TAD/TAFC changes for next year helmet shrouds, pads, belly pans, etc.

"TAD & TAFC:
Foam Insert Seat pads will be mandatory. Padding does not have to be necessarily below the driver, but is recommended if cage clearance allows. Padding has to be securely mounted to the seat around the torso."

Some of the "dimensionally challenged" drivers have no extra room in the seat as it is. If you are small like Brett Williamson and the seat swallows you that's one thing, but I've seeen DT and Bucky in their cars and there is no room left for any padding unless they build new cars that have 25 to 30 inch wide frame rails.

What's your take on this, Will? You're no Hillary Will yourself (as in...petite).

 

Randy I have that same question. Paul is in the midst of building a new car as we speak its 80% complete, what do we do now, drivers compartment is done the cage is not yet there but do we tell them to stop cut it apart and get another 5 grand tacked on?? kinda sucks they couldnt make these changes allitle earlier. I know it is what it is and safety should never be compromised but alittle heads up would be nice. It really is going to hit hard to to the teams like you mentioned Pauls not a big guy but ther is no more room for the extra padding. Thanks to Will for his insider heads up maybe we can make the changes mid stream but it sure does'nt look like it.
Scott

 

Larger drivers sliding in and out of a funny car with an SFI 20 fire suit on aren't going to have 1/4 worth of voids anywhere if the seat was properly built with lumbar support, etc. Kenny Mooers was a good at form fitting the drivers seat, like may others are, I'm sure. I'd like to see how this works out.

Long before very many had them I had the Butler pads installed at eye level in my car. Required or not, they should be there.

I hope this isn't the beginning of the knee jerk reactions to JF's deal.

Randy

 

San Mateo + CFM 4 ever

lets just see what transpires in the next few days/weeks ladies,
no ranting yet as it's not official yet. Have a great weekend all.
me gusta pizza con pepperoni, asada, chorizo,jalapenos. Con un lado de nacho cheese. Que te gusta en tu pizza?

 

If I can fit an insert with Patton in the car then every one can do a little something. When I built his car I knew the I was going to build the insert for the seat so it was easier and more room for the insert. The only issue is that the driver will need to stick to his or her weight so you will fit all year or it gets really tight. We have run the insert all year and it helped in Johns back with any shake.

Thanks
Kevin Knowles
602-376-2336

 

Who is making these "inserts"? I won't need it for IHRA,but I put the Butler's in before it became a rule as I am all about SAFETY! I also have back problems and could use a little "help". Is there a web link? Thanks, Tim

 

Tim,
In addition to distributing the BUTLERbuilt Lateral Head Supports, I build seat inserts. My web site is garvinmotorsports.com.
I want to let everyone know that I was against mandating seat inserts.
Our Lateral Head Supports were in the majority of cars when NHRA made them mandatory in the fuel ranks. The majority of cars have head supports in the alcohol classes, and mandating them now, especially after the rash of side impact accidents this last year, makes sense. Now adding inserts to the list of things that racers have to do before the season starts is a little much. It takes me approximately 10 hours to do an insert properly. There are over 200 Dragsters and Funny cars in the class, with the majority running without inserts. While an insert can help every driver, certainly the smaller driver would get the most benefit from an insert and I don't think they need to be reminded of this, but maybe I'm wrong?
Jeff Garvin

 

Will, where are you reading this at?

 

Thanks for your update Will.
Anyone that has one of my inserts can contact me and I will send them an easy to apply logo to comply with the new rule.
Jeff
www.garvinmotorsports.com

 

Will; who do I talk to about the rear latch assembly?
My thought is the cable and pin deal is stupid! Has anyone ever put fire to a cable? The housing melts and the wire deforms drastically.
I have just finished two Mustangs with a very simple mechanical pull linkage with a 1/2" aluminum rod with "T" handle that will still be there when the body is a puddle on the ground!
I hope to hell they didn't use FEA on this too!

 

I called NHRA tech at Glendora and asked about implementation dates on these changes. So the body latch which is readily buildable is deferred till next year but I was told the helmet shield was due Jan 1 08. So the part that costs the most money and is the LEAST available has to be done right now? Are they trying to run the alcohol racers out of the business. The seat insert and lateral head supports don't particularly faze me- I can buy them. But nobody builds a helmet shield for a funny car that I know of. Diversatech makes one for dragsters but apparently not funny cars.
Now on a slightly different level- why the changes in TAFC? Any tires exploding and killing us? Any tires coming apart and shaking us to death? I had a feeling that with the serious accidents in fuel funny cars they would be dealing with rule changes but why the alcohol cars too? Another completely BS kneejerk reaction from the NHRA. So we will shield and pad the living heck out of fuel funny cars but what about the chassis problem? Obviously McKinney can lobby NHRA to whatever standards he wants. Now the REAL question- when do they require air bags? Dave Germain

 

Dave, Ya think you're in a bad mood now --- I was told that the helmet shields were going to be mandatory in 08 --- 3 months ago !

 

Maybe, just maybe the NHRA could have said something to us? So as I see it here are the choices- cobble something together with multiple pie cuts and sections that will look like crap or wait until somebody tools up to build the dies to form the shield. So we essentially have two months to get this built if we are to attend Pomona. And to add insult to injury there actually hasn't been any OFFICIAL notice of the rule changes. I truly appreciate Will and all the other guys who have inside knowledge tipping us to these changes but I would really like to see something official. Marvelous, simply marvelous.
Dave Germain

 

Has anyone called Diversatech?

 

Spitzer is making carbon fiber ones. He is waiting on NHRA to approve his design. He should have approval this week.