ATCO implements new NHRA rule!

[YO-EL]

Hit ATCO last night for some gamblers action, but at tech in, they have the written rule & article posted with guidelines for running 11.50 without a roll bar.

Seems they will allow a stock appearing car to run, however if the cam is lopey to the point where they can tell internal work was performed, then the 12.0 rule is in effect.

Performance exhaust, drag radials, DOT tires allowed, so I was able to run it out & dial under 12.0 if I chose.

Now the usual ATCO story..

Got there at 5:30, lined up with the Gamblers, ran at 6:30, but no one ran before us due to the time slips not printing.. uggg

Still printing problems, so after my 2nd time shot at 9:00 I left.
Way too much time waiting. Lots of guys pulled out.
At one point I thought they were going to give out refunds.

Now I remember why I don't go to Atco that much..
Seems the last 5 or 6 times I went, plenty of stoppages with oil downs, & now this technical glitch, which had the track quiet for 3 of the 3.5 hrs I was there....

On the positive side, excellent track prep!!!!!
My car runs a full 1/10 faster there!
DA was 2400, Thought I would run a 12.13, ran a 12.03 & a 12.02 with two hooking 1.69 60'....

[C5pilot]

Sorry to hear about the problems... BUT the good news is that ATCO must have gotten State Police approval for the new rule... Which means E-town should have heard from them too!

[Richy]

Hey El.What about cars with blowers?

[YO-EL]

According to the rules, that is considered a "power adder" and would not comply.

The entire engine compartment is gone over & you are asked to start & rev the engine at tech in...

[Richy]

Do you think I can get away with telling them I have a bad alternator bearing or just belt squeal?

[Al Betz]

Hey Richy just pull the airbridge off the throttle body --that should do it.

[Richy]

Cute,Al.

BTW,Chris from ECS kindly offerred a longer hose gratis which I just received.He really goes out of his way to be helpful.

[REDGAR]

Guys, I think individual emails to E-town help our cause. I am not confident that the rule will be adopted till next year, if at all.

[Richy]

Edgar,in my experience,e-mails to Etown are a waste of time.It's
like sending them to a black hole.I've never gotten a response/acknowledgement.

[YO-EL]

Duke who runs the lanes & Billy at Tech, told me ATCO was glad about the rule, since before that, they were "booting" alot of street cars every time, and lost alot of business.

Now, once they inspect a car, and determine its within the guidelines, everyone is happy.

Intakes, headers, drag radials, all OK.

The only thing that can hang people up is a lopey cam, and other obvious power adders.

Billy said for the last few months, they have had no problems with the rule.. no one has complained, and if they did, they show a copy of the rule with the article....

I was leery that if I took out one of the Gamblers cars with an under 12.0 dial that someone might complain that I didn't have the roll bar, but Billy said once your car is inspected & approved, you can go down to 11.50, and if anyone points a finger, tell them to see him, so basically, ATCO DOES inspect, and WILL stand behind you IF they let you run & dial under 12.0 IF you meet the criteria.

I sensed ATCO was very serious about this, and wants as many cars running as possible, however, they DID impose the 12.0 guideline on other cars that had front skinnies, blowers/turbo's,
slicks, NOS, where no bar was present. The rule & article is posted right in the Tech shack when you pull into the pit area..

[Mike Campbell]

Richy, seems like you're whole life you've been seaching for a longer hose!;jj;jj

[Richy]

Mike,no complaints so far.

[Mike Campbell]

Richy, I should have added, "My ex has certainly hosed me, and done a masterful job I might add!";yn
All kidding aside, did you get a new one?

[Richy]

Yes,taking car to JD's today for dyno tune by Brian Herter.

P.S. Please run for the board.

[Joel Fellman]

Richy:
Do you know JD (Joe Dutkiewicz)? Besides advertising in the Gas Cap, he's also a fellow member of the NE Muscle Car Club. A very nice guy & one of the shops I'd consider giving the '76 to when it comes time to install the crate job.
Joel