2005 Mustang ~ Drag Class question

[JekylandHyde]

Ford sells the "white body Mustangs" this year.
It is basically a 2005 chassis with a built in roll cage. They are made for racing (off road) pruposes only.
I think they go for around $4000 (no engine, suspension, brakes, etc).

If someone bought one of these and prepared for the Grand-Am road racing, BUT they also wanted to drag race it competitvely. What NHRA class would it be in? What Series is there to run in?

Although I have extensive NHRA drag experience, it is in the Sport Compact classes ... I am not familiar with the ins-n-outs of the Big engine Domestic classes.

Thanks for any help.

[drdisque]

there aren't any real NHRA touring classes for Unibody cars. I'd suggest running in the NMRA http://www.nmraracing.com/ or the NSCA http://www.nsca-racing.com/

there's classes to suit the level of development you want to put in.

[JekylandHyde]

Excellent, that is the kind of information I needed.

Teh second link references "Street" cars ... this will not be even remotely streetable, does that matter?

[500]

I don't think these "body in white" units come with any sort of roll cage. The price is listed as $3500 which is a super deal just for the production line body panels, a minimal cage would add $1500 to $1800 and an extensive cage with nascar door bars and fuel cell protection and mounts, suspension pickup points tied in would easily cost $2500 +. There are too many applications for these cars for one roll cage design to satisfy.

I also doubt they come with any paint. That is what "body in white" means - no paint. Factory supported racers have been getting this type of assistence since the 60's.

[JekylandHyde]

Originally Posted by 500

I don't think these "body in white" units come with any sort of roll cage.

Dan Davis, Director of Ford Racing Technology, seems to disagree:
"The chassis, or "Body-in-White," has been seam-welded and the safety cage has been structurally optimized and designed for ultimate vehicle performance, durability and safety. This race-prepared chassis allows Ford Racing to extend its offerings to include other types of racing, including drag racing."
http://www.seriouswheels.com/top-200...-2004-SEMA.htm

Originally Posted by 500

The price is listed as $3500 which is a super deal just for the production line body panels, a minimal cage would add $1500 to $1800 and an extensive cage.

I suspect Ford would be more interested in getting these cars out there and racing, than they would be in making a few $$ off them. It's a marketing tool.

So back to the question at hand. If you bought one of these a prepped it for the Grand-Am series, but also wanted to drag race it ... what class in what series would it be in?

[drdisque]

I'd probably run in NMRA EFI Renegade, Drag Radial, or Open Comp.

[chevytrucks92]

Don't they just seperate the heads up classes by Super Gas, Pro Mod, etc?

I don't know. I have never been to an NHRA sanctioned event.

[JekylandHyde]

drdisque, can you give me a basic scoop on the difference between those classes?

Thank you for your time, I sincerely appreciate it.

[500]

Go to www.nhra.com

Probably Comp and the 3 super classes [ 8.90 9.90 10.90 ] are all such a car would fit. Maybe not Super Street { 10.90 }. I seem to remember some restrictions that might affect you.

The 'safety cage' in a production vehicle is not a roll cage.

http://www.rsportscars.com/eng/artic...t_grand_am.asp

None of the pics of the body in white have any roll cage bits showing.

If you are a member of NHRA you should have a copy of the rule book.

500

[500]

Originally Posted by chevytrucks92

Don't they just seperate the heads up classes by Super Gas, Pro Mod, etc?

I don't know. I have never been to an NHRA sanctioned event.

You should join the NHRA. You get a subscription to National Dragster and it will open up a whole new world of sportsmen racing for you. You might find yourself wanting to do some divisional races.

I have a bud that has been class champ a couple of times at Atlanta Dragway and was 2nd or 3rd last year. He also won the foot brake class at Super Chevy last year. I have been trying to get him to go run some divisionals but he is more interested in the bracket races.

Another bud won his class at the Indy Nationals back in the 80's. That's a pretty awesome trophy to have on the mantel. It's the same one you see Force or WJ or them guys getting !

500

[chevytrucks92]

Originally Posted by 500

You should join the NHRA. You get a subscription to National Dragster and it will open up a whole new world of sportsmen racing for you. You might find yourself wanting to do some divisional races.

I have a bud that has been class champ a couple of times at Atlanta Dragway and was 2nd or 3rd last year. He also won the foot brake class at Super Chevy last year. I have been trying to get him to go run some divisionals but he is more interested in the bracket races.

Another bud won his class at the Indy Nationals back in the 80's. That's a pretty awesome trophy to have on the mantel. It's the same one you see Force or WJ or them guys getting !

500

I would love to do that someday. I would be more interested in the index classes (9.90, etc.) I think rather then just straight heads up. My preference is bracket racing however (like your buddy).

My car would need a little work to be ready to race on a sanctioned track (drive shaft loop, updated belts and fuel cell-both are well over 5 years old). I dont think I'd need a parachute (what is it, 9.99-down that requires a chute?).

Other then that, it'd be ready to go I think.

But yeah, I would love to be able to do NHRA events, or even IHRA events (preferrable bracket events). Maybe someday. I graduate college this May, so maybe next summer I can take a few road trips to some of the sanctioned tracks.

[500]

You don't have a driveshaft loop ?? I am amazed that there is any track in the USA that doesn't require them. Even if they are not required it is foolish to run without one. If the front u-joint breaks the driveshaft drops down and digs into the asphalt flipping your car end over end.

[drdisque]

all the rules for those NMRA classes are on the website (I don't have the classes memorized either so I'm no more enlightened on the subject than you are, I just picked those 3 from my vague familiarity with them and the brief description on the NMRA website.

[JekylandHyde]

Ok, thanks for the insight. I will do some research from here.

[chevytrucks92]

Originally Posted by 500

You don't have a driveshaft loop ?? I am amazed that there is any track in the USA that doesn't require them. Even if they are not required it is foolish to run without one. If the front u-joint breaks the driveshaft drops down and digs into the asphalt flipping your car end over end.

Pretty sure it doesn't have one.

Seems like it used to have one, but he (my uncle) took it off becuase we had several transmission problems at one time (like 3 or 4 trannies in a years time).

I can't swear to that, but they was something that it had that was a safety feature, that we took off becuase of some trouble we had with the car (taking the trans. in and out).

Either way, it'll have one shortly.l