And you thought air/ electrical shifters in stockers was ?..

[Ty Kwaiser]

xix HOW TO USE THIS RULEBOOK The NHRA Rulebook provides guidelines and minimum standards for the construction and operation of vehicles used in NHRA Championship Drag Racing and at member-track events. It is the responsibility of the participant to be familiar with the contents of this Rulebook and to comply with its requirements. Do not leave it up to track officials to catch all potential rule compliance problems. That responsibility rests first and foremost with YOU ? the participant. Additional safety equipment or safety-enhancing equipment is always permitted and the levels of safety equipment stated in this Rulebook are minimum prescribed levels for a particular type of competition and do not prohibit the individual racer from using additional safety equipment. Participants are encouraged to investigate the utility of additional safety devices for your type of competition. In disputed cases, whether an item of equipment is safety enhancing or performance-enhancing will be determined by NHRA in NHRA?s sole and absolute discretion. All safety equipment must be operational if installed regardless of if the equipment is part of or in addition to the minimum required safety equipment per category. On the other hand, as to performance equipment, it is the general rule that unless optional performance equipment or performance-related modification is specifically permitted by this Rulebook, it is prohibited.

I believe the last sentence of this paragraph copied from the rulebook is in agreement with Mr. Derby City's assertion and opinion, and many of the rest of us that a "finish-line stripe taker" in stock or superstock is not in accordance with the rules.

[Jim Caughlin]

A few years backs, I had an idea about a clutch release device that I wanted to try, I decided it would be best to run it by Jerry Valentine before I built it, he pretty much cut me off half way through my explanation of what I wanted to do and vetoed my plan. His comment was "Just because the rule book doesn't say you can't do doesn't mean that you can".

Jim Caughlin
SS6019