Just saw this posted on a local track web site and I'm sure not all cars running quicker then 9.99 will have a diaper so this very well could hurt car counts.

Now I am all for safety but where is the line.... Thoughts???

Russ





Jul

24

NOTICE


*****ATTENTION ALL RACERS*****
Do to the number of oil downs and the safety of our racers and staff, beginning Aug. 15, 2013 all cars running 9.99 and faster will be required to have an engine diaper.

Like they say " it all Depends". Sorry, couldn't pass up the diaper joke

I'm all for safety, but that would be a major drag, expense, and agree affect on car count.
Is this your local track Russ ?

Sounds fair to me. A diaper can be had for under $200-$300 for most cars (and a pan with an absorbent liner can usually be added instead of a diaper).

The track loses time and money on oil downs.

As a racer, an "oil retention device" can be the difference between a damaged engine and a damaged engine in a wrecked car.

NHRA already requires a diaper (for National/Division events) in the "super" classes, which includes Super Street 10.90 index cars.

If a smaller track has little man power or equipment, an oil down can make the difference in whether a race can be completed or cancelled.

Even though most tracks require diapers at 9.99 like NHRA rules state. NHRA took it further and extended it to the Super Street class in 2009. I last raced that class in 2008, the diaper rule was the last straw.

Everyone always says, "If you can't afford to adhere to this rule, or that rule, or this price increase or that price increase, maybe you shouldn't be racing at this level"!

Then when you quit, they all call up and ask, "What the Hell, you don't like us anymore?"

In 2006 the total amount of cars competing in NHRA Super Street topped out at 1,019 nation wide. As of right now the participation count for 2013 is 637!!

I bought one and a fire system. I like to be safe. Then I drive 1/8 mile with the line lock on, go figure. Personally I'm doing everything I can to keep the car out of the wall. It wasn't that tough a deal.
Doug

Billy, I understand how you feel, but when I was watching the Div. 5 race at Cordova it seemed that 95% of the cars in S/ST should have been in S/G or S/C anyway. I'm sure that takes a lot of the fun out for the hobby racer and influences car counts too.

While I can appreciate a car being safe but the rules
are driving ALOT of guys out of racing... start adding
up the price of ALL the items to run a 9.80 pass..
by the time you put a cage in and get a license and
the safety gear its not worth the .2 in NHRA.. I just
used 9.80 as a number but IHRA is better on this stuff...
I cant get a license in NHRA but I am legal in IHRA
to run 8.50... sure wish the IHRA would have more
tracks than they do now

We talked to Quaker and other tracks and the diaper rule is in place for the weekly bracket races and weiaved for special events.With that being said we still think that racers should consider anything that would keep them safe.

Fine with that, but it seems that ALL the rules apply at 9.99 or quicker...

Are they just affraid of driving out the weekly bread and butter if it were applied to slower cars? If we are all safer with a Diaper, then why not require it at 11.50 and faster? Don't we get oil downs from 11.50 cars? Don't those guys put more runs on a drivetrain than any other racers before a tear down?

Shouldn't trans sheilds be required for any car with a manual automatic? I mean lets be real if safer is better, then why is it all weighted on the 9.99 guys?

And honestly, I do not have a draster pan and the steering still goes thru the pan, so I have no clue how a daiper would even be possible at this point.

If the diaper in my basement (at the time) was on my car at Farmington when I kicked a rod I probably would not of tagged the guard rail... ...it's on now

To many unnessary Daymn rules = to much wasted $$$ that could go toward more needed things on the race-car. Lets see a show of hands on how many have wives that already say we are spending to much $$$ on our race-cars.
The only people that like to see rules like this are the ones who want to see the car count go down,they think thats the only chance they have of winning!

I for one don't think the rules for any of the speeds/et are in anyway out of hand,, i fact those are just basic min , street cars only require a helmet, seat belt!
sprotsman not much more depending on slicks /driveshaft loop,
pro, still the same ,
So all the rules are just basic rules until you get to 10.99 or faster,
then still very basic unless you have a full cage, then it is realated to better belts and some padding around your head! WOW 19 bucks that break ya!
You the racer determans what and how fast your car goes not any racing body!
When it comes to saftey seams that is the very first place everyone wants to cut out!
hard to understand that stupid way of thinking
IF SOMETHING SHOULD HAPPEN,, you ,,your wie , kids will be happy you had it and the track required you to have it on!
I have zero tolerance for those who decide that safety should be last,, but yet build a first class race car spare no exspence on motor car , bt stupid on saftey of it for other and spectators a like ,
This topic is a no brainer , unless you have no brain,, by the looks of the replys some lack!

Ahhhh 2006 Billy. That's back when the house we just sold for 129k would have brought 225k in a week. Back when we had 9 guys in the shop and you could still knock down 120-130 hrs a pay period....now 80 is "ok", and were at six techs. Those were different times.

Heck back in those days I even threw the Mirada in the trailer to make a 18hr round trip drive for a single day Mopar event at Sacramento. I'm thinking at that level a retaining device wouldn't break the deal, but then again, I do realize their is always that proverbial straw that breaks the camels back. I'm at the other end of the stupidity spectrum. I feel my combo coming together should be nines capable, and am preparing for such...... and I don't even run a class. Waste of money? Probably... but it should be fun for awhile!!

When the diaper rules started to come out I reacted like everyone else. I hate more rules, the additional cost, more stuff on the car, in my way when I want to work on it. Then my knowledge base was expanded.

The purpose of a diaper is to make you look smart. If you ever blow up an engine (I know, you think that will never happen to you) it will most likely blow at maximum load. Right before the finish line. You are going at near maximum speed. Things can get real ugly, real fast. If oil/water gets on your tires and you crash, you will find out why a diaper makes you look smart.

Russ, Edgewater implemented that rule a few years ago. They lost a few cars, but many others dialed 6.40 or slower. Most of the cars that run quicker than that are full chassis cars, which make diaper fitment easy. There is only 1 Mopar with a k-member that runs S/P on a weekly basis and he dials 6.50's.

We are running 10.10's right now, and in the 1/8th we are in the high 6.40's depending on outside temp so we have been getting the car ready to be legal and certainly want to be legal, but what is the reasoning behind all of the rules being apllied at 9.99/6.50 level...Can anyone post a complete list?

Seems like lately, there a bunch of new ones I never heard of for 9.99 and they are going to enforce them where I race. The toe hook thing I thought was for cars a lot fast than us, and the solid throttle thing too...Now a diaper...What about fire supression? Window glass?

That is why I am building a low budget 383. I don't need a license, I don't have to wear the 3 layer suit in the summer plus I can run for the same purse as the other guys. I like going fast, but it is not what it use to be. I plan on only racing 1-2 weekends a month next year at my local tracks until the car is sold and then I am done!

I'm not in that class, probably never will be but Summit has them for $119 and shipping is free. I don't see that as a HUGE cost, especially if you figure how much it costs to run a 9 second car.

They implemented a similar rule at our track. The rule was any vehicle running faster that 12.99 required a diaper or a pan. You could choose not run one but if you oiled the track you would be subjected to a $500.00 fine. However, if you have a diaper and hurt the engine but did not oil the track the ownership would give the racer $250.00 if the diaper was damaged There was a huge uproar initially and I was in total agreement. Not necessary about the rule because I am an advocate of diapers or lower engine containment devices for the safety of it. However, in a day and age when we are losing racers at a rapid rate I thought this was a step in the wrong direction if we are trying to attract new people to participate especially in the slower classes.

I guess the part that I have an issue with is this. The sanctioning body's, namely NHRA are putting their foot down with regards to engine diapers. The main idea is to stop oil and debris from getting under the tires in the case of an incident. (Actually I don't think that is the real reason. I know at our track it was all about the cost to clean up!) Then I suggest that they outlaw all dragster headers that point straight at the middle of the rear tire. We had a big buck race here on the weekend and there must have been 60 dragsters all with the same headers. If a motor drops a valve and the diaper is required I will guarantee there is sharp stuff coming out of the exhaust just dying to cut a tire.

My guess is NHRA does not want to pi$$ off the big money guys with there fancy stacker that has 6 dragsters in it, but I don't think they are overly concerned about the regular guy that is scraping every penny together to go to the next race.

Just my 2 cents

We all know the real driver in this instance is down time and the track's expense of clean up, safety is secondary to the track owner.

On the other hand, I have to wonder why guys continually put money into their cars to go faster but squeal when it comes to spending money on the required safety gear. As has been said, speed costs.

Personally, I never had a car fast enough to even require a roll bar, but I had one anyway. I also added several other safety features that were required for faster cars, partly to be safe and partly to be ready in case I ever found enough funds to go faster. I never got caught up in the need to be the fastest car on the track or in my class. I actually took perverse pleasure in leaving several seconds ahead of some of my competition, it was amazing how hard it was for them to not redlight in those circumstances.

Danny