SECTION 7A: TOP SPORTSMAN, DRIVER: 10, DRIVER RESTRAINT
SYSTEM (Page 6) (11/22/2024)
Driver restraint system meeting SFI Spec. 16.1 or 16.5 mandatory. Beginning
July 1, 2025, a minimum six-point driver restraint system meeting SFI Spec 16.1
or seven-point driver restraint system meeting SFI Spec 16.5 mandatory.
Restraint system must be updated at two-year intervals from date of
manufacture.

SECTION 7B: TOP DRAGSTER, DRIVER: 10, DRIVER RESTRAINT SYSTEM
(Page 9) (11/22/2024)
Driver restraint system meeting SFI Spec. 16.1 or 16.5 mandatory. Beginning
July 1, 2025, a minimum six-point driver restraint system meeting SFI Spec 16.1
or seven-point driver restraint system meeting SFI Spec 16.5 mandatory. All
belts used in open-bodied front-engine supercharged methanol-burning vehicles
must be covered with a fire-resistant covering. Restraint system must be updated
at two-year intervals from date of manufacture.

I just wonder what brought that rule on? Totally sucks for all TD/TS racers, especially if they just got new belts, makes them worthless plus now they have to weld tabs to their nicely power coated chassis.

Just a guess.

Maybe some of the speeds they are running since they did away with the weight requirements for blowers and nitrous?

Just a guess.

Bob

quote:

Originally posted by RPROGAS:
Just a guess.

Maybe some of the speeds they are running since they did away with the weight requirements for blowers and nitrous?

Just a guess.

Bob

The ET limits are still the same.

Just wish they could decide what they want on things like this. Almost done with a brand new car, would have welded extra tabs on before powder coating had I known. Oh well

I just bought a new set of belts 2 weeks ago from Crow . Called them and they informed me that they heard about this rule yesterday.

They asked me to send crotch strap back and they would replace it with the updated belts for almost nothing.

Great customer service !!!

No sympathy..

I believe this doesn't go into effect until July 2025.

quote:

posted December 05, 2024 07:01 PM Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by RPROGAS:
Just a guess.

Maybe some of the speeds they are running since they did away with the weight requirements for blowers and nitrous?

Just a guess.

Bob


The ET limits are still the same.

With all due respect:

Speed is a function of impact regardless of the ET and the speeds in both T/D and T/S have been increasing since the rules change. The really fast cars, capable of going well into the sub 6.00 second zone are using a drop spot. Their 660 speeds don't correlate to the 1320 speeds. Many of them are 183 + @ 660) then what, only a 27-30 mph ( ? ) gain in the back half? At 183 they are really closer to, or faster than 230.

NHRA probably figured out what's been going on and revised the belt requirement.

Bob

I envision MANY TD/TS racers racing local bracket events and giving up their TD/TS licenses.
Who in there right mind is going to go thru the hassle of removing all the body work, stripping all the electronics, buy a NEW seat (remember that the belts MUST go thru the seat, not around the bottom seat bar), setup an appointment with a chassis shop (that will still charge giant $$, as they should) for a 2 second tack weld to put on 2 tabs (remember they need to be 2 separate mounting points) under your butt just because someone wants TD/TS on their window?
Not many.
Especially the cars going 6.90 to 7.40. Just throttle stop to 7.50 at 200 MPH.
That's way more fun anyway.

I've got my solution, I'm calling Simpson and ordering 1 crotch belt since I just bought new belts in September. I'll just zip tie them together and stick them thru the same hole, there you go, 2 crotch straps.

Only if you are sub 4.50 or 7.50 it has no bearing on your medium car or dragster that is slower.

It appears that they are making it a Class "blanket rule" for everyone in T/D and T/S. All the guys normally running S/C that enter T/D (or T/S) would have to upgrade from a 5 point harnesses to (minimally) a 6 point.

Frank is right, I can see a lot of people who normally run S/C dropping out, why pay NHRA the additional class fee and go through the hassle?

Bob

I really miss driving my TD and going 235MPH but glad I don't have it now and have to deal with this BS

You are probably the smartest dog in the pack Steve. I can see it only getting more restrictive and more expensive.

Add to that fewer tracks and fewer events in Division 7.

Bob

quote:

Originally posted by RPROGAS:

quote:

posted December 05, 2024 07:01 PM Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by RPROGAS:
Just a guess.

Maybe some of the speeds they are running since they did away with the weight requirements for blowers and nitrous?

Just a guess.

Bob


The ET limits are still the same.

With all due respect:

Speed is a function of impact regardless of the ET and the speeds in both T/D and T/S have been increasing since the rules change. The really fast cars, capable of going well into the sub 6.00 second zone are using a drop spot. Their 660 speeds don't correlate to the 1320 speeds. Many of them are 183 + @ 660) then what, only a 27-30 mph ( ? ) gain in the back half? At 183 they are really closer to, or faster than 230.

NHRA probably figured out what's been going on and revised the belt requirement.

Bob

I don’t disagree at all,

But it just shows NHRA being reactive instead of proactive

They put a 6.0 cert sticker on the car, cap the ETs at the certification which makes sense, and then decide later that the belts they decided on are no longer safe for the ETs they said the chassis and class could go when people actually do it

If they are worried about mph then they could look into setting requirements based on 1/8th mile mph regardless of ET ran. Could even look into restrictions on 1/8th mph for the class that correlates to desired 1/4 mph

Instead NHRA likes to make people spend money

why pay NHRA the additional class fee and go through the hassle?

Why? Qualified field, less cars in field than other classes, better payout. Pretty simple to add a couple tabs and change belts not a issue at all for most.The ones that cry the loudest most likely do not participate anyway so there ya go. If you do not like rules go to the local sheethole ..... like spending 300 bucks is gonna keep folks with 500k cars and rigs from participating lol.....

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 67TSCHEVY2,

quote:

Originally posted by Big Steve:
Totally sucks for all TD/TS racers, especially if they just got new belts

We literally just put a new set of seat belts in tour TD last weekend, I am going to call CROW just send in the current single belt center quick release and have the bottom attachment upgraded.

Jeff Gillette: Thanks for the update on CROW!

UPDATE: I just talked to CROW and they can just send me the new strap assemble. There is a small hole on the back of the cam lock that releases the old assembly. Simple!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: David Gerard,

Since they will now have “safer belts” nhra needs to lower the index back down the 6.00 and maybe some fast cars will jump back into the mix that jumped out because of the 6.10 BS

quote:

Originally posted by Big Steve:
Since they will now have “safer belts” nhra needs to lower the index back down the 6.00 and maybe some fast cars will jump back into the mix that jumped out because of the 6.10 BS

Man what an ego driven class.....They took away a 10th so "Top" racers quit??? I'm thinking NHRA figured out that you guys had such huge ****s you'd need an extra crotch strap to hold all that massive penis....

I doubt the .10 is going to make any real difference except that going below 6.00 requires many changes, (as required in TAD or TAFC). Drop below 6.00 and you are not only done at that event but you are being escorted off the property. 6.10 to 6.00 leaves a little room, a 5.99 and you're gone.

Bob

When the 6.10 became the index, there was quite a few "slow" Hemi powered TAD that ran TD out here in D4 and in D3 and they vanished, maybe just a coincidence, maybe not. I do know slowing your car down and still being consistent isn't as easy and you would think. When I jumped into TD I built my car based on the 6.00 rule at the time and it would easily go 5.9x if I would let it.
Just my 2 cents but the 5.99 "get the boot rule" is self policing, bring back 6.00 index and let them race