What's required for Drag racing?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 866
Likes: 1
From: Peabody,MA,USA
Re: What's required for Drag racing? (Budman78)
If your car is stock and it doesn't look too fast then you can run without a helmet or any other mods. You can't have unsafe things like long runs of rubber gas line. If your car is faster than 14 seconds then you will need to wear a helmet. The faster your car is the more stuff you will need . Roll bars, shut off switch, fire suite.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 4,166
Likes: 2
From: Las Vegas NV
Re: What's required for Drag racing? (Budman78)
First item to buy, (besides a car) is a current issue of the NHRA rule book.
Based upon the rules and regulations for the E.T's that you expect to run, you will be able to equip your car accordingly.
Every time that I have built a drag use vehicle, I have built it to the specs of at least one class faster than I plan to run.
This way if you run faster, your still safe and compliant with the rules.
Good Luck and Have Fun,
Based upon the rules and regulations for the E.T's that you expect to run, you will be able to equip your car accordingly.
Every time that I have built a drag use vehicle, I have built it to the specs of at least one class faster than I plan to run.
This way if you run faster, your still safe and compliant with the rules.
Good Luck and Have Fun,
Pro
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 534
Likes: 0
From: FL
Re: What's required for Drag racing? (DaBo)
Spare parts and lots of time. :eek: After the Drag Racing, that is.
In all seriousness, prepare to break things. Launching hard on a steeeky drag strip track is hard on the drive train. IRS wasn't really designed for hard launches.
Having a half shaft turn into a fan is an expensive sound. Trust me.
-Noel
In all seriousness, prepare to break things. Launching hard on a steeeky drag strip track is hard on the drive train. IRS wasn't really designed for hard launches.
Having a half shaft turn into a fan is an expensive sound. Trust me.
-Noel
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,909
Likes: 26
From: Clymer PA
Re: What's required for Drag racing? (73Ken73)
You need to have a battery tie-down (if you don't already). Like everyone else said it depends on how fast you run:
14.00 - 14.99:
- Passengers Must Wear A Helmet
12.00 - 13.99:
- All Drivers Must Wear A Helmet
- Convertibles Must Have A 6-Point Rollbar
10.00 - 11.99:
- Full Bodied Cars w/ Unaltered Firewall, Floor & Body Can Run 10-10.99 w/ a 6-Point Rollbar
- Convertibles Faster Than 11 Must Have A NHRA-Approved 10-Point Rollcage
- Aftermarket Rear Axles Required
- 5-Point Harness
- Approved Harmonic Balancer For Cars Running Faster Than 11.00
- All Drivers Wear SFI-Approved Jacket
- Manual Trannys Must Run A Scattershield Bellhousing
- Automatic Trannys Must Run An Approved Transmission Shield If Quicker Than 11.00
- Must Use Steel Valve Stems On Wheels
My hands are tired of typing so I'm not going to post the 7.50-9.99 classifications. If you are interested I can send them to you. :cheers:
14.00 - 14.99:
- Passengers Must Wear A Helmet
12.00 - 13.99:
- All Drivers Must Wear A Helmet
- Convertibles Must Have A 6-Point Rollbar
10.00 - 11.99:
- Full Bodied Cars w/ Unaltered Firewall, Floor & Body Can Run 10-10.99 w/ a 6-Point Rollbar
- Convertibles Faster Than 11 Must Have A NHRA-Approved 10-Point Rollcage
- Aftermarket Rear Axles Required
- 5-Point Harness
- Approved Harmonic Balancer For Cars Running Faster Than 11.00
- All Drivers Wear SFI-Approved Jacket
- Manual Trannys Must Run A Scattershield Bellhousing
- Automatic Trannys Must Run An Approved Transmission Shield If Quicker Than 11.00
- Must Use Steel Valve Stems On Wheels
My hands are tired of typing so I'm not going to post the 7.50-9.99 classifications. If you are interested I can send them to you. :cheers:
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 9,078
Likes: 7
From: DFW TX
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
Re: What's required for Drag racing? (DaBo)
I assume I will be in the 13 to 14 second quarter mile times. I will try to find a helmet tomorrow.
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Pro
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 579
Likes: 0
From: Pflugerville/ Colllege Station TX
Re: What's required for Drag racing? (Budman78)
http://www.houstonraceway.com/rules.htm
These are the rules for a pretty strict track around here. There are other tracks that dont really care at all it just depends where you go.
These are the rules for a pretty strict track around here. There are other tracks that dont really care at all it just depends where you go.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 26,545
Likes: 46
From: Huntersville NC
Re: What's required for Drag racing? (bence13_33)
Tracks vary on enforcement,
1. Helmet - i got away with a bicycle helmet at one track :) Had to rent an el grungo helmet at another track.
2. Battery tiedown. Of course, but do they really check behind the drivers seat on a corvette?
3. Radiiator overflow tank. You probably have this, but if you have an overflow hose that just goes to the street they wont like that. they dont want antifreeze on the track. Some guys just rig up a coke can. :)
4. LONG PANTS! Wouldnt you feel stupid if you showed up in your speedo and they didnt let you race? :)
5. No noticeable fluid leaks. They really dont like cars leaking oil or fluid onto the track.
Advice from a rookie so you can hopefully avoid some rookie mistakes! MJ
1. Helmet - i got away with a bicycle helmet at one track :) Had to rent an el grungo helmet at another track.
2. Battery tiedown. Of course, but do they really check behind the drivers seat on a corvette?
3. Radiiator overflow tank. You probably have this, but if you have an overflow hose that just goes to the street they wont like that. they dont want antifreeze on the track. Some guys just rig up a coke can. :)
4. LONG PANTS! Wouldnt you feel stupid if you showed up in your speedo and they didnt let you race? :)
5. No noticeable fluid leaks. They really dont like cars leaking oil or fluid onto the track.
Advice from a rookie so you can hopefully avoid some rookie mistakes! MJ
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,909
Likes: 26
From: Clymer PA
Re: What's required for Drag racing? (MNJack)
MNJack:
LOL! :lol: I got a few chuckles out of picturing you in the staging area wearing a bicycle helmet :lol:.
You had better believe it! They nailed me (I don't have one), so I had to rig something up with the belt that I was wearing.
Are you trying to tell us you showed up in speedos and they wouldn't let you race? Just pickin' ;)
Helmet - i got away with a bicycle helmet at one track
Battery tiedown. Of course, but do they really check behind the drivers seat on a corvette
LONG PANTS! Wouldnt you feel stupid if you showed up in your speedo and they didnt let you race
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 4,166
Likes: 2
From: Las Vegas NV
Re: What's required for Drag racing? (Budman78)
Contact your local track about snell ratings.
I think current requirements are Snell 95 or above.
HJC makes a good quality helmet at a reasonable price.
I think current requirements are Snell 95 or above.
HJC makes a good quality helmet at a reasonable price.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 9,078
Likes: 7
From: DFW TX
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
Re: What's required for Drag racing? (MNJack)
Thank, Guys
I raced my 70 Firebird in the mid-eighties and had a blast. No techs back then. I use to love eating up the 5.0's, but usually would get beat by a stationwagon running 20+ quarter miles. Man those guys were smart. They would leave a day before you and you would run them down to the end. Bham he hits the brakes and you breakout.
Budman
I raced my 70 Firebird in the mid-eighties and had a blast. No techs back then. I use to love eating up the 5.0's, but usually would get beat by a stationwagon running 20+ quarter miles. Man those guys were smart. They would leave a day before you and you would run them down to the end. Bham he hits the brakes and you breakout.
Budman
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 26,545
Likes: 46
From: Huntersville NC
Re: What's required for Drag racing? (Budman78)
usually would get beat by a stationwagon running 20+ quarter miles. Man those guys were smart. They would leave a day before you and you would run them down to the end. Bham he hits the brakes and you breakout.
Budman
Budman
Most of the 740s of that era came with a turbo because the base engine is seriously underpowered, to the point of being dangerous. My wife wont even drive in some areas where high speed merging is required!!
Bence, I have an old fashioned bicycle helmet that I thought looked ok... :lol: :lol: :lol: I didnt wear my speedo to the track; somebody on the forum was really pissed off when they had to buy a pair of sweats at the track! MJ
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 139
Likes: 0
From: Coral Springs FL
Re: What's required for Drag racing? (Budman78)
What you really need is money. I ran my 80 for a year stock and actually made money, nothing ever broke or needed something else. But believe me, once you get the bug you will want to go ever faster, stock I ran 15.4. One thing leads to another and so on. I now run 12.8 for about 12 grand and counting, but I'm having fun and breaking things now. LOL Jamie
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 4,795
Likes: 1
From: Regina Saskatchewan, Canada.
Re: What's required for Drag racing? (bence13_33)
Helmet - i got away with a bicycle helmet at one track
LOL! :lol: I got a few chuckles out of picturing you in the staging area wearing a bicycle helmet :lol:.
LOL! :lol: I got a few chuckles out of picturing you in the staging area wearing a bicycle helmet :lol:.