Any Canopy News??

[my friends call me Zappy]

Seems like nhra would be wise to let those that want to, run them. That would be the best test bed with all the fireballs lately. Lookin at it on a shelf isn't gonna tell ya much.

They don't have to make them manditory, just let them on, see if they work.
What do you think folks.??

 

[Rat]

On the broadcast yesterday Don said that they (NHRA) would not approve it unless there was production good enough to give every team the ability to use it on their car. I am guessing it's not that the NHRA won't approve it, it's more a matter of all teams having the means of getting one.

 

[HEMI6point1]

I think the hold up is that the NHRA wants to know if the car is crashed and upside down, will the safety safari be able to get it open?

 

[my friends call me Zappy]

As long as there is some type of universal quick release device on the canopy, I don't see a problem. Driver extraction is only one aspect to consider, fire prevention in the cockpit will only be determined through on track – in race testing.

 

[JB3]

As long as there is some type of universal quick release device on the canopy, I don't see a problem. Driver extraction is only one aspect to consider, fire prevention in the cockpit will only be determined through on track – in race testing.

What ?? Upside down and on fire after a major impact. You willing to gamble on a quick release to be the difference between rescue and being burned alive? Will the release mechanism work after a catastophic crash?

As you stated, proven through on track real racing scenarios ... Do you want to be the test monkey to see if you survive the fire or not. This is not some Toaster they are trying to get UL listed, this is real life and death. One death related to a canopy that fails to allow the rescue of the driver will be the end of the show folks. This is about Risk and ensuring it will truly be a game changing safety improvement. Cannot predict all scenarios, but this one has no margin for error and cannot work sometimes.

 

[sdwarf36]

What ?? Upside down and on fire after a major impact. You willing to gamble on a quick release to be the difference between rescue and being burned alive? Will the release mechanism work after a catastophic crash?

Same could be said for seat belts.....

 

[my friends call me Zappy]

Look how hard it is to get some of the drivers out now, with the high Cowls and windshields. And they are conscious and not on fire. So with a quick release canopy extraction may even be quicker than today's top fueler...

 

[shoe]

There is a fire bottle and system included with the canopy design. We continue to work with NHRA in all of these areas for the future.

 

[mick]

interesting to watch section of explosion replayed with slo-mo camera (11:17)
sure seem to see fire (and parts?) glancing of back of shielded rollcage,
followed by what appears to be fire into cockpit on tony's right side
for brief instance
2012 O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Route 66 Nationals Final Eliminations from Joliet Part 1 of 9 - YouTube

 

[Jeff]

NHRARacer.com

At the top of the "latest updates" section ... looks like you have to buy a permit if you want them in Denver

 

[d'kid]

NHRARacer.com

At the top of the "latest updates" section ... looks like you have to buy a permit if you want them in Denver

Not a Tent.... The enclosed Cockpit... DUH

d'kid

 

[turbo ken]

Denver Mullins was a pioneer for the capsules for drag boats, and he passed away in one. Capsule Builder Killed When His Boat Crashes : Racing: Mullins, who built safety compartments for drivers, dies in his at Puddingstone Lake. - Los Angeles Times

 

[rckymtn3]

NHRARacer.com

At the top of the "latest updates" section ... looks like you have to buy a permit if you want them in Denver

jeez Denver...I'm curious if other states require permits for canopies in the pits? and especially that $teep.....

 

[Jeff]

I'll try to make my canopy humor more obvious in the future Karl. Maybe two smiley faces for those challenged in this area.

Kevin, I recall that Vegas also has similar fire marshal rules and permits.

 

[yoda]

Same could be said for seat belts.....

Cutters for belts makes extraction hangups from belts a non-issue.

And Don- the fire bottle placement will allow for a stable ballast device placed in the chassis somewhere... Is placement up to you, or is it a regulated standard location? I recall the early flops would have one across the front axle laterally until the association made the double bottle system a requirement. I imagine its a15# bottle- got a spot for it yet that helps the chassis work to your car's advantage?

 

[Sandman]

I hate to be the only person asking this, but I gotta: enclosed T/F cockpits have been around since Cortopassi's "Glass Slipper" car and that ran a flathead! There are so many enclosed T/F cars throughout history I can't count them, Ivo Breedlove, Nye and many more ran front engined and rear engines cars with zero problems and more recently Garlits ran Swamp Rat 30 with no issues whatsoever so why is it now such a voodoo subject with the NHRA?

 

[JB3]

I hate to be the only person asking this, but I gotta: enclosed T/F cockpits have been around since Cortopassi's "Glass Slipper" car and that ran a flathead! There are so many enclosed T/F cars throughout history I can't count them, Ivo Breedlove, Nye and many more ran front engined and rear engines cars with zero problems and more recently Garlits ran Swamp Rat 30 with no issues whatsoever so why is it now such a voodoo subject with the NHRA?

Comparing apples and oranges. Those were much simpler shields with performance being the primary focus. This new canopy is focused on protecting the driver from fire and or debris entering the cockpit. Pure safety that none of the many hisotrical cars you site would have benefitted from with thier simpler, performance based designs. Most of which would have likely flown off after any type of impact.

 

[Muddy]

Comparing apples and oranges. Those were much simpler shields with performance being the primary focus. This new canopy is focused on protecting the driver from fire and or debris entering the cockpit. Pure safety that none of the many hisotrical cars you site would have benefitted from with thier simpler, performance based designs. Most of which would have likely flown off after any type of impact.

If you ever had driven a front engine dragster you'd know that the canopy's were not primarily performance items. You dodged oil, parts and/or fire on nearly every pass. They didn't work because the oil on the shield kinda got in the way of vision.

 

[Eracer]

I'm sure Big is glad he's not dealing with this BS

Sad to say but we'll probably never see something like this again

 

[FC138fan]

Seeing that cover over Garlit's front wheels in the above post--

They were talking about Wheel Pants here the other day, I had looked up to find out what the story was about wheel pants and found that Garlits had tried them, didn't like how they made the car feel unstable to him... but saw that when he ran through the sawdust or whatever that stuff is they put down after an oildown that the air behind the front wheels was choppy, so he came up with the idea that you see in that picture.

Funny the controversy with wheel pants, some swore it made the car unstable, some swore it made absolutely no difference. LaHaie swore his indy crash had nothing to do with the wheel pants, while other drivers swear the wheel pants were to blame just from seeing the crash.

Seems like common sense that the front end would go wherever they were pointing, so if the car got sideways the wheel pants would compound the situation.