This morning Chassis Research Kid (Todd) and King Chassis (Brian) met at my shop to trade frames. Brian had Todd's new car on the open trailer behind his Riviera and Todd wussed out with a late model pick-up and enclosed trailer to haul what will become a cackle car for Brian. Todd could not hang around as he had to be back in Michigan to go to the track tonight but Brian was going to get an hour back as he headed back to central time in St Louis so we went over to John Force Racing for a quick look and then to lunch before he and Big'un headed west again. Roo Todd tries his new ride on for size Todd, Big'un and Brian get ready to load the cackle car for the trip home
Both of those dragsters look awesome! When Todd and Brian get done with the dragsters they need to put them side by side and fire them up!!!! Brian's new dragster is the dragster in my Avatar with me sitting in it!
I'm not sure how much more of this wire wheeled porn I can take before my bank account has a large withdraw of cash. King Chassis your stuff is kick ass. Blind Elwood Detroit,Livonia,Canton how the heck did I end up in Tennessee
Two wheeled trailer, a FED and a Riv tow car. I'm smilin' like you wouldn't believe! stuff Brian. Hope to see you in Wayland Sat.
Please elaborate. I just read my SFI and it says. a. A 1''x.049" tubing crossmember , suitable for mounting the steering gear box is required in the vicinity of the drivers feet. The cross member may be welded or bolted in double shear, both sides to the upper frame rails of the driver cage. This cross member is required wheather or not the steering gear box is attached to it. b. Steering components shall not be attached to teh bellhousing or motor plate either directly or indirectly. c. All fasteners used with the steering components shall be a minumum quality SAE Grade 5 (Class 9.8) Fastener , clearly marked and using IFI (Industrial Fastener Institute) recommendations for proper tightening torque. Nuts shall be of the self-locking variety. The use of cotter pins and castellated nuts is an acceptable option, provided the cotter pin holes are as manufactured by the bolt supplier. So according to this I see no problems. If this is a safety issue please respond so we can remendy this problem. Thank You
Roo man, It was good to see you again. And thank you for taking the time to show us around your shop.
I talked to dreracecar (or Bruce Dyda) on the phone today. If there is a problem with the way I build a car I would like to remedy it ASAP. For those of you who dont know Bruce Dyda he has a great line up of work he has done. So I respect anything he has to say. I read the rules as it was to have a crossmember weather or not the steering box is mounted to it. And it has that. In the event the car goes over to keep the drivers legs from flopping out. But the key words are "in the vicinity of the drivers feet". That way incase the motor plate gets ripped out of the car there is still something holding the upper frame rails together. So I called Todd today and we are going to fix this problem together. I just wanted to make shure that this was addressed publicly. So people understood exactly what was wrong. And to understand that I take concern when a comment is made so directly without explaination. And that it will be repaired. I am not a person to act as if I know everything because I am not. Like everyone, I learn stuff everyday. These front engine dragsters are a passion of mine. And I want to do the best of my ability in every car I build. Mistakes are made everyday; in every industry and I take the responsibility for this one. Thank you Bruce for taking the time to call me today. Brian Fox
Even though I did not see this until mentioned, in comparison to some of the other flagrant safety violations I've seen posted on a couple other builds in particular, this infraction might be considered minimal in nature, however safety important none the less by the book. Mostly fantastic cars here, but a couple real SFI loulou's. Racing car engineering and construction carries a load of responsibility, not to mention a hell of a load of liability in today's fault free spectator environment. Tom S. in Tn.
Looking at the pics, and going by the intent of the rule, the crossmember that the steering shaft passes through should be all that is needed. But hey, with all these bitchin slingshots popping up all over the place, does nobody need a tuner? Will work for nitro.....
Simply this, 100% of all SFI tagged open bodied (Dragsters) have a complete crossmember either bolted to or welded to the upper frame rails "AT" the drivers "FEET". SFI uses the word "Vincinty" to which "THEY" interperet as either "AT" or "FOWARD" of the drivers feet. This placement is noted in both discription and picture in the SFI chassie manuals and what the chassie tech inspector looks for. The steering shaft/wheel support crossmember fulfills general reg. of either a tube,strap, webing over the drivers legs for containment within the chassie. Brian and I had a good talk, He understood what he did and how to correct it. He has since contacted the owner and took care of the situation. One could not find a more stand -up person than Brian.
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