Kaplan first Comp car in the 5's !!!

Congrats to Jirka Kaplan,Les Davenport and Sean Brown on their 5.97@229mph in Mission,BC this past weekend. I'm not sure what the current combo is in his altered but I think the hemi is only in the 370ci range.

 

NHRA should have dropped the run... not a TF or TAD.... must run no quicker than 6 sec. Car will not cert. for quicker than 6 sec.

 

Great pass! Congrats.

 

It was late and I was tired last night. Great pass and congrats. I was just echoing my and several other Top Dragster owners feelings about how we cannot run quicker than 6 sec or the run will be dropped.

 

Yes I would imagine this sub 6 run will open a new can of worms as far rules go.

 

5's

Congrats Guys! Very cool!

 

Pro Mods run in the fives, Nos TF and FC run in the fives, AA/FA's run in the fives.

(Yes I know what you are saying but it has been going on for a long time with cars going into the 5 second zone that were actually certified for that et).

Dean

 

The problem is not that he went 5.97 or whatever, it's that Eddie, Troy , Miss Hutson, Glenn, Sheldon, Latchman, Bob, myself and a host of others have been warned not to go quicker than six sec. The reason was tgat we did not have legal wing stands and other TAD required parts and pieces. When Mike Spitzer built my car he had an NHRA tech cert. it and it passed for 6.00 and quicker. I know that the comp cars do not have the TAD or TAFC required equipment. However I can see why the NHRA would want to keep TD cars(some of witch run a powerglide) from outrunning the bottom half of most Div. race TAD fields

 

NHRA Tech Bulletin - For Immediate Release

NHRA Tech Bulletin

Effective June 6, 2011, Top Dragsters that are capable of running into the sub six second range will be required to attach a child's pacifier to the rear wing strut (Non-NHRA approved wing struts will require an NHRA Approved Pacifier Tethering Device - Part# pu55yTether). Those competitors wishing to run quicker than the mandated times have the following options available to them as an alternative:

-Top Alcohol Dragster
-Outlaw Quick Races
-Pounding Sand

The NHRA Competition Committee recently reviewed the original purpose of the rule and determined the intent was to keep unexperienced drivers safe, the rule will stay as it is. The Competition Eliminator class is a class where each competitor is rewarded for running the fartherst under the index of the specific class. NHRA is not going to say a certain car within the class cannot run under the index by more than a certain amount (to keep it at six seconds or slower) but a ten second car can run as far under theirs as they'd like. We are aware that some competitors may deem this "unfair", again your other options are listed above.

Also, as a reminder, racers in this class may also affix a stutter box to temporarily close the throttle device after the car has launched for a pre-set time, then open the throttle via air solenoid to complete the run. The aforementioned is similar to what is used in Super Comp.

 

No the simple reality is that you have opted to run a class with an established minimum ET of 6.00. Comp eliminator is not the same as it is not bound by the limitations of an established minimum ET.

Comp eliminator cars are not required to have the same equipment as TAD and TAFC, they are different animals. Will the comp rules be adjusted in light of the performance in AA/AM getting into the five second zone? That is a question the competition committee may discuss?

The purpose of this thread was to congratulate Jirka, Les, and the crew on a momentous run in Comp Eliminator. Seems like the sole purpose of your comments is to point to what you see as an injustice, you cannot run your car in NHRA events as fast as you would like to or it is capable of. Solution seems simple, switch classes to another that you fit into so you can race the way you desire.

Kerry J

 

Listen you two... I could care less about the four or five comp cars that show up at a race and run their six bangers until it's tounge hangs out. You act as if what comp is is all that diff from any other dial in class... the only diff is the NHRA sets your dial for you, you break out at your own risk. If I wanted to run TAD I'd run TAD...I don't. The only time you guys race heads up is if another car in your class, (between hundreds of diff. classes) happens to line up beside you. . Jirkas run was a good one and he deserves credit...but the reasons we were given were safety related not performance related.

 

Mrs. Stroud,
I'd say your best option is to air your grievances with NHRA, they are always willing to listen to the racer and make the correct decision regarding rules. I think it's really cool all the women that are coming up in the fast dragster/sportsman ranks.

Steve L.

 

Good to see you post your name Steve L. Sorry to hijack your congrats thread Jirka. Steve L. real cute with the Mrs. deal how did you know I,m married? Look me up at a race sometime....if you are a racer, we'll talk.

 

Lol

For the record:

I was never told the rule on the 6.0 second limit was a safety reason or any other such thing. I was told the rule is 6.0 seconds or slower per the NHRA Rule book. There was no need for a reason in my opinion! That is the rule and we try like hell to obey the rule. I like T/D racing. It is fun! I have no problem with the 6.0 second limit!

If I have a brain fart and I can't keep my car over 6.0 seconds then they just pitch the run. It is my own fault if I go faster than 6.0 seconds and you will never hear me complain that it is not fair. It is fair. In fact when we do go faster than 6.0 seconds you will see me upset at the end of the track. Not because of the rule, but because I was not smart enough to stay within the rules! The rules state I can not go faster than 6.0 seconds.

If someone else in another car in T/D or not in T/D (say Comp) goes a 5 then I say CONGRATULATIONS! It does not offend/bother/irk etc me in the least that another class is allowed & did go faster than 6 seconds. I don't even want to think what kind of money, testing and time it took to get that comp car into the 5's!!! YIKES!!!

There are other options if I or other drivers want to go faster than 6.0 seconds (see above post)but those options are NOT in NHRA Top Dragster. The rule is not going to change in my opinion.

We are happy with Top Dragster just the way it is and we enjoy being out there and racing with everyone with the 6.0 second limit!! It is easy on parts, fun and challenging as all hell.

I know I have received several calls from T/D drivers complaining about the 6.0 second limit and my response is that if you don't like the limit then don't race Top Dragster. There are fast cars in T/D that are perfectly happy with only going 6.0 seconds or slower! We happen to be one of those cars that enjoys this type of racing!

On a side note there are times when we get to have a shoot out in Top Dragster and the 1 time I have qualified for that shootout, they removed the 6.0 second limit. So Top Dragster can at some times go faster than 6.0 seconds.

Jody, I know you are all up on the tire about this issue, but as I said before, you and I both know it is not going to change. Don't paratroopers have to adapt to the situation? lol Come do the 6.0 second racing with us! It is an absolute blast!!!! You don't have to work on your car all the time. It is like racing a super comp car. Fuel, adjust the valves, battery charger, parachutes, golf cart...go socialize!!!

What could be more fun?

Stoner

 

Pacifier

LOL Hey Gizmo!

Can you tell me where I might be able to purchase the Pacifier Tether? I had no idea I was violating the rules and Joliet is only a few days away! LOL

LOL Now that you have put up the new rule I am going to have to go out and find a pacifier to zip tie to my wing strut! lol Now that would be funny! Look for it in Joliet! I think a nice pink one would go well with my green car! lol

Your post got me laughing pretty hard! I think the pacifier is a must. Maybe I will write "Baby T.A.D" around it lol

Or better yet, I need to write "Driver in Training" lol Too funny!

Stoner

 

I do like the driver in training!!!! Congrats Kaplan. Like I said before, if you run T/D, then voice your opinion. If not, go to the super comp or super gas website and voice your stupid comments about down track stuuuutters. which I don't think your allowed to have in T/D? If your not a MRS., let's go out and party Jody and maybe go parachuting, if you know how!!!