11.50 or better w/o rollcage?

I ran 11.71 last Wednesday and just got a significantly higher stall converter which will be installed this week.  I'm going to be very close to 11.50 with some practice but don't have a roll cage.

Edited by budoboy - 31 Oct 2009 at 10:41am

Congrats on the improved performance!
Sounds like you should go see Marc at MP Motorsports too put a bar in.
Your chassis will like it too.
Come over to the JP lanes and I will show you on my road runner what happens too a car that needs bars that don't have them.

Keith
(the un-official MP outside sales rep.) lol

keep this in mind, as I have seen it once or twice before;
the added weight of the roll bar can often be enough to push the car right back out of the 11.50's thus making the installation unnecessary by RULES standards.

But, that said...I am all for safety...and the structural rigidity(chassis strengthening) will save wear and tear on the drivetrain, improve performance, and increase safety.

if you go 11.48 you will be warned. If you do it again, you will be invited to leave.

If you think you will eclipse the 11.50 ET, then either bring so ballast(weight) or stage deep.

A roll bar isn't really a bad idea if you think in the safety terms.
Once you have exceeded the 11.50 limit, you are now under the watchful eye of the starting line crew as well as the personal manning the clocks who have direct communications with the starting line crew.
I believe last night you received your warning when you dipped into the 11.40 zone which is quite remarkabl;e for a street driven car.
Contact Carl Hagan at Carl's Custom Fabrication in Napa should you decide to go the roll bar route.
There are many street driven cars with roll bars, many of which are just for appearance purposes but such would not be in your case.
Besides a roll bar, you will now need to get a SFI approved drivers jacket in order to be legal for sub 11.50 runs.
Have fun but be safe in the process.
Years ago, I had the same problem with my Max Wedge 64 Plymouth when the required roll bar rule was implemented at 11.99 and quicker so I know where you are coming from.
The roll bar actually helped not to mention the peace of mind it gave me and never regretted putting it in.   

Originally posted by budoboy Is a 5 or 6 point restraint required below 11.50?[/QUOTE     Yes

I just want you to think about something for a few seconds;
The roll bar rule is there for your safety. However, that said, one often questions why the ET cut off?

think about this-if you run 11.59, you do not need a roll bar per the rules. But if you run 11.49, you do.
we're talking 1/10th of a second...do you really think that in the case of a roll-over in a 11.49 pass, you'll be glad you had one, but in a roll-over in a 11.59 pass, you wouldn't need one?

NHRA and other sanctioning bodies as well as certain race tracks, have safety rules. They have to have a starting point. it used to be 11.99, as Jim said...but many of today's production cars can easily run in the high 11's, and the owner's simply will not install a roll bar/modify the car. NHRA recently changed the rule to 11.49 and quicker. That means a 2006 S65 AMG Mercedes Benz which can easily run sub 11.90 passes, does not require a roll bar.

My advice...if you are walking on the fine line that separates you from falling in to a catagory that requires improved safety equipment....just BUY IT. I assure you...if you need a roll bar at 11.40's...you need one just as bad at 11.50's

Just because NHRA doesn't say you have to have one, doesn't mean you dont need one.

roll bar
5 point harness(belts)
SFI approved fire jacket
helmet

...all there to keep you safe. remember...it isn't always your car that can have a problem...it's often the car in the other lane. I've seen it too many times.

stay safe
play safe
race safe
return to race another day.

and hell yea, nice job running low 11's in a street car!

Lotta truth there. I've had the pickup down to 11.6 @ 116. Feels neat. Since the truck is a semi collectors item I've chosen to back off a bit. Don't want to hack it up to install a bar. However for the last Wed I might see just what it'll do. Little extra 100, little extra boost, little extra timing, hmmm....

News at 11:00.

Originally posted by RacerX A Rev-limiter and a full tank would be my way.

I got booted last Wednesday night after lifting at the 1000' and still hitting 11.497 - DAMN!!  First run was 11.507

Good reason to have roll bar...

I watched this this weekend...

#21 has some SERIOUS job commitment issues.







Edited by Peanut - 17 Nov 2009 at 4:16pm

All I can say is that the photographer in that photo has no sense of fear or places no value on his life.