BPG Event cage/roll bar NHRA rules STRICTLY enforced!

[Limited87]

Guys, I have been talking back and forth with Sean Ryder (aka gbsean on all the boards, great guy by the way) one of the directors of the BPG race coming up at National Trail in Columbus. He has informed me that the NHRA safety/tech rules will be STRICTLY enforced at this race. Just wanted everyone to have a heads up before they make the trip and are kicked out.:frown:

If your car is 11.49 or quicker you WILL NEED a roll bar and if your car is 9.99 or quicker you will need a full roll cage or you will be booted off the track. End of story. Plus all other safety equipment like fire jacket, pants, exc. obviously also will be needed if you car goes those e/ts or mph.

Here is NHRA's rule on the roll bar/cage.

When do I need a roll bar or roll cage, and what should it look like?

A roll bar is required in any convertible running 13.49 seconds or quicker in the quarter mile, and in other cars beginning at 11.49. The roll bar is accepted in vehicles running as quick as 10.00 second e.t., provided the stock firewall and floorboard is intact, other than for installation of wheel tubs. The rollbar must be constructed of minimum 1 ¾ inch o.d. x .118 inch wall mild steel tubing, or 1 ¾ x .083 chrome moly tubing,

If the floor and/or firewall has been modified, then a full roll cage is required beginning at a 10.99 e.t. A full roll cage is required in any vehicle running 9.99 seconds or quicker, and any vehicle running 135 mph or faster (regardless of e.t.). The roll cage must be constructed of minimum 1 5/8 o.d.x .118 mild steel tubing, or 1 5/8 x .083 chrome moly tubing.

This eliminates just about every single Turbo Regal from my area.:frown:

 

[turbobuick]

Brian,
This is nothing new NTR is a NHRA owned facility and they have always been tough on safety regulations. FYI they won't accept IHRA competition licenses or cage certifications either, they to will have to be NHRA.

 

[Limited87]

Brian,
This is nothing new NTR is a NHRA owned facility and they have always been tough on safety regulations. FYI they won't accept IHRA competition licenses or cage certifications either, they to will have to be NHRA.

Yep, I just confimed everything once again with Sean before we made the trip. Norwalk is ten times the facility National Trail is and it doesnt enforce this cage rule on our Buicks. Its an NHRA track also as seen on ESPN2 last week at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals. We need more events held at places like BG, Norwalk and Reynolds.

 

[Brad Conley]

Its an NHRA track also as seen on ESPN2 last week at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals.

Nope. Norwalk is owned by the Bader family. Here's a link to the Huron County Ohio Auditors office showing that it is a privately owned facility ( Huron County, Ohio: Online Auditor - Cookies ). It is a NHRA member track, but is not owned by NHRA.

Let's let this topic die. The BPG's liability carrier as well as NTR's liability carrier demand adherence to all Safety Rules. End of discussion.

 

[Limited87]

It is a NHRA member track, but is not owned by NHRA.

Let's let this topic die. The BPG's liability carrier as well as NTR's liability carrier demand adherence to all Safety Rules. End of discussion.

I know Bill owns it. Its an NHRA track that a major Buick event is held at was my only point.

No lets keep this topic alive so guys dont drive 15 hours to race only to get kicked out if there car goes 11.49 or quicker.

 

[toofastforyou]

NHRA sucks.

Having raced somewhere around 15 years in NHRA's super Stock classes, I have only one thing to say: NHRA sucks! They come up with new rules every time they feel like it and what was legal a few months ago ain't no more... As an example, the stupid safety harness rule: Why do they force everyone to replace their harnesses every TWO YEARS? These belts and harnesses are much, much stronger than the factory installed ones, yet I've never seen an original safety bely rip apart...It's ok to have racers install them, buy why REPLACE them? First it was the helmets, now it's the harnesses...what's next? My car is conform to their rules, but it still pi**es me off having to do some unnecessary changes (always at my expense, of course! ) to please some NHRA tech official who'll be delighted to come up to you and say "sorry, but we can't let you race because of this or that, blah blah", etc...
I know that if I want to race, I don't have any choice but to conform to the rules, but I still feel that way about NHRA.

Claude.

 

[kerfman]

Having raced somewhere around 15 years in NHRA's super Stock classes, I have only one thing to say: NHRA sucks! They come up with new rules every time they feel like it and what was legal a few months ago ain't no more... As an example, the stupid safety harness rule: Why do they force everyone to replace their harnesses every TWO YEARS? These belts and harnesses are much, much stronger than the factory installed ones, yet I've never seen an original safety bely rip apart...It's ok to have racers install them, buy why REPLACE them? First it was the helmets, now it's the harnesses...what's next? My car is conform to their rules, but it still pi**es me off having to do some unnecessary changes (always at my expense, of course! ) to please some NHRA tech official who'll be delighted to come up to you and say "sorry, but we can't let you race because of this or that, blah blah", etc...
I know that if I want to race, I don't have any choice but to conform to the rules, but I still feel that way about NHRA.

Claude.

this does suck! norwalk was great and was planning on coming and racing at the bpg also. my car runs 10.90s. count me out

 

[KevinB]

I wonder if they are strict on the NHRA license for 9.99 and faster cars? At the strict tracks I usually tell them the car runs 10.5's and never have any issues when it "accidentally" goes faster than a 9.99

 

[SGRIM]

If you would have seen Mr. Sullivans accident there you would not wonder why...

 

[HighPSI]

Hmmm, does this mean no TSO cars quicker than 8.50?

 

[gnxtc2]

Having raced somewhere around 15 years in NHRA's super Stock classes, I have only one thing to say: NHRA sucks! They come up with new rules every time they feel like it and what was legal a few months ago ain't no more... As an example, the stupid safety harness rule: Why do they force everyone to replace their harnesses every TWO YEARS? These belts and harnesses are much, much stronger than the factory installed ones, yet I've never seen an original safety bely rip apart...It's ok to have racers install them, buy why REPLACE them? First it was the helmets, now it's the harnesses...what's next? My car is conform to their rules, but it still pi**es me off having to do some unnecessary changes (always at my expense, of course! ) to please some NHRA tech official who'll be delighted to come up to you and say "sorry, but we can't let you race because of this or that, blah blah", etc...
I know that if I want to race, I don't have any choice but to conform to the rules, but I still feel that way about NHRA.

Claude.

You forgot window nets.

I'm not defending the seat belt issue but you have to remember with open roof cars. The seat belts bake in the sun, get wet sometimes, get handled with greasy hands and so on.

I think other racing sanctions require 5 year seat belt updates/replacement, which I can live with.

Seems like the NHRA is in bed with SFI.

Billy T.
gnxtc2@aol.com

 

[charlief1]

So does a T Top car require a bar or a cage? Not sure where it fits in the rules.

 

[toofastforyou]

Seems like the NHRA is in bed with SFI.

Billy T.

X2!...Exactly, I wouldn't have said it any better!

Claude. :redface:

P.S:...Youre right, I forgot window nets!...

 

[Nick Micale]

How about.....

........"a lower engine containment" which is required at most West Coast NHRA tracks for ALL cars quicker than 10.0 or faster than 135 MPH.

This is an engine "diaper" or belly pan per the 2009 rule book.

That rule went into effect May 1 of this year at all local tracks and I believe also in Vegas, and is strictly enforced.

May be a good idea to check that out with National Trails?

 

[bison]

Im almost positive any car with a full cage needs the cert even if it runs slower than 9.99/135. So according to NHRA an un-certed cage is useless since you arent legal to run.

 

[leophious]

Ask O.C. if these rules are B.S. Opps, I forgot that I had mine on it's lip also. I was glad to be able to take it to get a new sticker.

 

[turbobuick]

Nope. Norwalk is owned by the Bader family. Here's a link to the Huron County Ohio Auditors office showing that it is a privately owned facility ( Huron County, Ohio: Online Auditor - Cookies ). It is a NHRA member track, but is not owned by NHRA.

Let's let this topic die. The BPG's liability carrier as well as NTR's liability carrier demand adherence to all Safety Rules. End of discussion.

I was told last year by the Track mgr that NHRA still owned NTR?

 

[turbobuick]

I wonder if they are strict on the NHRA license for 9.99 and faster cars? At the strict tracks I usually tell them the car runs 10.5's and never have any issues when it "accidentally" goes faster than a 9.99

This I can tell you for sure NTR is going to be strict on. You will need a comp license for 9.99 and faster. If you don't have it you can get it just have your physical form filled out before you get there.

 

[turbobuick]

Hmmm, does this mean no TSO cars quicker than 8.50?

The host track will make the decision on that and that issue. The TSO rules state the competitor MUST pass host track safety requirements, this has been discussed before and is an issue even at Norwalk and Cecil which are also NHRA tracks and are pretty strict on safety requirements. This is nothing new Cal?

NTR let my outdated belts slide last year but they were strict about making me wear my neck collar and use the safety net in my car when I was racing.

Brian have you raced at Norwalk lately? I HIGHLY doubt they would let you make a 9 second pass without at least a roll bar. They are pretty strict these days with tech since becoming an NHRA track.

 

[turbobuick]

........"a lower engine containment" which is required at most West Coast NHRA tracks for ALL cars quicker than 10.0 or faster than 135 MPH.

This is an engine "diaper" or belly pan per the 2009 rule book.

That rule went into effect May 1 of this year at all local tracks and I believe also in Vegas, and is strictly enforced.

May be a good idea to check that out with National Trails?

I'm pretty sure this rule is only for a national event and I am not aware of it being enforced anywhere else. This is a good question though and you would think the new BPG race director would be able to provide this info??