VCA DRAG RACING AT GAINESVILLE SET FOR SATURDAY OCT. 11

[Gary Lashinsky]

We now have 22 Vipers are signed up for our drag racing day at Gainesville Raceway and we anticipate more to come. Attention SE Viper/VCA members. You are welcome to participate with the Central and North Florida VCA at this event. We have this great dragstrip rented from 8AM to 4 PM on Saturday Oct. 11. Call the VCA office at 407-366-0366 and ask for Barb or Gary. We can fax or e-mail you the advance registration for your participation. Viper and driver cost is $30.00 for the day. Crew members are $10.00 each. Lunch will be provided for VCA members. Guests will cost $10.00 each. for lunch. This is a great opportunity to run your Viper on a world class dragstrip. . .call us now and register at 407-366-0366. we wi be running under NHRA safety rules. The classes will be set up for stock Gen. 1, Gen. 2 and SRT 10's plus Modified Vipers with out NOS, Turbo's and Superchargers running on the motor only and unlimited (anything goes). If you run 11.99 or quicker you will need a roll bar and five point harness. Please bring your own helmet as they will be required to run your Viper. We will run all day except for a break for lunch. Lunch will be served in the NHRA Guest Suite in the tower. Let us hear from you!

--------------------
Gary Lashinsky

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

Call the VCA office at 407-366-0366 and ask for Barb or Gary.

Ask for Barb, she's much prettier.

 

[Tom Welch]

Damn,

Looks like I'm gonna be in unlimited....LOL

See yall there!

Tom

 

[Larry Macedo]

I've been asked to tech the cars for this event and NHRA rules do apply. The track is very serious about these rules and they will be strictly enforced. I've been prepping my guys to ensure they have all of the neccessary safety equipment needed to run during this event. I know for sure that Tom, Ward, Tony and John all have the required equipment. If anyone has a question regarding the equipment needed, please feel free to contact Gary Lashinsky. Thanks!

 

[Gary Lashinsky]

Thanks Larry. I appreciate you prepping your customers on what is required for safety. All of you who are coming must understand that this is not in anyway to restrict you from running your best, but for your safety. If you can spend thousands of dollars on performance upgrades to go faster the few bucks it take to be safe are worth spending. It's your ass out there and if anything goes wrong it's nice to know you are
in a safe vehicle.

 

[Tom Welch]

How about this.........

10% rebate on all safety equipment purchased from BTR Performance from today until October 10th 2003.

What more reason could you want to enhance your safety and state of mind.

Tom

 

[jkracer9]

NHRA is a cage for any car faster than 10 sec and a parachute if you run 150 MPH correct???

 

[fuelman]

NHRA is a cage for any car faster than 10 sec and a parachute if you run 150 MPH correct???

This is from the 2003 NHRA rule book:

"Roll cage mandatory in cars running 10.99 or quicker or any car exceeding 135 mph. In Full bodied cars, with unaltered firewall, floor and body running between 10.00 and 10.99 roll bar permitted in place of roll cage."

"PARACHUTE: mandatory on any car with top speed faster than 150 mph."

So since all Vipers have a top speed of more than 150 mph, do we all need parachutes? Maybe they should have said trap speed, rather than top speed. Gainesville is a great track, all you posers and wax queens should get off your butts and attend. The Viper was built to be rung out not to sit in your garage. Call Gary, lets make this a great event.

 

[Tom Welch]

Fuelmans text was exact!

With regards to "top speed". The NHRA rule book is written with only 1/4 mile racing in mind....to them top speed is ones speed at the end of the 1/4 mile.

From my personal experience, racing at gainesville since 1980, they are more concerned about the "can see" items like roll bars and seat belts, helmets and sfi jackets. They may ask about transmission shields, aftermarket axles and wheel studs, but a yes nod from the driver usually will suffice.

Tom

 

[Fishtail]

I'll try to make it. That's a long haul to get thrown out if you don't have the right equipment.

-Lou

 

[Cudaman]

I have to run in the wrong class too...I will run in Stock class......I mean UNLIMITED .... darn I will feel really fast that day. I am not sure I will be able to keep it under a 150 mph thru the traps.

I know that Fuelman and Tom and myself ...all have proper safety equipment ....roll bar, heavy duty 1/2 shafts, drive shaft loops, 5 point seat belt sytem as well as sfi jacket, pants, shoes and gloves. I will have to work on the parachute maybe if I can't get it in time, I will be a long rope an anchor.

To run Gainesville Dragstrip in a fast car is something I dreamed about doing 30 years ago...... and now it will become a reality.(I spent a lot of time keeping that post alive to make sure it could happen .... thanks Tom for posting as well.)

Cudaman

 

[jkracer9]

with my driving skills or lack of I won't worry about 150.001 or 9 sec. runs.
I should be set with all the needed toys to run but I have another question and maybe Tom knows the answer.
Roll bar is what Tom sells, how about the roll bar with the side (drivers side) bar, it may not count for a cage but does that allow the low 10 sec.?
thanks

 

[fuelman]

Jkracer9,

As long as your car is a street car, a roll bar with the side bar is NHRA legal to 10.00 seconds, different rules apply to full convertibles. If you run under 10.00 seconds you may need additional equipment. It has been my experience at many different tracks that if your car runs below below 11.99 every run or below 10.00 seconds every run, then the track staff may shut you down. I believe that the track officials are there to make sure we have a safe and fun time, I don't believe they are going to be inspecting each car after every run, so if you are a stock car and you mostly run 12.00 or higher, but you make a pass or two into the 11's I think you'll be ok, probably the same if you make one or two passes into the high 9s'. I understand Tom Welch has run there often and can probably better answer how strict the tech staff is at Gainesville. I know that one of our new Central Florida members raced there last year with the Vette CLub, he said the tech staff was good to work with and was mostly checking for helmets, long pants, etc and for the 10 second cars roll bar, etc, but that no one was turned away.

 

[Tom Welch]

Rohn,

As John said, a Roll Bar is defined by having (5) mounting points, one of which is a drivers side-side bar which can be removable. Certain specs apply to the sidebar construction, mounting and angle at which it passes along the driver in the seated position. Our bar meets all of these requirements. Your full floor, firewall and interior Viper fits into this category up to 10.00 Quicker than 10.00 requires a CERTIFIED Roll Cage. Basically the difference is a minimum of 4 more attaching points which make a "cage" that encompasses the driver compartment. This cage must be checked every 36 months and displays a certification decal. Personally, I don't want a full roll cage in my Viper for the inconvienence, and the NHRA allows a 3% margin which means 9.99 to 9.70 as long as one does not abuse the margin.

The driver of a 9.99 second or quicker car must also hold a current NHRA competition license (I have 3)for the category and type of vehicle that they compete with. Obtaining the license requires a FAA Pilot Physical exam, 6 monitored quarter mile passes...2 of which must be in the 9's or quicker, and signoffs from three other licensed drivers.

As for the tech staff, I've known some of those folks for almost 25 years, they are stricter on the rules than other tracks simply because they are NHRA owned and operated. They do though, at private events like ours, tend to be more lienent(sp) with the rules. If someone had a 8-9 second Viper with no roll bar at all...flags could get raised. If you show them that you have made somewhat of an effort to be compliant, they usually let you race..and you might hear a statement like "make sure that you have these items when you come back next time".

Tom

 

[Gary Lashinsky]

Tom runs at Gainesville quit alot. if you listen to what he says, all should be fine. Bring a long sleeve shirt as well as a helmet (Snell 95) rating. I have an extra helmet 7 3/4 that I will have just in case. The track may have some for us to use and we will check with them the beginning of the week. We will publish a schedule and send it to all who have registered to date and those who will be registering in the next few weeks. Gates open at 8AM with tech inspection and classification of Vipers. Track will go hot at 9AM. Lunch will be between noon and 1PM and the track will go hot from 1PM to 4PM. If you have not signed up for this event and want to participate call our VCA office at 407-366-0366. This drag racing event is being held by the Central and North Florida Viper Club and in open to paid 2003 VCA members and their guests.

 

[Larry Macedo]

OK, I have a few questions then...Not one company distributes a roll bar for the Viper that has a cross sectional bar as per NHRA rules would suggest. Right? We all have either 4-point or 5-point, the 5th being the door bar. Are bolt-in bars NHRA legal? As far as I'm concerned, a 4-point weld-in bar would be sufficient and a 5-point bolt-in bar would be sufficient. Right? A lot of this is hair splitting and where does the madness end?

 

[GARY J]

I'm in Savannah Ga. Does anyone have an idea how long of a drive it would be for me? Also, I have a creaking noise coming from my left rear wheel. I think its a u-joint but havent had time to fix it. If I bring my Z06 can a still play or is this a viper only event? Since I own a GTS maybe the rules could be bent a little. Someone in charge please let us know. Thanks.

 

[Larry Macedo]

Probably 2.5 hrs from Savannah, Sir.

 

[1TONY1]

Bolt in door bar is NHRA legal if done correctly in the proper location.

 

[Tom Welch]

Larry,

The rules are specific, a 4 point roll bar is not legal. A roll bar must have 5 mounting points, the 5th point being the door bar. The door bar may be removable and there are several acceptable methods of mounting the door bar. Our bar uses the ART ENGINEERING swing out bar kit, but due to the deep floor of the Viper the bar has to be simply removed instead of swinging out. Both methods are perfectly legal.

Roll Bars can be attached to the vehicle via bolting to the frame, sandwiching the floorpan with metal plates and of course welding in place. We use a combination of bolting to the frame and sandwiching the floorpan.

The cross sectional bar that I believe you are referring to is not required on a Viper because of the frame behind the seats and the associated seat belt retractor mounts on that same frame rail. The cross sectional bar on a typical 4 seat car (with the rear seats missing, ie camaro, mustang..etc) is used to brace the back of typical aftermarket seats and provide a location to mount the shoulder harness portion of the ALSO REQUIRED 5 point 3" harness set.

If you need to, I have the 2004 NHRA rule book here at my desk and can copy or forward the section regarding roll bars and roll cages in full bodied cars.

I hope this helps.

Tom

P.S. It is very important to realize that NO ROLL BAR OR ROLL CAGE IS LEGAL WITHOUT 5 POINT HARNESS SETS INSTALLED THAT HAVE A CURRENT SFI LABEL SEWN INTO THEIR LINING. SFI LABELS ARE GOOD FOR 2 YEARS. One could have a beautiful roll bar installed but without the seat belts, a track tech inspector sees NOTHING!

 

[George Bryce]

OH WELL!!!!!! I cant race. I am not putting a roll bar in my car. I have never been turned away at any track....but..........I drive my car daily, when it is nice out, It is just like stock in every way, but it hauls a$$ when I floor it. I asked this quiz first. GB3

 

[Larry Macedo]

Larry,

The rules are specific, a 4 point roll bar is not legal. A roll bar must have 5 mounting points, the 5th point being the door bar. The door bar may be removable and there are several acceptable methods of mounting the door bar. Our bar uses the ART ENGINEERING swing out bar kit, but due to the deep floor of the Viper the bar has to be simply removed instead of swinging out. Both methods are perfectly legal.

Roll Bars can be attached to the vehicle via bolting to the frame, sandwiching the floorpan with metal plates and of course welding in place. We use a combination of bolting to the frame and sandwiching the floorpan.

The cross sectional bar that I believe you are referring to is not required on a Viper because of the frame behind the seats and the associated seat belt retractor mounts on that same frame rail. The cross sectional bar on a typical 4 seat car (with the rear seats missing, ie camaro, mustang..etc) is used to brace the back of typical aftermarket seats and provide a location to mount the shoulder harness portion of the ALSO REQUIRED 5 point 3" harness set.

If you need to, I have the 2004 NHRA rule book here at my desk and can copy or forward the section regarding roll bars and roll cages in full bodied cars.

I hope this helps.

Tom

P.S. It is very important to realize that NO ROLL BAR OR ROLL CAGE IS LEGAL WITHOUT 5 POINT HARNESS SETS INSTALLED THAT HAVE A CURRENT SFI LABEL SEWN INTO THEIR LINING. SFI LABELS ARE GOOD FOR 2 YEARS. One could have a beautiful roll bar installed but without the seat belts, a track tech inspector sees NOTHING!

Thanks for the calarification, Tom. I'm still a little fuzzy on the cross sectionioanl bar issue though. Does the NHRA Rule Book specifically say the Viper is exempt from manditarily utilizing one? I don't want to get into a hair-splitting issue with folks at the track is the reason for my questioning. Thanks!

 

[George Bryce]

Ok so what do I do now? I cant race....no roll bar. Does anybody want my spot? I asked first about the strict rules enforcement. ??????????????? GB3