Stockers Beware

[Bob Gullett]

At Indy last year a fellow had a borrowed car to run in stock. Can't remember his name but same deal. Had a fake battery up front. Pleaded his case but to no avail. Mine was checked. Plus in class before my run I was asked to open the trunk to see my fuel cell. It was check for temperature to make sure I'm guessing the fuel wasn't "artificially" cooled. Plus my spare tire was a four bolt spare saver wheel. I was told after it was checked first round that I could be tossed for it but they just said technically the tire has to fit the bolt pattern of the car and they would let me go this time. There's one in there now that will bolt on! Always something isn't there.

[SSDiv6]

Originally Posted by Bob Gullett

At Indy last year a fellow had a borrowed car to run in stock. Can't remember his name but same deal. Had a fake battery up front. Pleaded his case but to no avail. Mine was checked. Plus in class before my run I was asked to open the trunk to see my fuel cell. It was check for temperature to make sure I'm guessing the fuel wasn't "artificially" cooled. Plus my spare tire was a four bolt spare saver wheel. I was told after it was checked first round that I could be tossed for it but they just said technically the tire has to fit the bolt pattern of the car and they would let me go this time. There's one in there now that will bolt on! Always something isn't there.

...not only the bolt pattern, but you must also be able to pick up the tire too.
I know of racers that were told to pick up the spare and they couldn't...it appears the tire had been filled with either cement or lots of lead!

[Charley Downing]

That's interesting I know NHRA tech found one this past weekend in a Stocker at the Norwalk pts race and he was aloud to fix it and go through tech again. I guess different rules for different divisions.

[Tom Joseph]

Originally Posted by Charley Downing

That's interesting I know NHRA tech found one this past weekend in a Stocker at the Norwalk pts race and he was aloud to fix it and go through tech again. I guess different rules for different divisions.

I just went thru all the bulletins and found the one from indy and two more but that was before I had this car and never looked at stock any thing. The rule says" at the minimum dq" so the guy in Norwalk had a nice tech that was not looking to be a hard ***. QUESTION.... a spare tire is optional isn't it?

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by Tom Joseph

. QUESTION.... a spare tire is optional isn't it?

Yes it is,Tom..but seeing it comes with the car, it doesn't count as part of your 100 lb. removable ballast.
Therefore (obviously) it would have to fit the car in question.
Been that way for at least a half of century ,that I can remember (gulp)

[Tom Joseph]

Originally Posted by Mark Yacavone

Yes it is,Tom..but seeing it comes with the car, it doesn't count as part of your 100 lb. removable ballast.
Therefore (obviously) it would have to fit the car in question.
Been that way for at least a half of century ,that I can remember (gulp)

Thanks that's what I thought and don't need the weight. Just waiting to hear back from NHRA Tech as to the size minimum for these batteries. I have no clue and if anyone knows please chime in.

[Chris1529]

Some stockers run north of 150 mph now and NHRA is still worried about 45 year old cars that have a fake battery in the front.

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by Tom Joseph

Thanks that's what I thought and don't need the weight. Just waiting to hear back from NHRA Tech as to the size minimum for these batteries. I have no clue and if anyone knows please chime in.

There's no minimum on the front batteries. It's just that a rear battery can't be any bigger.
It's supposed to be for the electric water pump and fan, but they know guys are gonna parallel them together to start the car off them too.
Years ago, we used lawn tractor batteries that would start a SBC just fine, but now with the MSDs and electric cooling devices, they're not gonna cut it.

[HR9121]

Originally Posted by Charley Downing

That's interesting I know NHRA tech found one this past weekend in a Stocker at the Norwalk pts race and he was aloud to fix it and go through tech again. I guess different rules for different divisions.

Kinda of like someone drops bag of ice on the track at Vegas, more like different rules for different people.

[Mike Pearson]

Originally Posted by Charley Downing

That's interesting I know NHRA tech found one this past weekend in a Stocker at the Norwalk pts race and he was aloud to fix it and go through tech again. I guess different rules for different divisions.

Typically if something is found in the initial tech inspection you are allowed to make repairs and go back through tech once you fix the problem. Before you pass tech you are not actually a participant in the event. It has been done this way for years. Now if they caught that infraction after tech and qualifying that's a different story then you get DQ'd. I think Tom was done wrong on this one