The NHRA would like to pass along a special thank you to Frank Manzo, driver of the Lucas Oil Top Alcohol Funny Car and nine-time NHRA Top Alcohol Champion, and Ara Arslanian, driver and owner of the Bullish Racing Team and the first sport compact driver to earn a NHRA sanctioned six-second pass. These two gracious people gave their support this past weekend by loaning driving suits to several racers at the NHRA Virginia Sport Compact Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park.
In addition to Manzo and Arslanian, NHRA would like to thank Michelle Marchese, a long time Manzo fan, and Francis Mabutas, of The Speed Lounge, for assisting NHRA in transporting the suits from the New Jersey to the event.

 

Thank you to everyone involved in getting the suits to the drivers that needed them.

 

AND THE FREE WD-40 TO ALL THE RACERS

 

Manzo and Arslanian

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DBigman &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> Francis Mabutas, of The Speed Lounge, for assisting NHRA in transporting the suits from the New Jersey to the event.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Nice Job Francis (DJF5). You've always been dedicated to the Sport Compact Scene and always willing to give a helping hand.

 

Thanks again guys. We couldnt have raced with out these people.

 

It was nice to see Frank Manzo,9-time NHRA TAFC World Champion step up and help the racers from the Sport Compact Series. Come to find out he frequents the Springnationals and Fallnationals at Etown.

And Ara--always a class act and a team player.

NHRA Drag Racing is a very tight community.

Thanks again.

 

Did they need a loaner because they needed a /15 fire suit for alcohol?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ninesecrx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Did they need a loaner because they needed a /15 fire suit for alcohol?</TD></TR></TABLE>

yes they did....

BTW why didnt the AM class require the same suit? They run Alky too. If their cars caught on fire they would have been in trouble. (I was told that AM didnt req. the a/ 15 suit....only reason why Im asking....if they had them then thats cool)


Howard

 

because AM cars are slower and they could slow down faster without the fire hurting them. jk.

 

hopefully NHRA doesnt use that excuse...lol

 

yeah one of the comments i heard over the weekend after all the fire suit issues

"so you are going to tell me an all motor alcohol car driver is going to burn slower than a turbo alcohol car driver"

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by AR Fab &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">hopefully NHRA doesnt use that excuse...lol</TD></TR></TABLE>

DUDE NHRA'S #1 CONCERN IS SAFETY..THIS ISNT XXXX (oww IT GOT CENSORED )

 

ok ok ..... I got it...

POLITICS

yeah thats it...



Whatever the case or the reasoning is...it wasnt right to allow the AM cars to run Alky w/o the same suit..regardless. The SFI people came up with this saftey guidline..it should have been followed. If a fire would have happened in one of those cars the level of danger is the same whether its at 140 or 180mph.

 

Much research was done on this issue by the NHRA Tech staff.

Lets just blame it on Ed Bergenholtz for the fireball at Fallnationals last year.

The basic "Marketing Guy" answer is that All Motor is not forced induction.

 

try to find a /15 suit right now.....the in-expensive line G-force said min. 5-8 wks on Wed of last week...I know Simpsons out 4-8wks on orders... I called Jegs / Summit none in stock....


Hopefully the loaners are still available....


DAM YOU ED!

 

By the way this rule change was announced in the rulebook back in late October 2005.

 

yea....but was it put in the rule revisions? I didnt see it there back then. I may be wrong though, my lack of paying attention. I guess 10 others might have not paid attention either.

Wish I didnt spend the big money on the lightweight Sparco suit now....coulda got a 50# nomex quilt to wear instead..lol. They are heavy!

Now you can spot rule violators from the distance...Sparco has yet to make a suit higher then /5....

 

there are a butt load of race shops down here by me in Florida, if anyone needs me to call around let me know.

Anthony
443-416-6456

 

Lots of /15 suits here in Indy also. If you need a list of local race shops I will post them.

 

The only reason I knew about the rule change was from Bill Condit at the GM Seminar.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 4piston &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Lots of /15 suits here in Indy also. If you need a list of local race shops I will post them.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Please do. We need one a.s.a.p. A Small or Medium for Ed!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mazda 3 Racer &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Please do. We need one a.s.a.p. A Small or Medium for Ed!</TD></TR></TABLE>
I hear summit has the Jr. dragster. That might work out if all else fails..

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DBigman &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">By the way this rule change was announced in the rulebook ba
ck in late October 2005.</TD></TR></TABLE>
if you race you need a rulebook ? stroud safety 3 week sfi3.2a15/ 20 just ordeded one

 

Had a nice talk with Javier of NHRA.

He set me straight with the facts. The rule rev. was handed out at SEMA and was posted online.

Atleast I wasnt one of the racers that didnt have the suit prior to racing...


Howard

 

All Motor Protective Clothing requirements page 46 of the NHRA Sport Compact Rule Book. Want to get the rule book log on to http://www.nhrasportcompact.com
Race On!
Javier
D1320Don