Viper Racers,
I have received some news form NHRA regarding the roll bar rules for a Viper.
The following correspondence has been sent to me from Len Imbrogno, NHRA Director of Sportsman Racing, who advises that if we can show a history of safe racing, we will be able to negotiate for a lower ET limit in the future.
The siginificance of this matter is that the NHRA agrees that the Viper has better safety features to run faster, but a case must be put forward to convince the insurance underwriters. I think this presents a good opportunity to develop facts to prove that the Viper is safe to race at a faster ET limit.
Please circulate this to the Viper community so that everyone understands the issues and then we can proceed to try and develop a strategy to help expedite this process for lowering the ET regulations for a roll bar.
Thanks
Ned Erkman
American Super Car Challenge
----- Original Message -----
From: Len Imbrogno
To:
ned@rollingthunderz.com
Cc: John Miller
Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2005 10:50 AM
Subject: FW: NHRA - Roll Bar Rule
Ned,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding the issue of roll bar requirements. While there are many of us that agree on the structural integrity and safety features of the Viper, the elapsed time cut-off limit is a function of the insurance underwriter requirements. Along with the structural integrity there are other issues considered by the underwriters such as tires, driver ability, spectator safety and other factors.
If perhaps we can show a history of safety going forward with the new 11.50 limit we may be able to negotiate with the underwriters for a lower ET limit in the future.
Len Imbrogno
Director of Sportsman Racing
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr Miller,
I run the American Super Car Challenge Corvette & Viper drag race series and I am writing to you regarding the new NHRA rules that limit elapsed times to 11.50 seconds for street cars that do not have a roll bar.
http://www.rollingthunderz.com/ascc.html
There are numerous Viper racers who want to take their cars to the drag strip but they do not want to install a roll bar to run low 11's to high 10's because they believe that the car is already constructed with the structural integrity to go that fast.
There are legimate concerns being expressed by Dodge Viper owners who believe that the Viper should be allowed to run faster than the current 11.50 limit without a roll bar. The point being made is that the 11.50 rule is for the average car and the Dodge Viper is a superior car built to run 120+ mph in a quarter mile with a top speed of 190 mph in showroom stock condition. This problem will also apply to the new 2006 ZO6 Corvette with the 500 hp LS7 engine option. If these Super Cars are legal to be on the street, they should be legal to run faster than 11.50 at the track.
It appears that tech officials agree that the Viper is built safer to run faster, but the problem is that NHRA only has general rules that are not written for a specific car. What can be done to permit the Viper and Corvette to run faster than 11.50 seconds without a roll bar?
Any assistance that you can provide regarding this matter will be much appreciated.
Ned Erkman
American Super Car Challenge
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