MADRAS
DRAG RACING ASSOCIATION Inc.
Madras
Dragstrip
The
rules and/or regulations set forth herein are designed to provide for
the orderly conduct of racing events and to establish minimum
acceptable requirements for such events.
These rules shall govern the condition of all events, and by
participating in these events, all participants are deemed to have
complied with these rules. NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTY OF SAFETY
SHALL RESULT FROM PUBLICATION OF OR COMPLIANCE WITH THESE RULES AND/OR
REGULATIONS. They are
intended as a guide for the conduct of the sport and are in no way a
guarantee against injury or death to a participant, spectator, or
official.
The
track officials, and/or board of directors shall be empowered to permit
minor deviation from any of the specifications herein or impose any
further restrictions. NO
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTY OF SAFETY SHALL RESULT FROM SUCH ALTERATION
OF SPECIFICATIONS. Any
interpretation or deviation of these rules is left to the discretion of
the officials. THEIR
DECISION IS FINAL.
Vehicles
and racing attire (racers, crew, etc) participating in drag racing
events must be presentable at all times, (profane language and offensive
language on shirts and the like will not be permitted in consideration
of those families and others that attend our races.
*********Vehicles
that are improperly prepared may be rejected by a Tech Official.
Any rider/driver or crew member who is suspected to be under the
influence of any drug, alcohol, or any judgement impairing substance
will be expelled from the race and asked to depart the premises to
include the crew, and race vehicles associated with the offender.********
Speed
limit in the pit area is 10 mph
and no burnouts are
allowed on any ingress/egress road, return road or staging lanes.
Violators endangering others with reckless and inconsiderate driving
habits (no exceptions) will be expelled from the race facility with the
entire crew, and race vehicles.
Upon
entering the race, racers agree to abide by the aforesaid rules and that
all interpretation of rules, questions and protest are left up to the
final descretion of the race officials, and may be changed if the
situation warrants action. In
any event the Track Officials have the final
word.
Madras
Dragstrip is an NHRA Member Track. We recommend you purchase a NHRA rule
book, which is a complete source for rules, that is applicable in
addition to these regulations, and rules.
PLEASE….HAVE
FUN, BE SAFETY CONSCIENCE, PRACTICE GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP, AND ENJOY YOUR
EXPERIENCE AT MADRAS DRAGSTRIP.
OVERVIEW
Drivers…….All
drivers must have a valid drivers
license, or NHRA competition license. As per the NHRA
rulebook, and our insurance carrier:
****NO
SHORTS, BARE LEGS, TANK TOPS, SANDALS, (OPEN TOED SHOES), NYLON CLOTHING
OR BARE TORSOS PERMITTED WHILE RACING. ****
Seat
Belts….All
vehicles must have as a minimum, an OEM type lap belt system, securely
mounted to the frame or floor per original equipment manufacturer.
A quick release 3-inch shoulder harness meeting SFI Spec 16.1 is
mandatory in all vehicles required to have a roll bar or roll cage, and
must be updated in 2 year intervals. See General Regulations section 16,
10:5 in the NHRA rulebook.
Entry
Gate….After
purchasing your tech card and admission, and signing
the Release and Waiver of Liability and Indemnity Agreement, proceed
to the pit area. If you are
accompanied by crew people, they are also required to sign the release
and waiver form before entering a restricted area.
PIT
AREA…Park
your vehicle in the general pit area, and prepare to race. Parking is
available on a first arrival basis, with the exception of reserved
prepaid spaces.
TECH
INSPECTION…Before
you can race, you MUST take your completed tech card, and
vehicle to the safety inspection area. An inspector will
check your entry and you may purchase a number, if you do not have an
NHRA number. You may
purchase shoe polish (write-on) at the Booster Club Booth.
STAGING
LANES…Once
you have passed the safety inspection, time trial runs will begin in
sessions. Wait
until you hear your class called before entering the lanes, at which
time you’ll be notified to make runs.
When you get near the front of the staging lanes, be ready with
seat belts and helmets fastened, and windows rolled up.
BURNOUT…Under
the guidance of the official, and NOT
before, begin your burnout in the water.
DO NOT USE THE BURNOUT BOX
WHEN RUNNING STREET TIRES.
It
not only tracks water up into the traction area, but more often than
not, it gives you less hook.
THE
RACE ITSELF…Leave
just before the green light. Should you have problems or grenade (blow
up) your car, pull to the outside of your lane and stop.
If it is a good run, always clear the race surface before
stopping.
FINISH
LINE…After
you have passed the finish line, leave your vehicle in gear and brake to
a near stop, and turn left on a return road that will lead you back to
the time slip booth, and the pit area. Remember speed limit on the
return road is 15 mph.
PETS…Pets
are to be confined to an enclosed area during the event including the
spectator area. No pets
allowed in the grandstands. They can be confined in a vehicle with
adequate ventilation, or in a portable kennel. At all other times, pets
must be on a leash no longer than 8
feet in length.
E.T.
BOOTH…By
stopping for your e.t. slip, you will get a look at your run. It tells
you your reaction time, and elapsed times, miles per hour, for both you
and your opponent.
P.A.
LANE CALLS…Whether
it’s time trials or eliminations, it is your responsibility to be sure
and listen to the
announcements over the p.a
PIT
SAFETY….Pay
close attention to pit safety, speed limit 10
mph in the pit, NO
burnouts anywhere except in the burnout box.
WARMING
UP…The
practice of converter stalls, transbrake testing, line lock testing, is
prohibited in ALL classes---in all areas of the track except in the
starting line approach area before staging. Due to limited space,
warm-ups must be done in the PIT on jack stands, with a driver in the
drivers seat. See NHRA
rulebook.
ANTI-FREEZE…The
use of anitfreeze in cars 8.59 seconds or faster is prohibited. All
other cars are strongly recommended to have the anti-freeze removed to
prevent a spill or overflow on the track. Use water only. An
OEM or a minimum of a 16 ounce catch can (overflow bottle) is required
on ALL vehicles.
BATTERY….All
batteries must be securely mounted, and cannot
be in the drivers compartment. If it is relocated from the
factory location it must be secured by a minimum of two 3/8 inch
diameter bolts attached to the frame.
Batteries in factory locations must be secured as per the
original manufacturer. NO BUNGEE
CORDS, ROPES, WIRE ETC.
DRAINED
OIL…No
dumping of used oil anywhere. Put it in a container and take it with
you. A violation of this
rule will result in immediate disqualification, and any fine imposed by
state law.
NO
REFUNDS…It
is the racer’s responsibility to be race ready. NO REFUNDS OR
TRANSFERS will be made during an event. If you are entitled to a refund,
meet with the track treasurer, and details can then be determined.
Should you have a tech or related question, contact the track officials,
or an NHRA tech advisor.
ADDITIONAL
DRIVERS…Refer
to the NHRA rule book, which states: For
all categories of competition, including E.T. classes, an individual
vehicle CANNOT be used for multiple entry. Vehicles must remain in the
same category entered, with ONE (1) registered driver for the duration
of the event. Should a crew person or individual wish to test
your vehicle, a separate tech card can and must
be purchased by this
driver, on a Test and Tune event only. The new driver must
also sign the waiver and
release & be
safety inspected with the
entry before running it down the track.
BIKES,
THREE WHEELERS, BICYCLES, 4-WHEELERS, SUPPORT TRANSPORTATION…
All
pit vehicles must be in compliance with the NHRA policy revised in 2005.
A copy of that policy is available from a track official.
No
vehicle
of any type (ie; bicycle, skateboard, etc) may be operated by anyone
under the age of 16, at any time.
Motorized
pit vehicles are limited to operation by drivers with a valid drivers
license. Motorized vehicles may only be used one hour prior, through two
hours after the scheduled event, except Madras
Drag Racing Association staff.
ALL
vehicles
are limited to a 10 mph speed
limit, and pit vehicles will be confiscated upon infringement. Only one
support vehicle per race vehicle.
Unsafe and careless riding will be grounds for immediate
suspension, and revocation. NO
skateboards, or roller blades are allowed.
COMPETITION
NUMBER…Per
the NHRA Rule Book---numbers should be 6” high, and 1 ½”
wide (white recommended) with location on both side windows, and
the front of windshield. Front
dimensions are 3”high and 1” wide, so as to not interfere with the
drivers vision. Motorcycles are to have number plates on the left side
large enough to display permanent numbers and dial-ins.
See NHRA rulebook.
LANE
CHOICE…If
at the conclusion of time trials a line develops for one specific lane,
the cars/bikes will be pulled from the lanes in a random fashion, so as
to run in pairs of vehicles down the track, instead of singles.
During eliminations, lane choice is decided by the flip of a
coin, when a mutual decision cannot be reached between the two drivers.
BYE
RUNS…Bye
runs are determined by the track officials. A bye run is awarded if
there is an odd number of vehicles, or the selected vehicle runs the
final competitor in line.
DIAL
INS…Racers
may change dial-ins between rounds to the hundreth of a second.
It is the drivers responsibility to put the dial-in in an area
readable by the tower personel, and it MUST
BE CLEAR AND LEGIBLE. For
example, don’t make the 4 look like a 9. The tower people have time
constraints to get us all through, and it’s up to us to make their job
workable.
TAIL
LIGHTS…One
functioning bright visible tail-light
is required for night-time competition.
RE-RUNS…If
a re-run is ordered, lane switching, or substitute drivers are NOT
PERMITTED. Dial-ins must remain the same. If an error is made
by tower personel, a re-run will be awarded to those participants.
EXCESSIVE
BRAKING/TIRE SMOKE…In
the event you excessively use your brakes to prevent running under your
dial-in in eliminations, causing smoke or an unsafe condition will be
grounds for immediate disqualification.
RACER
QUESTIONS…Should
you have a question, go to a track official. If a dispute arises,
discussion will be between racers and official, NOT
the crew. Abuse of this rule is grounds for disqualification.
The decision by the track officials is final.
CO-PASSENGERS…Vehicles
running slower than 8.60 seconds will be allowed one passenger during time
trials only.
Passenger must have similar safety equipment to the driver. (no
exceptions to this rule) Passenger riding in the car must be at least 18
years of age, and have signed tech card. Passengers 16
or 17 years old may ride, but must have a parental waiver
signed and witnessed by a track official.
Vehicles capable of
running faster than 8.60 are prohibited from having co-passengers. NO
EXCEPTIONS .
RIDERS
OR CO-PASSENGERS DURING STREET LEGAL EVENTS MUST WEAR AN APPROVED ARM
BAND.
If
a driver or co-passenger is found or suspected of consuming any
intoxicants (ie alcohol or drugs) the car, driver, and passenger will be
immediately disqualified from the event, and not allowed to run.
HELMETS…Mandatory
for any vehicle running 8.59 or faster. Must be a minimum rating of
Snell 90. ( See the rule book)
DRIVE
LINE LOOP…Mandatory
for any vehicle running 8.14 with street
tires, and any vehicle running slicks, and/or any locked
differential.
DIFFERENTIAL…No
welded gears. (See rule book)
SPOOL…If
you have a spool, or a locked differential, you must have aftermarket
axles, and an acceptable drive line loop.(see rule book)
ROLL
BARS….A
roll bar is required in all vehicles running between 7.35
to 7.00 seconds, and faster than 8.25
seconds for convertibles, in the 1/8th
mile. Roll cage is mandatory in cars running 6.99
or quicker or any car exceeding 135
mph. In full
bodied cars, with unaltered firewall, floor, and body (from firewall
rearward, wheeltubs permitted), running between 6.40
and 6.99 roll bar
permitted in place of roll cage. In
convertibles running 6.99
or quicker or 135 mph and
faster must have a roll cage. Cars running faster than 6.40
must have a chassis inspection every three years by NHRA and have a
serialized sticker.
Wheel
Studs….Vehicles
cannot have broken or missing wheel
studs, and must be threaded into the hex portion of the lug
nut a distance at least equal to the diameter of the stud.
GROUND
CLEARANCE….Vehicles
must have a minimum of 3 inches of ground clearance from the front of
the vehicle to 12 inches behind the centerline of the front axle.
NEUTRAL
SAFETY SWITCH….Must
not be able to start the vehicle in gear when equipped with an automatic
transmission.
PURCHASE
A NEW NHRA RULE BOOK, AND FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH THE CONTENTS, AND
DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK QUESTIONS OF THE OFFICIALS.
Tech FAQ
this page was last updated on 04/22/2008
For more tech help send a note to our technical coordinator.
The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) establishes rules for every type of vehicle that can run down the quarter-mile. All NHRA member tracks must follow these safety guidelines. Each year, a new NHRA Rulebook is published with revisions and updates. Rulebooks are available at the track for $10, and are highly recommended for anyone who is interested in participating more frequently or building a car.
