see the issue. NHRA or IHRA has never been concerned with what was ahead of my feet or behind my head when certifying our chassis.

The entire video is shot at Palm Beach which is an IHRA track. What happens at an IHRA track is none of NHRA's business. It made test passes at an NHRA track that is true.

You don't see an indefinite ban being excessive? Banned for life for doing something different at another sanctioning bodies track?

In the interview with Larry, NHRA was fully aware of what he was doing, and was excited about the idea. I'm wondering if it had something to due with the Traxxas on the side of the car.

Re: Dixon Suspension
 

Steve, how the driver cockpit ties into the passenger cockpit is definitely not standard construction. I would seriosly think it needed to be reviewed and approved by SFI and a cert issued. Dixon knew this as he had computer modeling done prior to any modifications. Also the wheelbase is obviously stretched beyond 300" as it was originally Bob Vandergriffs old Hadman car, modified by McKinney, not all brand new pipe.

As far as his lifetime suspension, I don't believe that will be upheld. Kiss and make up and swept under the rug. NHRA will want a piece of this $$$

Maybe NHRA saw the video of Larry making passes with a passenger at an IHRA track, also he was scolded by NHRA earlier this year for promoting an IHRA race on the side of his dragster, and lastly, now he has Traxxas plastered on the side of this car... $$$. Is Larry friends with Mike Dunn??? NHRA Brass worried Larry will take Traxxas and his circuis act to the other circuis?? Don't know and don't care. I go to the races to race, not put the show on

Re: Dixon Suspension
 

Surprised this thread hasn't been moved to The Lounge

Re: Dixon Suspension
 

Somewhere in one of the interviews or stories, I believe it was stated that, at this time, LD's insurance company mandated the car not go further than 330' under power with a rider in it. I suppose if someone wants to pony up 10K for a 2.3 second ride, Larry would be happy to take his money. No reason he can't run it. He just can't show up at an NHRA facility.

Re: Dixon Suspension
 

The 330' thing came from the link that was posted on another site for a totally different two-seat Top Fuel thrill ride in New Zealand...

Re: Dixon Suspension
 

NHRA = Never Help Racers Anytime

Re: Dixon Suspension
 

Gents I realize some of you would always like any opportunity to bash NHRA, but I do see their position on this.

You have to remember the chassis cert sticker is a formal, certified document which indicates the component has met proper standards of manufacture. Their cert program is likely underwritten by an insurer and there are very strict rules regarding this. They could lose their entire certification program and/or policy coverage for something like this.

Let me give you an example. Boiler or pressure vessel certifications. Very serious business. Imagine someone doing substantial modifications to a boiler and leaving the current boiler inspection certificate in place. What do you think ASME, the Dept of Labor and Industry, and Hartford Steam Boiler Ins. co would think about that?

Another example: The elevator certification document you see in posted an elevator cab. Imagine modifying the elevator, and just leaving the current certificate posted. Regardless of how well the modification was done, that certificate is no longer valid and is fraudulent by being in place. Not to mention the grief the inspector who's name is on that cert would have to go through until it was determined the mods were done after he inspected it, not before.

I know you think "its just a sticker" but what it legally represents is the issue.

Re: Dixon Suspension
 

Yes

Re: Dixon Suspension
 

You have to keep in mind that this was a 2 year EXPIRED sticker. If any of your examples displayed an expired certification, they are still NOT valid, just as Dixon's was not valid, it was just not removed. You don't remove your SFI sticker as soon as it's expired, do you? None of us do, it just causes grief with the inspector. What his intent may have been, we don't know.:rolleyes:

Re: Dixon Suspension
 

Ya know, you bring up a good point. He was suspended for NOT removing an expired sticker and yet he would be in trouble if he removed the same sticker!?! I'd love to see the NHRA's legal teams explanation for this.

Re: Dixon Suspension
 

Discounting the runs at an IHRA track, what ET and MPH did he run at the NHRA track?

The NHRA rule book back in the general regulations section 20 on page 46 there is a paragraph covering this situation.

<10.9 OCCUPANTS No more than one person is permitted in any car during a run, except one co-driver permitted in 14 seconds (8.60 1/8 mile) and slower ET cars....>

BTW, if he wants to call his two passenger dragster an ET car, then he has to stop using nitromethane for fuel as that is not permitted in the ET category.

Maybe it could be called an Exhibition Vehicle. That is covered in section 19 of the rule book where it says.... "As not all concepts are accepted, proposals and inquires should be forwarded to the NHRA Technical Services Department before beginning construction." That statement says the Tech Dept has to okay the build, not higher up bigwigs who think it is a good PR project.

Looks like Dixon broke the rule at an NHRA track. Will the rule get changed to allow passengers in a Top Fuel type car? Who knows?

Re: Dixon Suspension
 

Bottom line !! NHRA is a bunch of vindictive F##@s !!! Dixon got hosed !! And all their formalities why he got boned is just lip service . Like they care about tech and how legal your car is as they streamline tech into checking if your car has 4 wheels and a drivers seat !! give me a break !!