A little late notice, but anyone interested in heading out to Friday Night Drags at Firebird? Run what you bring. $10 to spectate, an additional $10 to race. Bikes need leathers, and Snell rated helmets (they didn't seem too worried about helmet qualifications last time I went though...). Gates open at 6pm. I figure maybe we could meet up in Tempe/etc. for a quick bite to eat then head over to Firebird by around 7pm. Specific raceway details below.
http://www.firebirdraceway.com/web/streetdrags.htmlWho Can Run?Any licensed driver 18 years of age or older, (OR) any licensed driver 16 to 18 years of age ACCOMPANIED BY A PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN to sign a parental consent form (OR) any licensed driver 16 years of age or older whose name appears on our current Parental Consent list.
When?Gates open @ 6:00pm on posted Friday nights and on Saturday Night - Gates Open @ 5:00pm
How Much?Spectators admission is $10.00 and children 12 & under are FREE.
To race your vehicle is an ADDITIONAL $10.00
How To Race?Pass NHRA Safety Inspection per the current NHRA Rulebook, as amended. MOST IMPORTANT RULE OF ALL:
The speed limit everywhere on the facility is 5 miles per hour, with the obvious exception of the dragstrip itself. This includes the top-end turn-outs, return roads, Tech Inspection area, pits, staging lanes, etc. There are many people, including children, walking around the facility during our night events, and some areas are not lighted well enough for a driver running without lights to see them. Violation of the speed limit will earn you a verbal warning from our Race Crew or Security personnel. Flagrant or repeated violations will earn you an invitation to leave the facility.
Please, SAFETY FIRST!!!
Clothing requirements:In the interests of fire safety, drivers & passengers of each vehicle that goes down the drag strip must wear:
(1) Long pants – no bare legs
(2) Shirt with shoulders – no tank tops or spaghetti straps
(3) Full-coverage shoes – no sandals or flip-flops
As of January 1, 2007 all helmets must have a Snell 2000 or Better rating.
As of February 1, 2006 all vehicles with an aftermarket power adder, (nitrous, turbocharger, or supercharger) running faster than 13.99 will be required to wear an SFI approved fire jacket
Condensed Excerpts from the 2006 NHRA Rulebook:
The following information will get 99% of cars through Tech Inspection,
but there are always some things we can’t foresee. The purpose of Tech Inspection is to ensure your safety and the safety of spectators and race crew. Therefore, the Race Director’s decisions on Tech Inspection matters are FINAL!
1. Seat belts are required (even if your car is so old it didn’t come with belts) and must be securely/properly mounted. Seat belts must be worn when racing.
2. All windows must be present and in good condition (free of cracks). Cars must run with all windows up, sunroofs and T-tops closed. Convertibles must run with the top up.
3. All automatic transmissions must have a functional neutral safety switch. Vehicle may only crank in Park or Neutral. (Note: an ignition kill switch is not enough. The starter must not function when the transmission is in gear.)
4. Doors handles must be functional, inside & out. “Shaved” door handles not permitted unless there is an obvious mechanical means for our safety crew to open the driver and front passenger doors from the outside.
5. Battery cannot be located in driver/passenger compartment (unless meeting all NHRA rules and requirements, consult the NHRA Rulebook or our Tech Crew) and the battery must be securely mounted. No bungee cords, fabric straps, wire, rope, Ty-Wraps, leather belts, etc., are acceptable in place of a proper mechanical battery hold-down.
6. Vehicles with batteries that are relocated from the stock location must have an external master cutoff switch on the outside rearmost portion of the vehicle. This switch must kill ALL electrical functions including the engine. The OFF position of this switch must be labeled for our safety crew. (There are additional requirements for relocated batteries. Please, before you relocate your battery, see our Tech Crew or the NHRA Rulebook for guidance.)
7. Cooling system must have an overflow catch bottle. If your coolant-recovery system is not factory-stock, then the catch bottle must be 16 ounces capacity, minimum.
8. Tires must be in good condition, with at least 1/16 inch of visible tread remaining and no cord showing. Slicks must have visible wear indicators showing.
9. Carburetor must be covered. If your vehicle has no hood, mechanical fan must be removed but electric fans are OK.
10. Helmets: Drivers of all vehicles running 13.99 or quicker, and ALL convertibles regardless of E.T., must wear an SFI-approved helmet with a Snell rating of 2000 or newer. Passengers in convertibles running 14.00 and slower must also wear an approved helmet. (Note: DOT-only helmets are not permitted. SFI-approved helmets are not permitted if the Snell label inside the helmet is missing or illegible. In other words, a Snell-rating on the outside of the helmet is not good enough.)
11. All vehicles must have at least one working taillight, which must be ON for night racing and visible to the Starter from the turn-out at the far end of the track.
12. All hubcaps and trim rings must be removed, unless bolted on. If bolted on, the Tech Crew will ask you to remove one or more caps so wheel stud length may be checked. All wheel studs (not just on the drive wheels) must extend into the hex portion of the lug nut a distance equal to the diameter of the stud.
13. If your rear-wheel-drive vehicle is equipped with slicks and capable of running quicker than 13.00 in the quarter-mile, a driveshaft loop is required. Consult with our Tech Inspectors for specifics.
14. If your vehicle is capable of running quicker than 11.50 in the quarter-mile, please consult with our Tech Inspectors for additional safety equipment requirements.
15. No vehicle may be in motion with the hood up, whether under power or being pushed or towed. Please lower your hood for visibility when moving your vehicle.
The following are additional requirements for motorcycles:1. Rider must wear a full-face SFI-approved helmet with a Snell rating of 2000 or newer.
2. Rider must wear a leather jacket. (NHRA, as yet, has not approved ballistic-material jackets. Please, wear leather. Also, suede is not acceptable as a “leather” jacket; it doesn’t have the strength to prevent “road rash”.) Riders of bikes capable of running faster than 120 mph in the quarter must wear full leathers; two-piece leathers must fasten together at the waist.
3. Rider must wear full finger leather gloves with no holes.
4. Rider must wear leather shoes/boots that reach above the ankle.
5. Vehicle must have a chain guard extending at least to the centerline of the rear axle. Shaft-drive excepted, of course.
6. Vehicle must have a working taillight visible to the Starter from the turn-out at the far end of the track.
7. Throttle must be spring-return type. Throttle must snap closed when released.
8. Bikes capable of running 10.99 or quicker in the quarter mile must be equipped with a positive ignition cutoff switch (in the low-voltage side of the ignition system) attached to the rider with a lanyard. Cutoff switch will be function-tested during Tech Inspection.
9. Nitrous oxide allowed if bottle is DOT-1800 rated and securely mounted. See NHRA Rulebook or our Tech Inspectors.
10. Operational two-wheel brakes are mandatory. No “dirt bikes” with rear-wheel brake only.
11. No three-wheelers of any kind. Check with our Tech Crew for rules on 4-wheel ATV’s.
For further information, come to the track and talk with our Tech Inspectors. They are here to help you safely enjoy the sport of drag racing. NHRA Rulebooks are on sale for $10.00; read the E.T. Bracket section and the General
