F-Body Europe

I just checked the 1on1 site to confirm the Bitburg dates for this month and while I was there, I checked the rules. I saw something that really upset me. It said that anyone running under 16 seconds is required a helmet and convertibles under 14 seconds will require a roll bar. Last month I was within .031 seconds of being under 14 and probably could have broken 14 if I had shifted a little faster. If you think I will EVER put a roll bar in my car, you are NUTS!!!. There are a lot of young guys out there that are running in the mid to high 15s who will now have to buy a helmet. What is the deal??? Don't try to tell me that NHRA requires the same thing because they only require helmets under 16 seconds for convertibles.

If you are planning on going by those rules, I hope you will tell everyone before they pay their money to race. If not there will be a lot of mad people who paid their money and only get to make one run and then have to shell out the money for a helmet before they can race again.

This has been a lot of fun and could continue to be fun, but this is the fastest way I know to kill it, if that is your intention. Please post and let us know if these are going to be the rules to be followed. If so, I won't be there again. There are some other folks from Ramstein and other bases that I want to let know about the rule changes also.

I will be waiting to see what is happening before I make my plans for this weekend. I may have to check and see if OSL is racing anywhere.

Jerry, don´t get upset,
as far as i know those rules exist already for a long long time (since 1on1 was founded) and you were supposed to wear a helmet at OSL, too, but...

...rules & what really happens are sometimes two very different things

I think this is going to drive away even more of the few people left. Last month I was told that everyone was going to be forced to adhere to the rules, but I do not know af any mass announcement of this decision. There are many cars out there that run under 16 seconds that have never worn a helmet and probably do not even realize what the rules state. When these people are advised of the rules (hopefully before they register) I think that many of them are going to walk away and never return. When we only have about 15 or so cars racing at any given time, we can't afford to run anyone else off. Hopefully some good, reasonable decisions will be made so that we can hold on to the few racers that still come to race and have fun.

Last month it was VERY VERY hot, helmets would have led to brain-melting.

This discussion seems like the "RACE or TEST'N'TUNE" discussion at the beginning of the year.

Ben

At Pirmasens a while back, everyone had to wear a helmet, no matter what time they ran and that was just a 1/8 mile track. They did have a "loaner" helmet floating around for those that didn't bring one. I found one that met the requirements for 1996 NHRA rules for 80DM.(in '96) I still have it. Hopefully you won't need to get a roll bar just to make some runs. Now I understand what you're upset about. I suppose that your first "qualifing run" that you make to see if you need one should be slow enough.....

Now Jerry don't get upset please!

Chris is right with what he said.

This technically speaking is the rules for Dragracing.
DMSB in Germany, only little different for NHRA.
Those rules are on the 1on1 board since foundation, I did not just make them up! and similar rules apply for OSL.

In Drachten in 2002 OSL made me wear a helmet when I was racing my Corolla with 19,4 seconds in Bracket B (slower than 16 seconds) !!!

Now there is a difference I tried to explain before:
For RACING this rules are strictly to be followed,
and (read in between the lines) I do TEST & TUNE in Bitburg.
Just for several reasons I can not bent them rules all the way.

Lets say for sample:
There is a stock convertible, a collectible, a Oldtimer, around the 14 seconds, just sometimes a little faster.
I will not ask for putting a rollbar or cage in such a car, just because breaking the limit by 2/10 of a sec a few times.

Then there is lets say a year 85 Golf, which runs 17 sec. stock at the beginning, throughout the year I see all kind of modifications - which I may question to be all safe - and now constantly breaking the 12 seconds.
Now him I will tell to please put a Rollbar in over wintertime.
Together with all the mod money and work on the car really not a big investment/change of the value.

You may understand that I can not post this case to case decisions
on the 1on1 website. They may be checked by Racing Organizations.
If you break the 14 seconds - just don't tell the Golf driver.

What I mean is, that a car like yours is released by the manufacturer to go a certain speed. Your car is tested to be safe as it is at 14 seconds.
I know that you try to keep it original. I also know that others may
just try ANYTHING to be faster - safe or not safe.

Now to the helmet stories of last event:
I had one 'vette driver calling 2 days before the event and asking for the rules. I told him, and I also mentioned that if he did not had a helmet yet, he will be excused for the first time (heat)... until he gets one later on. He said: no, I know my car is faster than the 16 seconds, I got a Helmet I gonna bring and wear!
Same day a Golf driver called and bragged about having the fastest Golf in Germany, just beeing pissed at another race because the class they put him in he lost.
He said his car is going as fast as 12 seconds with 500hp. I pointed out the Tech Rules... since he is an 'experienced' racer, also that he needs a helmet when he is that fast.

On Sunday both cars drove against each other. Some spectator asked me why the vette driver had the helmet in the passenger seat... I forwarded the question and he put it on without further comment. I know it was hot and I felt sorry for him - but he shouldn't put it there if he wasn't going to wear it.
The Golf driver on the other Hand tried to talk me into giving him the Trophy in front of the Public for the fastest stock car on the track. He said I did not tell him about the helmet - so he did not bring it.

I did not give him the satisfaction to receive the Trophy.
What my argument was?
You 'forgot' your helmet - and we both know that I told you to bring it.

---------------

Now to finalize this: I have to set some rules somewhere.
If I say 16 seconds, you ask what about the 15,8
If I say 15 seconds, some may ask what about the 14,8 ???

The rules on the 1on1-site right now is a consolidation of the existing official dragracing rules in Germany.
I decided to 'adopt' those, just for the simple reason if some drivers want
to get into serious dragracing at other events, they already have an idea of what to expect - or in case of 1on1 is doing an approved dragracing event one day with gaining points in a racing series I will not have to write all over.

Until then, I will not force anybody for a half second off the corner stone,
and you know I handled it flexible with the helmets and shorts last time in the heat, but see above samples: If I let it all go now, soon we will not have any rules left at all.
Hope you all understand.

Greetz, Silke.

Also, please think about who you are protecting by wearing a helmet ...

Silke, Sorry, I was just a little concerned since several folks around here told me that the rules were going to be strictly enforced this month. I just didn't want to come up there and not be able to run. See you Saturday. I will pass the word.

Gary, I fully understand who I am protecting. It still doesn't make sense to me. I can cruise on the autobahn 40 kmph faster than I will get at the drag strip and they don't care whether I have a helmet or roll bar. (That also applies to any other car that can run that fast.) I can even do it with the top down. On the autobahn, you have traffic, cars pulling out in front of you, etc. But, the drag racing rules say I have to have a helmet if I am turning less than 16. Doesn't seem very logical to me.

Just a stupid question!

What is the price of an helmet ?
What is the price for your brain?

If you know the answer, you know why you need an helmet

David, you are right.
It just seem not to make sence that you can drive 400 miles on the Autobahn with 200 mph if you want and have the car to do so,
and on the other hand you need a helmet for a quartermile run
where you just get above the 100 mph for a second or two.

The difference is, that on the Autobahn you drive on your own at your
own responsibility, nobody can really force you to drive faster than 60 km/h (40 mph) - this is the minimum speed your vehicle must be able to do
On the track somebody is 'organizing' a race, you drive there for competition, your ambition is to go as fast as possible. To reach that goal you are forced to go above your limit, this makes the organizer responsible for your health to a certain point ... blabla - however, to not be the guilty party in case of something happens, the O. has to make sure you follow the security measurments (helmet, rollbars) related to the speed.

Why is the word 'HOT' printed on a coffee cup.
Or you ever heared of: 'Do not dry live animals in the microwave'

Alot of people don't realize how violent a crash going 100mph would be. I am not speaking from experience, thank God, but your car is designed to protect you at highway speeds, not fun speeds. Besides wearing a helmet for 14.1 seconds of your life is a small price to pay to beat down a ricer. (Did I say that out loud?) Some places in the States require all sorts of stuff: fire extinguisher, drive shaft loop, crap like that. My 2 cents, anyway.

I have to agree with goaliedave40 and some others.
See, it's not required to wear the helmet all day long . What's the problem putting it on for max. 16 seconds? I don't see any problem in there. And if it's just a matter of money, I don't understand why people can afford big cars, big mods, all the fees etc. but no 50 bucks for the safety.

That's the first time I've seen that acronym for Chevrolet. Pretty funny! Almost as funny as

F ixed
O r
R epaired
D aily

or

F ound
O n
R oad
D ead

How do valves get rotten? Chevy uses STEEL, I suppose that Ford uses some other crap that rots...

Please pay attention to the changed helmet rule towards the end of last season (per request of several drivers!)

ALL drivers need a helmet now. So everybody is equal and nobody can come up with silly excuses, for those who don't have one: There is a few helmets available for rent.

Houston, we have a problem.

I can´t drive my car with helmet, because i simply don´t fit in with a helmet on (only little to know space to the t-tops).
Driving without t-tops is no option (safety).

And no, thats not funny.

I guess you'll have to sacrifice a little comfort if you plan on racing Chris.

LOL, yeah. Look at me, I'm 6.4 ft tall and I need to fit into that small 'Stang. It's not comfortable but it's okay for these few seconds.

How much is 6,4 in european continental measure ?

Is it more than my 197 cm ??? I will leave my T-Tops at home

Just do it opposite as in the airplane - put your seat into horizontal position all you need is see the tree and reach wheel and shifter