NHRA Tether Rule Update

[gsa612]

Originally Posted by Crew Chief

I hear this mandate came down from NHRA's legal department after an incident where someone was hit by a collector that came off in the water box. If that's the case, they would want legitimate companies making the tethers because liability would then fall back on the manufacturer in a lawsuit.

In this incident how was the collector secured?, did it have mounting tabs, were the bolts and lock nuts there?.Were they stainless with the spring mounting deal?. I cannot see how the collector can come off, if you have 2 tabs welded on 2 pri. pipes and 2 on the collector secured with 1/4 bolts and steel lock nuts.Unless the pri. pipes or collector are so badly rusted and blow through.In that case the pri. pipe can blow before the pri. clamp on the tether rendering it useless.This deal is an insult to a racers intelligence by NHRA!.

[Jody Lang]

Rust, loose bolts, no bolts it doesn't much matter. Fact is that exhaust pieces have fallen off during burnouts and down track.

In one case it was during the burnout and the piece came back and broke a leg.

One question I have is... Why SFI on collector tether, but no SFI requirement for ladder bar tether???

We should be able to piece together our own system.

[Richard Grant]

This problem seems to have a much simpler solution than spending $200 for a special NHRA approved tether when a proper inspection of the use of tabs and lock nuts would accomplish the same result.

[Charlene Gullett]

Isn't that why we sign that 1000 word waiver? Anything can come flying at you if you are standing on the starting line.
A couple of years ago I had a connecting rod cap shoot out from under a stocker and whack my in the leg-no broken bones, just a nasty bruise. This spring in Vegas an open rear wheel roadster came out of the burnout box ( I was in front of this car) and a rock shot overtop of the rear wheel towards the starting line and hit me square in the center of the forehead. That was an attention getter. You cannot tether everything on these cars. I believe if you are standing on the starting line you better pay attention-this is a high risk area. if you stand there with the deer in the headlights look, you may get injured.

[Rob Petrie E395]

Quote of the night from last night at the track. Right after a car threw something out during what looked to be a engine failure. Guy was standing next to me and with a straight face turns and says. "Oh F_ _ _! now they are going to want connecting rod and engine block tethers on too" LOL

[SSDiv6]

Just to clarify, it is not a SFI requirement or specification.
It is a NHRA rule change and the product must be approved by them.
Yes, there are various lawsuits against NHRA due to collector injuries.
Although racers and crew members sign a release, they can still hire an attorney and sue NHRA trying to seek compensation.

[chevy620]

That never ends. Anything and everything can and probably will fall off a car.
All they need to do is "create a spec" for the collector tether system". Like a roll bar... build it to this "spec" and you are good to go.

NHRA is always looking for a way out of a lawsuit, I have been through injury lawsuits with their insurance carrier (I was the track owner at the time). Each time it came down to a "summary judgment", they settled before the court date. The insurance carrier and the NHRA cannot afford to find out the Release and Waiver are worthless and set a precedent.

"NHRA-approved" helps them in negotiations but I would be inclined to believe the manufacturers of NHRA-approved items that involve safety are Corporations with limited assets using some legal corporate cover. If they wanted to truly protect the NHRA and tracks they would REQUIRE a multi-Million Dollar liability insurance policy to go along with the NHRA-approved sticker.

If it something else that comes off...think of the possibilities.. and there is NOT a tether...then what? Was NHRA negligent? I think NHRA has started to dig a very deep hole on this that will spiral downward in a hurry.

Just create a "reasonable spec" for the tethers and let the NHRA members and racers create accordingly. What if you have the approved tether and let the cables hang loose? What good was it, really?

C'mon NHRA, some of your guys read this site...fix this before you alienate even MORE sportsman racers!!

Jok

[Randall Klein]

My partner got hit by a rock just below the temple at Bandimere, shot out from burnout while watching from fenced area by tower. Ya can't legislate all possible problems, there are dangerous areas, usually marked restricted.....life has risk

[Rory McNeil]

I find it odd that exhaust collectors coming off is more of a concern to NHRA than the much more frequent issue of "quick release" steering wheels coming off in the drivers hands., or fiberglass hoods flying off the car or any other number of unfortunate occurances. I can`t recall ever seeing a collector fall off a race car, but have seen several of the others I mentioned. I have had slip on collectors for over 25 years, and with 2 tabs and bolts per collector, I have never had any issues with them falling off. Removal when I WANT them to come off normally requires a rubber mallet, a pry bar. and plenty of WD40 and cuss words!

[Jeff Lee]

I've got nearly $500 into my Burns stainless merge collectors and they are attached to a substantially more expensive set of custom stainless two-step headers. You can bet I would make sure they wont slip off and bounce around the underside of my car before being run over. Without being told by NHRA.

And I agree with Rory, have heard about way to many instances of drivers not properly attaching their removable steering wheels.