can u race with shaved handles?

[69camarokid]

So i heard from someone that you will not be allowed by tech inspection to race at 1/8 and 1/4 mile tracks if you have shaved handles on your car. They said its because its a safety hazard and nobody would be able to open your door, which makes sense.

Does anyone know for sure. I just got my 69 with shaved handles running and i want to go the track on a test and tune night and see what i can run....

[Mr.VENGEANCE]

i dont think so.. if they have to get you out theres no way to get in.

[wicked68]

depends on the track - some dont really care about anything. others are over the top.

The rules say officially NO.

you as a person should not want to anway since it would be more difficult to rescue you.

I see people doing crazy stuff with their own health.

I personally think there should be a waiver for behavior that isnt going to hurt anyone else or cause expense to others - so that people can do their thing as consenting adults as long as they have been informed of all the issues and dangers. kind of like smoking.

[69camarokid]

hmmmm. I figured that would be the case...

I wonder if i left the window rolled down. Little slower in the 1/4 yes, but then atleast the safety issue is negated.

Plus if i crashed hard enough to need to be rescued then i think them smashing in a window to get me out will be the least of my worries...

[mach1stang]

I have the same problem. But I am wondering if you have some sort of mechanical release.
On my mustang I plan on making the door mechanical and putting the button under the side scoop which in my mind if marked with a sticker or some sort of indicator would be just the same as the electric cut off’s they don’t say anything about the electric cutoffs when they are in the fuel doors where the filler neck used to be as long they are marked.
That is my thought at least I could be wrong.

[captcrash]

You can always build a temporary release. My old boss did this on his chevelle that had shaved handles, and he just wanted to go to the track once or twice just to see what his car would do. He went to the hardware store and got some small steel cable, and some cable clamps. He made a loop with the cable and it went around the door release lever, and then at the other end of the cable he ran it through a piece of PVC pipe for a handle. Then he used the cable clamps to secure the cable back onto itself. The PVC handle rested right on top of the door next to the window. He took a sharpie and wrote "pull to open door" on the handle, and he was able to race. After he ran the car a couple of times, he pulled the cable off and never used it again.

Brian

[-The Stig-]

hmmmm. I figured that would be the case...

I wonder if i left the window rolled down. Little slower in the 1/4 yes, but then atleast the safety issue is negated.

Plus if i crashed hard enough to need to be rescued then i think them smashing in a window to get me out will be the least of my worries...


Depending on where you go, they won't let you run the track with the window down.

When I ran my old 2001 Z28 at Fontana they had me put the windows up.

[gkring]

You can always build a temporary release. My old boss did this on his chevelle that had shaved handles, and he just wanted to go to the track once or twice just to see what his car would do. He went to the hardware store and got some small steel cable, and some cable clamps. He made a loop with the cable and it went around the door release lever, and then at the other end of the cable he ran it through a piece of PVC pipe for a handle. Then he used the cable clamps to secure the cable back onto itself. The PVC handle rested right on top of the door next to the window. He took a sharpie and wrote "pull to open door" on the handle, and he was able to race. After he ran the car a couple of times, he pulled the cable off and never used it again.

Brian


Where there is a will there is a way! Sounds like a good idea. My parachute on my old drag car was a quick release since it covered the license plate and hung out past the bumper. As far as the window it must be rolled up, and not very many tracks let you slide on that one. If you have windows they have to be up. if you don't have windows you have to have arm restraints to keep them in the cabin in case of a rollover situation. It's all for your own safety.You can probably get by with the door handle deal. You would at 4 out of the 5 tracks local to me.

[fishtail8]

A guy with a Ranger with shaved handles runs a similar cable out the bottom of the door, then it tucks up inside the door panel when not in use. You'll figure something out if you want to run bad enough...

[Vegas69]

Moral of the story....don't shave your handles if you want to race. LOL Me wants to race!!!!!!