My car is a HAMB Dragster and supports the HAMB. All those interested will be directed to this board, a site that is full of information, support and good will. Like I said I had hoped that a set of approved rules could have come down from the "Boss" featuring the ammendments we need out here. My reference sheet will be handed out only to prepare a novice builder with what is required to run at an NHRA sanctioned track.
I said I would never post on this board again however I do read it everyday. Here it goes. I can tell you that Rocky (Toymaker) has done more to promote HAMB racing on the west coast and HAMB racing in general than all the rest of the want to be racers combined. I have set with him at races and shows and watched him talk with pride about how he and Lee built the car and how little they have in it compared to how much fun they have. It is a real family project. He is trying to get racers involved and starting to build up a cl*** that will be able to run at NHRA tracks. My suggestion to him (for what it is worth) is that he hands out the rule package he is working on now to get more racers interested in the cl*** and dragracing. If they follow the rules package he is proposing they will be able to run any track they want. He has always pointed out the cl*** started with the HAMB racers and it is a place to start. I don't think in any is he trying to change any rules his main concern is that when a racer builds a car and goes to the track he can get past tech and race safely. OK now blast away. Butch Headrick www.anra.com Cell Phone (661) 667 0030
Howdy Butch, I absolutely have to say right here that you and Randy are the only reasons we have a place to proselytize HA/GR at all. And believe me we know it ...... and we appreciate it. Thank you. Don't let our questing about fool you folks, we're all heading for the same place with this. We're taking more than one road, but they're to the same destination. This cl*** will grow here if it's at all possible, in any way, shape or form we can manage. To that end we'll clear every path available. (can't seem to find a "rabid" smiley for this occasion) ps. Never's a long time ...........
I intend to promote the construction of HA/GR race cars in my area. The plan was to have copies of the HAMB rules and show interested individuals what I did to my car to p*** NHRA inspection in this area. Now, you guys got me thinking about the best way to do this. If Rand Man produces a rules sheet with addendums per NHRA requirements, I would gladly p*** those out. Or, as others are doing out West, I can produce my own. After all, I've become a bit of an expert on the NHRA rulebook. If there's enough interest around here I could open Bob's HA/GR Ch***is Shop and become rich!
Originally posted by bobw: "If there's enough interest around here I could open Bob's HA/GR Ch***is Shop and become rich!" Drag racing is just like aviation....... If ya want to make a small fortune, just start out with a large one.
I'll try to edit the rules to include the NHRA tech ammendments, in a way that would please Ryan. I'll try to get this done in the next seven days. Business is picking up, and I don't have much free time right now. I am all for extra safety. It just has to be gone about in the right way. I think of this as adding options, rather than restrictions. If your local track is independent, then the base rules might be your best option. If they are more restrictive, then these ammendments have their place.
The following set of rules list the HAMB rules along with some amendments, intended to help these rails p*** an NHRA style tech inspection. I did edit a word or two, where it would help to use proper English and clarify the intent, for example I added the word "centerlines" to rule #7. I hope we can get Ryans "Yeah or Neah", and I hope this helps rather than cause more trouble. P.S. Looks like the bold text didn't copy onto this site. H.A.M.B GAS RAIL (HA/GR) Rules The HAMB-approved rules (listed in bold) are the minimum requirements needed to compete in the HA/GR cl*** at a HAMB Drags National (or regional) event. Some of the rules have been amended, so that the car should be able to p*** a stringent tech inspection and compete on drag strips sanctioned by governing bodies such as the National Hot Rodding ***ociation (NHRA). Amendments are listed under the base rule, such as A1, A2, etc. 1. Stock or modified stock frame rails, rectangular tube or round tube 3′’ diameter or larger. A1. Frame rails shall be production or modified production units, or 1 ½” by 3” (or larger) by .118” wall (minimum) rectangular tube, or round tube 3′’ in diameter by 118” wall (or larger/heavier). Minimum wheelbase of 90" SEE NHRA 4:12 2. Stock width front axles and rear ends only. A2. Front axles shall be stock production units or equivalent width aftermarket units only. Front suspension optional on cars weighing 2350 lbs or less with 100 inch or longer wheelbase. SEE NHRA ET Handicap racing, Super Pro, Pro, Sportsman, Suspension, Altereds, Dragsters Also See NHRA 3:2, 3:4, 3:5 3. All cars must be equipped with a minimum four point roll bar of 1 3/4″ tubing with a main hoop higher than the driver’s head and 2 support bars down to the frame towards the firewall. Tubing must meet NHRA minimum wall thickness for application. A3. All cars must have at least a five point roll cage of minimum 1 5/8″, 118” Mild Steel wall tubing. SEE NHRA 4:11 4. Cars with keyed axles must use hub safety retainers. A4. Rear axles shall be stock width production units only. Aftermarket gears are allowed. One piece axles recommended, Cars with keyed axles must use hub safety retainers. SEE NHRA 2:11, 2:2 Brakes 3:1 5. Closed drivelines are encouraged. If open driveline is used driveshaft must have a 1 1/2″ x 1/4″ “driveshaft loop” within 6 1/2″ of front and rear universal joints and be totally covered/sealed off from driver with steel or aluminum floor pan. A5. SEE NHRA 4:9 & 2:4 Open drivelines shall have 2"x 1/4″ “retaining hoop” straps within 6″ of front universal joints. A minimum of .120 Steel plate flooring to protect driver from u-joint in case of failure. 6. Cars must have cowl or body and proper floor boards/belly pan to prevent driver’s legs from exiting vehicle unintentionally. firewall mandatory. A6. Floor shall be .032 Aluminum or .024 Steel minimum. SEE NHRA 7:5 Sub flooring independent of car body is mandatory in Dragsters that allow drivers legs to rest on Belly Pan or Ch***is. SEE NHRA ET Handicap Racing A minimum .032 Aluminum or .024 Steel firewall is mandatory. SEE NHRA 7:4 7. No “slingshot” ch***is’ allowed. Driver & engine shall be located between the front & rear axle centerlines. 8. Cars must be equipped with an engine mounted starter and be self starting. 9. Batteries must be securely mounted and fully enclosed. A9. Batteries must be securely mounted using modern safety standards and located separate from drivers compartment. SEE NHRA 8:1 10. All cars must have a master battery cutoff switch accessible from outside the car. 11. All cars must have at least one red rear running light for night racing. 12. Flathead v8 or inlines, pre-1962 inline engines with stock cylinder blocks only. No exotic aftermarket inline six overhead valve heads (Wayne). No OHV V8s or V6s. (If you are looking to run a straight 6 with exotic heads or a flathead with an o/h conversion, contact Ryan for some good news.) A12. All engines must have been available for purchase (in stock production automobiles, trucks, or industrial/agricultural machinery) prior to January 1st., 1962. The only cylinder configurations allowed shall be the upright (or inclined) inline or the "V" type. Inline engines may be of the valve-in-block (flathead) or overhead valve design, and may have 4, 6, or 8 cylinders. Any engine produced in a "V" configuration shall be of the flathead design only, and shall have a minimum of eight, and a maximum of 12 cylinders. All engines must use stock production cylinder blocks only. Later issues of these engine families are acceptable for use, as long as there are no significant changes in the design, such as bore spacing, deck height, and cam location. No aftermarket overhead valve heads are allowed. 13. Engines must be naturally aspirated. No superchargers, turbos, nitrous oxide or fuel injection. 14. No electronic ignition boxes that mount outside the distributor or “coil in cap” HEIs. Conversions such as “ignitor” or “stinger” that fit within a stock dist cap are allowed. Aftermarket magnetos not allowed. 15. Pump gas/racing gasoline only. No Methanol, nitromethane, or alcohol. 16. Era specific carbs only, stock appearing- no modern Holley, Edelbrock, or other aftermarket carbs. 17. Fuel lines can have no single rubber piece longer than 24″, must be fastened by hose clamps, not hard or cracked. A17. Fuel lines shall have no more than 12” total of rubber line. SEE NHRA 1:5 18. Cars equipped with a cooling system or water tank must use a radiator cap and overflow/catch can system. 19. Automatic transmissions are not allowed. All cars with clutches must run a stamped steel bell housing or a 1/4″ ****ter shield mounted over the production bell housing. 20. Cars must have rims no wider than 6″ and only bias ply street treaded tires allowed. No radials, slicks, or cheater slicks allowed. Tire tread width must measure no more than 6″. 21. Drivers must wear full face helmet, single layer (or more) fire retardant jacket or suit, gloves, jeans (or fire retardant pants), and leather shoes. A21. Drivers must wear up to date NHRA acceptable full face helmet with shield (Snell M2000, M2005, K2005, SA2005, SFI 31.2A or 41.2 SEE NHRA 10:7 & ET Handicap Racing). SFI 3:3 Neck Collar or SFI 3:3 Head Sock or Skirted Helmet Required. 3.2A/5 two layer fire retardant jacket & pants or suit required, SFI 3:3 Gloves required on all open bodied cars. SEE NHRA 10:10 Leather Driving shoes 3:3A/5 & Arm Restraints are required. 22. Five point NHRA approved safety harness required. SEE NHRA 10:5 23. All cars must be of general soundness and safety. Must have all lug nuts, sound steering, cotter pins in place, and heim ends “captured” etc. Must p*** all tracks general safety rules. 24. No electronic/pneumatic drivers aids such as rev limiters, two steps, shift lights or electric shifters. Tachometers are allowed if they don’t have a rev limiter or a shift light. 25. Cars must be built in the spirit of the “Bug” and other early rail jobs. If ya aren’t familiar, ya better ask… 26. All HA/GR cars are required to run a H.A.M.B. Logo in a visible location.
Toymaker, you get the credit for these ammendments, I just edited them into a format that isn't a total re-write and could be used anywhere.
Rather than a rewrite or an edit, the original rules as written with a simple second sheet of references to the N(o)H(ot)R(ods)A(llowed) requirements keeps the history and concept of the cl*** intact and serves the purpose well. Just my radical backyard take on the debate.
Another edit, where the ammendments are listed at the bottom should be the best way to print. H.A.M.B GAS RAIL (HA/GR) Rules The HAMB-approved rules are the minimum requirements needed to compete in the HA/GR cl*** at a HAMB Drags National (or regional) event. Some of the rules have been amended, so that the car should be able to p*** a stringent tech inspection and compete on drag strips sanctioned by governing bodies such as the National Hot Rodding ***ociation (NHRA). Amendments are attached, following the base rules. The amendment number refers to the rule to which it applies. For example, amendment A9 refers to rule number 9. 1. Stock or modified stock frame rails, rectangular tube or round tube 3′ diameter or larger. 2. Stock width front axles and rear ends only. 3. All cars must be equipped with a minimum four point roll bar of 1 3/4″ tubing with a main hoop higher than the drivers head and 2 support bars down to the frame towards the firewall. Tubing must meet NHRA minimum wall thickness for application. 4. Cars with keyed axles must use hub safety retainers. 5. Closed drivelines are encouraged. If open driveline is used driveshaft must have a 1 1/2″ x 1/4″ driveshaft loop within 6 1/2″ of front and rear universal joints and be totally covered/sealed off from driver with steel or aluminum floor pan. 6. Cars must have cowl or body and proper floor boards/belly pan to prevent drivers legs from exiting vehicle unintentionally. firewall mandatory. 7. No slingshot ch***is allowed. Driver & engine shall be located between the front & rear axle centerlines. 8. Cars must be equipped with an engine mounted starter and be self starting. 9. Batteries must be securely mounted and fully enclosed. 10. All cars must have a master battery cutoff switch accessible from outside the car. 11. All cars must have at least one red rear running light for night racing. 12. Flathead v8 or inlines, pre-1962 inline engines with stock cylinder blocks only. No exotic aftermarket inline six overhead valve heads (Wayne). No OHV V8s or V6s. (If you are looking to run a straight 6 with exotic heads or a flathead with an o/h conversion, contact Ryan for some good news.) 13. Engines must be naturally aspirated. No superchargers, turbos, nitrous oxide or fuel injection. 14. No electronic ignition boxes that mount outside the distributor or coil in cap HEIs. Conversions such as ignitor or stinger that fit within a stock dist cap are allowed. Aftermarket magnetos not allowed. 15. Pump gas/racing gasoline only. No Methanol, nitromethane, or alcohol. 16. Era specific carbs only, stock appearing- no modern Holley, Edelbrock, or other aftermarket carbs. 17. Fuel lines can have no single rubber piece longer than 24″, must be fastened by hose clamps, not hard or cracked. 18. Cars equipped with a cooling system or water tank must use a radiator cap and overflow/catch can system. 19. Automatic transmissions are not allowed. All cars with clutches must run a stamped steel bell housing or a 1/4″ ****ter shield mounted over the production bell housing. 20. Cars must have rims no wider than 6″ and only bias ply street treaded tires allowed. No radials, slicks, or cheater slicks allowed. Tire tread width must measure no more than 6″. 21. Drivers must wear full face helmet, single layer (or more) fire retardant jacket or suit, gloves, jeans (or fire retardant pants), and leather shoes. 22. Five point NHRA approved safety harness required. SEE NHRA 10:5 23. All cars must be of general soundness and safety. Must have all lug nuts, sound steering, cotter pins in place, and heim ends captured etc. Must p*** all tracks general safety rules. 24. No electronic/pneumatic drivers aids such as rev limiters, two steps, shift lights or electric shifters. Tachometers are allowed if they dont have a rev limiter or a shift light. 25. Cars must be built in the spirit of the Bug and other early rail jobs. If ya arent familiar, ya better ask 26. All HA/GR cars are required to run a H.A.M.B. Logo in a visible location. The following are amendments to the official HAMB rules. They are intended to clarify the base rules and allow these machines to p*** tech inspection at an NHRA or similarly sanctioned drag strip. A1. Frame rails shall be production or modified production units, or 1 ½ by 3 (or larger) by .118 wall (minimum) rectangular tube, or round tube 3′ in diameter by 118 wall (or larger/heavier). Minimum wheelbase of 90" SEE NHRA 4:12 A2. Front axles shall be stock production units or equivalent width aftermarket units only. Front suspension optional on cars weighing 2350 lbs or less with 100 inch or longer wheelbase. SEE NHRA ET Handicap racing, Super Pro, Pro, Sportsman, Suspension, Altereds, Dragsters Also See NHRA 3:2, 3:4, 3:5 A3. All cars must have at least a five point roll cage of minimum 1 5/8″, 118 Mild Steel wall tubing. SEE NHRA 4:11 A4. Rear axles shall be stock width production units only. Aftermarket gears are allowed. One piece axles recommended, Cars with keyed axles must use hub safety retainers. SEE NHRA 2:11 A5. SEE NHRA 4:9 & 2:4 Open drivelines shall have 2"x 1/4″ retaining hoop straps within 6″ of front universal joints. A minimum of .120 Steel plate flooring to protect driver from u-joint in case of failure. A6. Floor shall be .032 Aluminum or .024 Steel minimum. SEE NHRA 7:5 Sub flooring independent of car body is mandatory in Dragsters that allow drivers legs to rest on Belly Pan or Ch***is. SEE NHRA ET Handicap Racing A minimum .032 Aluminum or .024 Steel firewall is mandatory. SEE NHRA 7:4 A9. Batteries must be securely mounted using modern safety standards and located separate from drivers compartment. SEE NHRA 8:1 A12. All engines must have been available for purchase (in stock production automobiles, trucks, or industrial/agricultural machinery) prior to January 1st., 1962. The only cylinder configurations allowed shall be the upright (or inclined) inline or the "V" type. Inline engines may be of the valve-in-block (flathead) or overhead valve design, and may have 4, 6, or 8 cylinders. Any engine produced in a "V" configuration shall be of the flathead design only, and shall have a minimum of eight, and a maximum of 12 cylinders. All engines must use stock production cylinder blocks only. Later issues of these engine families are acceptable for use, as long as there are no significant changes in the design, such as bore spacing, deck height, and cam location. No aftermarket overhead valve heads are allowed. A17. Fuel lines shall have no more than 12 total of rubber line. SEE NHRA 1:5 A21. Drivers must wear up to date NHRA acceptable full face helmet with shield (Snell M2000, M2005, K2005, SA2005, SFI 31.2A or 41.2 SEE NHRA 10:7 & ET Handicap Racing). SFI 3:3 Neck Collar or SFI 3:3 Head Sock or Skirted Helmet Required. 3.2A/5 two layer fire retardant jacket & pants or suit required, SFI 3:3 Gloves required on all open bodied cars. SEE NHRA 10:10 Leather Driving shoes 3:3A/5 & Arm Restraints are required.
Randy, I wasn't looking for credit. I had sent the same style of rule to Ryan and they got rejected, your latest edition will be more likely to get accepted Good Luck, Rocky
As a new guy to the HAMB and Drag racing. you would not belive how helpful you guys are. No matter how many rules there are ther are ways around them and ways that the same rule can be interpited in different locations. Any referance to NHRA could help everyone to setup thier own car to run at different venues all over the US, not just the ones that know what an HA/GR is. I hope to, at some point, be able to go racing with you guys, and these rules no matter how many will help me do it right. Thanks A Bunch Jeff (Current HA/GR Dreamer, Future HA/GR builder)
Can't we all just get along? Seriously, my head is starting to hurt trying to untangle the Gudzu of rule defining here. I think Rocky's on the right track as far as getting this cl*** into as many tracks as possible especially in Ca. I like the way Randy broke it out though. I don't think anyone can claim any toe steppin' that way. Obviously if these are being handed out, there's going to be dialog between both parties with further clarification.
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