NHRA Tether Rule Update

[SSDiv6]

http://www.nhraracer.com/content/gen...756&zoneid=132

[Ed Wright]

Looks good to me. I'll fire up the TIG welder.

[63corvette]

I think I may have struck a nerve earlier this week by submitting a design and stating I had no interest of producing them.
I do not like the two current designs so I came up with my own and submitted it to Glendora and my Division Tech director.
Seems a little strange we get a new revised rule in the same week as my submission.
My neighbor has a Ornamental Iron works so he may want to start producing the tethers as they are cheap to build and looks like with current pricing of the approved ones there is a good amount of profit to be made.
I built mine in less than an hour for under $30.
Below are pictures of the tethers and part of what I sent to NHRA.
Just My 2 Cents
Rick Cates

The design is just a one piece 3/16" stainless steel rod with eyes forged on each end to length for my Davis C-5 Corvette roadster headers which the pictures are of.
The loops are large enough to fit over the 3/4" wide stainless steel T bolt clamps studs with enough room for expansion of the headers as they heat up. Shown in pictures.
The clamps have a stainless steel aircraft grade nut to hold them under high temperature and vibration. I had to order those so the pictures are of a nylox nut which will be replaced once the aircraft lock nuts come in.
The only attachment points for possible failure are those 1/4" fine thread T bolts and aircraft nuts on the clamps.
This design is much simpler with less connection points than what is currently approved and I would like to have approval for my design for my use.

[Charlene Gullett]

Hmm, it appears that some believe we are not all smart enough to figure out how to secure our collectors without an "approved device" This device also took less than an hour to manufacture and is less than $20. This was our solution. This is not one made with those expensive swageless eye aircraft fittings, but this wire rope thimble and ferrule have been an industry standard for years. It should prevent a 2lb collector from flying into my opponents lane.

[tpoh815]

"The NHRA Technical Department will not accept Tethering System requests from individual racers, as this will inundate our resources and create an impossible situation to regulate in the field. Therefore, material sent from individual racers will not be reviewed for acceptance. Only legitimate manufacturers planning to market a tethering system should submit a request". This means if you do not kick in or contribute to the NHRA in any way , Don't bother!

[SSGT Mustang]

Maybe this question has been asked before since it's so incredibly obvious, but why don't they just print the requirements for what would be considered a legal tether and be done with it?

Not a requirement that you have to use one manufactured by a vendor, but something similar to any other general requirement, such as....what would be considered a legal roll bar/cage? You make the tether according to the requirements, or you don't pass tech. Simple as that.

An SFI approved tether? That's just insane.

[63corvette]

Originally Posted by SSGT Mustang

Maybe this question has been asked before since it's so incredibly obvious, but why don't they just print the requirements for what would be considered a legal tether and be done with it?

Not a requirement that you have to use one manufactured by a vendor, but something similar to any other general requirement, such as....what would be considered a legal roll bar/cage? You make the tether according to the requirements, or you don't pass tech. Simple as that.

An SFI approved tether? That's just insane.

I agree.
We can fabricate/build our own cages etc. but we are not skilled enough to build a header tether?
I have mine installed right now and plan on having the tech personnel look at them at the next two Division races and two National events before the end of the race season.
I do not really want to but I will add the 1/2 inch welds on each tube before I purchase a set of Approved tethers as set forth in the rules. I feel the 1/2 inch welds will crack with expansion and contraction during the heat/cool process but that is what NHRA wants I will do just that and leave my tethers in place.
From what I have heard and read from other racers this is a major issue with the way NHRA has handled it. I just do not understand why NHRA wants to run their racers off over such a silly new and my way or the highway rule.
Just My 2 Cents
Rick Cates

By the way my compete tether system was fabricated for less than $30 for both sides.

[treessavoy]

All this Bull S**t over a non-problem, incredible!

JimR

[Dinsdale]

Originally Posted by treessavoy

all this bull s**t over a non-problem, incredible!

Jimr

exactly...............

[David Lee]

just another way fo for the NHRA to extort money from manufacturers and racers,