Can anyone tell me when it is required to have a parachute? Or maybe more importantly, when it is adviseable to have one. :Smarty: I don't think it applies to me, but I would still like to know. uzzled:
WHEN YOU ARE JUMPING OUT OF AN AIRPLANE, IT IS A MUST! :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin:
Correct - although after the "Bobb Makley Incident" some of the guys who are quick enough to not be embarrassed by having a chute on the car are planning on running one at the tracks with shorter shutdown areas. K
Any car capable of 9.99 or faster must be equiped with a chute . If you make a pass quicker than 150mph you are supposed to pull it . If you car is capable of over 200 mph you need two chutes. BUT Chutes are for slowing and brakes are for stopping... I pull my chutes at about 1200 feet and they hit right at the finish line . If you wait till after the finish line it might be tooooo late. I need both on shorter tracks. now you know. George in DC
Double checked the NHRA Rule book 2005. Quote: "Manditory on any car with top speed faster than 150 mph." In the Quick Reference Guide in the back of the rule book it stated (relating to our speeds) 7.50 et - 9.99 et it is required to have a chute. 10.00 et - 10.99 at speeds of 150+ mph it is required to have a chute. Bottom line if your running close to that speed or times it would be a nice insurance policy to have in case you have some sort of brake failure or oil down where full braking would not be advised. Tried mine at Norwalk and even though I was only doing 142 it slowed me down enough that I only needed one push on the brakes to make the turn off. Without the chute it took 4 hard pumps on the brakes (have Wildwood fronts and stock drums in rear) to make the turn off. It is a pain in the rear to re-pack and double pain if your called to the lanes in a roundy roundy. But it's nice to know it's there when and if it's needed.
Ric, I see by your avatar that you have the Simpson style chute. They are a pain to pack . When it is time to change go for a Stroud. It is of a different design and you can practically ball it up and go. (not really but much faster to pack) My chutes try to put me on my head at the finsh line. Even with the carbon fibre brakes stopping w/o them is usually 'interesting' Also, I would suggest pulling the chutes every pass. It puts you in a rythum. When you "need" it you have to think about it and thats a lot of time past the finish line. I have a buddy that had the carbs hang wfo at the finish line . He wasnt used to pulling the chute so the car just kept accelerating till the sand trap. The chute came out right in front of the catch net. Good luck with it George in DC
Thanks for the advice and information. I have just purchased a car that has run high 9's at 138/139. I doubt it will run that for me, more weight and less knowledge, and I don't intend to race alot at this point. I care about safety before anything else and was wondering if I should consider a chute, but I do not want to modify the car. Is racing the 1/8 mile almost as fun and alot safer? Thanks again, Bill :jd:
You've seen it Mike,It's Franks Urbinati's old car. That car is very nice car Bill. 1/8th mile is great for a Buick,You don't work these 30 year old factory blocks near as much. When do you plan to race the car? Let us know how it goes......good luck.
hey.. Bill, you have bought a great car IMO. You do NOT need a chute for that car, if it has 4 wheel disc's. Tell Frank I said hello. JH
Hey guys , If you have four wheel dics and a reasonably light car , sure , you can stop it from 150 with no chute. BOTH NHRA and IHRA are getting more strict though. Have you ever had a tech inspector ask you to pull and show your parachute(s)-- I have . If you are going faster than 9.99 you need to have a chassis sticker (you do have one right?) and you are supposed to have a parachute on the car for it to technically to pass tech. I have been at national events where a car that refuses to pull the chutes on repeated runs faster that 150 is asked not to return for the next round. When my old bracket car was going about 140 , I never pulled the chute . When I put like 350 more hp in it things got interesting and I had to pull it all the time because the car picked up close to 30 mph. I have been racing for a long time and have always been a stickler for safety.I have seen guys get burned ,broken and killed over dumb stuff that could have been avoided. All my stuff has always had an engine diaper, I have always had a true halon fire system, etc even when it was not required at the et I was traveling at the time (yes I had a diaper on a super gas car) I just think its better to have the stuff and be safe than not have it and be sorry. Good luck with your new hot rod ! George in DC
Again, You guys have been friendly and helpful, I appreciate it. I have two pre teen daughters and a wife who need me to make it back from the track. I don't plan on putting more than 10 full passes on the car, but it only takes one. I will roll the dice for one pass, if it feels uncomfortable, or if the numbers require it. I will no longer race the car, but enjoy for local cruises, shows, or 1/8 mile. I feel it is too pretty and stock appearing for more mods. I am going to mount Buick rallys and Dot tires as soon as I get it. Also plan on Buckets and new GS deluxe covers. Here is a link to the post that Frank made with the pictures. I will pass along your good wishes. THANK YOU :3gears: http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=69759
