I don't want to get too excited just yet. But as far as the arguement that Jamie presented...he was dead spot on. There must be something to it...NHRA tech directors are going back and forth on it. They are also about to call IHRA and do a back and forth there also.

I have my fingers crossed. They did acknoledge we had issues with bars comming out the back of pickups and they are trying to give us an alternative.

Rocks

 

You are correct.

However I hope that this new rule goes into effect. I hate the bars out the rear, but I'm not holding my breath. Oh yeah....I don't have an 11.50 truck anyways.

 

Wow, some of you guys are amazing. You cry about the sh*t stirrers, but you have both hands on the ladel.

The previous arguement was that rear bars weren't required and you could be legal without them. At the time of the arguement, that was WRONG. As of right now, that's still WRONG.

If that changes in the future, that's great. We'll see how people who didn't want to go through the rear window, like how a halo/front bar cage is (like Dale said). It will be nice to have the option though. Hopefully that will pan out. We'll have to wait and see.

 

i want one of those stir the pot smileys like on nloc!!!!

I was just pointing out that it's possible that maybe Jamie knew something others didn't at the time and everyone thought they were all right.

But it seems that seeing the tech inspectors are going back and forth on it, obviously, you still have to go by the current written rules, but it's also possible that if you showed up to the track with no rear supports, tech might still give you an ok. This would be a good rule for the guys that like to race and want to be safe about it but don't want bars out the back window.

 

If someone showed up at a track with a 9 second legal cage minus the rear bars (which is what's being proposed), there may be a chance that a tech inspector would let it go, based on how fast the truck is. After all, it's the tech inspector that has the final say, not the rulebook. Kind of like a baseball umpire making a call that may not be right, it still overrules. I don't think anyone has tried that yet. I do know that someone tried to run a roll bar with no rear bars at WFC a few years back and was told he had to slow to 12.00s. Again, we'll just have to wait and see if they change the rules.

 

Sal is right about something here. The rule is still technically rear bars for support. We have nothing yet, except for the fact that it is now under consideration.

At the point I made my post, I was under the understanding that it was a done deal. Not long after the post was made, I talked to the National office for NHRA in California and they told me it was news to them. They told me they would check with George Klausse at FFW to see which Tech Director gave this approval.

I have known about this since last Friday, but I waited until I had it in writing. I got a bit excited about the news when George posted it was an NHRA decision.

Like I said...this is still up in the air. The other part is also correct...if this is approved, the cage in your truck is about to be a bit of a bling disruption. For me it works, I don't like the look of the bars out my back window, for some, the cage will not be wanted.


Anyway...choice would be nice.


Rocks

 

Removed a bunch of off topic pot stirring

Unfortunately this left a few unsupported quotes.

Lets not dredge up the past which resulted in multiple thread closures and the loss of posting rights.

Doug

 

Keeping it factual, . . .

That's not possible.

At the time, Mike Baker, IHRA Director of Competition & Technical Services and Don Phillips, Tech Director of Cape Breton Dragway, each separately plainly stated to me in writing that (1) a roll cage must have rear bars exactly as shown in the image in the IHRA rulebook and (2) rear bars have always been required.

Whether that rule is being re-evaluated is a different matter altogether. Perhaps it should be. As Sal stated, until the rules are changed, those are the rules.

I think that pot should be legal. I can make great arguments why it should be legal. But all the arguments in the world will not change the fact that, as of today, it is not legal. If I argue today that pot is legal, then tomorrow it is in fact made legal, I was not "onto something" today -- I was still incorrect.

 

Tim,
I FRIGGING LOVE YOU MAN .......hehehehehe

I have been very verbal on this window issue, and also found a go between to talk to a local Chassis Expert http://www.montanabros.com/
(they build "and certify" bars, cages and chassis) that felt there was a way around it also, but he's waaaaaaaaaay too expensive.

I think this would be an excellent option for some, I would sure consider it. But someone just said something interesting about the extra bars going through the dash and into the floor. If that is the case, I actually get to see that set up all the time on Sal's Lightning Powered little old Cobra, (it does also have rear supports) I got to tell you, WOW that is a ton of extra work and Modification needed.

I am very excited in seeing and hearing about the results

You Rock Rock