I just returned from the Division 7 Track Operator and Tech Seminars in Las Vegas and thought I would pass on some new revisions in the rules you may not all know about.

First.. ET Brackets:
Sportsman 12.00-19.99, Pro 10.00-13.99, Super Pro 7.00-11.99

Oil Retention Device:
Any E.T. vehicle running 9.99 or quicker or 135 mph or faster must have an oil retention device meeting either SFI Spec 7.1 or 7.2. Comp must meet this requirement in 07. ET cars must meet it in 08.

Stock/Super Stock Clothing:
Stock classes A/S through M/S, A/SA through M/SA and in any vehicle running 11.49 or quicker, a jacket meeting SFI Spec 3.2A/1 mandatory. In super stock the SFI Spec 3.2A/1 jacket is mandatory in SS/J through SS/P, SS/JA through SS/PA, and in any vehicle through Super Stock running 10.00 to 11.49 seconds. A jacket meeting SFI Spec 3.2A/5 is mandatory in Super Stock classes SS/A through SS/I, SS/AH through SS/IA, and in any vehicle running 9.99 or quicker throughout Super Stock.

Screw-type superchargers:
Permitted in Super Pro, Pro and Sportsman. Does not need to meet SFI Spec 34.1 for any vehicle running 7.51 or slower. Overdrive limits are outlined in General Regulations.

ANY CAR RUNNING Nitrous:
10.00 to 13.99 with OEM Firewall: Jacket meeting SFI Spec 3.2A/1 Mandatory.
10.00 to 13.99 without OEM Firewall: Jacket meeting SFI Spec 3.2A/5 Mandatory.
9.99 to 7.50 or any vehicle exceeding 135 Mph: Jacket and pants meeting SFI Spec: 3.2A/5 and gloves meeting SFI Spec 3.3/1 mandatory.

These are just some of the things I chose to Highlight. Please refer to the 2007 NHRA rulebook for your specific vehicle's requirements.

Steve Zimmerman

All the info NHRA has put out to date says the oil retention devices aren't required on sportsman cars till 2008. IIRC, it was Comp required to have them in 2007.

http://www.nhra.com/content/news.asp?articleid=17364&zoneid=8

Also, the ET breaks for the classes listed must be for Division 7 as here in Division 1 Pro/Heavy can run as quick as 9.0.

The ET Breaks are out of the 07 Rule book for National Events. Some tracks may allow differant breaks on ET. The exception being the Sportsman class which the time was revised on 12/4.

07 Revisions: http://www.nhra.com/content/general.asp?articleid=17519

The ET Breaks are out of the 07 Rule book for National Events. Some tracks may allow differant breaks on ET. The exception being the Sportsman class which the time was revised on 12/4.

07 Revisions: http://www.nhra.com/content/general.asp?articleid=17519Thanks Steve. Sure glad our local track is "IHRA". One guy on our local tracks message board put up a post to send a petition to protest the new diaper rule, like it will affect "him", go figure. He's a Ford guy and thinks he's fast. The rule couldn't possibly affect him personally as he's running IHRA and has been stuck in the high tens forever.

As a track operator I LOVE the diaper rule... Oil downs really suck!

Steve.....are you going to enforce the diaper rule for 2007 for bracket cars? If so......Then we will have to buy SFI ones in 2008 too. Since they don't yet have a SFI diaper to fit a door car with a stock suspension.

I guess there will be other tracks that are not to far away that will respect the underlining meaning of law...not the strict wording of it.

I for one can not afford a 800.00 dollar SFI/NHRA conspirosy<sp> money making scam.

Any IHRA tracks in Northern CA?

I wouldn't mind the diaper rule, if it weren't for the SFI spec. Overall , its a good idea.

I'm with Jim. I agree that the rule is agood idea and safety is always good, but there was no forethought in any of this. I asked several companies about blankets for stock chassis cars with stock crossmembers and factory motor mounts and none have a clue. It's not like there were products available that now are being made mandatory.

Jim and Ray,
I am not going to be enforcing the "diaper rule" until 2008 when it is mandatory to do so. Even then it will depend on the availability of the engine diapers to fit our cars. If the situation remains as it is I am not so sure the "SFI Tag" will be mandatory at the Redding track. Just keep in mind if you go to the ET Finals in 08 that the Inspection team will be from NHRA, not the local track and I am sure they will be looking for that tag.

Steve

What exactly is an engine diaper? Is it just a catch-all catch pan, or is it more of a engine wrapping diaper?
I found this non-SFI one that attaches to the heads of a BBC.
http://goodvibesracing.com/Product-Scans/DJ-730000.JPG

Those look more like heat blankets than anything! Is the goal to catch engine leaks from the oil pan gasket down? Or are they looking to catch any oil from a piston going through the block?

An A-body crossmember is a real pain in the but for the diaper rule.

The goal of the engine diaper is to catch/control oil from catastrophic engine failure. IE rod through the block or oil pan. I can tell this is gonna be a tough thing in 08 unless more manufacturers start making them for cars with stock front clips. I am glad I am an 11 sec car... I won't need one.

Steve

It would seem that changing out parts before they break would be a much better idea than trying to contain the mess afterwords. Won't there be incidences where the diaper won't keep the oil off the strip, like for instance a giant wheelstand. What are these blankets made of? I heard that a guy challenged another man to stab him in the chest with a knife to prove a Kevlar vest would stop anything. The fool is now dead, the knife went right through the Kevlar vest and two stupid people now know that a sharp pointed knife is tougher than a Kevlar vest. Is that blanket really going to stop shrapnel and oil from an exploding engine? After seeing the damage done by one exploding flywheel i kinda doubt it.