Car build for NHRA - class?
- Thread starter dankeenan
- Start date
jeff5295
Well-known member
I may be wrong, but i don't think altered and street roadster are classes, just styles of cars. Actual NHRA Class racing (such as super stock) only exists at certain tracks throughout the country, and can be a very expensive hobby, requiring extensive travel. If your buddy is just planning to run on weekends at a local track, it will likely just be bracket racing. My guess is that's what he wants to do. Class racing isn't the place to get your feet wet in drag racing. Most start out bracket racing, hone their skills, and some move on to class racing.
Bracket racing is broken into classes (usually trophy, sportsman, pro, and super pro), but most of the rules revolve around safety equipment required for how quick the car runs. If he's building some sort of roadster, he's probably looking at Pro or Super Pro. The big difference is Super Pro allows a delay box.
If bracket racing is what he really wants, there are sections in the NHRA handbook devoted to that. The general regulation section will be mainly what you're looking for. You might want to get in touch with your local track manager, as he can probably point you in the right direction. If he's planning to run 9.99 or quicker, there Is quite a bit more safety equipment required, as well as an NHRA Competition license and chassis certification.
Hope this helps a little. I raced Super Pro for many years, so I'd be happy to answer any other questions.
Bracket racing is broken into classes (usually trophy, sportsman, pro, and super pro), but most of the rules revolve around safety equipment required for how quick the car runs. If he's building some sort of roadster, he's probably looking at Pro or Super Pro. The big difference is Super Pro allows a delay box.
If bracket racing is what he really wants, there are sections in the NHRA handbook devoted to that. The general regulation section will be mainly what you're looking for. You might want to get in touch with your local track manager, as he can probably point you in the right direction. If he's planning to run 9.99 or quicker, there Is quite a bit more safety equipment required, as well as an NHRA Competition license and chassis certification.
Hope this helps a little. I raced Super Pro for many years, so I'd be happy to answer any other questions.
regguy1
Well-known member
You can call or email this guy, I advise him on transmissions from time to time:
http://www.boxperformance.com/#!__intro
Watch his videos on site and you tube
http://www.boxperformance.com/#!__intro
Watch his videos on site and you tube
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ChargedUp!
Well-known member
What kind of car is it?
Falcon67
Well-known member
I'd assume that your friend is building a bracket car, unless he has deep pockets. Stock and Super Stock are some of the stoutest classes to try and run in. Classes there are set by weight per HP, based on NHRA's master classification book. Rules are strick and modifications limited. Costs a bunch to go class racing.
Bracket racing is fun and anyone can do it - no special race car even required. Safety requirements - as noted - change with the ET that the car is capable of producing. And that also requires mining the rule book - or you don't get to run on a sanctioned track.
I personnaly run on IHRA tracks unless forced. IHRA has a much better sportsman program than NHRA, IMHO.
Feel free to ask any questions.
Bracket racing is fun and anyone can do it - no special race car even required. Safety requirements - as noted - change with the ET that the car is capable of producing. And that also requires mining the rule book - or you don't get to run on a sanctioned track.
I personnaly run on IHRA tracks unless forced. IHRA has a much better sportsman program than NHRA, IMHO.
Feel free to ask any questions.
You think the NHRA rule book is hard to navigate, try reading the Bonneville rule book!
Seriously, shallow pockets/doing it for fun = bracket racing.
Building for a specific class = lots of money and a change in lifestyle. As in "I'm a drag racer. That's all I do."
-Brad
Seriously, shallow pockets/doing it for fun = bracket racing.
Building for a specific class = lots of money and a change in lifestyle. As in "I'm a drag racer. That's all I do."
-Brad
JCQuick
Well-known member
pick a class and build it to that
sc105b
Well-known member
As was said above. Also a Roadster makes a good bracket or SuperGas (9.90 index ride)
An Altered either suspended or not can run brackets, super comp (8.90 index) or if you've got deeper pockets you can run one in Top Dragster down to 6 flat.
If money is no object you can turn a large fortune into a small one and run Comp Eliminator.
Like said above the gen regs will get you in the right direction then you can get into more particulars if you're gonna do more than bracket race.
An Altered either suspended or not can run brackets, super comp (8.90 index) or if you've got deeper pockets you can run one in Top Dragster down to 6 flat.
If money is no object you can turn a large fortune into a small one and run Comp Eliminator.
Like said above the gen regs will get you in the right direction then you can get into more particulars if you're gonna do more than bracket race.
For bracket racing, an altered or roadster will typically be limited to the top class, which is Super Pro (or Box). Altered and Roadster body styes (as well as dragsters) really limit the available options for running any other classes. Roadsters (driver sits in the "normal" position for a car) have a few more options in lower level classes than altered cars (driver sits in the center of the car). Other than Competition Eliminator, which has its own set of crazy and expensive rules) altereds are basically limited to any class that dragsters can run in. Roadsters, depending on configuration, can run in some lower-level class races, like Super Gas (9.90 index) and even Super Street (10.90 index) at some local events. Some local tracks allow Roadsters to compete in "no box" or "footbrake" classes as well.
JCQuick offers some sage advice. Pick a class and build it to that. Also some great general advice for drag racing is build the car 2 seconds slower than you think you can afford. Being at the track with a car you can afford and can afford to repair is a much more enjoyable experience than if you are worried about breaking the car because you can't afford to repair it.
JCQuick offers some sage advice. Pick a class and build it to that. Also some great general advice for drag racing is build the car 2 seconds slower than you think you can afford. Being at the track with a car you can afford and can afford to repair is a much more enjoyable experience than if you are worried about breaking the car because you can't afford to repair it.
Falcon67
Well-known member
>For bracket racing, an altered or roadster will typically be limited to the top class,
Ah, not sure why you say it like that. We run IHRA Division 4. One of our top footbrake racers foot brakes a 220" dragster that runs 5.90s. An altered with ladder bars makes a killer footbrake car. One of the best racers in our division runs a foot brake FED. I won first round last year at the bracket finals in my pickup, dialed 10.70 - beat a door car dialed 6.40 something. You can run anything in the IHRA bracket Modified as long as there are no electronics in the car. Our local ET breat for Top is 8.00, so if you run under that you can run in Top.
Ah, not sure why you say it like that. We run IHRA Division 4. One of our top footbrake racers foot brakes a 220" dragster that runs 5.90s. An altered with ladder bars makes a killer footbrake car. One of the best racers in our division runs a foot brake FED. I won first round last year at the bracket finals in my pickup, dialed 10.70 - beat a door car dialed 6.40 something. You can run anything in the IHRA bracket Modified as long as there are no electronics in the car. Our local ET breat for Top is 8.00, so if you run under that you can run in Top.
diggerrick
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 1, 2010
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For open wheeled chassis types, altereds are center steer (referring to driver placement) like a funny car or dragser, and street roadsters are left hand steer like a normal passenger car.
There are also classes for "Altered" and "Street Roadsters" under NHRA Competition Eliminator, depending on engine size, weight, and transmission type. Comp Eliminator is BIG $$$ - basically one step below Pro Stock.
I'm guessing your buddy is planning to bracket race, or he would already know what class(es) he was targeting.
There was a big stink a couple a couple years ago about gussets being added at some of the roll cage attachment points for altereds and street roadsters - make sure he has those, I'm sure they're shown in the chassis section of the rulebook.
There are also classes for "Altered" and "Street Roadsters" under NHRA Competition Eliminator, depending on engine size, weight, and transmission type. Comp Eliminator is BIG $$$ - basically one step below Pro Stock.
I'm guessing your buddy is planning to bracket race, or he would already know what class(es) he was targeting.
There was a big stink a couple a couple years ago about gussets being added at some of the roll cage attachment points for altereds and street roadsters - make sure he has those, I'm sure they're shown in the chassis section of the rulebook.
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I understand what IHRA allows for their bracket finals (as well as division and national opens), but individual tracks are left to their own discretion for their own rules, and many of them (thus the word typically instead of always) do have rules preventing open wheel cars from competing in footbrake or no box. By the way, that is another rule that tracks can and often do differ from what the xHRA's allow at their events. Build a "no box" car with a trans brake and you will be running Super Pro at many tracks around here because they have track rules for footbrake, even though they allow trans-brakes for "no box" at the bracket finals (which may even be held at the very same track that doesn't allow trans-brakes for the same category during the track's points chase).
All this is proof that best advice is to figure out what class they want to run (and where they want to run it) and build the car accordingly.
Falcon67
Well-known member
>many of them (thus the word typically instead of always) do have rules preventing open wheel cars from competing in footbrake or no box.
Interesting - must be a local/division thing. No such restrictions at any track I've run in Texas or LA. And yes, Div 4 IHRA is the only IHRA division that does not allow a t-brake or two step in No Box. Our local rules reflect that and we run a second footbrake class that allows Box cars with the box out. I personally don't consider a brake or a two step any advantage without the box.
So as noted, the best thing to do is think about where the car will be run and check with that track and review the sanctioning requirements. We're all the same in most respects such as roll bars, ET breaks, etc. There are some things different between the xHRAs, such as medical certs at a lower ET in IHRA than NHRA. NHRA requires SA2000 or better helmet, IHRA allows Snell 95 and up (if I recall - have not reviewed the 2012 rules yet) IHRA requires a door car to carry a fire extinguisher in the car, the NHRA track inspector will likely make you take it out.
The biggest issue you will run in to at any track is safety equipment for your ET bracket. If you don't meet the ET safety requirements (jacket, pants, chassis cert, whatever) you don't get to run. Which is as is should be. We had a guy show up with a dragster last race - helmet, jacket but no pants and no arm restraints. No run, sorry.
Interesting - must be a local/division thing. No such restrictions at any track I've run in Texas or LA. And yes, Div 4 IHRA is the only IHRA division that does not allow a t-brake or two step in No Box. Our local rules reflect that and we run a second footbrake class that allows Box cars with the box out. I personally don't consider a brake or a two step any advantage without the box.
So as noted, the best thing to do is think about where the car will be run and check with that track and review the sanctioning requirements. We're all the same in most respects such as roll bars, ET breaks, etc. There are some things different between the xHRAs, such as medical certs at a lower ET in IHRA than NHRA. NHRA requires SA2000 or better helmet, IHRA allows Snell 95 and up (if I recall - have not reviewed the 2012 rules yet) IHRA requires a door car to carry a fire extinguisher in the car, the NHRA track inspector will likely make you take it out.
The biggest issue you will run in to at any track is safety equipment for your ET bracket. If you don't meet the ET safety requirements (jacket, pants, chassis cert, whatever) you don't get to run. Which is as is should be. We had a guy show up with a dragster last race - helmet, jacket but no pants and no arm restraints. No run, sorry.
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As an example, the rules for Modified eliminator from Abilene Dragstrip
"This is a foot brake only class. Launch is to be controlled by the driver using the foot brake. Line locks allowed for burnout only. Car can only have one line lock installed. No delay box, 2-step, throttle stops, or any electronic or automatic launch control. "
The rules for IHRA Summit Super Series Finals
"The race for the World Championship will be run on a 1/4 mile format. Crosstalk will be used in Top. The use of trans brake, two steps and automated shifters in the Mod category is permitted. The use of delay boxes is prohibited in Mod. Throttle stops are not permitted in either class. The use of nitrous is permitted in both classes. If bike or sled wins, they will run against cars."
"This is a foot brake only class. Launch is to be controlled by the driver using the foot brake. Line locks allowed for burnout only. Car can only have one line lock installed. No delay box, 2-step, throttle stops, or any electronic or automatic launch control. "
The rules for IHRA Summit Super Series Finals
"The race for the World Championship will be run on a 1/4 mile format. Crosstalk will be used in Top. The use of trans brake, two steps and automated shifters in the Mod category is permitted. The use of delay boxes is prohibited in Mod. Throttle stops are not permitted in either class. The use of nitrous is permitted in both classes. If bike or sled wins, they will run against cars."
jeff5295
Well-known member
Ok, i found the class you're looking at in the rule book. Just so you know, Class racing is extremely expensive, requiring extensive travel to the various divisional and national meets. Depending on where you live you might have a couple of meets per year in your area, with the rest requiring travel to other events. Has your buddy factored this in to his expenses?
Typically to run a class you show up on Thursday and are there until Sunday when you finally start to race. This is not a hobby class, it's a major time and money commitment.
Not trying to discourage you, but you guys may want to go watch some class races and get a feel for it before jumping in. Talk to the racers and see what you're getting into.
Even though this is considered a sportsman class, it's really only a notch below the pro class, only the payout is much less. You need a serious engine builder to compete on these classes. Gone are the days of a few guys putting a car together on their own and actually being competitive in a class. Not saying it can't be done, but it's a tough road.
If he has the means to do it, more power to him, and I'm jealous. I'd love to do something like that, but I don't have a six figure budget or a major sponsor. That's what it takes to be competitive, unless he's content with only making time runs and possibly going a round or two. Not trying to be negative, but that's the reality of class racing.
He might want to get an NHRA membership and look for a used car for sale in their weekly classified ads. If he builds a new car and decides he doesn't want to (or can't) compete at that level, he'd be really lucky to sell it for half of what he has in it. Might be better off buying someone else's project to get himself started. Building a car can be overwhelming, not to mention ridiculously expensive.
Just my two cents. Good luck with the project.
Typically to run a class you show up on Thursday and are there until Sunday when you finally start to race. This is not a hobby class, it's a major time and money commitment.
Not trying to discourage you, but you guys may want to go watch some class races and get a feel for it before jumping in. Talk to the racers and see what you're getting into.
Even though this is considered a sportsman class, it's really only a notch below the pro class, only the payout is much less. You need a serious engine builder to compete on these classes. Gone are the days of a few guys putting a car together on their own and actually being competitive in a class. Not saying it can't be done, but it's a tough road.
If he has the means to do it, more power to him, and I'm jealous. I'd love to do something like that, but I don't have a six figure budget or a major sponsor. That's what it takes to be competitive, unless he's content with only making time runs and possibly going a round or two. Not trying to be negative, but that's the reality of class racing.
He might want to get an NHRA membership and look for a used car for sale in their weekly classified ads. If he builds a new car and decides he doesn't want to (or can't) compete at that level, he'd be really lucky to sell it for half of what he has in it. Might be better off buying someone else's project to get himself started. Building a car can be overwhelming, not to mention ridiculously expensive.
Just my two cents. Good luck with the project.