basic rules for running at GLD [Archive]

88Nightmare

02-19-2005, 05:06 AM

Now that I have the saleen clone mustang, I am for sure going to run it at GLD sometime over the summer. If someone can enlighten me on some basic rules, such as what the car needs as far as safety equipment (car should run a 12 or 13) and what can't be done to the car, such as window tinting.....etc. Just trying to plan for the future, thanks!

DirtyMax

02-19-2005, 09:37 AM

Greg@GLD

02-19-2005, 10:22 AM

http://www.greatlakesdragaway.com/index.php?page=faq

Greg@GLD

02-19-2005, 10:28 AM

FYI: One of the reasons we do not answer questions like this other than to say "get a IHRA rulebook" is because there are many different specs and such and if we overlook something, then we get bitched out if the racer does not pass tech.

Example: "You need a rollbar at 11.49 or quicker"

Nasty answer: "After you told me that I need a rollbar, I paid some guy $500 bucks to install a rollbar and your tech guy said it's not the correct style or the tubing is too small"

Best thing to do is get the rulebook. $10.00 is a couple of Big Macs, fries and large coke. ;)

As it says in the FAQ, if you run 13.99 or quicker, you need a helmet. That car isn't going to run 11.49 anytime soon, so bring a helmet and you'll be fine.

Greg@GLD

02-19-2005, 10:32 AM

GLD's website refers you to the IHRA website, which doesn't appear to have the rules printed out... they want you to buy a rule book for $10 http://ihrastore.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=9

12.99 or lower requires a cage of some sort (and possibly a driveshaft loop?)
up.

Not correct. 11.49 is the cut-off for rollbars in hardtops.
Driveshaft loops are required for slicks, you do not need one if you run stock-type radial street tires, even if you can run 12's.

Send 10 bucks and get a rulebook. We sell them at our novelty trailer...

1slo5.0

02-19-2005, 10:58 AM

I would suggest a driveshaft loop regardless of what tires you run. For $25 its cheap insurance, even for street driving. A guy I work with lost his driveshaft on the highway coming to work wednesday. Not a pretty site.

Greg@GLD

02-19-2005, 11:04 AM

Good point Brotha Darrell. :)

smokin'Red35th

02-19-2005, 11:45 AM

my buddy dropped his driveshaft on the road, his car didnt run any faster than 14.0 at the time. He ended up with alot of damage. Cant remember what it was, but cost him quite a bit.

Fatstang

02-19-2005, 11:57 AM

It was a peace of mind installing a driveshaft loop, better safe than sorry and my car isn't really fast. I have write-up on a loop install if anyone wants it, for a 2-piece.

88Nightmare

02-19-2005, 06:34 PM

yup thats true. I'd definitely run street tires. Greg, any concern about window tinting? Is there only a certain darkness I can do? Do I need a 5 point harness? Any tips for launching?

Fatstang

02-20-2005, 01:18 PM

Window tints are fine at the track, especially Test N' Tune days. You will not need a cage until you hit the 11's. If your launching on street tires, i had my best luck pop reving it and slipping the clutch.

dufkis

02-20-2005, 02:56 PM

any concern about window tinting? Is there only a certain darkness I can do?

I dont think GLD has any rules against it but I know if you race NMRA you can't have any window tint or tint darker than stock.

88Nightmare

02-20-2005, 07:23 PM

I dont think GLD has any rules against it but I know if you race NMRA you can't have any window tint or tint darker than stock.
O ok thanks. No plans on doing any NMRA's, just wanna take her down to GLD and make a few passes to see how she does, and to have some fun! Not really looking to get competitive, but I most likely wouldn't turn down a gentlemen's bet from someone. :burnout:

Ghost

02-20-2005, 11:13 PM

SHOfeartotha98

02-21-2005, 06:23 AM

im looking forward to going to gld this summer to make a few passes with my sho. I trying to get some mods done before then but im really tight for money.

quietflow

02-21-2005, 07:15 AM

Are there any special considerations for Verts?

Verts running any faster than 13.49 need at least a 6 point roll bar and a fire jacket. Along with the helmet at 13.99 :eek:

SVT

02-21-2005, 12:40 PM

What if you go 11.20s with no cage? What happens?

DirtyMax

02-21-2005, 12:46 PM

You get a GLD-ticket and then a track official (usually Greg) comes and kicks you in the junk for having a car that fast and not having the proper safety equipment.

J/K... I think you get warned.. 3 strikes, see ya next time.

Then again, I could be wrong. All I know is my car is required to have the orange triangle on back... you know the one.

dufkis

02-21-2005, 12:52 PM

You get a GLD-ticket and then a track official (uaually Greg) comes and kicks you in the junk for having a car that fast and not having the proper safety equipment.

LMAO

1slo5.0

02-21-2005, 12:58 PM

What if you go 11.20s with no cage? What happens?

You don't have anything that goes 11.20s so don't worry about it. :eek:

quietflow

02-21-2005, 02:28 PM

Greg@GLD

02-21-2005, 04:24 PM

Well I guess that counts me out for any GLD action. Im going to assume that with my new combo ill be going right at or slightly faster than 13.49, and i have neither the funds, nor the desire, to put a roll cage in my car at this point.

That sucks. :(

How do you know what you'll run? Have you ever even raced your car? Cars don't run a certain number, the driver determines much of that. If you don't have a whole lot of drag racing experience, you probably won't run even close to those numbers. Why not find out first rather than speculate and say something sucks. You don't know for sure what you will run until you run.

1slo5.0

02-21-2005, 04:37 PM

How do you know what you'll run? Have you ever even raced your car? Cars don't run a certain number, the driver determines much of that. If you don't have a whole lot of drag racing experience, you probably won't run even close to those numbers. Why not find out first rather than speculate and say something sucks. You don't know for sure what you will run until you run.

I strongly agree with this statement. 2 identical cars and combinations can run 2 totally different numbers. Run the car and decide from there.

clayton bigsby

02-21-2005, 05:31 PM

same here.

clayton bigsby

02-21-2005, 07:26 PM

Watch yourself boy!

SVT

02-21-2005, 07:28 PM

Yeah I was just wondering b/c I will never have a cage in a car....just to run at the track, pure street car....Dan has the idea with his car AC and all..very cool

quietflow

02-21-2005, 07:29 PM

Well I guess that counts me out for any GLD action. Im going to assume that with my new combo ill be going right at or slightly faster than 13.49, and i have neither the funds, nor the desire, to put a roll cage in my car at this point.

That sucks. :(

Alot goes into determining what you will run. First you have a SN vert which is heavy to begin with, what tires are you going to run? If you cant 60ft well I think 13.49 will be hard to get your first couple times out. Give it a chance and see what you can run. I didnt get booted until I ran into the 12's and i didnt have a cage. My first time at the track I ran 13.7s on street tires with my H/C/I combo. Everytime I went after I ran faster, its alot of fun give it a shot :thumbs_up

1slo5.0

02-21-2005, 10:56 PM

Yeah I was just wondering b/c I will never have a cage in a car....just to run at the track, pure street car....Dan has the idea with his car AC and all..very cool

I don't understand you people that won't put a roll bar in because its a "street car". What the hell is the issue? Don't even start with the BS about hard to get in and out of either. If you fit yourself to the roll bar when you put it together it is not hard to get in and out. You can even make the seat belt bar removeable like Mark302's so you can easily get in the back seat. My former daily driver has an 8 point roll bar in it. I can get in and out of that car and not even know the damn thing is there. An 8 point roll bar will meet safety requirements to 10.00 I believe. Any faster than that and you better cage it up because you have a race car regardless of what anyone says or thinks.

dufkis

02-21-2005, 10:58 PM

Hell I'd feel safer driving my car on the streets with a cage and harness in it. Now I just need to go faster.

Ghost

02-21-2005, 11:28 PM

I don't understand you people that won't put a roll bar in because its a "street car". What the hell is the issue? Don't even start with the BS about hard to get in and out of either. If you fit yourself to the roll bar when you put it together it is not hard to get in and out. You can even make the seat belt bar removeable like Mark302's so you can easily get in the back seat. My former daily driver has an 8 point roll bar in it. I can get in and out of that car and not even know the damn thing is there. An 8 point roll bar will meet safety requirements to 10.00 I believe. Any faster than that and you better cage it up because you have a race car regardless of what anyone says or thinks.

:rockon: :rockon:

Ghost

02-21-2005, 11:33 PM

I dont have one cuz I'm cheap, and my car will probly never see the road. BUT, when it gets there, I will weld me one up like Marks, with removable door bars and back seat bar for the kids to get in! I really should get one, especially since my car is the only race car on the site! :alc:

The only reason I dont have one is cause well I dont need it yet, maybe next year

1slo5.0

02-21-2005, 11:34 PM

I really should get one, especially since my car is the only race car on the site!

You can say that again!!!!

quietflow

02-22-2005, 07:15 AM

I dont want to put one in for the simple reason that its ugly as sin in a vert, IMO, and my car wont be at a track 99.99999% of the time.

If i had a coupe id be all for it, but all the rollbars ive seen for verts are gag-me-ugly.

Sometimes i wish i could find someone to trade a coupe for this damn vert.

Roll bars look tough as hell in verts :thud: I have thought about trading my vert for a coupe as well but I love my car and with the bar I wont have to worry even with the top down, not to mention how tough it makes it look :thumbs_up

1slo5.0

02-22-2005, 07:22 AM

Roll bars look tough as hell in verts :thud:

Absolutely! As long as they are done right they look tough. There are 2 verts in Fond du Lac with 8 point roll bars and they both look bad ass.

dufkis

02-22-2005, 09:55 AM

Roll bars look tough as hell in verts

I second that, I lave te way a vert looks with a roll bar, plus it's added street saftey with a vert incase somehting bad happens in an accenent

Someguy

02-22-2005, 05:35 PM

Yup, If I were to ever have a vert ut would have a cage in it. Not only for safty, It makes them look badass

Roll bars look tough as hell in verts :thud:

clayton bigsby

02-22-2005, 06:09 PM

I have a 4 point cage in my 93 vert and it looks awesome.

Nick 1

02-22-2005, 09:23 PM

Give GLD a try & see what happens. If your car runs the # & you get booted .........so be it. Then you can decide if you want a cage.

Come on down for MMA day #1 & have some fun. :burnout:

Greg@GLD

02-22-2005, 09:24 PM

I dunno. Feel free to post up a few pics of SN95 verts with rollcages. the only ones ive seen are terrible looking. These things arent cheap either, are they?

Crushed heads look "terribler" and no amount of money fixes them either.

I have to ask though... What exactly is "pickardracing" anyway? Have you ever been on a dragstrip or circle track or road course before?

Ghost

02-22-2005, 10:09 PM

Give GLD a try & see what happens. If your car runs the # & you get booted .........so be it. Then you can decide if you want a cage.

Come on down for MMA day #1 & have some fun. :burnout:

you will at least get 3 runs before being booted :rockon:

but if this is the first timing running this combo or at the track you might not even hit the 13.49 to get the boot

Greg@GLD

02-22-2005, 10:11 PM

Oh sure he will... He's confident. :D

At least when he meets us he'll figure out we're just razzing him and having fun. :hehe:

Initiation, Inc.

Ghost

02-22-2005, 10:12 PM

looking at your mods on your car (unless you have not updated your site) I dont think you will have to worry about getting booted, if that is all you have its going to take more then that to hit 13s I say maybe a mid to low 14

Greg@GLD

02-22-2005, 10:13 PM

Exactly. Mickey(thats your name right?), where are you located? Do what I'm gonna do on the MMA day, take the car, go through tech(try in my case;) ) make at least 3 runs, if you're too fast, theres plenty to do otherwise. Ive gone all the way down I dunno how many times just to hang out, BS, and all. If nothing else, Markstang always has his grill, we could use a good cook! J/K....

We could always give him the Tower Tour... :D

Ghost

02-22-2005, 10:13 PM

Or sure he will... He's confident. :D

At least when he meets us he'll figure out we're just razzing him and having fun. :hehe:

Initiation, Inc.

so when does my Initiation stop :alc:

Greg@GLD

02-22-2005, 10:14 PM

so when does my Initiation stop :alc:

When you can beat the Mach!!! :hehe:

Ghost

02-22-2005, 10:14 PM

We could always give him the Tower Tour... :D

:rockon: :rockon:

Ghost

02-22-2005, 10:16 PM

When you can beat the Mach!!! :hehe:

then bring it on the 16th, so I can show you some GT tail lights :burnout:

Ghost

02-22-2005, 10:17 PM

Boy, thats not much of a goal to shoot for........

OUCH!!!!!! :eek:

dont make me drive up there dan :spanka:

Greg@GLD

02-22-2005, 10:18 PM

Boy, thats not much of a goal to shoot for........

OUCH!!!!!! :eek:

Well, in your case... 32 unbent valves beats 16 bent ones any day Danno.

DOUBLE OUCH!!! :hehe:

Ghost

02-22-2005, 10:20 PM

Well, in your case... 32 unbent valves beats 16 bent ones any day Danno.

DOUBLE OUCH!!! :hehe:

:eek2: :cwm27: :cwm27: :eek2:

Greg@GLD

02-22-2005, 10:23 PM

Ok, that was a low blow, I'm sorry. ;)

Ghost

02-22-2005, 10:24 PM

LMAO, I only bent the exhausts, and I straightened them all out, engine's going back together tomorrow night. Almost ready to break something else now!

:thumbs_up :thumbs_up

Nick 1

02-22-2005, 10:28 PM

then bring it on the 16th, so I can show you some GT tail lights :burnout:

You on spray & my LX on motor ?????? :hehe:

Ghost

02-22-2005, 10:29 PM

You on spray & my LX on motor ?????? :hehe:

we might be able to work something out :hehe: :hehe:

Ghost

02-22-2005, 10:30 PM

You on spray & my LX on motor ?????? :hehe:

what does your LX run??

Ghost

02-22-2005, 10:34 PM

C'mon T, you know better than that!

Numbers are secrets!

LOL

just seeing if it will some what fair with me on the bottle :rockon:

Nick 1

02-22-2005, 10:35 PM

:shrug: :hehe: :p

:eek:

Ghost

02-22-2005, 10:35 PM

:shrug: :hehe: :p

:eek:

LOLOL

Nick 1

02-22-2005, 10:45 PM

See ya @ GLD Tony. :thumbs_up

What size shot are you going to use ?????

Ghost

02-22-2005, 10:51 PM

See ya @ GLD Tony. :thumbs_up

What size shot are you going to use ?????

I am really running for 12s on motor first and with some of the changes in the tune and a few added parts it should run 12s easy, well if I hook

as for the shot, im going to start the day at 75 and if eveything looks fine im going to move it up to the 100 and stay there. since this is the first time running the spray on this motor im going to take it one step at a time

Ghost

02-22-2005, 10:56 PM

What he doesnt know is I'm bringing my 300 jets and switching them while Steve distracts him!

that would be one hell of a window in my block after that run (of a few feet)

dont make me come over and bend your intake valves

quietflow

02-22-2005, 11:11 PM

You on spray & my LX on motor ?????? :hehe:

Id like to see that race :thumbs_up

Ghost

02-23-2005, 02:45 AM

Wow, this must have been the place to be tonight.

'Pickardracing' came from a few years back my brother and i raced snowmobiles. Used the name back then and im too lazy to change it. Everything i do on the net uses that name. Been that way for years. Im unoriginal.

As far as my ET assumption, yeah its mostly a ricer guess. But id be disappointed if i didnt hit that 13 and a half mark. My combo sitting downstairs is an 88 gt block, Ported GT40P heads, ported explorer intake, e-cam, and prolly by the time it comes to get running i'll have a 24# inj. setup. Im also hoping on getting a good dynotune done before i whoop on it too much.

every bit of info ive read ont this combo says mid to low 13s or better. ive also take at least a good 100 lbs off the damn thing. I figure with that and my full exhaust and 3.73s if i cant get close i shouldnt be driving a car. hell, my fat ass lt1 z28 was that fast.

-Mickey

BTW, did i miss something with the bent valves?

I missed the head and cam combo on your site, all I had seen was the bolt ons, and with a SN95 vert to hit a 13 would have needed a little more then what I had seen

on the valve thing, awhile back Dan had bent his exhaust valves

Ghost

02-23-2005, 03:25 AM

quietflow

02-23-2005, 07:35 AM

Greg@GLD

02-23-2005, 07:57 AM

Wow, this must have been the place to be tonight.

'Pickardracing' came from a few years back my brother and i raced snowmobiles. Used the name back then and im too lazy to change it. Everything i do on the net uses that name. Been that way for years. Im unoriginal.

As far as my ET assumption, yeah its mostly a ricer guess. But id be disappointed if i didnt hit that 13 and a half mark. My combo sitting downstairs is an 88 gt block, Ported GT40P heads, ported explorer intake, e-cam, and prolly by the time it comes to get running i'll have a 24# inj. setup. Im also hoping on getting a good dynotune done before i whoop on it too much.

every bit of info ive read ont this combo says mid to low 13s or better. ive also take at least a good 100 lbs off the damn thing. I figure with that and my full exhaust and 3.73s if i cant get close i shouldnt be driving a car. hell, my fat ass lt1 z28 was that fast.

-Mickey

BTW, did i miss something with the bent valves?

You didn't mention tires Mickey. And if you spend any time at the dragstrip, "mid to low 13's or better encompases a rather large window of possibility. You planning on showing up with street radials? What about how your suspension is setup? is this car of yours an automatic? If it's a manual car, where will you shift it? What kind of 60 foot times have you turned in your previous ventures to the dragstrip?

You don't really have any sort of baseline with this car, do you?

Let's wait until the time comes and see where you end up.

Greg@GLD

02-23-2005, 08:07 AM

Yeah, i updated my site after i read your post. I forgot to do it a while ago.

I should have enough in the tank to get that time, i mean i see tons of folk in mid 12s with the same.

I guess its all just pointless rambling til opening day though.

Where do you "see them" Mickey? On message boards? I've seen guys with '03 Cobra verts not running mid 12's. And that's at the dragstrip, not in claims I read on messageboards or the parking lot of Oscars... :D

SO I was adding up my mods list one day... Got out my trusty Summit catalog...
KN CAI = 20 horsepower
Headers= 20 horsepower
Throttle Body= 20 horsepower
Flowmasters= 20 horsepower
H-pipe = 20 horsepower
MSD Ignition= 20 horsepower
Ported heads= 50 horsepower
Ported intake = 30 horsepower
My base engine makes 230 horsepower. Now I've got 430 horsepower!!

:p :rockon: :thumbs_up

93GT

02-23-2005, 10:59 AM

you will at least get 3 runs before being booted :rockon:

but if this is the first timing running this combo or at the track you might not even hit the 13.49 to get the bootI think it might depend on who's there or watching. I had a friend that ran 11.2 his first pass and was asked to put a roll bar in before making another pass. I thought I never would put a bar in my car, but now I'm all about being safe.
:thumbs_up All the safety stuff costs $, but so do hospital bills and funeral expenses. :eek:

1slo5.0

02-23-2005, 11:18 AM

Make sure you buy some good drag radials if you go the drag radial route. Stay away from that Nitto junk.

93GT

02-23-2005, 11:24 AM

Make sure you buy some good drag radials if you go the drag radial route. Stay away from that Nitto junk.I think Nittos would work great on a 13.5 second car, and last much longer than any of the other drag radials. I had some on my 89 notch and they were good for 1.7 60's on a 14 second car.
:dunno: The BFGs are working much better for me, but don't last nearly as long. I have had slicks sitting in the basement as I don't need them. :D

Greg@GLD

02-23-2005, 11:38 AM

Yeah, i guess youre right. Theres no way to prove that any of these guys with that combo are running those kinds of times (And just for sayings sake, i meant to say mid 13's not 12's).

As far as the car, Manual trans, and i have no idea where to shift it, like i said before ive never been to a 1/4 track. I guess i was just thinking best-case-scenario. Tires? Ill probably pick up a set of DR's pretty quick.

Im sure everyone will remember me saying all this when i come out and run a big fat 14.7. Bring your torches and pitchforks!

Nah, we won't bust your chops. We'll help you evaluate what it takes to get where you think you should be and help you get there. ;)

Kirk

02-23-2005, 11:59 AM

Ask Wayne (Moels) about his first time to the track. :D

We all love the sport & are more than happy to help out the new people.

quietflow

02-23-2005, 12:22 PM

Make sure you buy some good drag radials if you go the drag radial route. Stay away from that Nitto junk.

Couldnt agree more, I hate my Nitto's. Get some MT's, or BFG

Kirk

02-23-2005, 03:05 PM

Very true & well put Dan.

KRAUSED

02-23-2005, 05:40 PM

Absolutely! As long as they are done right they look tough. There are 2 verts in Fond du Lac with 8 point roll bars and they both look bad ass.
I have one of the verts in FDL and I modified mine to be user freindly,for my 8 year old.Noticed it's alot stiffer,also less creaks and rattles,and the ride is so much nicer.I moved door bars down a little and moved rear cross bar down to access back seat.And OH MY when the TOPS down SUPER PIMP RIDE. :D