Landracing Forum
Tech Information => Technical Discussion => Topic started by: Frankie7799 on September 08, 2012, 06:23:35 PM
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Hello, im new here to the board and to LSR racing. The question I have is would it be difficult to take a SBC powered dragster and run it on the salt. After reading the SCTA rule book I understand that there are LSR specific safety requirements to conform to. Im not looking to set any records, just wanting to get my feet wet and have some fun running a B/GL Thanks in advance for any advice
Frankie
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The rules are very specific on the tube diameter and wall thickness for the frame and roll bar. There are many other requirements that drag races rules do not cover.The best thing to do is attend a couple of meets and see how and why the LSR rules are what they are as LSR is a different world.
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Frankie, I don't want to be the "heavy" here but.......
The SCTA really..... looking for the right words.........
Let me put it this way. A good friend has a real nice alky rear engine car. Took it to Davy Uriah, a pro chassis builder to have it upgraded to LSR spec. The powers that be said NO! I've been around LSR for over 30 years & I thought it was well done, but not the people who matter. The record in the class also has some input into the reason to disallow a car not built to LSR spec. Anyway, the SCTA generally does not "like" drag cars as the construction is not the same as LSR. For instance, most dragsters have flex built into them. That would be a be a huge problem in an LSR car.
Visit a few LSR events (if you're in socal got to El Mirage next weekend) and look at cars in the class you're interested in and you'll see, what looks like a rear engine dragster is really a specialty built LSR vehicle.
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Frankie,
30 years ago it would have been OK with some updates to the chassis. The First car over 300 at El Mirage was a converted dragster. I was successful doing it back in the late 1980's, but after all was said and done it is really more cost effective to sell the dragster and buy or build a LSR car.
Since 30 years ago the SCTA has learned (accidents occurring) that dragsters crashing on asphalt (drags) is completely different than crashing on a dry lake bed. And they have changed their rules accordingly. The biggest problem with the dragsters used to be the thickness of the tubing, and in the front end not much vertical and diagonal bracing on uprights to allow weight transfer to the rear wheels at the drags. Those were the problems I had to address when I changed mine over, but like I said I would not do it now. Look in the classified section of this website, there are currently a lot of good cars for sale.
Tom G.
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The rules are very specific on the tube diameter and wall thickness for the frame and roll bar. There are many other requirements that drag races rules do not cover.The best thing to do is attend a couple of meets and see how and why the LSR rules are what they are as LSR is a different world.
This.
You would have to redo the entire driver's area. NHRA req is a few thousandths thinner. ALWAYS build any future vehicle to SCTA spec, and you'll be good for all the other types of racing. Even if you double the number of tubes because you are heavy, the thickness will be your downfall, and you have to tear out everything. Been there, done that.
It's not just dragsters, it's all cars.
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Although, someone correct me if I'm mistaken the first Mormon Missile was a drag chassis? This was fairly recent since the engine was a Dmax 2001-2003 (LB7 design) IIRC, and Tony tuned it, which must have occurred after 2005, which was the released date of the ECM editor software. If I'm right, it can be done. If I'm wrong (purpose built instead), my apologies.
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Thanks for the input guys. I live in the Phoenix area so going to El Mirage isnt that far away. Im hoping to make it to the October or November meet. Am looking foward to taking in the sights and sounds in person. Watching clips on YouTube just inst cutting it :)
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I believe the #623 Lakester was a converted Alky car and was involved in a incident this year. It had been totally brought up to SCTA specs. but sill had a problem which will eliminate it. The owner now going to build a new one with only LSR in mind. The lakester had multiple runs over 200 and held 2 or 3 records at some time.................JD
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I believe the #623 Lakester was a converted Alky car and was involved in a incident this year. It had been totally brought up to SCTA specs. but sill had a problem which will eliminate it. The owner now going to build a new one with only LSR in mind. The lakester had multiple runs over 200 and held 2 or 3 records at some time.................JD
Not sure I know thecar? Which one is it and what was the problem?
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Why is this topic a sticky? just curious
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Why is this topic a sticky? just curious
I have no idea thunder, I know I didnt do it
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Its a rule change No early drag race chassis allowed. The one that crashed had been updated before the rule change. The chassis did not fail, the car spun and rolled over a couple of times. The chassis had tubing inserts in the frame rails to stiffen the frame. There are others in the past that had done this and I don't believe any others are running today. I don't think you should waste your time or money to get around this rule.
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Why is this topic a sticky? just curious
Prob because Glen wanted ot to be! :-D
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I have nothing to do with this topic or it being sticky.
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Can someone unsticky my post? I didnt sticky it
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This is just a way of saying "heads up" this is a "sticky topic or subject matter"
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Can someone unsticky my post? I didnt sticky it
Only a mod has that power and one of them decided the question had merit to stay at the top.
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Im hoping to make it to the October or November meet.
Go for November - it's a two day meet, and you'll get more time to ask questions.
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A simple reason landspeed cars are built tougher than dragsters is that although there is nothing to hit on the salt but salt , sometimes the cars hit the salt 13 times or more .
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:-o so true---the FEARED mush inducing "pencil roll" :cry:
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No longer sticky.
Seems I have a goo-gone button . . .
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:-o
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Frankie, Take the dragster apart build a LSR chassis by LSR rules and put the dragster parts on it. You will be money ahead.
Richard
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Thanks for all the replies everyone. Thankfully I hadn't actually purchased another dragster to replace my stolen one ( it wasn't stolen recently ) I had just thought it would've been cheaper and easier to buy a used dragster and update some stuff to make it SCTA legal. Obviously being new to LSR I was informed that it wasn't gonna be the case. This just gives me the freedom and the experience of building a LSR car from scratch if I dont find a used LSR car I can afford. As an open wheel drag racer for 10 years ( 23 t altered and rear engine dragster ) ill probably go.the lakester or.roadster route. Thanks again everybody for the input.
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Frankie, come to the salt in October... hook up with Sparky, he is in your area. Go the EM in October... Don't wait for the last chance to go, sometimes the last ones don't happen.
In other words, get hooked early... avoid the rush... :-o
:cheers:
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Thanks for all the replies everyone. Thankfully I hadn't actually purchased another dragster to replace my stolen one ( it wasn't stolen recently ) I had just thought it would've been cheaper and easier to buy a used dragster and update some stuff to make it SCTA legal. Obviously being new to LSR I was informed that it wasn't gonna be the case. This just gives me the freedom and the experience of building a LSR car from scratch if I dont find a used LSR car I can afford. As an open wheel drag racer for 10 years ( 23 t altered and rear engine dragster ) ill probably go.the lakester or.roadster route. Thanks again everybody for the input.
There are some killer buys in the classifieds right now.........might have been stated already.
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Stainless, I met Sparky for the first time yesterday. Was a cool hour and half conversation. Im not sure if Ill be able to afford to go up to the salt in October but El Mirage isnt out of the question for Oct. Maybe at Speedweek next year I can tag along with Sparky, that would be cool.
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I was talking to a friend at work and got on this very subject. I happened to have my Mark Williams catalog in my locker so I grabbed it and my ECTA rule book. We looked at the unwelded chassis kits, and the rear-engine dragster's wall thickness was below any of the class minimums. The funny car kit had tubes that would only be legal for J, K, and L engine classes, assuming of course the largest tube shown in the parts list was for the roll cage but it doesn't say.
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. . . and those lower class specs are sure to go up as speeds increase.
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I can speak from personal experience stiffer is better- :evil: --nothing to do with hormones or phermones :cry:
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My C/Gas Lakester (present record holder at 276.786mph with a fastest one way time of over 282mph) is built based loosely on a Mark Williams chassis plan.....The wheelbase is 218".... ALL tubing is as per SCTA/BNI rules for thickness and diameters with the exception of the cage and driver area - which is 1 3/4" rather than the minimum allowable 1 5/8"...... there are A LOT more diagonals in the "trusses" of the frame than a drag chassis would have (and I have built a few drag chassis').....
The deal is though, that, if you find a low priced dragster, you could have a lot of good, usable parts for an LSR project.... but choose wisely......