New NHRDA rules
- Thread starter MadMooseEngineering
- Start date
... I love the fact that NHRDA came to the 2009 members that raced and asked opinions about rules, instead of just changing then without feedback.
It's certainly a refreshing change from organizations that:
- Decide the rules after the event is over.
- Make the rules while the trucks are in lanes.
- Let certain trucks make the rules to guarantee their attendance.
That was one of the reasons we focused on other forms of diesel truck competition after 2007; that we never knew what the rules really were when we raced a drag event. We were given a set of rules for us to comply with, then arrive and find out others get different rules or were allowed to ignore them with the blessing and assistance of the race org.
To be honest, running Casper in a "street class" doesn't seem right, but there is no way to get a 2500HD to be truly competitive in a 4500lb class, and it exceeds the minimum reqs for the Super Street class.
But let's get real.
Your truck would probably get smoked pretty hard by the Stuckey truck, or the Mustang, in Pro. It's simply a weight thingy. 4500lb gets a full ton of weight advantage over a common HD pickup, and still 20% advantage over a Theft Recovery HD. You do stand a solid chance based on attendance and attrition, but not based on ET. That would be like saying Casper was competitive in 2007. Not really. Not much competition. I just got lucky and outdrove the Orange Crush truck, and everyone else broke or got the tuning wrong.
Casper in drag trim is still an all-steel original body, frame, no engine/trans/axle swaps, etc, and is street legal, registered, insured. It still hauls stuff in the bed and has a beefy tow hitch on it. But I no longer consider it a street truck. I couldn't drive it daily even if I wanted (I have kids), and even then, it's a miserable and dangerous street truck. The beauty about a Dmax Hotrod Pickup is that they are comfortable, fun to drive, haul a lot of people/equipment/trailers and can be made quicker than a Viper with better mileage. If you start thinking about them as race cars, they are slugs.
Yes, I went "too far" with Casper. I'll admit it. Wendy is a far better truck, and that's what I daily drive. I'm of the belief you can have a "Viper Killer" daily driver that is fun to drive, and I think many others share that goal. Wendy isn't up to that power level, but I feel that kind of build is what most of us want, a 11-12 second tow vehicle that you enjoy to drive every day.
But racing is racing. It's not daily driving. It would impossible to make a set of rules that would ensure folks enjoy driving their trucks daily. My difference in opinion on the rules boils down to allowing engine/trans swaps and weight. It favors cars and minitrucks in a class I wish to run a real diesel pickup in. I will only win events based on attendance and attrition; I have the wrong platform for the class. Kinda like LSR, we can only set records until a minitruck shows up, which is the correct platform for the class, as it will take 1/3 less HP to run the same speed.
I don't really have much interest in building a car/minitruck with a diesel pickup engine in it. I can certainly make 1000HP more reliably and cheaper going with a spark engine. I think they are cool, but we already have a nice high performance car. Sure it runs on gas, but it handles like a slotcar, gets 28mpg highway, and goes "over 175". It takes 15 minutes to wipe the grin off my face after beating on it. No, it won't beat a purpose-built drag car, but it won't lose to a Viper in a dragrace either, and will also spank it when the road gets twisty. That ain't happening with a 1200lb engine/trans in the nose.
Cliff Notes: I run classes where permitted, I obey rules, and don't request special consideration. But I have a different vision about diesel truck racing.
i know every truck is different just was hoping i wasnt going to get blown away when i showed up at the track
alright 10's is was faster then i ever hoped for out of my truck. i just want an 11.9 right now
whats legally mean?11.5 legally
very well put Pat.
My point on the fuel cell is that it is a street class and fuel cells are not DOT approved. I run 100% over injectors in my daily driver and tow with it. Just got a new set from SoCal today that I will be swapping in today actually.
I agree with Pat on most of this. To me diesel performance is about the daily driver truck that gets 20mpg, tows just about anything you want it to, hauls stuff in the bed, seats 5 people, spanks "muscle" and "sports" cars at the track, and sled pulls - the fact that we can do all that with one vehicle is what draws me to diesel performance. I just think there needs to be a class for street legal trucks that can and do still do it all and with some changes the Super Street class is the best fit for that. There are higher classes for the guys that want to build dedicated race trucks.
I agree with Pat on most of this. To me diesel performance is about the daily driver truck that gets 20mpg, tows just about anything you want it to, hauls stuff in the bed, seats 5 people, spanks "muscle" and "sports" cars at the track, and sled pulls - the fact that we can do all that with one vehicle is what draws me to diesel performance. I just think there needs to be a class for street legal trucks that can and do still do it all and with some changes the Super Street class is the best fit for that. There are higher classes for the guys that want to build dedicated race trucks.
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I drive my truck quite regularly, even towed my 27 ft. enclosed sled trailer to b.c and back. All randy and the guys are trying to do is put the full race trucks in pro street. Maybe they do need to run index's as it seems now the 10.0 trucks may be the ones that are sort of in no mans land at the bigger events.
At most events 11.50 trucks will do well in SS and 10.50 trucks do well in PS,
Really? There are DOT legal Fuel cells. Fuel Safe makes them. You can find them in many Police and Goverment cars.
Also To your weight comments earlier.
The GM figure comes for a Manual trans truck which is a lot lighter.
My CCLB weights 6300
The GM is not the lightest Diesel truck. If you think that than you most not have looked at a 1st gen Dodge.
I'm thinking we'll race brackets in Max'd Out, race Michael in his old Ford and give him an 8 sec head start. See if he can keep from braking too soon.:thumb:
:thumb:
Yes, they made a Chevy LUV diesel IIRC, and I doubt it weighed 2500lb... Rabbit Diesel Pickup?
Trivia, there was also a GMC Caballero (El Camino) with the "Olds" diesel in it. I'm trying to find one, but I think they are all dead and gone.
Yes, they made a Chevy LUV diesel IIRC, and I doubt it weighed 2500lb... Rabbit Diesel Pickup?
Trivia, there was also a GMC Caballero (El Camino) with the "Olds" diesel in it. I'm trying to find one, but I think they are all dead and gone.
My Dad had a LUV diesel.:thumb:
I knew about the Olds diesel.:spit:
My point was it was said that GMs are the lightest. Not true. 1st gens are becoming more common as racers as real racers have figured out there is no glory in having a slower but heavier truck. Lighter trucks go quicker and break less parts. Having the quickest 7000 lbs truck is like argueing who has the biggest 3"er. Even if you right your still coming up short!
Build it light and leave the whining to the Ford guys!:happy2:
You guys are telling me that your not a serious race truck But that you need to put 100 over injectors in so you can be a good street truck/tow vehicle? Palease
Point is that i can tow a 27 ft trailer with a fuel cell also....No difference.
Dustin my tank is DOT aprroved, it has a stamp right on it.
Doesnt matter I will just race pro street and stop bitchen about the fuel tank:thumb:
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Yes, they made a Chevy LUV diesel IIRC, and I doubt it weighed 2500lb... Rabbit Diesel Pickup?
Trivia, there was also a GMC Caballero (El Camino) with the "Olds" diesel in it. I'm trying to find one, but I think they are all dead and gone.
Also Ford Ranger with a diesel, buddy has one he tows behind his big combine when he is switching fields for transportation back.
Has anyone seen anything about roll bars? I really want to keep my back seat but cant figure out how to do it.
It's NHRA/IHRA tech.
Up to 14.00, you need just a safe truck, no leaks, all the lugs, no crap in the bed.
13.99-11.50, you need a SNELL 2000/2005 helmet.
11.49-10.00, you add a rollbar, firejacket, and 5-pt.
9.99 or quicker, you need a bunch of stuff, including a competition license and certified rollcage.
Up to 14.00, you need just a safe truck, no leaks, all the lugs, no crap in the bed.
13.99-11.50, you need a SNELL 2000/2005 helmet.
11.49-10.00, you add a rollbar, firejacket, and 5-pt.
9.99 or quicker, you need a bunch of stuff, including a competition license and certified rollcage.
I understand that but how does the bar need to be? Do I need to come straight down from the main hoop or car I follow the roof to the back door then down?
Depends on who techs it that day, that track. Rollbars aren't certified.
Curved bars are not as strong as straight ones. The drawing in the $10 NHRA rulebook shows them being straight.
IIRC, at least two trucks I can think of used curved bars for the main hoop support, you'd have to ask them if they had any issues, and at which tracks.
Don't remember who. Seen two different trucks post on the internet, both Dmaxes. Was one Keith "Nasty Girl?"
If I were in your shoes, I buy an NHRA rulebook (if you join the NHRA, you can get access to the on-line version immediately), then read it carefully.
Next, find your divisional Tech guy, and submit sketches to him, and see if he will write you a letter. Keep the letter in your logbook or glovebox.
Regardless of what folk have run with (I've seen some real weiners), it is up to the track guy to sign your tech card. If you have a letter, it can save you some grief.
I did catch some grief with our first rollbar, but they let me slide. It was not welded to the frame, and the Tech at Famoso didn't like it.
Next, find your divisional Tech guy, and submit sketches to him, and see if he will write you a letter. Keep the letter in your logbook or glovebox.
Regardless of what folk have run with (I've seen some real weiners), it is up to the track guy to sign your tech card. If you have a letter, it can save you some grief.
I did catch some grief with our first rollbar, but they let me slide. It was not welded to the frame, and the Tech at Famoso didn't like it.