A&Q about 350Z
Q:
Ok, I'll be serious, but I do like to kid. I run at the NHRA tracks and they riquire you wear a helmet at qtr. mile times of 13.99 sec.or quicker. It has to be "Dot something or anther appvoved". They always accept my Dot 3 helmet that I have had forever. I don't have to wear a helmet, yet, with my 350Z, but had to use it with prior cars.
I drag raced my '04 enthusiast 350Z (100% pure stock right down to the air filter) one time last year and have raced it the last 3 weeks. I have been running 14.1 sec qtrs on hot days. And 14.2 secs and 14.3 secs. on really hot humid days during the hottest part of the day. So I figure I could run 13.9 sec. on a cool, low humidity day in the fall or spring and they'd require me to wear my helmet. For 13 sec qtrs. you only need the helmet to pass inspection with our 350Zs. You said you were stock on that other thread so you're cool unless you think you can break into the 13s stock as some have. I'd bring a helment just in case if I were you cause I am very close to 13.9 on these hot days. Unless you have pretty strong mods on your 350Z, you won't run quicker than 13 secs.
At 11.49 sec. or quicker qtrs., NHRA requires you to have a roll bar. That is a new rule this year as the roll bar was required at 11.99 sec. or quicker in the past. I know when you get down to times quicker than that, the rules start getting real tedious about safety equipment. I raced a lot in the early to mid 90s and used to know all that stuff. And I raced a lot prior to that. But, I haven't bought an NHRA rule book, lately, and I don't remember at what point you need the full fire suit. When I go to forced induction with my 350Z (I plan still run stock internals for a couple of years), I'll have to quit being so lazy and buy me a new rule book and get up to speed on the rules again. To tell you the truth, I will get a lot more serious about racing again when i can get about 425 hp to the wheels or better with the forced induction. I should be able to easily run 11 second qtrs. then on stock engne internals. (Don't run more power than that on our stock rods IMO.) When I get to that power level I plan to get back to racing week in and week out. That power level is where I was before and I really love the g forces that much power generates and it kinda spoils you to anything less. Power is addictive in that way. But the rewards you get are worth the freight you'll have to pay IMO. Coming off the line like a bat outta hell with 1.6 sec sixty foot times is the 2nd best feeling I've ever had, he he. Eventually I plan to build up the bottom end of the engine and run the big power, but that may be a couple of years from now.
But I also love those twisty g forces so I hope some of us can get something going on road courses like Summit Point like we discussed on that other thread. All kinds of racing are great IMO.
I am not kidding, bring at least a beach umbrella to sit under for day races this time of year. Most of the pit area does not have trees for shade at Mason Dixon and that sun gets hot during the middle of the day. Late in the afternoon is not bad. You said you were in Columbia, MD, so I hope you can make it to this July 16 street race. davidv said he'd try to make it with his 350Z as well. Let me know and I can make it to about any race at Mason Dixon on the weekends. I used to race at 75/80 as well but like the spreadout roomy pit area at Mason Dixon better. But 75/80 is cool, also. Good luck.
A:
To answer the other part of your question, no the track does not supply us with helmets. There is a store at Mason Dixon Dragway where you can buy fuel and some parts. They may? have a helmet you can buy there. But I'd think you can get a better deal on a helmet elsewhere. Oh one other thing, NHRA rules say you must wear long pants to race. So no short pants. Some people wear shorts in the pits and put pants over them when they race. That store does have sweat pants you can buy if you forget on that one. I think they said no tank tops either. You're ok with just a short sleeve T shirt. Damn, I almost forgot. Bring some white liquid shoe polish to write your dial in on your driver's side window and passenger's side windshield. And a bottle of windex or similar and paper towels if you want to change your dial in between rounds. And at the end of the day you'll want to wash your dial in and car # off the same areas. That store probably has shoe polish, but I'm not sure. Don't worry, windex will take the polish off your windows with no ill effects.
Post Edited (Jul 3, 8:32pm)
A:
This page might help some:
http://www.nhra.com/contacts/tech_faq.html
I did notice they haven't updated the faq on the roll bar but have on the flywheel shields.
The best bet is to buy a new rule book. Uh, I need to dp this as well.
"Racing is life. Anything that happens before or after is just waiting"
Quote - Steve McQueen
'04 350Z Silverstone 6spd
Previous owner of 240, 280, and 300 Z's
A:
Thanks for the heads up with the NHRA website, mecinoid. My helmet says DOT 3 and SNELL 1975. It is a full face helmet and really looks the part. But I'm not totally sure if it perfectly meets NHRA rules, anymore. But I used to run low 12s and high 11s with my prior car and they never gave me a problem with it. But that was the mid 90s and earlier.
I am soooo glad that rule changed on the roll bar required at 11.49 sec. instead of 11.99. That roll bar adds a bunch of weight. There is more to it than some people may think. I know a guy that got down just under 11.5 sec., had to add the roll bar and guess what?!? The added weight slowed him down and he couldn't run quick enough to even need it, ha. It's ok as he planned to go farther with the car anyway so getting the roll bar was inevitable. My 350Z is a daily driver so I don’t want to add a roll bar and don’t want to make the car heavier in any case. Seems to me on the street that that elaborate roll bar would get one the wrong kind of attention from the cops. I can live with 11.49. For a while anyway.
A:
This thread is about a July 16 street race. The ford website is somewhere else.