Question for all you left coast racers.

Now that Tulsa is going NHRA I would like to know what you guys and gals are able to run. Do they limit you to a couple of events a year or could you run at any NHRA track and have a race a**** yourselves? What category do they run you in? Do you have to have after market axles if you run a spool? I talked to NHRA yesterday and they don't seem to know what cl*** other than Altered that these cars fit into. Also we have to buy a compe***ion number each year and if you run 9.99 or better you have to have a compe***ion license. There seems to be a rule for the rules. Roy

 

Roy...I still don't know why you guys back east are so worried about the NHRA..These cars are slow enough, That we fall in the catagory of "A safe car. 5 or 6 point roll cage, up to date belts and drtiving gear"..Since they do fall into this catagory, NO Cert of any kind is needed on the ch***is, 10.99 or slower. With the ANRA events at Bakersfield. Friday nights, HA/GR , Saturday and Sunday, Open wheel cl***, Bracket type racing..Toymaker, Leeberg, And Old6, do really well in this cl***. I wasn't able to get out that much this past year. So we'll find out soon how we can do.... Again, NO aftermarket axels are needed, because of the speed of the cars,,But it is better to be safe than sorry...9.99 and better, Yes, Now those magic numbers put you in the " Racing World" that is where everything goes. "NHRA is the Ruler".. That is why in this lousy economy of ours, My 8 sec. Altered sits.. Rocky and his Eagle Field event is going strong, Because it is a "run what ya brung" type race..But the car does have to be safe... Out here. there are many different races that welcome the HA/GR cars. Another thing is.. None of us have "Monster Motor" cars. We aren't out to set records or see how fast we can go on L78x15 tires. We are out there for the FUN of it, And the track owners and promoters reconize that. So they welcome us to their races. When the HA/GR cars get to be a real handful to get down the track,, Then the welcome mat would get kind of thin. I think.. We have 4 ANRA events at Bakersfield, Drag-Fest, also at "The Patch" plus Rockys 2 events at Eagle field. A couple of "Antique National" events. Plus a couple of other places to mess with.. And a few "Shows" to promote the cl***... Hope this helps ya out...**** M. OH! BTW.. The only license that is required for our cars , A valid California drivers license. Thats it..

 

This NHRA thing has got me all worked up too. Tulsa is my home track. The Nostalgia program is now in the hands of the Outlaw G***er ***ociation. I've been working with them to add slingshots and altereds to their G***er program. I believe SDRA would fall under them also.

I have been going over the rulebook also. I'm afraid I might be required to buy a full SFI 3.2A/15 fire suit. That set-up is way expensive and might put me out of business.

I think the way arond NHRA, is to get "exibition" status. HA/GR cars were never intended to fit into any NHRA cl***. Since they don't enter the cl***es, they can fill-in between rounds. You may have to comprimise and limit speed or distance.

 

This is the info from the " open forum " meeting for Tulsa Raceway Park.



SDRA – No Major Changes. As long as we DO NOT go quicker than 10.00 or faster than 135, we will NOT be required to have ch***is cert., or licensing. We will still need to p*** tech at the track. We will be required to abide by NHRA safety standards for; helmets, gloves, neck support, arm restraints, fire suit (top & bottom), belts. Also a 5 or 6 point cage and the general safety regs. As out lined in the NHRA rule book.

If you have any questions about the NHRA side of things contact Ron Ivey at Tulsa Raceway Park

As stated in previous posts, these cars donot fit in the grand scheem of nhra.

 

It is the stuff that I have to change from last year that has me worried. The car drives like you are going down the interstate now. I just want to know what things I have to do from a stand point like change in rollbar, axles, etc. I have $1000 each year to race with, that is for parts, gas entry fees, etc. If I spend it all on stuff for the car then I will have a nice car sitting in my garage with no money to take it anywhere. Roy

 

Roy. Quit worrying about the AXELS...I think you have a 9" Ford.. They are plenty strong.. Worry about the cage and the drivers equiptment.. We use to run stock (Narrowed) Olds axels in a top fuel car...

 

edit: OK, this got long. Sorry, I needed to get in the qualifying framework for the points.

First allow me a ***** point.

Bear in mind that HA/GRs were originally designed and engineered to fit into an existing NHRA cl***, that of 12 sec and slower dune buggy (NHRA having no early nostalgia cl***es to consider). They meet all the rules of the cl***, are built like early dune buggies and neither expected nor needed special consideration.
This was done precisely because it was understood by the designers that this would be a niche cl*** and should fit within an appropriate existing cl*** for those wishing to run formally. There was no intent to connive or ******** anyone.

NHRA denied'em the cl*** and called'em altereds on the claim that early dune buggies didn't have solid mounted rear ends.
Don't bother digging out your old photos, the facts don't matter. It's their rulebook and it's their call. Today an "NHRA" dune buggy's a dune buggy and we're altereds.

OK, ***** logged and done.



Now to the question at hand.

First, you need to make the distinction between the two NHRA functions.
There's a hard line separation between NHRA promoted events and events merely NHRA sanctioned.
There's also a hard line separation between what makes enough money for NHRA to promote an event and what doesn't.
NHRA has no use for non-megabuck cl***es for themselves and doesn't wish to "waste" the money to run'em. Should there ever be enough HA/GRs (or anything else) to make serious money, they'll be interested. In other words ....
...... that ain't happening.
And I believe that to be to our benefit in the long run.

As a sanctioning body they're still available to sanction others' meets however, and that's where we fit in out here. Since a track here has to be sanctioned to run at all, they "rent" (sic) their structure out to smaller promoters for the purpose. Those promoters then do the work to apply it to their various needs and the cl***es they run.
One of the difficulties is a lack of flexibility in that structure due to NHRA's focus. NHRA's response is to tuck'em into the next higher relevant cl*** and let'em run (read wither) there. Thus you wind up cramming HA/GRs into altered's rules, an intentional low buck cl*** into a high buck slot. Their intent to use it as a weeding process for their own shows is obvious.

That leaves us in the hands of promoters like Butch, Randy, et al, who are trying to keep the real nostalgia end of the sport alive with their work and dedication. They support us and we support them, all of us for the same reasons. So as your real nostalgia shows go, you go. Find'em, get in'em and get on with it.
It's my firm belief that these meets are the future of the sport for us and my full intention to do what I can to further'em.

At present we have eight real nostalgia venues (already mentioned) each year. We also have access to several regular 1/8 mile strips in the SoCal area running their own promotions under NHRA sanctioning. We've run no NHRA promoted meets other than as arranged exhibition (and I'm not personally involved in that).

There's a non-NHRA venue possible out here this year or next, but is only in the toe-dipping stage as yet. I'm keeping a hopeful eye on it.
I'd also had hopes in the recent re-emergence of the AHRA but it's not looking right for us so far.


Finally, what this means to your specifics.

Again, it'll relate to who's promotion a given meet is. As nostalgia cl***es are fitted into NHRA structures there're various ways to apply'em.
Likely the only concerns at separately promoted meets will be with the safety things, as has been mentioned.

NHRA's been getting more reactive in clothing for front engine open cars in general but a decent two layer suit works for our cars. This'll likely be the most expensive change if you're presently running under the dune buggy rules of jeans and a fire jacket.

Next is the harness, and there are manufacturers already cleared to re-certify their own product one time. Thus their own two year belts're good for four with their re-cert.

The cage'll be the next concern, with five or six point, double loop, current altered practices being NHRA's ideal. Whether your particular cage comes close enough is, of course, an on track call by that inspector. Most of'em do consider the cl*** fairly.

****ter shields next. Most of us're already well within NHRA's wants, out of common sense and plain old self protection.

About the only other mentions we've seen are leg and knee projection concerns. If cited, these can be addressed with leg restraints where adding bars and/or panels isn't practical.

Lastly, out here some of the venues are asking for engine diapers as well, NHRA or not. Oil downs are a real delay & safety problem at a heavily prepped track like Famoso, and I belive they'll soon require'em. We're getting one anyway sometime this year (soon as I get the new pan on and have one cut to fit) as they're also a bit more added ballistic protection and not all that expensive.

All in all, HA/GR can still be done reasonably. Just take it in stride & don't go "Chicken Little" (for want of a better description ) at it and you'll come out OK.

 

Roy, Here's what I did: I built my ch***is from the firewall back according to the NHRA rule book, General Regulations for 9.99 and slower Altereds. Then I went to the rules for cars running brackets and did everything needed for the e.t. I expected to run. I didn't think the requirements were unreasonable. The biggest drawback is the roll cage doesn't look vintage. Too many tubes. 2 ply s.f.i. /5 clothing is required. Everything, including the cheapest legal helmet cost me around $600. There's lots of details about how and where certain tubes are placed and what size and thickness they are, how belts are anchored, etc. You will need a rulebook to ***ure everything is done right.
I have run at two local NHRA tracks. In each case the inspection consisted of a very cursory walkaround. The dates on the belts and the rating of the helmet were checked and they wanted to see all the clothing. It appeared they judged the overall quality of the build and were satisfied that it was a well constructed car. Also, seeing the slant six instead of some high horsepower powerplant probably caused them to be less concerned about some construction details.
There are 3 tracks in my area. All NHRA. The normal racing program is brackets only. The kids in Junior Dragsters run their own eliminations. If I show up as a lone HAMBster, I will run in the "no gizmos" e.t. bracket where I fit. If 8 HAMBsters showed up we could probably get the track to let us line up against each other during bracket eliminations.
The two local nostalgia/street rod drag events, held at two different tracks are time trials/grudge racing only. No cl***es, no eliminations, no nothing except a good time.