Drag Strip: Helmet Rules???
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 5,386
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From: San Angelo TX
Drag Strip: Helmet Rules???
Ok so i'm headed to the dragstrip on saturday to get a baseline for my 92 vert. I know I need a helmet since I'll running faster than 13.99 but what other restrictions are there for convertibles? I read something about needing a roll bar for faster than 13.49 but that sounds crazy!
. I hope to be mid/low 13s so what all will I need?
. I hope to be mid/low 13s so what all will I need?
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
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From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Call the track and find out what their sanctioning body or insurance requriements are.For a helmet, you can't go wrong with one with a Snell SA2005 rating. That will work for any sort of event like drags racing, autocross or track days.
If you wind up with an ET low enough to require a roll bar, you will probably be told that you can't run anymore until you pass tech based on that ET.
If you want to keep racing at that point, I would go with a factory hardtop for the car. It has an integral roll bar just like the coupes have. Make sure you get the two attaching braces that ties the bar to the B-pillars.
A roll bar that meets tech requirements will most likely have to be welded in place and will requrie interior modifications like cutting carpet, maybe a bar that goes down to the passenger side footwell or such.
Course you can always sandbag a bit to keep ET's down until the car is ssorted out.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 4,532
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From: Lahaina Hi
If you run 13.49 or faster you will need a roll bar.4 point.
Helmet snell 2005 or newer.You will be kicked off the track if you are running an NHRA track,you might get away with faster at a IHRA track.
They are always watching vert's.
Don't tell tech you plan on running faster or you won't even get to run the car.
Don't put a roll bar in your car. I installed one and wish I haden't.Now I race my 86 and I just left my roll bar in my 94 ,it is bolted in but you still can't go faster than 11.49 even if you have a bolt in roll bar.My 94 went 11.29 at 122 mph on juice.My 86 pulls 9's but who cares it is now just a strip car even though I keep legal for the street.I would just take it to the track and see what it will do and leave it at that unless you have about 60k to make a real race car out of it
Helmet snell 2005 or newer.You will be kicked off the track if you are running an NHRA track,you might get away with faster at a IHRA track.
They are always watching vert's.
Don't tell tech you plan on running faster or you won't even get to run the car.
Don't put a roll bar in your car. I installed one and wish I haden't.Now I race my 86 and I just left my roll bar in my 94 ,it is bolted in but you still can't go faster than 11.49 even if you have a bolt in roll bar.My 94 went 11.29 at 122 mph on juice.My 86 pulls 9's but who cares it is now just a strip car even though I keep legal for the street.I would just take it to the track and see what it will do and leave it at that unless you have about 60k to make a real race car out of it
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 5,713
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From: Manassas VA
Alot of rules are not enforced. It depends on the track. For example, I have never used anything except a motorcycle helmet and no one has ever said anything. And that is not just 1 track. I have been to at least 7 different ones.
IMO if 11.49 et meets your needs, just get a bolt on hardtop for your vert.
Good luck and let us know what it runs!!
IMO if 11.49 et meets your needs, just get a bolt on hardtop for your vert.
Good luck and let us know what it runs!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,229
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From: Pomfret, CT
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Unmodified
IHRA you can still get away with a Snell 95 helmet. That is going to change soon to the Snell 2005.
13.49 is the limit for no roll bar. It may or may not be enforced.
Have fun....be safe!
13.49 is the limit for no roll bar. It may or may not be enforced.
Have fun....be safe!
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
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From: The Top of Utah
There is just too much wrong, misleading, info in this post to ignore.
A minimum 5 point bar per NHRA.
NHRA says "Helmets meeting Snell K98, 2000, 2005," and host of SFI specs are legal. It does NOT have to be "2005 or newer".
The 5 point (or more) roll bar is good ,in NHRA, from the mandatory 13.49 down to 11.50 in a convertible. At 11.49 you need a roll CAGE.
RACE ON!!!
Originally Posted by REDC4CORVETTE
If you run 13.49 or faster you will need a roll bar.4 point.
Originally Posted by REDC4CORVETTE
Helmet snell 2005 or newer.You will be kicked off the track if you are running an NHRA track,you might get away with faster at a IHRA track.
Originally Posted by REDC4CORVETTE
I just left my roll bar in my 94 ,it is bolted in but you still can't go faster than 11.49 even if you have a bolt in roll bar.
RACE ON!!!
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Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: The Top of Utah
Originally Posted by ekim81
so you can't just wear a motorcycle helmet? it's gotta be a special helmet?
RACE ON!!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 3,299
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From: Beltsville Maryland
Jim, thanks for saving me alot of typing to correct all the misinformation in this post.
I glad I'm not asking these guys about the NHRA/IHRA rules. I opt to get a NHRA rule book that comes out every year.
PS: I do agree with cuisinartvette. Call the track to be sure. Be sure that tech. staff and the person taking the call are on the same page.
I glad I'm not asking these guys about the NHRA/IHRA rules. I opt to get a NHRA rule book that comes out every year.
PS: I do agree with cuisinartvette. Call the track to be sure. Be sure that tech. staff and the person taking the call are on the same page.
Last edited by wheelsup; Oct 2, 2007 at 06:04 PM.
Race Director
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From: Southampton NJ
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: The Top of Utah
Originally Posted by wheelsup
Jim, thanks for saving me alot of typing to correct all the misinformation in this post.
I glad I'm not asking these guys about the NHRA/IHRA rules. I opt to get a NHRA rule book that comes out every year.
I glad I'm not asking these guys about the NHRA/IHRA rules. I opt to get a NHRA rule book that comes out every year.
Originally Posted by dennis50nj
i was looking at a new helmet it said M2005. i guess its a motorcycle helmet but it says snell M2005 think thats good
RACE ON!!!
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Southampton NJ
There is nothing wrong with not knowing something. But there ought to be a law against posting, clearly wrong or false information.
Yes. It is a motorcycle spec, and yes, it is fine with NHRA for the kind of cars and racing most of us do. That M2000 helmet will expire as of 1/1/2017.
RACE ON!!!
Yes. It is a motorcycle spec, and yes, it is fine with NHRA for the kind of cars and racing most of us do. That M2000 helmet will expire as of 1/1/2017.
RACE ON!!!
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: St. Louis, MO
St. Jude Donor '08
Here's the actual NHRA rule.
Unless they changed it, the 2004 NHRA 'Pure Stock' rules allow down to 11.5 without a bar even in convertibles. It's not really pure stock, some mods are permitted including DRs. No power adders. See the link below.
Some tracks don't abide by that however. It's up to the track.
Here's a link to the rule.
http://nhra.com/2004/news/june/062202.html
Some tracks don't abide by that however. It's up to the track.
Here's a link to the rule.
http://nhra.com/2004/news/june/062202.html
Race Director
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From: Lackey, my own dragstrip VA.
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One rule I enforce and my rentals & the Nationals............no matter how slow, everyone wears a helmet
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From: Former NCM Drag Racing coordinator, National director Corvette Challenge Spring Hill, Tennessee: Whiting, New Jersey
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St. Jude Donor '06-'08-'10
Looks like NHRA will allow "Pure Stock" verts down to 11.5 with no roll bar.
I see that's dated 2004. Wonder if it was retracted?
http://nhra.com/2004/news/june/062202.html
I see that's dated 2004. Wonder if it was retracted?
http://nhra.com/2004/news/june/062202.html
To that point, with input from NHRA member tracks, NHRA has finalized a set of rules for street-legal events that apply to any car considered to be purely stock and street legal. The new Pure Stock Street Legal rules and regulations can be integrated into existing street-legal categories by member tracks or run as a separate class. The new rules, however, apply only to stock OEM-type production vehicles. Once any power adder or performance hardware is used, it then must follow the existing Summit E.T. safety requirements. Otherwise, any pure-stock, street-legal car running 11.50 or slower (example: stock Dodge Viper) would be governed by the proposed new Pure Stock Street Legal rules, providing the vehicle remains completely OEM stock.
As an example, under existing Summit E.T. rules, a convertible running 13.99 and quicker must have a driveshaft loop and roll bar. Under the new rules, a pure-stock street-legal car will not require this equipment unless it runs 11.49 or quicker.
As an example, under existing Summit E.T. rules, a convertible running 13.99 and quicker must have a driveshaft loop and roll bar. Under the new rules, a pure-stock street-legal car will not require this equipment unless it runs 11.49 or quicker.
Last edited by Blue 92; Mar 18, 2008 at 07:10 PM.
Race Director
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From: Melbourne Florida
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It is my understanding that the "pure stock" rule has been removed from the rule book...the net effect being a reversion to the old rules prior...this info came from the tech folks at Moroso but check with your own track to be sure...
Racer
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: keizer OR
Woodburn OR requires a snell SA2000 or SA2005 helmet below 13.99, and they check it during tech. M (motorcycle) do not qualify for cars. SA helmets have more fireproofing material. They figure if you wreck a car you could still be in it if it catches fire. On a motorcycle you will be thrown clear of it in a wreck.
Le Mans Master
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From: Hudson Valley Region, NY The "sonoma/napa" of the Northeast~~~~~ Are we there yet?
St. Jude Donor '08
If your car is stock you wont be anywhere near 13.4.. I run a 93 vert with K&N filter, magnaflow exhust, and hypertech air charger.. I weigh 98lbs.. and on a GOOD day Im hitting 13.4.
Helmet wise, check with your track but remember.. helmets expire.. check the DOT rating and get something that is at least 2005 or later otherwise you are essentially buying an older, outdated lid
good luck let us know how you do
Helmet wise, check with your track but remember.. helmets expire.. check the DOT rating and get something that is at least 2005 or later otherwise you are essentially buying an older, outdated lid
good luck let us know how you do