$2017 Challenge

In reply to Gasoline:

About all you need for auto-x is a battery that doesn't move, things that don't obviously leak, goes, stops, and turns.

In reply to Gasoline:

If you run 9's, you will need a license. But it won't count toward your budget.

No one has ever run 135 at the Challenge. It's a lofty goal for $2000, but worthy.

You don't actually have to keep it under 135. If you were to run 140 with no license, the rules say you would be officially credited with the highest safety level to which the car (and driver) was prepared. In this case it would be 10.000.

Ranger50 wrote: In reply to Gasoline: About all you need for auto-x is a battery that doesn't move, things that don't obviously leak, goes, stops, and turns.

Throttle return spring, tight wheel bearings, solid brake pedal feel, and functioning seatbelts/harness are typically on the list. Oh, and no parts that appear likely to fall off on course.

Gasoline wrote: Safety: I am executing a plan on a (hopefully) fast car. I picked up a used chute at the Goodguys Swapmeet in Ft. Worth 2 weeks ago. High hopes. Personally, I wish I could use reach out to an actual Challenge Tech Safety Marshal "pre-check" this candidate before the event. I certainly don't want to show up with a Texas mystery car and have safety tech see it for the first time. Weeks before the event I would like to start a conversation with an "actual" safety tech guru about what number? I plan on running and satisfy his safety requirements to run the number (within budget). Yes, I can send pictures of questionable items, in advance, and he creates a check list of things he expects to see at the event on the car....driveshaft hoops, rubber fuel line lengths, no fuel regulators mounted to the firewall, no holes in the firewall, transmission scatter-shield, etc. I hope it is transparent and clear I have the safety items in place. The car is then no surprise and he is bored, and it passes his "pre-check" boxes. I don't know doo-doo about autocross. If it passes the safety Drag portion, could it possibly? flunk the Autocross safety portion of the event? I've drag raced at many tracks and it is a crapshoot when getting a car thru tech. Some are picky and some don't bother to look at the car. A few times I have had to go back thru tech after running a decent number. I also don't want to take a budget hit for safety stuff I don't really need. Say? Simpson 5pt harness/seat belt, brand new out of the box and on the car, but a year out of SFI date. It passes all test & tune/grudge tracks, but strictly letter of the law it should be recertified. Also NHRA PRO/Sportsman 4&6 requires a license for 9.99 and quicker or 135 and greater MPH. Would I need to add the cost of the license to the budget or better to jump on the brakes, smoke the tires, and keep it under 135? Optimistic the bar can be raised, but I do understand it is a juggling act to meet the rules including safety. Maybe 135mph/150mph or <9.9 is a solid cost wall that is the true $$$ limits of the event. I know Les and think he could build a chute car if he wanted to.

have the NHRA rules in hand and build it to the letter of the book, then you can't not pass the most scrutinizing tech inspection. yes i just used a double negative. rules call for 18" 1/8" wall protective tube around non braided fuel lines in bellhousing area, use one. blowdown tube on nitrous bottle, use it. it's pretty simple to pass tech if you use the rule book to build the car. i'm good to 10.00 and hope to get pretty close to that if i bring the datsun back next year. i hit 122.6mph and andrew hit i think 127.2(he'll correct me here) this year, i believe everyone else was one-teens and slower. i forget what aussie and calvin went but their cars were set up to launch way better than mine was so i had crap 60' time and pulled like a freight train through the finish line. if you can hit 150 for 2 grand and need a parachute i'll buy you a beer.

plus your harness doesn't count so get rid of the out of date one and get a new one if you are concerned. i have not had the date checked on mine but it is not outdated.

That helps very much, Thanks.

Patgizz wrote:

if you can hit 150 for 2 grand and need a parachute i'll buy you a beer.

I haven't studied the aerodynamics of a beer recently, but I don't think it's gonna help.

In reply to AngryCorvair:

You forget the redneck mantra of "Here hold my beer!" Once that's said anything is possible.

Beer (good (beer) and lots) is on me regardless if can?, or can't?, be done.

This is certainly fun to think about.

Do we DO safety at the challenge? I missed that portion of the event... ... ...

Daymn that was mean,LoL

Oddly though was gettin' gas and a BMW rolls by, conv. newer 320 maybe better but it had a roll cage in it.Painted white,but can't get past how good I felt for the owner. C'mon Guy's saftey for free. Even IF it Isn't.