Advisory Council note - Safety rules lead time

Discussion in 'Pit Buzz' started by Will Hanna, Mar 5, 2008.

  1. Will Hanna

    Will Hanna We put the 'inside' in Top Alcohol
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    Can those of you who will be in the SRAC meeting in Gainesville bring up the issue of safety rules and lead time?

    Let's try to avoid the cluster everyone had to go through this past offseason with shrouds, helmet pads and seat inserts.

    If at all possible, future safety/hardware rules changes need to be announced by Indy preferrably, no later than Dallas. Coming out with something a few weeks after Pomona makes it real hard on all the racers to get something done.
     
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  2. 310TAD

    310TAD Top Alcohol

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    Srac

    Will,
    I agree, and I have printed your concer, along with every other one I have recieved. I will compile these early next week, before we leave for Gainesville, and take them to the meeting.

    Have a super day,
    Marty
     
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  3. Bob Meyer

    Bob Meyer Comp Eliminator

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    Will; one thing I hope is handled. For TAFC in 2009, mandatory quick release rear body latches using cables and pins as per the 2008 rule book.
    I thought this was the stupidist thing I've ever seen before they tried to make it mandatory. Over a year ago, I designed a simple latch system that locks the body to the chassis, then when pulling the all aluminum "T" handle equipped rod from the back of body, the body will lift straight up.
    I brought pictures to Jim Collins at Pomona (and also Bob DeVour) and Collins gave it his blessing. All I asked was for a sentence that read: cables and pins OR an approved system.
    Most nitro guys that I talked to have agreed that the cable system is a joke. It works great when the wires are cold, but try pulling them when they are "RED" from flame, afterall, where does the fire go ? (straight to the back).
    We need time to analyze problems before they are made into rules. (i.e.- the cage shroud slot fiasco) I feel sorry for the guys who just installed their shroud with 1 3/4" tall slots !!!
    Bob
     
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  4. Will Hanna

    Will Hanna We put the 'inside' in Top Alcohol
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    implementation

    In the event a rule change does come down the pipe late, this could have been a lot easier with a gainesville or houston implementation date rather than february and pomona-belle rose/bradenton.
     
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  5. Ken Sitko

    Ken Sitko Super Comp

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    I agree with you guys whole heartedly.
     
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  6. Bob Meyer

    Bob Meyer Comp Eliminator

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    Make that "guys and gals" !! Sorry to be the bearer of bad news Nancy!
    All the new members of this committee need to jump on this kind of crap. If one car gets thrown out of tech for "improper slots in the shroud" at G'ville, y'all need to make a stand for these people even if YOUR shroud is legal!
    Old cranky guy.......(and SFI invalidated)
     
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  7. Randy G.

    Randy G. Top Alcohol

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    Bob:

    I am replacing the carbon fiber shrouds in my car because #1 the 1 3/4" vertical slot looks like crap and #2 the 1 3/4" vertical slot looks like crap. I agree it could be something you could get bounced for in tech in the future since the gaping wide holes sort of defeat the purpose of having the shroud in the first place.

    There is alway a big panic to make our cars legal by the Winternationals every year because a lot of changes to the rules are posted after the Christmas/New Year break NHRA takes. This year the rules were changing by the minute. At Pomona, NHRA tech seemed sympathetic to the situation, however.

    Randy
     
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  8. RT

    RT New Member

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    obviously I missed something, what is the deal with the 1 3/4 slots your referring to?
     
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  9. Ro Yale

    Ro Yale Member

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    I agree with what's been said. Why the shield rule to begin with? Has there been a problem with a alky car? Also in reference to the oil retention pan. It would be nice to have a diagram of some kind. I'm all for safety but is some of it overkill? I don't know. Thanks to the reps for your help in these matters.
    Ro Yale
     
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  10. CAlbertTAD149

    CAlbertTAD149 New Member

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    RT, the slots are so they can cut the cage with the jaws of life. Since the shroud comes to the middle of the hoop you can't get in to make the cut. I believe thats why they wanted the slots originally.


    The helmet shroud was very instrumental in our crash. The car impacted the wall right between the bars on the cage. Had there been no shroud, his head may have hit the wall directly. Also it kept some of the fire off of his neck. The helmet was not burned on the sides and back where the shroud covered. Everything from there forward was completely burned. In my opinion the shroud helped save his life.
     
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  11. kosky racing

    kosky racing Comp Eliminator

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    Slots

    Randy The slots issue Is one big mess I have questioned from the beginning why does top fuel not have to have the slots the reply was that they run at national event tracks that are better prepared to handle a bad situation .So therefore they don't need them . Now I cut them in and redid the whole mounting thing and now they are OPTIONAL? This is the reason we need to step up and ask why.I personaly am pissed big time. MIKe
     
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  12. Randy G.

    Randy G. Top Alcohol

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    RT:

    When the shrouds were first required (Jan 2008) the rule said slots were to be cut with an opening 1 3/4" high by 2" wide where the roll cage bars meet the shoulder hoop. The size of the holes just about rendered the shroud useless.

    Then, a few weeks later they changed the rule to 3/4" high by 2" wide (which makes sense) but many including us already cut them out too large. Since we have to run the shroud, it might as well be installed in a way that it will actually do what it is supposed to do, and that's why I am replacing mine with a new one.

    For sale: Bret Williamson's Team Eagle NHRA approved carbon fiber shroud with large slots. If your car has a shorter cage, you'll need to cut the bottom off the shroud anyway which might make it a perfect fit. $300.00.

    RG
     
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  13. Randy G.

    Randy G. Top Alcohol

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    Mike:
    I went to the NHRA web site and read the update. It sounds to me like they are saying they want the slots, but that the smaller slots are optional. I don't think it they are saying the slots themselves are optional and you don't need to have them. I'd call Danny Gracia.
    Randy.
     
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    Last edited: Mar 6, 2008
  14. Bob Meyer

    Bob Meyer Comp Eliminator

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    Randy; last week, FFC also said optional, this week it's gone !!
    I'm only guessing, but I think that they are thinking they can cut the whole shoulder hoop out of a mid engine dragster, shroud and all, since all the flying crap and fire is back there.
    Actually, I should know better, I have no clue what they are thinking, neither do they........obviously!

    Bob
    P.S. even though I'm "invalidated", I really still can think, so here's one for the thinkers out there...... due to the angle of the cage second hoop to the shoulder hoop, how do you get the jaws of the tool through a 3/4" slot ???
    Do you suppose anyone tried it before the rule was changed ??
    (no wonder they fired me from the committee, too many barnyard logic questions)
     
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  15. F/C Girl

    F/C Girl New Member

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    I inquired about this yesterday as well. After a few lengthy conversations, the way it was explained to me is that it's a minimum of "3/4 by 2".

    Ours is 1 1/4 by 2" and I was very specifically told, this was A OK.

    Crazy stuff though.
     
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  16. eli

    eli Banned

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    In stead of the racers having to do all this $# it why don't they fix the tires? I read an article where some one of the Goodyear team had a tire that would fix everything???
     
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  17. Dale H.

    Dale H. Member

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    I read the article in the Dragster about the new fuel funny car frame specs.Do you wanna start betting on when the spec will be required in alcohol? I'll say 1 year.
    I think they ought to just get it over with once and for all. Put a track down each lane to steer the cars and electric radio servos on the controls, and have the drivers stand behind them with radio controlers, oops! (can't stand behind them ,might get backed on) stand in the tower and control them down the track. Also put 1/4 in. thick steel barrel completly around the engine and transmission in case of an explosion to hold in the shapnel, then you would have a truly safe race car! Come On when is it going to end?
     
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    Last edited: Mar 6, 2008
  18. RT

    RT New Member

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    Thanks for the explanation Randy.
     
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  19. kosky racing

    kosky racing Comp Eliminator

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    SRAC meeting

    The first meeting will take place this Friday Anyone having any imput please call me. 412 221 2482 or cell 412 498 7147 Mike Kosky
     
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