NHRA amended rollbar / cage rule
 

Has anyone else read about this yet ? A local track posted this

After years of urging by many small race tracks including ours, NHRA will change some major safety rules to keep in stride with todays modern day muscle car. The current rule calls for a roll bar in any car going 13.99 or quicker, as of next year that will be changed and changed in a big way.
"Recognizing the safety-inspired design and construction of today’s late model vehicles, the NHRA has actually rescinded its previous guidelines for street vehicles running 9.99 to 11.49 that required the use of a roll cage or roll bar, now permitting unaltered, 2008 and later model hard top vehicles to compete as they come from the factory without the addition of said roll bar/cage. The amendment, as its phrased in the NHRA’s 2012 to 2013 amendment document".
These racers who previously had to slow their vehicles down or not show up at a track at all are now able to compete without the modifying their expensive factory cars, and regardless of who this new rule applies to and who it doesn’t, it certainly opens some racers up to visit a race track again. This does not apply to convertibles and cars that are older than 2008, please keep that in mind, but does affect many of the street cars that compete

Re: NHRA amended rollbar / cage rule
 

You did NOT need a roll bar in a hard top auto unless you went 11.49 and quicker. Rag tops needed a roll bar at 13.49 and quicker. This has been the rule for a long time. At least 9 or 10 years. A certified cage is not needed unless you went faster than 10.00. Some cars were required roll bars and cages if the floor and firewall was modified or replaced with alum.

Re: NHRA amended rollbar / cage rule
 

So someone can show up with any 2008 and up Mustang/Challenger/ Camaro and go 9.99 with no bar ?

Re: NHRA amended rollbar / cage rule
 

No, but they can go 10.000

Re: NHRA amended rollbar / cage rule
 

^^ that is the way I read it.

It used to be 2008 and newer (unaltrered) vehicles did not need a roll bar if running 10.00-11.49 at a "Street Legal" NHRA event.
It appears that that new amendment applies to any NHRA track bracket race or TnT program.

The new amendment just deleted the word "unaltered" from the 2008 and newer vehicle line.

Note the line about tires...must be DOT labeled tires

https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...a6&oe=5C61DBCE

Re: NHRA amended rollbar / cage rule
 

Another enhancement by the NPTTOEAMHRA (National Pandering To The Original Equipment Automobile Manufacturers Hot Rod Association).


Coming soon for any 2008 and newer car: 1) Competing with the wheel covers on (because wheel covers stay on much better than they used to); 2) Competing with the windows down (because new cars never roll over; if they did, they'd need a roll bar); 3) Competing with your wife and kids in the car (because new cars are completely safe and the wife wants to see what the big deal is); 3) Letting your dog drive (because animals deserve a shot at the American Dream); 4) Burnouts across the starting line (because it's elitist and non-inclusive to only let the big shots do it); 5) Crew members holding the car during the burnout (because everyone should have a chance to be involved and get a participation trophy); 6) Nitrous Oxide bottles, secured with zip ties (because the only way to stop cheating is to sanction it, AND, zip ties so the bottle can be removed, at the end of the race; 7) Delay boxes (because it will make for "a better racing experience"; 8) Engine displacement whatever the owner/driver claims (because Tech is a hassle).

Re: NHRA amended rollbar / cage rule
 

Who in their right mind would want to go that quick without a roll bar or cage ? Not me that's for sure.

Re: NHRA amended rollbar / cage rule
 

been like that here in Australia for the last 3-4 years . No safety clothing required either , no sfi jacket / pants etc .
A number now racing , as fast as 140MPH+ with power adders . Most run our Super Street , 10.00 - 12.99 . Stupid thing is parachute @ 140

With pre 2008 at least with ANDRA under 11.00 requires at least a rollbar and tech + sfi clothing . Under IHRA no bar till 10.49 safety clothing ?

Tex

Re: NHRA amended rollbar / cage rule
 

NHRA "Dedicated to $afety."

Re: NHRA amended rollbar / cage rule
 

LOL.....# 8 Sounds like NHRA tech these days.

Re: NHRA amended rollbar / cage rule
 

This rule has been in place for some time...


At our track if you so much as have drag radials or even a cold air intake you then "modified" and need a rollbar.



There are very, very few cars that can go under 11.49 "BONE STOCK".

Re: NHRA amended rollbar / cage rule
 

I like 5,6,and 8

Re: NHRA amended rollbar / cage rule
 

Is that why Hagan & Pritchard ran no time in their Dodges at the last race? NHRA bending the rules!

Re: NHRA amended rollbar / cage rule
 

Meanwhile, 12.85 Stockers need a 6 pt bar, approved jacket and pants.
Thanks a lot ,NHRA

Re: NHRA amended rollbar / cage rule
 

Mark, and don`t forget the 5 point safety harness, replaced every 2 years.

Re: NHRA amended rollbar / cage rule
 

^^ yes on both

Re: NHRA amended rollbar / cage rule
 

I did forget to mention that separately, as part of the roll bar deal.
The two year belt deal is another NHRA absurdity.

Re: NHRA amended rollbar / cage rule
 

There is a local racer here who had a Hellcat, and now has a Demon. She is allowed to change tires but nothing else, or else the car needs to comply with all the standard safety regulations.

The quickest ET I personally witnessed out of each car was 11.14 and 10.80, respectively.

Re: NHRA amended rollbar / cage rule
 

What makes a 2008 and newer car so much safer than a 2007 and earlier car? Fast cars from the factory are something NHRA didn't foresee.

Re: NHRA amended rollbar / cage rule
 

Good question.

What makes an 11.50 bracket car safer than a 12.85 Stock Eliminator car?

Re: NHRA amended rollbar / cage rule
 

I agree. Probably incompetence on NHRA's part.
I'm sure the bottom line is a matter of following the money trail.
My 87 Mustang street car needs a roll bar if the air is good. (11.40's) I don't want the seat belt hassle, so no roll bar, and I only go when the air is bad. I have no problem with a roll bar and race belts, but just let me use them (race belts) for more than 2 years! I hardly ever run it.
But, I digress. I can't help myself when I see these roll bar threads.

Re: NHRA amended rollbar / cage rule
 

Why not just slow your car down a tenth or so instead of just racing in bad air ? Carry an extra 100 lbs in the trunk, short shift it, install a throttle limiter like when S/G came into nhra's program back in the stone age ?

Re: NHRA amended rollbar / cage rule
 

Why won't the NHRA rewrite the rule so they're not legally responsible for the seat belt like NASCAR?

Re: NHRA amended rollbar / cage rule
 

Exactly! What I do with my street/strip car is disconnect the back carb barrels. slows it about 1/2 sec. or i carry weight, and can also adjust timing, easy peasy! Some use one of the mechanical stops. whatever gets the job done. like many, I just don't want to put a roll bar in a pristine 67 dodge coronet that is still occasionally driven on the street

Re: NHRA amended rollbar / cage rule
 

NHRA: "We REALLY don't mind if you get injured." ...............or worse.

Re: NHRA amended rollbar / cage rule
 

I'm guessing you're saying that with tongue in cheek, but I'll address it anyway.
I have a few more things I'd like to do to the car. It's a toy, and I like getting what I can out of it. It'll probably go low 11's with what I want to do. I've always understood that there has to be a line (et) somewhere where a roll bar is required, and I'll eventually do the roll bar. But now, because a car is quick from the factory, it's safer than mine?

Re: NHRA amended rollbar / cage rule
 

It does not matter to me if something goes wrong and a tire blows, or the engine oils down the tires and it goes on its roof. Hang on to the steering wheel ! As far as any of this new junk being safer..........NOPE. Not a bit when you hit the wall at around 100 MPH plus.

Re: NHRA amended rollbar / cage rule
 

Drive a U/sa and all you need is a helmet.

Re: NHRA amended rollbar / cage rule
 

Yep.
When I ran 11.80's in N/SA 4 years ago a helmet was all that I needed and my 28 year old seat belts

Re: NHRA amended rollbar / cage rule
 

A roll "bar" is nothing more than a suppliant to the car, whitch the car is considered a cage of sorts. If being highly safe, a funny car roll cage is your only option, the rest is a money grab, pure and simple.
Fighter jets go longer than two years on belts, mostly after 6-10 gs I think.
The dumbest, blow shield re-inspection, 1/4 inch steel goes bad I guess.

Re: NHRA amended rollbar / cage rule
 

A lot of us have gone faster than that without a roll cage, a roll bar, racing harness, seatbelt...or even a car, for that matter. Just a millimeter or so of dead cow. ;)

Re: NHRA amended rollbar / cage rule
 

In the lower class Stockers you can run a 50 year old set of seat belts, but you can not run a set of aftermarket seat belts that are outdated by one day.Go figure.

Re: NHRA amended rollbar / cage rule
 

Lyn, you can here in Div.1. A couple of us asked if we could use an out-of-date lap belt instead of a "50 year old set of seat belts" and we were told we could.

Re: NHRA amended rollbar / cage rule
 

I had a conversation earlier this year with our div tech director at the Seattle div race, he said that you can run out of date seat belts in any application where a roll bar//cage is not required. In this particular case, the racer had installed a roll bar in a lower classed stocker that did not require the bar. In that case, he does not need to comply with the harness date issue. As I said this came directly from our div tech director.

Jim Caughlin
SS 6019

Re: NHRA amended rollbar / cage rule
 

I'm sure nobody here is going to agree with me but, a car with anti-lock brakes, 12" wide tires, massive sway bars and 10 air bags is actually safer than a 1960's muscle car. I'm sorry guys. There is a reason why I don't let my granddaughters drive old cars.

Re: NHRA amended rollbar / cage rule
 

They are MUCH safer, and it's a lot more than just big tires and big sway bars. The vehicle structures themselves are much better designed:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtxd27jlZ_g

Re: NHRA amended rollbar / cage rule
 

And made out of recycled tooth paste tubes !

Re: NHRA amended rollbar / cage rule
 

Google the recent Challenger wreck in Dade County Florida, then tell me how safe the new cars are. Up to say 50 mph, ok, but over that, no difference. Just depends on what you hit.

Re: NHRA amended rollbar / cage rule
 

Certainly 50 years of development has contributed to safer modern cars, but that crash test with the 59 Chevy was about as lopsided as it could possibly be, in favor of the newer car. The 58 thru 64 full sized Chevrolets used the "wasp waist" X frame design, which has no frame rails along the outer body, only sheet metal from the rocker panels inward, to the transmission tunnel. So virtually no structure from the firewall to the rear axle on the sides. Then add 50 years of service, possibly in salt belt regions, who is to say how solid that poor 59 Chevy under the paint.
By comparison, my 59 Ford 2 door sedan has a steel boxed frame that runs along both rocker panels from firewall to rear leaf spring mounts, with 5 crossmembers connecting the left and right sides together. I am pretty sure it would not have folded up nearly as badly as the Chevy did.
Certainly the steel dashboard, 4 foot long steering shaft, lack of in door gaurd beams and many other things would make my 59 a less than pleasant place to be in a collision, than a modern car. Funny thing is, I coud sit on the fenders of my 59 without any body damage, yet my 2010 Ranger has dents in the hood from a few pine cones falling on it!