427 Convertible 1/4 mile times?
12-30-2012, 07:52 PM
#61
Race Director
Member Since: Sep 2007
Location: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
Posts: 16,555
Received 2,060 Likes
on
1,505 Posts
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Maybe another reason we do not see too many of these on the strip.
This is NHRA regs for 2009, not sure of current regs but this has probably not changed.
11.49 1/4-mile (7.35 1/8-mile) or quicker:
-A 5-point minimum roll bar on a fixed roof car (t-tops okay as well if in place while racing) from 11.49 to 11.00 (7.00 1/8-mile). If the hardtop / t-top car has un-altered floors, firewall and frame rails (wheel tubs are okay), then the 5-point roll bar is good til 10.00 1/4 mile (6.40 1/8-mile). Convertibles require the 5-point bar from 13.49 (8.25 1/8-mile to 11.00 (7.00 1/8-mile).
The rollbar must be constructed of a minimum o.d. mild steel or chrome moly tubing (moly can be a smaller o.d and is lighter but more expensive), see diagram below for specs.
The roll bar can be bolted or welded to the floor, see diagram below for specs.
Roll bar must be padded anywhere the driver's helmet may contact it while in the driving position, see diagram below for specs.
The 5-points are:
Main hoop; 2 "down bars" (bars that go from the main hoop rearward to the trunk floor/hatch area. These can be straight or bent like a "package tray" style, search for photos); Welded crossbar for belts (can't be removable), see rulebook for exact location. Driver side door bar (can be a swing-out. Many put a passenger's side bar in as well (6-point) because it strengthens the car on both sides, but if you have subframe connectors the difference may be minimal).
This is NHRA regs for 2009, not sure of current regs but this has probably not changed.
11.49 1/4-mile (7.35 1/8-mile) or quicker:
-A 5-point minimum roll bar on a fixed roof car (t-tops okay as well if in place while racing) from 11.49 to 11.00 (7.00 1/8-mile). If the hardtop / t-top car has un-altered floors, firewall and frame rails (wheel tubs are okay), then the 5-point roll bar is good til 10.00 1/4 mile (6.40 1/8-mile). Convertibles require the 5-point bar from 13.49 (8.25 1/8-mile to 11.00 (7.00 1/8-mile).
The rollbar must be constructed of a minimum o.d. mild steel or chrome moly tubing (moly can be a smaller o.d and is lighter but more expensive), see diagram below for specs.
The roll bar can be bolted or welded to the floor, see diagram below for specs.
Roll bar must be padded anywhere the driver's helmet may contact it while in the driving position, see diagram below for specs.
The 5-points are:
Main hoop; 2 "down bars" (bars that go from the main hoop rearward to the trunk floor/hatch area. These can be straight or bent like a "package tray" style, search for photos); Welded crossbar for belts (can't be removable), see rulebook for exact location. Driver side door bar (can be a swing-out. Many put a passenger's side bar in as well (6-point) because it strengthens the car on both sides, but if you have subframe connectors the difference may be minimal).
Also 4130 moly tubing is the same diameter, but can be thinner wall.
So any sub-13.50 times for a vert will be from a track that has looked the other way.
I know that I for one wont be taking mine down the quarter mile. Those days are in the past for me. Our local track requires too much safety gear for me to even attempt it in a vert. Mine is a fun car, and will be driven fairly hard on warm dry ground, right up until I start to exceed posted limits, lol, or otherwsie when no one is looking or around.
I suspect that many of the owners are of the same mindset, whereby its a cruiser, and would likely only see qurter mile tracks from the parking lot. In order to get one of these to run good quarter mile times would require a good driver, nice hot tires, and the whimsy to approach redline to get on down the track in a manner that would make the onlookers proud. I think many of the guys wont be doing that anytime soon, especially those of us that would have ot install rollbars, harnesses, etc to do so.
I would think that the track minded folks would likely have steered away from the 427 vert for those reasons alone.
I suspect that many of the owners are of the same mindset, whereby its a cruiser, and would likely only see qurter mile tracks from the parking lot. In order to get one of these to run good quarter mile times would require a good driver, nice hot tires, and the whimsy to approach redline to get on down the track in a manner that would make the onlookers proud. I think many of the guys wont be doing that anytime soon, especially those of us that would have ot install rollbars, harnesses, etc to do so.
I would think that the track minded folks would likely have steered away from the 427 vert for those reasons alone.
I've had my share of verts, but haven't raced one at the drags since 1964.
I'm glad we don't all like the same thing. It'd be way too boring.
12-31-2012, 12:05 AM
#62
Actually I just checked your profile.... You must be THEE Paul Martin who designed and manufactured Disc Brakes for karts. If so it's a pleasure, great stuff.[/QUOTE]
Guess I can't hide here anymore. LOL. Yes, that would be me. My first kart was a Rupp H model. First race was in 1964 but really started racing pretty solid from 1967 until 1997. I mostly ran Bug karts for many years and later on mostly Margays. Just play now from time to time. I keep a couple of TAG karts over at New Castle Motorsports Park in Indiana. My son, a few other friends and I will go over once in a while and turn the tires. The TAG's are a good ride at NCMP. At 65 years old, I'm pleased I can still fit in my karts. Karting is still the best racing experience for the money spent and maybe the best period. BTW, thank you for the kind words about my brake systems. Been doing this now for 33 years and still enjoy it.
Guess I can't hide here anymore. LOL. Yes, that would be me. My first kart was a Rupp H model. First race was in 1964 but really started racing pretty solid from 1967 until 1997. I mostly ran Bug karts for many years and later on mostly Margays. Just play now from time to time. I keep a couple of TAG karts over at New Castle Motorsports Park in Indiana. My son, a few other friends and I will go over once in a while and turn the tires. The TAG's are a good ride at NCMP. At 65 years old, I'm pleased I can still fit in my karts. Karting is still the best racing experience for the money spent and maybe the best period. BTW, thank you for the kind words about my brake systems. Been doing this now for 33 years and still enjoy it.
12-31-2012, 08:46 AM
#63
Race Director<br><img src="/forums/images/ranks/7k-10k.gif" border="0">
Member Since: Sep 2008
Location: Coventry RI
Posts: 10,350
Received 124 Likes
on
90 Posts
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
[QUOTE
Guess I can't hide here anymore. LOL. Yes, that would be me. My first kart was a Rupp H model. First race was in 1964 but really started racing pretty solid from 1967 until 1997. I mostly ran Bug karts for many years and later on mostly Margays. Just play now from time to time. I keep a couple of TAG karts over at New Castle Motorsports Park in Indiana. My son, a few other friends and I will go over once in a while and turn the tires. The TAG's are a good ride at NCMP. At 65 years old, I'm pleased I can still fit in my karts. Karting is still the best racing experience for the money spent and maybe the best period. BTW, thank you for the kind words about my brake systems. Been doing this now for 33 years and still enjoy it.[/QUOTE]
It's a pleasure Paul, I have heard many great things about your braking systems. After returning from Viet nam in 1968 I never returned to karting and bought my first Corvette. Karting is a great racing experience that most people think of as kids toys. Even in 1965 with a 820 West bend, 9 ported by Wiseco, 3 carbs on fuel, that little chainsaw motor averaged 74 mph for the 60 miles at Loudon that I ran for my national championship. I was clocked at nearly 100 mph down the back straight. My brother had twins of the same motor and he ran 138 mph down the straights. Welcome to the C6 forum, you certainly have a beautiful car.....
BTW Loudon was a road course back then and it was called Bryar motorsports park.
Guess I can't hide here anymore. LOL. Yes, that would be me. My first kart was a Rupp H model. First race was in 1964 but really started racing pretty solid from 1967 until 1997. I mostly ran Bug karts for many years and later on mostly Margays. Just play now from time to time. I keep a couple of TAG karts over at New Castle Motorsports Park in Indiana. My son, a few other friends and I will go over once in a while and turn the tires. The TAG's are a good ride at NCMP. At 65 years old, I'm pleased I can still fit in my karts. Karting is still the best racing experience for the money spent and maybe the best period. BTW, thank you for the kind words about my brake systems. Been doing this now for 33 years and still enjoy it.[/QUOTE]
It's a pleasure Paul, I have heard many great things about your braking systems. After returning from Viet nam in 1968 I never returned to karting and bought my first Corvette. Karting is a great racing experience that most people think of as kids toys. Even in 1965 with a 820 West bend, 9 ported by Wiseco, 3 carbs on fuel, that little chainsaw motor averaged 74 mph for the 60 miles at Loudon that I ran for my national championship. I was clocked at nearly 100 mph down the back straight. My brother had twins of the same motor and he ran 138 mph down the straights. Welcome to the C6 forum, you certainly have a beautiful car.....
BTW Loudon was a road course back then and it was called Bryar motorsports park.
Last edited by Flh Den; 12-31-2012 at 08:50 AM.