[Racerdad916]

Trackbird and I were talking the other day about some rumors floating around about the "New" NASA HPDE rules. My question is: To run a NASA HPDE event in 2011, if my car has a cage that is ERW not DOM, but is within design specs, will I be able to run? Same thing with fuel cell, seats etc. Before I finish the cage, it might be good to know if there are rule changes......

[mitchntx]

Bottom line ... you need to contact the regional tech inspector and ask.

Because it really does boil down to what that guy thinks, not us.

[Blainefab]

Bottom line ... you need to contact the regional tech inspector and ask.

Because it really does boil down to what that guy thinks, not us.

This I agree with. Jerry's new clarification validifies the tech guys broad powers, but we will (I will, anyway) exercise them with common sense. If Racerdad shows up Sat at Infineon for HPDE tech, and I know his cage is ERW, will I pass him? If in my judgement the cage is otherwize well made and doesn't present an undue hazard that didn't exist before it was installed, then yes, I'll be OK with HPDE. If he's running TT, now my comfort level is lower and I'd probably run it past Jerry. If he's trying to get a race logbook, no way - cage would need to be replaced.

If the cage is poorly made, has open stubs pointing at the driver, or causes an extreme obstacle to getting out of the car, for example, then I won't let them on track.

No such leeway on a fuel cell - a bad fuel cell is just as likely to cause a problem in a HPDE car as it is in a race car, no crash is necessary for some fuel cell failure modes.

HPDE has a specific exception in the CCR to the harness dating rules for race cars. HPDE has no exception for high density padding (I've pulled HPDE cars off grid with the soft crappy foam on their rollbars). HPDE has no exception for the seat backbrace rules. I've helped drivers install lots of backbraces and rollbar padding.