New NHRA rules?? roll cage

[Pro Stock John]

I think OP is looking at the wrong link.

I don't have my NHRA rulebook handy, but wasn't it that we need a roll bar (5 pts min) for 11.5 and quicker, and when going over 135? (I'm going off memory, might be faulty).

For a high 10 second car like GMRulz, I would assume you are already supposed to have a 5 pt bar though you might be getting by that, or racing at non-IHRA tracks.

I need to add a driveshaft loop at some point, though I've never been teched for it ever.

[white ZL1]

That's the old rule, yes.
The OP listed an amendment that was recently made that sounds like it changes that rule for 2008 and newer.

[AngelSpeedFreak]

Originally Posted by Pro Stock John

I think OP is looking at the wrong link.

I don't have my NHRA rulebook handy, but wasn't it that we need a roll bar (5 pts min) for 11.5 and quicker, and when going over 135? (I'm going off memory, might be faulty).

For a high 10 second car like GMRulz, I would assume you are already supposed to have a 5 pt bar though you might be getting by that, or racing at non-IHRA tracks.

I need to add a driveshaft loop at some point, though I've never been teched for it ever.

old rule.

They just added an amendment but no one seems to be too sure exactly what that means.

My track has already come back and said that they will not allow me (maggie) to run without a roll cage if I am going to go faster than 11.5.

I have a feeling this new rule is going to be interpreted differently at all tracks?

[Pro Stock John]

But you already have to run a 5 pt bar running quicker than 11.5 at NHRA tracks... That's not a change. It used to be 11.9 a few years ago btw.

[AngelSpeedFreak]

Originally Posted by Pro Stock John

But you already have to run a 5 pt bar running quicker than 11.5 at NHRA tracks... That's not a change. It used to be 11.9 a few years ago btw.

You don't seem to be understanding that they (NHRA) are amending the rules starting January 1st 2013. In 2008 and newer cars you do not need a roll cage (5pt,6pt,12pt, etc) to run slower than a 9.99 now. The question is what does "unaltered" actually mean?

[Pro Stock John]

Oh I see. I know a track manager of one of the big ones, I'll ask him.

Seems to me that only factory fast cars would take advantage of that? Not many cars that run 10's stock though.

[GMRULZ]

Originally Posted by Pro Stock John

But you already have to run a 5 pt bar running quicker than 11.5 at NHRA tracks... That's not a change. It used to be 11.9 a few years ago btw.

True, but this new rule seems to imply if you have a ZL-1 as it comes supercharged can run faster than 11.5 but slower than 9.99@135 and will not need a cage of any sort. Same would apply for a ZR-1 if the rule change is correct, those run 10.9 on average bonestock and under this new rule would not need the cage. An SS or regular Vette 2008 or newer still would need the cage if a supercharger was added as they did not come factory equiped w/ one. Now if you have Zl1 badges on the SS the odds of someone at the track knowing the difference in a aftermarket blown zl-1 badged SS and a real ZL-1 are slim. Hence badging may allow us to run w/ out the cage. The crash integrity of a ZL-1 is not different than an SS. We have all the same air bags ect.. So its really not a safety issue from SS to ZL-1. As far as braking goes, my car stops on a dime for a big car, much better than most 9 second backyard built Nova`s, Foxbody`s ect..



Currently, I get by it at track rentals, your spending so much money they look the other way kinda thing, but not during normal track day/events T&T and so forth. I would really like to run whenever I want too, not just private rentals. I will not add a cage as the car is mostly done performancewise. I carry my kids in the back to car shows, carry friends out on a friday night ect... a cage ruins it and turns it into a 1 demensional car in my opinion.

[naSSty1]

That makes literally NO sense to me. So you can run let's say a 10.0 flat in a ZL1 and be ok, but if you run a 10.0 flat in a SS with a super charger added you must add a role cage. Some one up there didn't put much thought into that. There HAS to be more to this than what I am reading.

[The_Blur]

Originally Posted by Unreal

ZL575s wouldn't count. Those are just modded cars from SLP. Would be no different than anyone else bolting a maggie on. ZL1s would count but the odds of them running faster than 11.5 bone stock is pretty much non-existent.

I'm certain that a limited edition or custom car from a company like SLP or Nickey Chicago would be treated as an altered car. If you can get it with those options on the invoice, that's a different animal.

Originally Posted by naSSty1

That makes literally NO sense to me. So you can run let's say a 10.0 flat in a ZL1 and be ok, but if you run a 10.0 flat in a SS with a super charger added you must add a role cage. Some one up there didn't put much thought into that. There HAS to be more to this than what I am reading.

The ZL1 has been brought to the track for testing and tuning by GM. The SS was tuned on a dyno or computer by, hopefully, a professional. Let's not forget about all the suspension and other changes designed to handle all that power on the ZL1. The tuner might not be inclined to put as much effort into safe driving. I'd err on the side of the manufacturer with this one if I were the NHRA.

[white ZL1]

Guys, stop confusing the NHRA Stock Car classes and their requirements with NHRA Street Legal. The stuff GMRULZ posted are the requirements to run in the Stock Car class and this new amendment is specifically referring to Street Legal, and says:
Unaltered 2008 OEM model year and newer production cars running slower than 9.99 and 135 mph do not have to meet the requirements and specifications....etc
In my mind, there is only 1 question and it's exactly what the OP asked.
What is unaltered? And typically, in NHRA terms, that means stock firewall and floor.

All of the rest of this stuff about badges and performance modifications means nothing.

[naSSty1]

^^ Oh, well that makes perfect sense then. Just because some one added a SC made absolutely NONE! Regardless of how many hours of testing a manufacture does on a track or computer.

[AngelSpeedFreak]

I agree that everyone needs to be safe, if the NHRA says I have to have a cage then I will understand. It just seems like maybe they now realize that the safety standards from 2008 and up have changed significantly?

I mean look at it this way, would you rather be in a 2012 camaro SS when you flip your car or hit a wall at 120 or be in a 1984 foxbody mustang that has been completely stripped for weight reduction but it has a bolted in 6 point roll cage? Personally I think you would be a lot safer in the new car.... I think this is where the new rule is coming from, yet I have a feeling for us SS owners we are still going to have to do the cage? The ZL1 people probably wont have to which kinda sucks since they really are the same cars. Oh well....

[GMRULZ]

Originally Posted by white 2SS/RS

I still don't think you guys are any closer to the truth. I'm pretty sure that the rules above are referring to the stock car classes.
NHRA stock car

The amendment above is referring to Street Legal.

Any idea where to find out what is allowed under this Street Legal class and what is not?

[2SS45th]

I could ask Bandimere Speedway here in CO, any of the drag strips that hold top fuel events and such will probably have the best interpretation of the rules. I would like to not have to put a cage in my car, but if I have to, I will as well.