Changes 2016

[Michael Beard]

Originally Posted by Bryan Worner

Now, since a GT/HA car went under 10.00 at Indy, that class should need a license and full cage also.

GT/HA rules have not been changed for 2106. Rules are being fabricated arbitrarily.

I understand your argument, but based on performance of your combo in SS and or SS/GT, not surprised at all.

Would you like to explain why a DragPak Challenger body powered by a 318 running in FGT/J running 10.60's has to have a full roll cage, -5 suit, Competition License, etc?

And, lets be honest, the old indexes that these new factory combos fell under were kinda soft.

Absolutely. Well, really the problem isn't with indexes so much as the artificially soft HP factors. That is irrelevant to any issue I have brought up, which centers on equal application of the rules.


Helmet rules are based on ET. 10.00 & slower: open faced, 9.99 & quicker: full face. There is zero logical reason why all safety rules are not predicated on ET, MPH, and chassis construction.

Class designation decals do not provide any level of protection. It does not matter if the same car, with the same chassis, running the same ET & MPH, is bracket racing, running GT/HA, or running FGT/H, the car is either safe under certain safety specs, or it is not.

If nothing else, you would think that the insurance liability loophole created by arbitrary, inconsistent rules would concern them.

[Sean Cour]

What was I thinking???

[redcamel]

What he said X 10!! Have seen drivers using open face helmets only because their cars don't go below 9.99......the rule is for all!!
my three cents!

[Ed Wright]

^^^^^^ Makes sense.

[Brett C]

Well said Mr Cour.

[Billy Pires]

Yes, parachutes on those SS/PA cars. Because they are simply unsafe without it.

[Mike Pearson]

Personally I think the 10.00 rule for the helmets is OK. My car is right on the cusp of that performance. I wear my open helmet above 10.0 and a full helmet when my car is running faster than that. I do not like the restricted vision of the full helmet and it makes my glasses fog up and that in itself is a safety hazard.Its a rare occasion that two cars collide in our type of racing. I would agree with the fire resistant clothing to be all the same as well as the cage. There are some stockers running with out any sort of roll bar or safety harness and just using the factory seat belts. I would think this would be a higher priority.

[Stewart Way]

Michael
One reason NHRA does the safety requirements by class is that in tech, how does a tech man know how fast a car will go? Ask the Racer? Ha. One SS/I goes 10.90 while another can go 9.90. If the tech man asks both racers, who knows what the answer will be. Happens all the time in brackets. Someone comes thru tech and when asked he says 10.50 because he has no cage or -5 suit and the car runs 9.50 or faster. Car will likely make it all the way thru time trials and not be caught. Only when an ET is on the window can someone maybe see the car is not running the required equipment.
Most S and SS classes have a range of 1+ seconds from slowest to fastest. If 9.99 falls in that range, I think NHRA finds it easier and safer to require the car to have the equipment for the faster of the range for the above reason.
Arbitrary? Maybe. But maybe there is a reason.

[Myron Piatek]

Originally Posted by Sean Cour

I personally think anyone running super stock, should be outfitted with all the same safety equipment as a SS/AM car. The reason why is ......we run these fast cars in elims, and if one gets out of shape and comes across the track and hits us at the finish line, we all will wish we had the same safety apparel as they have. It's a safety concern, no matter what class, slow, or fast you run. If you can't afford it, you shouldn't be racing. My 2 cents.

That's a good and logical point that has been brought up before. But to put things into perspective, the disparity is even greater in Stock, especially since the factory race cars were introduced. Some are in the high 8's and have the opportunity to race against Stockers in the mid-teens.


Full cages, full face helmets and SFI 5 suits would be prudent in slow stockers because of this, but it isn't beneficial to the health of our sport. No easy solutions or suggestions that I can see, at least not without more controversy.

[Adger Smith]

Originally Posted by Dan Walcott

I sent Bruce an E-Mail a few days ago concerning Stock . EFI vs Carbs


Put your key boards to work!! Now is the time.

You might want to also send info to Dave Lay. I've been told Bruce is not as involved, age has caught up with him and he wants time to be retired.