window nets

does anyone know for sure if you have to run a window net with a funny car cage thanks

You need to get a rule book, if you are an NHRA member you can download one for free.

However it appears to me that there are no exceptions, this is from the 2019 rule book.

"An SFI 27.1 ribbon-type or mesh-type window net is mandatory on
any full-bodied car running 7.49 (*4.49) or quicker. For full-bodied
cars running 7.50 (*4.50) to 9.99 (*6.39) or if vehicle runs 135
mph or faster, a ribbon-type or SFI 27.1 mesh-type window net
is mandatory unless otherwise specified by Class Requirements."

Yes you do.. I got a hassle for having it down after I crossed the finish line

As noted in the quote above it is totally dependent on the ET. Notice there is no requirement tied to a funny car cage. If your funny car cage is in a car running in the tens a window net is not required unless running over 135mph. This is one of the old myths that was "if your car has a cage a window net is required" WRONG!!

Rule of thumb has always been if you have a cage (any type) you need a window net. Even though a car may not require a cage, if it has one they will require you have a net no matter what the rule book says, in my experience anyway. Not a myth just what I've told by Tech officials at local tracks.

I had a similar experiance several years ago. The car only ran in the 12's.I bought a used bolt in rollbar. The guy kept the swing out side bar since that plate was welded to his floor. When I got dinged in tech without the side bar, I complained that a roll bar wasn't required at all at 12 seconds. He said " put it all in, or take it all out". I got a side bar before the next race.

thats what i thought we have a full cage in our dart never got asked about one ,also been ask why a full cage in a 13 dart? car was built to go faster over time so why not just put it in now
and of course a funny vid from tim

Ugh! Getting real close to that 1/8 mile number...

There have been many myths like these over the years and I believe many have been properly realized by local inspectors over the last few years. I believe that NHRA has pressed that any safety item installed but not required is OK. In reality nearly every one of these myths has to do with reading comprehension, in other words "read the words" not what you think they say. Another myth that falls into this area is that all window nets must be replaced every 2 years. If your car is running under 7.49 (4.49) or quicker both ribbon and mesh nets must meet 27.1 and be replaced every 2 years. If your car runs slower than 7.50 (4.50) and less than 135mph the ribbon net does not have to be replaced every 2 years in fact it does not even have to meet the 27.1 specs. The mesh net does. Most of these myths are being propagated by local inspectors and not qualified association inspectors. However one thing to remember is that a local track can make their own rules, or interpretation, and that sometime is the problem.

My 2019 rulebook says "For full bodied cars running quicker than 9.99 or 135MPH, a window net is mandatory. SFI 27.1 mesh nets need to be replaced every 2 years. In Stock class requirements, it says "...a net is mandatory in vehicle requiring a roll cage" "Requiring", not using. That's 9.99 and quicker. That's relevant to all door cars, not just Stockers.

Years ago there was language that said if it has a cage, it has to have a net regardless how fast it is. That has been gone for a long time.

As far as a funny car cage is concerned, obviously a funny car, dragster or street roadster in going to use arm restraints instead of a net. Years ago, they allowed drivers in door cars with a funny car cage to use a restraint for the left arm in lieu of a net. They got tired of policing that and it didn't last long.

Currently, a door car requires a net in front of the front funny car cage bar to protect the area between the funny car cage and the A-pillar bar. Typically they are small - a foot or less - but they need to be there. There also needs to be smaller bars incorporated in the outer part of the funny cage cage structure to keep the helmet entirely inside the outside plane of the cage. If there is any question, they will run your helmet around the inside of the cage while using a straight edge across the outside of the bars. They don't want the helmet to get out beyond the straight edge.

As a result of some incidents last year, some new hardware and mounting hardware has been developed for mounting the nets. This stuff is mandatory in Pro Stock and Pro Mod, but for any new installations, I would certainly look at using it vs. the old seat belt buckle hardware.

Back before window nets became mandatory (mid 1970s maybe ) I saw a picture of a S/G Vega in the national Dragster rolling over after the finish line at Indy doing a barrel roll sideways with the drivers side door going towards the ground and the drivers left arm sticking out in the wind between the door and the roof back before window nets became mandatory on cars with cages I don't know how bad he got hurt or if he didn't get hurt
I'm glad it wasn't me, I like any safety thing on our race cars that will help prevent us getting hurt when we loose control of the car and crash
Many safety fixes have occurred after racers and spectators getting hurt and somebody said what if we had done this

Net only falls into the 2 year rule if it is required to have a 27.1 net.

6:3 WINDOW NET
An SFI 27.1 ribbon-type or mesh-type window net is mandatory on any full-bodied car running 7.49 or quicker. For full-bodied cars running 7.50 to 9.99 or if vehicle runs 135 mph or faster, a ribbon-type or SFI mesh-type window net is mandatory unless otherwise specified by Class Requirements. SFI 27.1 window net, when required, must be updated at two-year intervals from the date of manufacture.............

Doug

Any idea what the logic is? Does a cage make the car unsafer that having a net restores that lost safety, or something at 12+sec?

It used to be if you put a cage in, you had to have the rest of the stuff, regardless how fast it was. Now it's just based on ET. You can have or use anything you want safety wise. At a certain performance break, you're required to have it.

I can tell you from experience not every tech guy knows the rule book. I carry one. Know the rules for you class. I was questioned about my net being out of date last year.
Asked if he would like me to show him the rule. He said no. He wasn't aware of it.. Most tech guys are fine. Many volunteers just trying to do their job.
Doug

I ask, because for example, putting a roll bar/cage, should automatically require a helmet, no matter how fast you run, to protect your head if hitting it.
The window net Requirement escaped me.

I asked this as I had 2 different chassis guys tell me that no net was needed with a funny car cage just didn't seem right so I thought I would ask the net is going in regardless

This is the idea. This set up is using one of the new Pro Stock/Mod attachments. There are a few different designs out.

My dad and I installed a cage in my car in 2007 when we back halved it. We installed a Window Net at the time and I only ever used it ONCE. The 1st pass I made after we back halved it. The ran mid 11's than and run mid 10's now. I don't travel to many places, but have been to a handful of tracks over the years and no one has said a word about me not using it. Some tech guys can be a real PIA, but lately seems like tracks just want cars to show up. Some tech guys don't know the rules real well and the way things are written is not always clear English. I have been given grief before about having out dated seat belts in my car (It was slower than 11.49). So I printed out the part of the rule book that says they don't have to be updated to show them when they gave me a hard time,

I can buy into that thought... used to be a local tech guy that didn't care...his track his rules based on his interpretation! But the rules seem to have gotten lax in recent years (at the local level).

FYI, we installed a new one last year that looks like the one CMcallister posted, it was a non-standard size and I also wanted purple ribbon, so I emailed the dimensions to RJS and they custom-made the net for me in about 2 weeks.