$2000 Challenge Rules

Question on battery tie downs-

My battery is in it's stock location and utilizes original wiring, but is an AGM turned on it's side. It meets the first part of the rule, "Removable, reusable battery tie down made of metal" but not the second, "(NHRA requires a metal strap or minimum diameter 3/8th inch threaded rod.)" See pic below, metal rod is 3/16ths. Am I ok? If not, what should change?

Question on Firewalls-

I haven't modified the firewall, but have removed the heater and AC hoses that went through it. Do I have to plug these holes?

Thanks!

Are "headlights" considered a safety item? If yes are they excluded from the budget? 

In reply to davbro :

If it's not explicitly excluded in the rules, it goes in the budget. A lot of safety items like roll bar are to be included in the budget. From what I can gather, headlights are too.

In reply to CrustyRedXpress :

Tough one on the battery. Stock location, but obviously not a stock tie down. I would upgrade the threaded rod to 3/8 to be safe, if you can do so easily. Battery tie down are a common tech inspection failure.

Yeah C R X, i think unless your rods are 3/8 they're going to fail.  

In reply to maschinenbau and Patrick:

Good enough for me-I'll upgrade the rods to 3/8ths tomorrow. Any thoughts on the AC/Heater hose holes in the firewall?

In reply to CrustyRedXpress :

Make it look solid and probably be good. Grommets, rubber plugs, whatever.

Yeah, holey firewall is a no-go.  Maybe the electric row at home depot will give you some plugs.  With my datsun i was literally out of budget in 2015 so i cut up an empty brake cleaner can for firewall hole patch.  

If you built your challenge car in 2016 you were allowed to recoup up to $1008 regardless of purchase price of car.  is the calculation grandfathered in?  we are required based on the FAQ to submit budget on new spreadsheet

Ok, rules say 3-ring binder. My build is fairly short and straight forward so I currently have it in this :

3-ring folder. Ok or gotta buy the actual 3-ringer?

My build book is just a cover page.

2001 Sonoma:  $2000

the end.

In reply to AngryCorvair :

After building the Vette for 2017, if I ever field another entry I’m going to follow your lead with the Sonoma. 

In reply to bobzilla :

I'm cool with the folder you've got there, but there's 3-ring binders at the dollar store if you wanna play it safe.

that's where I got mine.

Patrick said:

Yeah C R X, i think unless your rods are 3/8 they're going to fail.  

I didn't like my battery hold down anyway. Add 3/8ths upgrade to tomorrow's to do list.

In reply to CrustyRedXpress :

You'll need bigger threaded rod. And yes, all firewall holes must be covered. 

In reply to davbro :

No, the only safety exemptions are those listed in the rules. 

In reply to bobzilla :

Sorry, needs to be an actual binder. Those suck to lay on a desk and flip through. 

In reply to davbro :

There's no official grandfathering rule, but we can let some things slide on a case-by-case basis for returning challengers. Do you not have $8 of room in your budget?

In reply to Tom Suddard :

Got it. 

I have a budget question. So i plan on wearing an old flightsuit i have from when i was in the navy during the concourse. since this was just a standard issue item while i was in the military do i need to list this as fair market value?

In reply to surfshibby07 :

driver clothing is not part of budget

Tom Suddard said:

In reply to bobzilla :

Sorry, needs to be an actual binder. Those suck to lay on a desk and flip through. 

Is a lay-flat, spiral bound book ok? I already put a fair amount of effort into laying out a cohesive published package.

AngryCorvair said:

In reply to surfshibby07 :

driver clothing is not part of budget

ok i didnt think so but since it isnt "traditional clothing" i wasnt sure. thank you.

In reply to bluej :

Technically no, but I doubt anybody would file a protest over that. Just know that if they do, it's pretty cut and dry in the rules that it must be a three-ring binder. 

Tom Suddard said:

In reply to davbro :

There's no official grandfathering rule, but we can let some things slide on a case-by-case basis for returning challengers. Do you not have $8 of room in your budget?

Tom, I think you misunderstood the question. 

In 2016, the wording of the recoup rule appeared to allow recouping the FULL amount, regardless of the purchase price. It enabled a theoretical negative budget. 

So, if a car was purchased for $1, the full $1008 recoup could be applied to THAT purchase. 

Current rules clarify that recoup cannot exceed the vehicle or parts purchase amount. 

Its not an $8 question. It’s potentially much more.