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Whay has this been kept so quiet
#1113729
11/14/11 05:59 PM
11/14/11 05:59 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,607
KYbywayof WV
Frito
OP
top fuel
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OP
top fuel
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,607
KYbywayof WV
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NHRa not saying much.  Torrence missed last weekends race. The State of California is cracking down on trailer lengths again. Steve Torrence's Top Fuel rig was in a weigh station and flagged "around back", where they were measured for length and determined to be 3' too long. CalTrans determined the rig was illegal and ordered it to be taken out of service. Torrence claims to have contacted CalTrans a week ago, trying to purchase a permit, but was informed there are no permits and would be no permits granted. CalTrans told Torrence there was only one way his rig was ever going to leave the weigh station and that would be if it was hauled out on a lowboy trailer. Torrence asked permission to move the rig to a location where it could be loaded easier and permission was denied. CalTrans informed him he was welcome to hire a company to bring a crane out, to lift the entire rig onto a lowboy. He finally managed to find someone with a low enough trailer they were able to back the race rig onto it. This was taken on the I-15, between Barstow and Baker, headed north toward Las Vegas. The race rig was 3' too long to be operated on the Cali freeways, but the rig hauling the race rig isn't. A drag racer cannot buy a permit for an over-length trailer, but an owner-operator with a lowboy trailer can. Makes wonderful sense, doesn't it? The word I'm getting from the Left Coast is there are 67 trailers sitting at the Fairplex which are over-length. And the word is going around CalTrans will be sitting at the gates, Sunday afternoon. NHRA claims they have tried to find a work-around with CalTrans, but CalTrans says they are not going to adjust a long-standing law. If racers want to come to Cali with a 56' trailer, they're either going to have to transport it from the state line to race track on a lowboy, or they are going to have to haul everything in by rail. You can haul a 56' trailer around on the streets of Pomona, but you cannot haul it down the freeway. The problems arise because there is no standardized federal law. Each state has its own law and you're always at the mercy of whoever pulls you over. Some states are just fine as long as there is no advertising on the rig and is identified as being "not for hire". Some states want to know if you are compensated for winning races. And if you win nothing more than a trophy, that is still considered to be compensation. As a point of interest, many of those "illegal length" teams are based here in Indiana and the Indiana laws read the same as the Cali laws. The State of Indiana views those same race teams as revenue generators and (prudently) looks the other way.
Last edited by Frito; 11/14/11 06:02 PM.
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Re: Whay has this been kept so quiet
[Re: Dodgeguy101]
#1113735
11/14/11 06:09 PM
11/14/11 06:09 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 32,394
Quicktree
I Win
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I Win
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 32,394
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Quote:
With all due respect to the race teams, they should know what the laws are before you buy something that will get you in trouble. Just because Indiana ignores their own laws, doesn't mean another state has too. I agree California is making it hard, but maybe the teams have been warned before and they have gotten tired of it.
Partially what is wrong with this country is selective enforcement of laws depending on who you are. 
better yet just screw CA. just refuse to race there
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Re: Whay has this been kept so quiet
[Re: Frito]
#1113736
11/14/11 06:14 PM
11/14/11 06:14 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,477
Minnesota
Hemi_Joel
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,477
Minnesota
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The Highway Nazis are out of control. 3 feet, big stinkin' harry deal. Next time I see a Highway Nazi going 1 MPH over the limit without an emergency existing and lights and sirens, I ought to be able to make a citizens arrest for speeding and impound the chicken coupe. Same thing as what they are doing. 
[img]http://i.imgur.com/boeexFms.jpg[/img]31 Plymouth Coupe, 392 Hemi, T56 magnum RS23J71 RS27J77 RP23J71 RO23J71 WM21J8A I don't regret the things I've done. I only regret the things I didn't do. "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something. ~ Plato"
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Re: Whay has this been kept so quiet
[Re: Quicktree]
#1113737
11/14/11 06:16 PM
11/14/11 06:16 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 74,977
U.S.S.A.
JohnRR
I Win
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I Win
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 74,977
U.S.S.A.
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Quote:
Quote:
With all due respect to the race teams, they should know what the laws are before you buy something that will get you in trouble. Just because Indiana ignores their own laws, doesn't mean another state has too. I agree California is making it hard, but maybe the teams have been warned before and they have gotten tired of it.
Partially what is wrong with this country is selective enforcement of laws depending on who you are.
better yet just screw CA. just refuse to race there
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Re: Whay has this been kept so quiet
[Re: JohnRR]
#1113738
11/14/11 06:46 PM
11/14/11 06:46 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,548
Norwich CT USA
moparts
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,548
Norwich CT USA
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Why would any race team buy a trailer that is know to be illegal ? This same problem has been going on for years, you figure by now they would all meat the law to the inch 
Tom ,
2011 Ram 3500 C&C Diesel
2009 Challenger R/T
1971 Challenger Conv. 511/4 speed
1970 Challenger R/T 503/727
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Re: Whay has this been kept so quiet
[Re: Kindafast]
#1113740
11/14/11 07:13 PM
11/14/11 07:13 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,477
Minnesota
Hemi_Joel
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,477
Minnesota
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Quote:
Quote:
Why would any race team buy a trailer that is know to be illegal ?
This same problem has been going on for years, you figure by now they would all meat the law to the inch
I really have to agree with Tom on this one. If you have a pro team and know you are going to be travelling all over the U.S. you need to have all your ducks in a row. I know some of these laws are crazy but laws are laws.
I can't argue with that either. Except that there is a permit process. So give them the permit when they apply. And if someone gets busted for such a minor infraction, give them a fix it it ticket and let them go. Making them miss the race and tow there trailer out of the state on a trailer longer than the one that they are in trouble for is beyond rediculous. I seriously fear for the future of our country when I see stuff like this.
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Re: Whay has this been kept so quiet
[Re: Hemi_Joel]
#1113741
11/14/11 07:30 PM
11/14/11 07:30 PM
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 9,225
Charleston
sixpackgut
Drag Week Mod Champion
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Drag Week Mod Champion
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 9,225
Charleston
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what was wrong with the 53 ft trailers?
completely obnoxious. if you let top fuel teams do it then it just opens the door for more BS
Gen 3 power 6.22@110, 9.85@135
Follow @g3hemiswap on instagram
performance only racing, CRT, ultimate converter, superior design concepts, ThumperCarbs
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Re: Whay has this been kept so quiet
[Re: Get-X]
#1113743
11/14/11 08:31 PM
11/14/11 08:31 PM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 28,312
Cincinnati, Ohio
Challenger 1
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 28,312
Cincinnati, Ohio
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Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Why would any race team buy a trailer that is know to be illegal ?
This same problem has been going on for years, you figure by now they would all meat the law to the inch
I really have to agree with Tom on this one. If you have a pro team and know you are going to be travelling all over the U.S. you need to have all your ducks in a row. I know some of these laws are crazy but laws are laws.
I can't argue with that either. Except that there is a permit process. So give them the permit when they apply. And if someone gets busted for such a minor infraction, give them a fix it it ticket and let them go. Making them miss the race and tow there trailer out of the state on a trailer longer than the one that they are in trouble for is beyond rediculous. I seriously fear for the future of our country when I see stuff like this.
I know it seems like a small thing to those that aren't familar with CalTrans (or any states DoT for that matter) and trucking, but it's actually a big deal. Even if your trailer is 53', your tandoms have to be positioned correctly as well.
I hate to say it, but if you contact CalTrans and they tell you there's no permit and not to come into the state with that trailer and you ignore them and come anyways you deserve what they do to you.
Racers all know this is a problem but choose to thumb their noses at DoT and buy overlength trailers that they know are illegal. I personally don't feel sorry for them and they need to be shown that they aren't above the law. There's enough room in a 53' trailer. This isn't about neccessity with the 56' trailers, it's about ego and keeping up with the jones.
Exactly...53' the law, why would someone build a 56'?
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Re: Whay has this been kept so quiet
[Re: Quicktree]
#1113744
11/14/11 08:44 PM
11/14/11 08:44 PM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 3,112
LONG ISLAND
fishy340
master
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master
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 3,112
LONG ISLAND
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Quote:
Quote:
With all due respect to the race teams, they should know what the laws are before you buy something that will get you in trouble. Just because Indiana ignores their own laws, doesn't mean another state has too. I agree California is making it hard, but maybe the teams have been warned before and they have gotten tired of it.
Partially what is wrong with this country is selective enforcement of laws depending on who you are.
better yet just screw CA. just refuse to race there
CA,NY, and others just kill peeps with rules!
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