NHRA drag racing restrictions

[foxman]

I visited No Problem Raceway down in South Louisiana a couple of weeks ago. I pulled into tech inspection during a test and tune session to see what my car would run.
I was informed that any convertible that runs under 14.0sec in the 1/4 needs a 6 point roll cage, firesuit, arm restraints, snell rated helmet.
However, if I were to install a hard top that I would be within the rules to run with a lap belt and a helmet.
I visited nhra.com and checked the rule revisions listed there and found this at the top of the page.

E.T. Brackets
Page 23 (eff 1/1)
Roll Cage: After first sentence add "Roll cage mandatory in convertibles running 10.99 or quicker, or exceeding 135 mph."

Unfortunately, I do not have a nhra rule book to see what this setence is addended to.

Can anyone help me out?

What equipment is required to make a couple of passes on the dragstrip?

[Jeff Frigo]

Unfortunately, what you were told was correct per NHRA. Go find yourself a non NHRA track and have some fun. I would defiantly recommend a full face helmet and arm restraints ($35) though.

[John McMahon]

Defintely include a drivers suit. Never take safety for granted.

Search the source for the rules:

http://www.nhra.com/

[Jeff Frigo]

NHRA.com only has rule revisions, not the actual rule book. You have to give them I think around $10.

[John McMahon]

SUMBEETCH!!!!

Jeff,

That's all I could find too. Farging Iceholes.

I'm sure Tim Lewis (Mustang Man) can chime in and tell us. After all, he does run a Top Fuel team.

Tim????????????

[Jeff Frigo]

JM

Didn't you know that NHRA is a business, not as racing organization?

[mustang man]

John

You think that I run a Top Fuel team!!! I run a Top Alcohol team which is a far stretch from Top Fuel. Their annual budget is about $2MM/yr. Ours is about $100/K/yr. Big difference!!!

Everything Foxman heard is correct. Ironically they will allow a flimsy fiberglass hardtop and let you run up to 12 seconds without a cage and restraints, etc.

I know that it sounds crazy but "thems the rules."

I agree with Jeff Frigo about trying a non-NHRA track where rules are more lenient, but keep in mind that safety rules are there for a purpose and that you are taking a chance by avoiding them.

Too bad because I hear that No Problem is a nice track but they have to abide by what NHRA tells them.

[foxman]

Went down to the raceway again this Sunday for a SCCA road event.
It was really exciting. Doug Reed from Superformance in Chalmette, LA was there with one of their cobras and brought me a 5 point harness and catch can.
Those guys are a real big help if anyone down in the south needs help or stuff with their cobra, you need to make contact with these guys.
I spoke with Phil Joffrion, one of the owners of the track and he went throught he rule book with me.
It seems that if you have a convertible under 14 sec., you absolutely need a roll bar. Not a standard cobra roll bar, a full roll bar with front and rear braces that goes accross the entire width of the rear seats.
If you're faster than 10.99 sec. or 135 mph, then you need a full roll cage as specified in the nhra rule book.
However, if you have a hardtop, then you are no longer a convertible and those rules don't apply. You just need a good snell rated helmet and a lap belt and your ready to go.
As long as you are not running under 11 sec., you can run all day long.
I don't know about yall but I would feel safer with the five point harness and arm restraints.
Thanks for your input guys. Superformance hard tops take about 90 days to get to the dealers painted and ready to install with the exception of the racing strips from the bottom of the rear window to the bottom of the hard top.
I got a price of $2400 for the hard top turn key installed.




Them's the rules on nhra tracks.