Hey Gang, Since the weekend I have spent some time on the phone with NHRA and IHRA officials asking questions. Below are some highlights of what I have learned. 1. The reason we were turned away from Cecil County over the weekend is simple.... Insurance. From what I gather NHRA has decided to help ALL NHRA tracks by purchasing the tracks insurance as a group. Therefore they get a "buy in quantity" discount. Part of there agreement with the insurance carrier is all cars running faster than 9.99 will have the correct NHRA license. If not.. there is NO coverage. Again, this is just the tracks insurance. 2. To get an NHRA license it will cost you $50 for two years. This will allow you to race at any NHRA track and will make you elligible for the TRACKs insurance policy ONLY. 3. In addition you can purchase an NHRA two year membership for an additional $109. A membership entitles you to a subscription to National Dragster and an UMBRELLA insurance policy in the amount of $485,000. This policy will cover any medical costs over and above what your own personal healthcare will not cover. REMEMBER.... sometimes our personal healthcare coverage will not cover us if an injury occurs while drag racing. Addition insurance and coverage information. Please take the time to visit this link. http://www.nhra.com/contacts/forms.html 4. I think anyone can be a member for the cost of $109 and all of the above would still apply. 5. NHRA is at this time seriously considering that ALL TRACK ATTENDIES carry an NHRA membership. This will apply to ANYONE who wished to race at an NHRA track. So be prepared for next year!!!!! 6. The GSCA Nationals is help at Beech Bend Raceway Park which is an NHRA track. We SHOULD NOT have been allowed to race at this track without proper credentials. Be prepared next year. So... now knowing what I know about NHRA, I decided to call and ask the IHRA a few questions. 1. If you only have an NHRA license and are driving at an IHRA track would you be covered by the IHRA insurance. The answer is.... NO not at all. So would it be smart for a person who only has his or her NHRA license to get an IHRA license? I would certainly think it would. 2. The cost to get your IHRA license along with becoming a member varies dependent on the license you desire. But I can tell you it cost me $55 or $65, I dont remember. 3. I also asked if a person with an NHRA license would be turned away at an IHRA event? If your running an IHRA points meet then you need to have the proper license. If your running a bracket race or a specific Buick event probably not "for now". And I quote the "for now" part. I interpreted that as being it may change next year. Also... remember... if you dont have the license your not covered by any insurance the track or IHRA offers. In conclusion I will say this. Was I dissappointed that I didn't get to race over the weekend with our new car. Yes...without a doubt but I can understand the track and NHRAs point of view. The officials way of telling us kind of ticked me off a bit and I told him how I felt about it. But next year I will be armed with BOTH licenses and a full face helmet and back at the track racing with everyone. What you guys and gals need to decide is which if not both license and memberships you carry with you. I hope this helps! Take Care
Thanks John for taking the time to educate us. No more surprises now...i hope. Hope to hear how the Hawk runs soon...... :Brow:
Thanks for investigating John, will pass on to my dad. Am sure he'll find it useful in doing what is necessary to make sure he can race in the future. We appreciate the time it took you to get all this info. together!
re License The last time I had an NHRA license it also required a physical exam ,over 55 an EKG,and six passes in 2 sessions (1/2 pass , moderate and full) signed or witnessed by at least three other licensed drivers . You will also need an NHRA chassis cert , so plan ahead and bring lots o cash . It also pays to keep your license up to date and avoid going through this again . It also sucks when there's not an NHRA track within 5hrs drive .
Thanks for the heads up! I may need to start preparing for next years GS Nats, that is if I get my car done. John, got any pictures of the Hawk? And how fast do you want to go?
From what I've been able to tell it looks like things start getting interesting if you want to run faster than 10 seconds. I don't see myself being that fast for a while, but $109 looks to be cheap insurance.
Thanks John The information is much needed to a bunch of unanswered questions. I'm already upgrading my cage, and was thinking about getting an IHRA license being I do like to attend the Norwalk meet. This I will be looking to get along with getting the chassis certified by IHRA also. Dave Mongeon is right saying its more $$$$ yep becasue of the insurance and most likely caused by lawsuits and in the end we all pay. But what can you do. You either pay or no play Thanks again John, info is a big help.
Bill Wills told me that the 6 passes can't be made on the same day at some places, so also plan on that possiblity. Sounds like everybody needs 3 buddies with licenses too! And John thanks for the research, we will be getting with Billy Bader at Norwalk to be prepared for any issues for next year's Buick RaceDay 2005, 15th Annual! April 28-May 1! and let you all know! On another note, same topic, this new track, less than 10 miles from where I grew up, was the site of the Skyline Amusement Park, just opened this summer. IHRA, Helmets and Fire Jackets mandatory for 2005 It appears, but is confusing, that they charge more to enter a race if you have an IHRA license?? Check it out HERE Anybody been there yet??
Bill is not completely correct. I made all six in one day, as did Rick, John Jr., Rob C., Frank F., and several others that I know of. On the run form, it IS broken down into two sessions of three runs each....but if time allows, it's S.O.P to do all six in one day. Dave's info is off a little as well. You need two licensed drivers to witness and sign, not three. See Ya.
Dave Mongeon, You are correct in saying that an NHRA physical form needs to be filled out by your doctor in order to get your license. If you already have an IHRA license then you only need to make 2 passes to satisfy NHRA needs. Joy, I need to now get to work on how to clean up my computer :rant: Alan, I dont know what track you race at but according to the Division 1 director, he says that NHRA may make ANYONE who wants to race at an NHRA track no matter what the ET become an NHRA member. Rick, Quaker is an IHRA track also. Roberta... .interesting thread. Take Care
Just have to find a willing track owner, and go out on a Test and tune day. I did all 6 of my passes for my NHRA lisc the same day. You need it to be witnessed by 2 valid lisc holders, and the track manager. Each has to sign off on each pass. But get your med exam first.. can't make the passes without the med form, signed off by a Doc. And yes, 55 and older requires an EKG. JW
Great information. It would nice if you could purchase ins. for one time race action if you don't race very much.I think this a step in the right direction.
over 55 and an ekg ??.............i have a bunch of them...they just happen to have some flatlines in them.....is that a good thing..lol. thats why my son does the driving now. they would probably go nutso reading my ekg's. john
Not to be a pia, but I did say at some places they may make you make your passes within days, instead of the same day. I have been at test and tunes where folks have made all their passes in one day. And it is good to know we only need 2 friends with licenses. Ok, next question are the IHRA and NHRA rules on the web or do you have to join and read the rule books, which I have read in the past, been awhile, but just asking the subject matter experts, so the rest of don't have to spend alot of time looking for answers, cause you guys are awesome in sharing information for all of us! RV
Jim your correct the third party was the track manager , in my case he was also a licensed driver , and I did mine in one day also , they just broke it into two sessions . Do you still do a blind cockpit test and does anyone know what the chassis cert now costs ? The IHRA chassis cert was $150cdn this year .
I can mail/UPS a CD with a few programs you can install to remove the spyware, is a good start. Or, at work, I have access to a bulldozer that will also take care of any computer issues :Smarty:
To add to the above, IHRA already requires a license in any class to run points at a track. Bracket or otherwise. They have an ET license for those running bracket classes at your local tracks. I'm not sure, but I think NHRA requires the same now .
nhra sorry about the mis-information about the licencing and how long it takes to get it.i was only replying on what quaker city had told me when we were going to get one a few years back and the procedure they said i was to go through
Dave is right on this one. Get the physical first. Every two years you need to renew it along with your physical too, kind of like a CDL. The good thing is once you have passed either the NHRA tests IHRA will accept your application with out having to go through their tests. You just pay for the $55 fee. Along with the 6 passes you make they have you do a blind test of your car. They will blind fold you and call out things. Like fire extingisher, shut off...... so know your car. This is incase there is ever a fire and the smoke is in the car and you can't see. Like Dave said it pays to keep it up to date.
