My comments were directed toward the 11.00 to 11.99 having to have a roll bar, Thats why i made that section of the quote in bold. thats the section that will effect the largest number of people. The comment about them not including the 135mph trap speed was a side note

 

Yeah, but the 11.00-11.99 cars have always had to have a roll bar, even if the car is a hardtop car, so that rule hasnt changed any at all.

Clint

 

I'm glad I had a certified 12 point cage put in my t-top car last winter.It would really suck to have a jungle gym in a daily driver.I hate climbing in and out of my track only car,could'nt imagine doing it several times a day in a driver.I'm sure a bunch of people won't be going to the track anymore.

 

I don't really understand the big deal about getting in and out of the car - the 10 pt cage is no different than the 8 pt bar in the areas you get in and out - right? If you have swing out (removeable) bars, what is the difference?

Is the halo bar close to your head getting in and out?

I could see where the 10 pt is harder to install because the front uprights probably need to go through the dash, so the windshield probably has to come out to install.

Am I missing something??

Personally I would love to drive my car to work with a cage in it! Put a little fear into that Cobra in my office parking lot !

 

no u arent missing anything if cage is installed properly the halo[actualy you would use runner type its a much cleanr setup and hugs car better] would be up high enough and with swing bars [of which only certain ones are legal]the car would not be all that hard to get in and out of, bob

 

Bob, what the runner type, and what swingouts are legal? Damnit. I guess I was going to have to do this anyways since I want to eventually be in the 9's. Just really sucks when there is no production difference betwen what the hardtop Fbods windshield is supported with and my t top. Same roof, and center support.

So, how many bends are authorized on the down bars if I go around the dash? And do these bars have to connect to the came point as the current door bars frotn mounting plate?

Thanks, Charlie.

 

hi charlie ,there is no limit to bend its just the more you have the weaker the bars are so if you do wind up in a prediacament they will bend easier,swing bars are allowed for NHRA tech but not all co.s have a legal type i use the S & W one as they were the first to be legal here in div 1 but just call your local [if there is 1 there nhra office ]and they will tell you or check 1rst,pages 209 and 210 of ths NHRA rule book gives you picts and a discription of how the cage and swingbars are to be done ,hope this helps bob

 

This really sucks for those folks who want to cruise with the tops off.. Not only will the halo be right in front of the T-top handle, but it's kinda oogly with the tops off.

 

At least we'll have something nice to hang our Christmas lights from!

Thanks Bob.

 

Now does the 10 point cage require more than just the cage?

Like, all cars with full cages need window nets?
Curious question.

 

chris, a cage is a cage most actualy are 6pt unless 2 diagnal bars go to tunnel or frame connectors[before everyone jumps on me the 2 side bars usually go to the front uprights so unless you have the 2 diags like i said and they are mandatory when cage is put on plates[pge 209 of rule book see diag. read D] if its a chassis car[ ie chevelle,malibu,corvetteanything with a full frame under it]the cage then has to be mounted to the chassis and dosnt require the 2 diags to tunnel. what else is needed are ,a window net,padding anywhere drivers helmet can contact[pge 203], and the instaler should put tabs for required shoulder harness [so its bolted to spine bar and cannot slip off you in case of accident]and if you go faster than 9.99 a chassis cert that should cover the basics bob

 

This new rule is pretty bogus as it applies to 4th gen F bodys. The only difference between a hard top and a t-top car is a little bit of fiberglass. We all know the inner roof structure is the same. Say you have 10 second t-top car with a 5 or 6 point rollbar. You'd have to upgrade to a cage and add a window net for '04. Or you could pull off the T-tops and the t-top roof, get a new Gm hard top roof and glue it down. Then the car is totally legal for '04. How is a little fiberglass safer than rollbar tubing? This doesn't affect me since my camaro is slow for now and a hardtop. But it's still stupid. I wonder if they will actually enforce this at the local tracks? Seems to me the average tech guy wouldn't be up on this.

 

I don't see the problem....my 10 point hardly seems that much more in the way than my friend's cars with 6 pts..... so to those complaining...

 

Maybe I didnt post this one:

This Christmas a bunch of us are going to go racing, lets say I run a 10.30 et. Now 7days later I go and they wont let me run becuase in the last few days I have become such a safety hazard? What crock. NHRA can go fly a kite!

 

i wasnt gonna post,but i think it's time.

NHRA makes rules for OUR safety,you can bitch and moan all you want,not gonna change it. Dunno bout you,but i wouldnt mind more protection for my head then some fiberglass or t-tops should the worst case happen. How do you think convertable guys feel? they have had worse rules then us.

Dont like nhra's rules,run at IHRA,they shouldnt complain,untill they start to mimick NHRA's safety rulkes to allow more crossover racers.


I was kinda hoping the rule wouldnt go in effect,since i am on the bubble,but since i have to add a full cage,time to shoot for the 9's.

 

I bought my convertible knowing full well that I couldn't even run it at the track in stock form. Oh well. Personally, I am all for safety requirements. Drag racing is a dangerous hobby, and I'll always prefer to be a bit more safe than "necessary". You can always replace a car, but you can't replace yourself. Sure, this rule change will cost people more money to make their cars safe, but hey this hobby is expensive anyways. You either play along or you sit and watch.

I think that hardtop 4th gens just went up in resale value a little more

I think I sold my 10-second T-top Formula at a good time. I wouldn't have wanted the halo with t-tops in a daily-driver.

How about someone come out with a welded-in hardtop roof conversion panel to replace the T-tops? Probably be cheaper than a full rollcage and certs.

My next drag car will require a 10-point anyways, so no biggie

Tony

 

its about time ,at least some of you guys are understanding,its all about safety NHRA dosnt make anything on these rulings,as fair or unfair things seem most of the time the rules are there for our safety, bob

 

Does it have to have a bar across the front or not? Only ones I have seen are behind dash and would require no heater/ac.....or can it cross on top of the dash?

 

Let's go back and define the terms:

6 pt = Rollbar, it's not technically a cage, and is not referred to as a cage by chassis builders.

10 pt = Rollcage

A 10 pt cage for a high 10 second car is mega lame.

And when was the last time I raced at RT66? Like two years ago. Why bother if the rules are getting too stringent.

I am doing a 10 pt on my 98 Formula now but that's because I plan to go well into the 9's, but I would not want a 10 pt roll cage in a car that I drove to work.

 

possible silly question... is an 8 point cage legal (10 point cage with no tunnel bars) that would ruin rear seat foot room.

or how about a 6 point (above with no door bars).. still a cage right and thats all they say.