Welcome to Maple Grove
Maple Grove Raceway Racer Meeting
January 19, 2013
The Works – Wyomissing, PA
Opening Introductions,
Lex Dudas Vice President/General Manager
Anthony Winchester Track Manager
Evan Jones Director of Communications
Bruce Wilson Technical Director
Kathy Phillips Office Administrator
Tony Elmo Event Services Director
Drivers take note:
NHRA Tech Updates for 2013, Bruce Wilson & Anthony Winchester.
From the NHRA Rulebook:
SECTION 20: GENERAL REGULATIONS, DRIVER: 10, 10:5: DRIVER RESTRAINTS SYSTEMS (Page 40)
A quick-release, 3-inch minimum width driver restraint system, with a 2-inch crotch strap, meeting SFI Spec 16.1 or a 2-inch minimum width driver restraint system, with a 2-inch crotch strap meeting SFI Spec 16.5 is mandatory in all cars in competition required by the rules to have a roll bar or a roll cage. (Permitted in all other classes.) A 3-inch SFI Spec 16.5 driver restraint system is also acceptable wherever an SFI Spec 16.1 is mandatory or permitted. Driver restraint system must be clearly labeled as meeting SFI Spec 16.1 or SFI Spec 16.5 and be dated by manufacturer. SFI 16.1 or 16.5 3-inch wide shoulder harness straps folded over and sewn to be 2-inches wide by the original manufacturer in order to fit into head and neck restraint lips/channels are acceptable; SFI 16.1 2-inch wide shoulder harness straps are not permitted. See Class Requirements for additional requirements for Top Fuel and Funny Car. SFI Spec 16.1 or 16.5 Y-type belts prohibited. (In cases where the class does not require an SFI 16.1 or 16.5 driver restraint system, the two-year recertification does not apply.) System must be updated at two-year intervals from date of manufacture. All seat-belt and shoulder harness hardware must be originally designed to be used with each other and produced by the same manufacturer. For harness installation, see illustration. Cars using OEM or OEM-type seat may route crotch strap in front of seat instead of through seat; otherwise install according to manufacturer’s instructions. Only units that release all attachment points in one motion are permitted. Mandatory that units must release all attachment points (five, six or seven, if applicable) in one action. When arm restraints are worn with a restraint system that utilizes a “latch lever,” a protective cover must be installed to prevent arm restraint from accidentally releasing the latch lever. Protective cover not required if system utilizes “duck-bill” latch hardware. All harness sections must be mounted to the frame, crossmember, or reinforced mounting, and installed to limit driver’s body travel both upward and forward. Seat belts may not be wrapped around lower framerails. Under no circumstances are bolts inserted through belt webbing permitted for mounting. Check manufacturer’s instructions.
SECTION 20: GENERAL REGULATIONS, DRIVER:10, 10:7 HELMET (Page 42)
As outlined under Class Requirements, drivers in all classes, including motorcycles, must wear a helmet meeting Snell or SFI Specifications.
SFI Spec 31.1A = Snell SA, open-face helmet
SFI Spec 31.2A = Snell SA full-face helmet
SFI Spec 41.1A = Snell M or K open-face helmet
SFI Spec 41.2A = Snell M or K full-face helmet
Full-face helmet mandatory on all cars 9.99 or quicker. See individual Class Requirements for additional requirements. Shield mandatory 7.49 and quicker.
Drivers of NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and E.T. cars (13.99 or quicker) must use a helmet meeting Snell SA2000, M2000, SA2005, K2005, M2005, SA2010,SAH2010, K2010, M2010, or SFI 31.1A, 31.2A, 31.1/2005, 41.1A, 41.2A, or 41.1/2005 Specs. Drivers in supercharged, front-engine, open-bodied cars and Funny Cars must wear a helmet meeting Snell SA2000, SA2005, SA2010, SAH2010, or SFI 31.1A, 31.2A, or 31.1/2005 Specs. See Class Requirements.
SECTION 4A: SUPER PRO, PRO, SPORTSMAN, ENGINE: 1, INDUCTION (Page 2)
Any induction permitted. Electronic fuel injection must be closed, OEM-type system; i.e., may monitor only engine functions. Monitoring …. available on NHRARacer.com. Open-loop systems permitted on production vehicles as equipped with OEM electronic fuel injection. See General Regulations 9:1.
Aftermarket water-methanol injection systems permitted. Must be installed and used per manufacturer’s instructions. Tank, pump, lines, etc. may not be mounted inside the driver compartment. When located inside trunk a complete bulkhead of at least .024-inch steel or .032-inch aluminum is required to isolate driver compartment from trunk.
SECTION 4C: E.T. MOTORCYCLE, DESIGNATION (Page 12)
ET/MC, preceded by rider number. For motorcycles running 7.50 (*4.50) seconds or slower. Unaltered OEM production Can-Am Spyder three-wheel motorcycle permitted. All other tThree-wheel vehicles prohibited.
SECTION 20: GENERAL REGULATIONS, ENGINE, 1:5 FUEL SYSTEMS, Tanks (Page 4)
Tanks: When permitted by class regulations, fuel tanks located …. outside of body. A positive-locking screw-on fuel tank cap is mandatory on all open-bodied cars. Insulated fuel tanks prohibited. When used, nonmetallic fuel cells must have a metal box protecting the part of the fuel cell that is outside of body lines or trunk floor, excluding hose connection area in rear. The metal box must be constructed of minimum .024 steel or .032 aluminum. Nonmetallic fuel cells or tanks must be grounded to frame.
SECTION 20: GENERAL REGULATIONS, DRIVETRAIN:2, 2:14 TRANSMISSION, Automatic/NHRA Accepted (Page 15)
All cars running 10.99 (*6.99) seconds and quicker must have an NHRA-accepted locking-type dipstick on the transmission and dipstick/filler tubes must be securely fastened (i.e. bolted, aircraft clamped). Wire ties, hose clamps etc. prohibited. Any non-OEM automatic floor-mounted
SECTION 20: GENERAL REGULATIONS, 9:15: CAMERAS (Page 38)
Images from any camera permitted under this section are permitted to be used for competition/analytical purposes only. One camera permitted unless NHRA permission is granted for additional cameras. May not be intentionally directed at the racer in the other lane without NHRA permission. Video may not be transmitted in any means or manner without NHRA permission, which permission, if granted, may be revoked at any time. Incident video may not be transmitted under any circumstances. No video monitors permitted in or on the car. Video may not be used in any way to determine track position in real time. Must be securely attached to the vehicle with appropriate fasteners. May not be attached with suction cups, wire ties, hose clamps etc. For any camera mounted external to the enclosed driver’s compartment of a full-bodied door car, anywhere on any open-bodied car (including FC, TAFC, and Competition Eliminator and E.T. Funny Car-type Altered bodies), and anywhere on any car 7.49 (*4.49) seconds or quicker, all mounting brackets, associated fasteners, hardware, etc. from the camera to the vehicle attachment point must be metal, no plastic or nonmetallic components permitted. For all vehicles, attachment to the driver, the driver’s helmet, or the steering wheel/handle bars prohibited.
RACE CAR DRIVERS NEED AN EMERGENCY PLAN
Parts of this article are taken from an article written by track operator and racer Royce Miller. It provides a good basis for questions and scenarios for driver licensing blindfold tests.
Imagine you are approaching the finish line at a high rate of speed when all of a sudden your motor expires and you have 2 gallons of oil under your tires, on top of that a piece of connecting rod cuts a brake line. You push on the brake pedal and there is no stopping this freight train. WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
Do good drivers act solely from instinct or by the seat of their pants? Do others panic simply because they don’t know what to do? After a serious accident there is always the talk about “shoulda, woulda, coulda,” and then everyone has an opinion on what happened. But no one really knows how he or she will act in a crisis until they are faced with it.
Drivers need an emergency plan! Regardless of how fast your car or motorcycle is, you need to run through your head the best options to stop your vehicle in all different emergency situations. It’s easier to quickly think back on what to do in a situation if you have thought it out previously.
One of the best things to do is before you make a time run is to go to end of the track and look at the surrounding area and study the best plan to take if you are in an emergency situation. Yes throttles stick, brakes fail, parachutes don’t deploy, and then what is the best thing to do. Thinking about different situations ahead of time will make emergency decisions easier.
If you have a parachute on your car, you should pull it on the first time run of the day to make sure everything is in good working order. You would be surprised how many parachutes never get out of the pack. They are damp and wrinkled and may not blossom correctly if no properly maintained. Don’t hesitate to use your parachute; it is a piece of safety equipment.
In case of a stuck throttle, always kill the ignition first, then pull your parachute (if you have one) and brake carefully. These are a few points to get you thinking about what to do in your racecar in an emergency.
WARM UPS
One of the best things to do is before you make a time run is to go to end of the track and look at the surrounding area and study the best plan to take if you are in an emergency situation. Yes throttles stick, brakes fail, parachutes don’t deploy, and then what is the best thing to do. Thinking about different situations ahead of time will make emergency decisions easier.
If you have a parachute on your car, you should pull it on the first time run of the day to make sure everything is in good working order. You would be surprised how many parachutes never get out of the pack. They are damp and wrinkled and may not blossom correctly if no properly maintained. Don’t hesitate to use your parachute; it is a piece of safety equipment.
In case of a stuck throttle, always kill the ignition first, then pull your parachute (if you have one) and brake carefully. These are a few points to get you thinking about what to do in your racecar in an emergency.
OIL RETENTION DEVICES
•For all cars running 9.99 (6.39 – 1/8th) and quicker must use an acceptable oil retention device at ET series events.
A belly pan may be used lieu of a device attached to the engine. Framerail to framerail, forward of the harmonic balancer to rear of the block. Minimum 2” high lip on all sides. A nonflammable, oil absorbent liner mandatory
Evan Jones comments on PPC Lubricants Victory Lane Procedures for 2013:
2013 Sponsor Updates:
Money Trail Information:
10. New tie breaker rule for 2013 (slide)
11. Our policy for auxiliary pit vehicles will remain in effect for 2013. Zero tolerance, if an under aged rider if found operating the vehicle, or anyone is found to be operating a vehicle in an unsafe manner, the race entry will be disqualified from the event and the race entry will forfeit any all points earned on the day of the infraction. NHRA will again offer the liability insurance program for 2013. Many racers indicated the payment was very fair to insure their vehicle. Forms and stickers are not yet available for 2013
12. Money Trail Shootout will again be contested at the 2013 Auto-Plus NHRA Nationals. Sponsors include D&G Golf Carts, PC Richard and Son, Potty Queen and Awesome Vinyl. The same format will be in place where the winner, runner up and semi finalist(s) names from all 17 events will be entered into a special drawing at the conclusion of the last Money Trail event. A total of 4 drivers names will be drawn for Super, Pro, Street and Top Bike. All 16 driver’s names will then be placed into another drawing for qualifying positions at the event. The event will be a 16 entry field and will be run on a standard NHRA sportsman ladder with the winner receiving the golf cart and the runner up receiving a 32-inch HD Television.
13. In an effort to offer more racers an opportunity to run for the Shootout a new rule will be in effect for 2013. The previous year’s winner of the golf cart will not be eligible for the shootout the following year. After a one year hiatus the winner will be permitted to run again for another grand prize
14. Total benefits total over $49,510.00 annually.
15. The ATI Money Trail Stock – Super Stock Series will continue in 2013 with a 4-race series spread over two weekends for Stock and Super Stock. The events will be coordinated by Dave Ley of the Northeast Stock – Super Stock Series. The dates will be June 8 and 9 and August 24 – 25. The membership will be $25 for the Money Trail points.
16. Discussed future plans for the annual Awards Banquet, venue change, format change, etc. Input was sought and will be discussed by Maple Grove staff.
Auto Locator Grudge Series
Happy to announce Auto Locator will again sponsor the series
Entry fees will remain at the 2012 levels:
NED Summit ET Finals
10. The track operators voted to allow nitrous in Pro and Street
11. The event will be hosted by Numidia Dragway on September 19 – 21
12. The host track will offer gambler races during the event
13. The host track status for 2014 isn’t finalized. All interested tracks are to submit a proposal to host the 2014 by November 1, 2013 to the NHRA division office.
Index Racing and “No Time Event” and other new ideas
Submitted Discussion Points
UTI Junior Dragster Meeting
