I am planning on running my 68 at TnT on Sept 15, and was hoping to receive some helpful hints of little things other members may have overlooked before going thru tech.

Also do I need to have my door handles on??
Thanks B.

Yes you will need the door handles.

Door handles are a safety item! It may be okay with you that in case of a track mishap that leaves you disabled inside your car that they simply smash through the glass or use the jaws of life to get inside - but it is so much easier to simply be able to use an outside door handle to open the door.

If you have never raced and been through a tech inspection you should call the track ahead of time, they will tell you the minimum safety requirements for your car.

Many tracks require street legal cars to have proof of registration and insurance (even though your insurance may not cover any accidents while racing on the dragstrip itself, some insurance companies do cover test n tune track accidents).

Other general requirements usually relate to the e.t. or mph capability of your car. Slower street cars must have side windows rolled up, a lap belt, no open holes from the firewall through to the passenger compartment. Your battery needs to be bolted down - no bungee cords allowed! You must have a functioning ignition neutral/park safety lockout that only let's your starter crank the engine over when the trans is in park or neutral. No more than 12" of rubber fuel line in the engine compartment. Dual throttle linkage return springs. No leaks of any oils or coolant - if it drips on the ground it is a safety hazard to other cars on the track. You must have a coolant overflow recovery tank. No cord showing on any tires. No use of dinky safety spares as lightweight front wheel/tires.

And remember: if your car gets sideways and squirrely just ease off the throttle and gently motor down the track - you can always line up and make another pass! Much better that trying to "save" a bad pass and possibly wrecking your car.

Otherwise be sure you know your track rules and how to properly line up and launch. Have some fun!

Thomas

The best thing to do is go watch a couple rounds of TNT before you even line up, watch the whole procedure from the staging lanes, to the water box, to the starting line, follow the directions of the track personnel. Dont forget a brain bucket and you'll be hooked for life ;)

Thanks..

Listen to these guys, they know what they are talking about. I went for the first time last week and now I know that this is going to cost me a LOT of money :thumbsup: , but it's pretty much the most fun you can have with your pants on :hurray:. Just make sure you have the minimum requirements for the tech inspection, grab a helmet and go have fun.
Cheers
Bear

helmet
no missing lug nuts
seatbelt
catch can for coolant
battery bolted down
if you run slicks you'll need safety loop
pretty much basic safety stuff.

Make it a Snell 90 helmet @ min. spec

Do I need to run water only in my cooling system... I have heard that people have not passed tech inspection do to having a water/coolant mixture in their radiator. Can anyone confirm or deny this for me??

Do I need to run water only in my cooling system... I have heard that people have not passed tech inspection do to having a water/coolant mixture in their radiator. Can anyone confirm or deny this for me??
SO long as you have an overflow tank you are fine. I have 50/50 in my cooling system and for an overflow tank I have an Avion water bottle with the hose run through the cap :clonk: , then the water bottle is zap straped to the bottom of the battery tray. It looked cheezy but I got through tech (NHRA track). I have since plumbed in a real overflow bottle just because the old one was a little to "redneck" for me :thumbsup:
Cheers
Bear

I'm also thinking about taking my car for some test n tune runs this fall.

One of the things listed above is a neutral safety switch??

My 68 stick shift car ain't got one (clutch switch on a stick I guess) they didn't start putting them on until 1969.

Is this requirement for real?

Yes the neutral safety switch rule is for real, its in the NHRA rulebook. Super easy to fab up an interupter switch that requires the clutch pedal to be pressed down in order to complete the starter circuit. The idea is to keep the engine from being started while the car is in gear - to avoid a pit or staging lane accident.

Thomas