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| Procedure Sheet |
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SAFETY IS FOREMOST |
1. DRIVERS... All cars are subject to N.H.R.A./I.H.R.A. rules and specs that apply to your vehicle and category. You are responsible for knowing and implementing these regulations. Copies are available at our concession stand or numerous other outlets.
2. Sportsmanlike conduct at all times.
3. There shall be no alcoholic beverages in the race cars on the track or in the staging lanes. If you are suspected of having too much to drink, you will be asked to leave the staging lanes.
4. 4-Wheelers, 3-Wheelers, Skates, Bicycles, Mini-Bikes, etc. are not allowed on premises.
5. Seatbelts and helmets shall be fastened during burnout and approaching the starting line.
6. Dragsters and open-front-wheel cars shall be allowed one (1) burnout through the lights. Full-bodied cars will be held back.
7. If you leak anything on the starting line, you shall be backed off.
8. You shall not stage until your opponent has prestaged or unless you have been instructed to do so by the starting line manager.
9. Glass containers are not allowed on property.
10. When you stage, you buy it . . .
11. No unauthorized personnel will be allowed on the race track. Press personnel, photographers, camera crews and pit crewmen must report to tech man at head of staging.
12. Race cars must pass through "tech," and your tech card must be filled out and turned in at "tech".
13. No deep staging will be allowed.
14. No holding of cars or bikes during burn-out.
15. Speeding vehicles or careless driving in the pits is strictly forbidden. It may result in your having to leave the race track.
16. Once eliminations have started, there will be no time trials until after the third round. There will be no substitutions of vehicles or drivers.
17. No pets (dogs, cats, etc) are allowed on the premises of Gulfport Dragway.
18. If you test on top end of the track, helmets and safety equipment must be fastened.
19. Persons working the staging lanes are there to move the mass of machinery by two, safely, smoothly, swiftly as possible down the race track. Lanes numbered odd 1, 3, 5, 7, & 9 will use left lane, even numbered lanes 2, 4 , 6, 8, & 10, will use the right lane. However, if this is not always possible you will be told what lane to get into. Either go down the track or get on the trailer.
20. Drivers, do not start your burn-out until the drivers who are attempting to stage have gone from the starting line. |
PLEASE OBSERVE
THE 20 M.P.H. IN THE PITS |
NOTICE:
4-Wheelers, 3-Wheelers, Skates, Bicycles, Mini-Bikes, etc.
are not allowed on premises. |
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| Rainout policy |
| Once time trials have ended, there is no rainout! Rainout good for current calendar year. |
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| Requirements to be considered a Street Car |
Pass Safety Tech
Working windows
Door slammer
Operational headlights, brake lights, tail lights
Nitrous permissible
Wheel tubs permissible |
Mufflers
Glass Windshield
Trailered through gate permissible
D.O.T. tires ONLY
Line Locks permissible
Long pants and helmet
No Electronics |
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E.T. 1/4 to 1/8 Mile Conversions |
| 1/4 Mile E.T. |
1/8 Mile E.T. |
| 12.99 & quicker |
8.25 & quicker |
| 11.49 & quicker |
7.35 & quicker |
| 9.99 & quicker |
6.39 & quicker |
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| Tech and Safety-Check Guidelines |
| 1/8 mile E.T. times listed in parentheses: 12.99 (8.25), 11.49 (7.35) and 9.99 (6.39) |
| Arm Restraint |
Required in any open-bodied car. |
| Battery |
Must be secured properly with OEM equipment if still mounted in stock location. NO coat-hangers, bungee cords, bailing wire, etc. allowed.
If it is mounted in a different location, it MUST be secured properly with 3/8” minimum all-thread and include a master-disconnect outside on
the back of the car clearly labeled. If the car is a hatchback, the battery must be mounted as noted above, but inside an enclosed sealed
battery box, or the car must have a firewall fashioned between the driver and the battery. |
| Carburetor |
Must have an effective throttle-return spring (TWO are recommended). Also, a breather, flash shield, or spark arrestor is recommended. |
| Catch Can |
All water-cooled cars must have an approved radiator overflow catch-can that is 16 oz. minimum and secured properly.
Drive Shaft Loop All cars running SLICK/STREET SLICKS must have a safety loop encircling the drive shaft that is mounted not more than 6” behind the front U-joint. |
| Drive Shaft Loop |
All cars running SLICK/STREET SLICKS must have a safety loop encircling the drive shaft that is mounted not more than 6” behind the front U-joint. |
| Driver Apparel |
Long pants, full-toed shoes, and shirts required. No shorts, tank-tops, bare torsos, etc allowed. Appropriate clothing is mandatory. |
| Fire Gloves |
SFI approved, required on all open-bodied cars, and on full-bodied cars running 9.99 (6.39) or quicker, and/or 135 MPH or faster. |
| Fire Jacket |
SFI approved, required on cars running 11.49 (7.35) or quicker. See Roll Cage, Harness. |
| Fire Pants |
SFI approved, required on all open-bodied cars, and on full-bodied cars running 9.99 (6.39) or quicker, and/or 135 MPH or faster. |
| Fire Shoes |
SFI approved, required on all open-bodied cars which are super/turbocharged, nitrous equipped, or alcohol powered. Recommended for any open-bodied car |
| Fuel Cell |
All fuel cells must be mounted properly and vented out the back or the bottom of the car. Plastic cells must be grounded properly with a ground
strap. The cell must be isolated from the driver compartment with a sealed firewall to prevent fuel from leaking in. |
| Fuel Filter |
NO GLASS filters allowed. Must be of metal or plastic construction. |
| Fuel Line |
There can be no more than a TOTAL of 12” of rubber fuel line in a car. Either ensure that hard line is in place, or use approved braided steel line. |
Harness,
5-point |
Seat belts are required. Stock belts are fine until a car reaches 11.49 (7.35) or quicker or 12.99 (8.25) for convertibles, and/or 135 MPH or
faster, or if it is equipped with a roll bar/cage, regardless of E.T. At this point, an SFI approved 3” wide, 5-point harness is required. The shoulder
straps should be secured behind the driver below the plane of his/her shoulders. |
| Helmet |
SNELL or SPI approved helmets are required. Full-faced helmets with shield are required on any open bodied cars & all cars running 9.99
(6.39) or quicker . Shield must be down upon leaving the starting line. Approved crash helmets must be strapped and worn properly. |
| Hood |
All full-bodied cars are required to have a hood. |
| Lug Nuts |
Each wheel shall have the OEM number of lug nuts fastened securely. If using open-end lug nuts, the wheel stud shall protrude into the hex
portion of the nut a distance that is at least equal to the diameter of the stud. See Wheel Stud. See Wheel Stud. |
| Neck Collar |
Required in any open-bodied car. and ALL full-bodied cars running 9.99 (6.39) or quicker, and/or 135 MPH or faster. |
| Neutral Safety Switch |
A functioning neutral safety switch is required on ALL vehicles. See Shifter. |
| Nitrous System |
System DOT approved NOS bottles must be secured properly with a minimum of 2 straps. If the bottle is in the driver compartment, it must be vented properly out of the car. Solenoids and nozzles must be mounted properly in the engine compartment. |
| Roll Cage/Bar |
All cars running 11.49 (7.35) or quicker or 12.99 (8.25) for convertibles and/or 135 MPH or faster must have at least a 6-point roll cage, a
5-point harness, and a fire jacket. The cage must also be padded everywhere that any part of the driver’s body (hands, feet, head, etc.) may
come in contact with the cage while properly harnessed in the driver’s seat. |
| Shifter |
Stock shifters are fine. Any after market automatic shifter must be equipped with a spring-loaded, positive reverse lockout. A neutral safety
switch is mandatory. |
| Tail-light |
For night-time racing, all cars shall have at least one working tail light that is visible from the tower and the starting line upon leaving the starting line and exiting the track. |
| Tires |
All tires must be in good condition (not dry rotted, etc.) and CANNOT be spacesaver doughnut-type spares. |
| Wheel Stud |
Each wheel shall have the OEM number of wheel studs, with lug nuts fastened securely. If using open-end lug nuts, the wheel stud shall
protrude into the hex portion of the lug nut a distance that is at least equal to the diameter of the stud. See Lug Nuts. |
| Window Net |
Required on any car running 9.99 (6.39) or quicker and/or 135 MPH or faster. Recommended on any car that has a roll cage. |
| Windshield |
Required on all full-bodied cars. Lexan is allowed. |
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E. T.
Considerations |
The E.T. breakdown listed below must follow the aforementioned
guidelines, plus:
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12.99 and quicker: |
Convertibles only: Roll cage, 5-point harness, and a fire
jacket. |
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11.99 and quicker: |
Roll cage, 5-point harness, and a fire jacket. |
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9.99 and quicker: |
Master
battery-disconnect (regardless of where the battery is mounted),
neck collar, fire pants, fire gloves, and a window net. |
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| SPEED CONSIDERATIONS |
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The above guidelines come into play at a specific elapsed time, but
some are also applicable if a car runs a certain speed. At 135 MPH,
regardless of the E.T., all cars must have a roll cage, window net,
and a master battery-disconnect switch. When a car reaches 150 MPH, it
must have a functioning parachute, but it does not have to be
deployed. |
| MOTORCYCLES |
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All riders are required to have full-finger leather gloves,
over-the-ankle leather boots, leather jacket, and a full-faced helmet
with a shield. The
shield must be down upon leaving the starting line. If a rider runs
9.99 (6.39) or quicker, and/or 140 MPH or faster, a dead-man switch is
mandatory as well as full leather suit (either one-piece or zippered
at the waist). |
| CAR NUMBERS AND DIAL-INS |
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All permanent car numbers must be displayed on the passenger side
window and upper passenger windshield and must be at least
6 inches minimum in height (4" is okay on front). Any temporary
shoe-polish numbers issued at Tech should be washed off before the
next event so that a new number may be
issued. All vehicles in competition must have the dial-in displayed
before leaving the staging lanes - no
changing! |
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These are general guidelines we have put together for your safety and
convenience. While we can't go over every aspect of every vehicle,
common sense & accepted drag strip practices
should be all that are necessary to ensure all will have a fun and
safe time at Gulfport Dragway while still maintaining competitive
events. If you have any further questions,
please ask an Event Director, or you may purchase NHRA/IHRA rule books
at the concession stand. |
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Bracket Drag Racing
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Bracket drag racing is the most equal opportunity sport in the world. Men
and women, young or old, all have an equal chance.
Anyone can win bracket racing, with any kind of car, truck or
motorcycle. All you have to do is drive consistently. It makes no difference
if your car is fast or slow, because the races are based on a system where
the slower car gets a head start.
Drivers make time trials during the first part of the day.
Time trials are practice runs; on each run the elapsed time (E.T.) is
electronically measured and presented
to the driver on a computer printout. The elapsed time is the time it takes
to get from the starting line to the finish line.
After time trials, drivers study their elapsed time printouts
and try to predict what their cars will turn on the first run of
eliminations (actual competition). The driver's elapsed time predictions are
dialed in to the starting line computer used to determine the handicaps.
As two cars pull to the starting line the computer compares
their dial-ins and gives the slower car a head start, via an earlier go
signal from the computer controlled
Christmas Tree.
If your decision is to race, the first stop inside the gate is the tech
area, teching-in only takes a few minutes. The official checks tires,
steering, brakes, battery, anything that might be a safety hazard. Any well
maintained highway car will pass tech, and when this is done the officials
assign a number to that vehicle.
Next you find a pit area. The pits are where the race cars
are worked on and where drivers leave their gear and crew members. There are
two unwritten laws of pit etiquette: First, pedestrians let the race cars
have the right of way. This is done because many race cars are towed or
coasted through the pits to keep the motors cool. Second, being in the pits
gives you up-close access to all the racing machinery; therefore, the rule
is look, don't touch.
The staging lanes are where the drivers line up and wait to
make a run down the racetrack.
The staging director and starter are there to make sure the
cars are flowing smoothly, and safely, and their word is law.
The bleach box is where the cars spin the tires in water. The
process is called a water burnout and it is done to get the tires hot and
sticky for better traction.
A drag strip is actually two race strips in one; each lane
has its own starting and timing system and functions independently of the
other. One lane can be totally inoperative and the other will still function
perfectly.
The starting system for each lane consists of the
Christmas Tree
and two beams of light aimed across the starting line. The
Christmas Tree
is the pole on the starting line with the amber, green and red lights. The
top most and smallest bulbs are the pre-staged and staged lights. Next are
three amber countdown lights; next the green-go-light; and the red-foul
light.
As the front tires roll into the first light beam, it signals
the tree and lights the pre-staged bulb. A few inches further and you're in
the second light beam and the staged bulbs come on. At this point, the
driver is supposed to be ready to race. The starter waits a few
seconds and starts the
Christmas Tree.
It blinks down - amber-amber-amber, green . . . a half second between bulbs,
one-and-a-half seconds from first amber to green, that is all there is to
it.
The green light is your signal to go, but it is only a signal
. . . the elapsed time will not begin until the front tires move out of the
light beam, this never changes. The elapsed time computer is triggered by
the front tire . . . not by the go signal.
There is a time-recording related to the green go signal:
It's called the reaction time. Reaction time is computed in
thousandths-of-a-second; it tells how quickly you moved off the starting
line (out of the light beam) after the green light.
On the other hand, if you leave the startling line before the
green light, you will be disqualified via a red light / foul start. At first
it might seem ridiculous that anyone would leave too soon, but the reaction
time is so important that drivers try desperately to cut the green light as
closely as possible. In fact, because the front tires must roll a few inches
before they are out of the light beam, practiced drivers actually have
floored the gas and have their cars moving while the last amber light is
still on; but they know their cars and themselves so well, they do not break
the light beam until the green has flashed. It takes practice and
concentration.
Separate lines painted at the finish, each having its own set
of lights is marked with cones. The lines are 66 feet apart and are called
the traps. Crossing the first line starts the MPH computer; crossing the
second line stops the elapsed time computer, which started when the car left
the starting line. It is also the finish line and is exactly 1320 feet from
the starting line.
We have enough shutdown area to stop a 290 MPH dragster; with
three exits: one at 1550', another at 2000', and the last exit at 4500'.
Paralleling the drag strip is the return road. All drag
strips are one way - never turn around and return via the drag strip.
The dial-in is used to determine the handicap start. Based on
your time trials, the dial-in is what you think you will turn your next run,
which will be the first round of eliminations (actual competition).
The dial-in is written to the hundredth-of-a-second on the
passenger windows with white shoe polish. As the competitors approach the
starting line, the tower personnel enter the dial-ins into the computer,
which programs the
Christmas Tree and gives the slower car the head start.
During eliminations dial-ins may be changed between rounds.
You may never have an elapsed time quicker than the dial-in. If you do, you
break out and are disqualified.
The dial-in handicap works like this. Say you dial-in is
20.00 seconds and your opponent dials-in at 19.00 seconds; you will get a
once second head start. That is, one second after you get the go signal,
your opponent will get his go signal.
When all the cars in a bracket have made a run, it is called
completing a round. Each run has a winner and a loser; so each time a round
is completed, half the cars are eliminated. Even with 100 cars in the
bracket, it only takes seven rounds to crown the bracket winner.
During eliminations a breakout is an instant loss. If both
cars break out, the car breaking out by the least is the winner.
The red light is also an instant loss. If you red light, you
cannot win. If your opponent red lights, you cannot lose. Also, if you
opponent red lights, the breakout rule is waived.
The bye-run is a lone run given to a randomly chosen car,
because of an unequal number of cars in a round as determined by random, or
by ladder sheet.
During time trials both sides of the
Christmas Tree
count down together. During handicap eliminations the count down is
staggered, because one side of the tree starts before the other.
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