SFI Jacket

[96SOHC]

Greetings,

While teching in at this past week's race @ Joliet, one of the tech officials asked me if I had a SFI jacket. I race in the Modular Muscle class and have never been required to have this jacket in the past. The NMRA rulebook states to use the NHRA rulebook for safety items...I can't find any reference to me needing this jacket. My car runs high 12's to low 13's and is a convertible with a six point rollbar with 5 point harness. The official could not show me at the time in the NHRA rulebook where I would require this jacket. I did race with a jacket I borrowed to meet the need at the time, but is this jacket required for me and if so, what is the appropriate reference? Thank you.

[jboehm]

do you have a poweradder on your car?

[kurt02gt]

no he is NA, no power adder

[Adam Smith]

No he does not. His car is a 260rwhp 281ci automatic. I argued for him a bit since we have never had this be an issue in the past. The official told him that because his car ran faster than 13.50 and was a vert it was neccessary. Said official spent a long time looking in the NHRA book and could not ever find it in their to show us. Clarification would be great. We drug Thom Bates into it at the track and he said that if said official said it was so, then it was so.......:confused:


Adam

[AutomaticWeapon]

The official is probably correct.

You need a jacket when running 11.49 or better in a hardtop, along with all the other stuff like a bar, belts, ect ...

I'd bet money that the same exact rules concerning hardtops apply to convertables that run 13.49 ...

Everything else is required at 13.49, the jacket should be no exception.

Mike

[96SOHC]

Well, I did not argue with the official. But it would be nice if an official would look into this and post up their findings. Here's what I have found in the 2006 NHRA Rulebook:

On the last page, back of the book, it indicates the various ET brackets and required equipment chart.. For the 11.50 - 13.99 ET bracket (times I run), the protective clothing row shows 10:10 (reference number to the general regulations section). When I go to the general regulations section 10:10, it breaks it down by specific class requirements and ET brackets. The slowest bracket requiring a jacket is from 10.00 - 11.49 and includes S/S and S/ST classes. So I don't think I'm required to have a jacket. Yes...no?

[96SOHC]

I guess safety isn't important anymore.

[KenB]

Why not just wear one for the safety factor? They are under $50 and it's nice to know you have a bit more protection. If you want an official response, you'll probably need to email NMRA as they don't seem to do any official business through the forums. I would send an email to the tech email.


Ken

[96SOHC]

Why not just wear one for the safety factor? They are under $50 and it's nice to know you have a bit more protection. If you want an official response, you'll probably need to email NMRA as they don't seem to do any official business through the forums. I would send an email to the tech email.


Ken

Ken,

That's exactly what I did 30 minutes after I posted the remark above. I have no problem with wearing one if it's required, but it's 50 bucks I could use elsewhere. Still no response from them. All I'm asking for is a reference to me requiring this jacket. Just because someone states it required doesn't necessarily make it so...it would be like someone saying a weed-eater blower set-up makes just as much power as a KB 2.2. I know the NMRA officials have a tough job and can't catch everything...we all make mistakes. I just found it odd one race it was not required, the next it was.

[96SOHC]

I heard back from NHRA. Just like Phil Collins...No Jacket required! I will bring a copy of the email to every event just in case.