by spencerforhire » Thu Dec 04, 2014 10:40 pm
I built my car to the IHRA rulebook; available free online, there is really no need for anyone to show up at the track with an un-prepared car. Yet I see it so often; at one track in particular, I pit directly across from the "tech shack", and every race I see guys trying to explain why their battery shut off or neutral safety doesn't work- "I tested it at home and I SWEAR it worked". Sure. lol. Loose suspension, bald tires, leaking fuel systems, etc.; stuff you shouldn't even attempt to use at or near the speed limit on public roads, but somehow they expect to be allowed to go double that(or more!) at the track.
After a two year long build, I was almost disappointed when at the car's "debut" race, it only got a quick once over for the basics at tech. They didn't look at any of my chassis or suspension work, no one wanted to see my list of SFI items(flywheel, Ultrabell, trans shield, balancer, roll bar padding, etc.). A couple of hours later I'm out there going 140MPH in a car I built myself; I won't even try to convince you a wasn't nervous. Everything was fine, the car went straight, stopped great and nothing fell off.
A couple of more basic tech inspection things to make sure are right before you go racing; dual carb return springs and a rad overflow catch can. If you know what to expect, there will be no surprises. You have to be really blatant in your disregard of the rules to actually get sent home; one or two little things not up to spec will most of the time get you a "fix it before the next race" and they will let you run anyway.
The "fleet"-
72 Vega HB Drag Car -383/'Glide/9"(9.35@146.19)(5.94@117.28 1/8th)
77 Vega Estate wagon- project(someday)will have TPI305/T-5, S-10 spindles/axles
76 Vega GT- 400/4spd/9" retired from active duty(rusty)
06 Silverado 2WD ex.cab daily
03 Silverado 2WD ex.cab (retired)
06 Haulin' 20ft enclosed car transporter
06 GMC Canyon Shop truck
07 Colorado project( 5.3 4L60e swap)
99 Saturn SL1- wife's car
01 Saturn SC2- son's project
07 Saturn Ion Redline project
and 4 more Saturn "parts cars"
Note- the very act of listing all of these has made me realize I have some kind of problem.....
Visit http://www.spencerforhire.ca