Moroso now called Palm Beach Motor Sports recently opened after a several million dollar make-over. It is a 1/4 mile track.

Jim (Mr AMX) Ashley and I to check out the new track. Awesome, with a couple of issues pertaining to the rules of drag racing.

My first race was against Ashley
,...........RMA ............... AMA
R/T....... .124.............. .525
60 FT......1.871............ 2.306
330......... 5.232............ 5.893
1/8..........8.052............. 8.759
MPH.........86.79............. 85.41
1000........10.479............ 13.317
1/4..........108.90............ 103.02

That was my best time. Both Ashley and I were greeted by the track manager and given a warning for going too fast. ???????????? Seems that if you have a roadster, even with a helmut, under NRHA rules that if you run faster then 13.5 you are in violation of there rules and regulations. If you do it a second time you are asked to depart from the premises. BUMMER after driving 100 miles.

I went for a burger and Ashley kept racing. 13.0 12.9 and 12.8 My 2nd and 3rd run were over thev 13.5 required to continue racing. My 4th run was 12.6. When I was in line to run, the mgr pulled up next to me and informed me I was done for the night. It was 7:00. Jim was still racing and doing pretty good 12.4xx and 12.6xx.

The first link is a pix of Jim and I setting up to run. The 2nd is a video of me racing my 4th and final run.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w11/RMAderman/DSC03028.jpg

http://s172.photobucket.com/albums/w...t=MOV03031.flv


Lots of fun.

 

So what can you do to be legal?
Roll cage?

 

That is a nice track! - and to be able to do all those runs....Great times.......

 

My gues is they want a roll bar or cage.

 

How about the stock Vipers and such? They also need roll bars to drag race? That's absurd!

 

I was told this as well, so that's why I only do the private test and tunes...was told in order to club race, I had to raise my roll bars 3"...so...guess we will just do private events....or non NHRA events....

 

I got in 4 runs, ,,,code 3 ,, amjerry tune,,, 275 40 17 DR's stock intake
run #1 ,, RT.438---run#2 RT.168--- run #3 RT.302---run#4 RT151
------60' 1.878------- 60' 1.877-------- 60' 1.945----- 60' 1.812
------1/8 8.058 -------1/8 8.088-------- 1/8 8.182---- 1/8 7.988
-mph 1/8 87.83--mph 1/8 87.53---mph 1/8 87.10 --mph 1/8 87.61
-----ET 12.469------- ET 12.503-------- ET 12.622---- ET 12.402
----mph 111.19------ mph 111.22------ mph 110.71----mph 111.11
time and temp was 56 degrees run 1 6:46, #2 7:06 #3 7:34 #4 8:17 pm.
we had a great time ,,Randy said one more run and they are kicking me out, we tried to line up but being that cleaning the track took so long after a new corvette hit the wall, and another car ,,the complete rear came out of the car , so from 8;17 til 9:45 we waited randy left and i was right behind him they colse at 10:00pm anyway. jim

 

Good runs guys. Too bad they booted you. Do they have that rule if it is not NHRA racing? That track looks very good. A little far for me though.


MikeR

 

Drag stips have safety regs, some tied to NHRA rules others not. Locally you aren't allowed to wear shorts or sandles in any car, and as soon as you run below 14.000 you must have a helmet regardless of vehicle type. Things get more strict as ETs get lower. Pretty standard stuff, really.

 

Heres what Doc's talking about...

 

Well the top should be up, maybe that's what they are talking about. We have no issues running here in Orlando, as long as the convertibles leave their tops up.

 

I called NHRA this morning and spoke to their tech regarding their rules. All open topped cars (roadsters) that run under 13.49 must have a rollbar. I don't remember the exact spects, but it also must have a bar (that can be pinned or removable) next to the drivers door and you must have harness seatbelts. The rules get more strict under 11.1.

You must keep your reular seatbelt in Florida to be street legal. This racing stuff is getting expensive.

I joined NHRA just to get the rulebook and other information.

 

Roll cage is needed for all cars running 10.99 or 135mph.
Coupse need a roll BAR at 11.49
Verts need a roll BAR at 13.49

Bummer, seeing as how they run faster than that stock.


Edit: looks like someone beat me too it.

 

THE TRACK MANAGER ALSO SAID THAT:

1. All NHRA drag racing will be going to 1/8 mile
2. Even though you slow down after an 1/8 mile and run over 13.49, they will calculate your time from the 1/8 mile and extrapolate it to the 1/4 mile.

Bottom line............ Will not be going back to Moroso in the near future unless I have a rollbar which isn't very likely.

 

Maybe on your side of the country, but not going to 1/8 mile here. It may go to the 1000', but not 1/8th mile. The east has lots of 1/8th mile versus the west.

 

This will be an NHRA venue change. If they are the santiontioning body, it will be their rule. It won't matter if it is East or West coast.

 

I was talking about the height of my roll bars...they need to be raised to pass what is called the broomstick test...if they lay a broomstick from the windshield frame to my roll bar, it must clear my helmet by 2"....rt now, unless I hunker down in my seat, it hits my helmet...and I am a short guy, so for you guys over 5'7"...it would be more...I purchased some MB bars for a 170...that I may install this winter, they will give me the necessary height w/ some modifications...but still not sure I can pass an inspection at the drag strip, should be able to club race though...and 1/4 mile may go by the wayside for 1000' times, which is just hole shot crap...it will ruin drag racing in IMHO>>>Look at Riot's helmet compared to his roll bar behind his head...you see how high the helmet is compared to the bar...and we don't usually race w/ the top down...he must be hot that day....LOL

 

The two top fuel classes changed to 1000' after Scott Kalitta died. Prostock and the rest still run 1/4 mile. There isn't a NHRA National event in the pro classes that run the 1/8th mile. I'd put money it's going to change to 1000' length before 1/8th mile. Even the 1/8th mile tracks that hold ET Summit series races during the year have to compete in the 1/4 when they race divisionals. They don't make an exception and let them race the 1/8th. In Div 7 west coast there is only one track that is 1/8th mile. It's an east coast thing.

 

Cruzin, we have lots of 1/8 mile tracks here on the West coast......they are a little over a 1/4 mile long. Dont know of any 1/8 mile tracks in the NW.

MikeR

 

A fast and free mod to make yourself legal is to, ya know, run slower.