For those that attend Buick Events..

[psycho6cyl]

My plan is to have my car track ready for the bpg and the bowling green events. These events look.like alot of fun. My questions are if.my car happens to run under 11.5 maybe closer to 10s are they strict about a cage? And do you have to run in a class for track time? Just trying to see how many runs in without being in a class..

 

[TurboDave]

If you don't want to run a particular class you can always run in a bracket (dial in) event.

and yes, if you run quicker than 11.5 you'll need a roll bar.

 

[RUQWKNF]

Every track and their officials will be different. I can't speak for a BPG race as I have never raced at one of their events.
Typically during the week of the GS Nationals in Bowling Green, weather permitting, there are times for Test and Tune. With good weather, you could easily make 5-6 runs with plenty of cool down between passes. For Heads Up Class racing and for Bracket class racing, they are strict about rules. With regards to how many 10 second passes they will allow you to make during Test and Tune, you might get away with one or two 10 seconds passes before being asked to slow it down or else. Maybe more, it really depends on the track officials. Especially when there are tons of Turbo Buicks making test passes doing the exact same thing. Your question has been the age old question every Turbo Buick owner has asked at some point about Bowling Green and it has been hotly debated over the years. But let's put this into perspective for a minute. You've spent a boat load of money at this point on the car. How much is your safety worth to run a 10 second pass? I mean, these aren't new cars and track prep at Bowling Green during the week, is minimal at best. My advice is, do it right the first time, get the roll bar. Especially if you intend on racing the car at other tracks in the future, anywhere in the 10's. Peace of mind is worth a ton when it comes to these cars. I speak from experience on this as I ran my first "86 T-Type in the 10's for about five years, before I finally broke down and installed a roll bar. It was tough doing it to the car, but it was needed for safety and for my peace of mind. And with the car going faster and faster, it just did not make sense not having one. A lot of things can happen in 10 seconds. Over the years, there have been a few wrecks at Bowling Green where the roll cage saved the driver. Odel's incident a few years back at the Nationals is a perfect example. Given that was an 8 second car, but it proves the point. It was horrible seeing that wreck on such a nice car, but the cage did it's job and he's alive and well today. Heck, I've seen 12 seconds cars loose it on pass and roll over. Also, you can have a roll bar tastefully done and well hidden with these cars and still have a useable back seat. And the benefits that a roll bar gives for stiffening of the chassis are another plus.

If your plans call for 10's, my advice would be to get the roll bar. Your car and your conscience will thank you for it.
Just my O2's worth.

Patrick

 

[gnxtc2]

My plan is to have my car track ready for the bpg and the bowling green events.

Aewsome

These events look.like alot of fun.

Yes they are!!!!!

My questions are if.my car happens to run under 11.5 maybe closer to 10s are they strict about a cage?

It depends on the track. At Bowling Green, they are not. When the Buick event is at BG, it is considered a "track rental". I can't speak with for BPG as I never raced there. But from what I read about BPG (National Trails Race Track which is owned by NHRA), the track is super strict.

I have been to track rentals where the track didn't care and other track rentals where they went over my car with a fine tooth comb....checking my NHRA lic, belts, helmet, etc, etc.

And do you have to run in a class for track time?

No. At BG, it mostly a test/tune section. When eliminations starts, you need to decide if you are running heads up or bracket.

Just trying to see how many runs in without being in a class..

As many as you want.

Hope this helps.

Billy T.
gnxtc2@aol.com

 

[psycho6cyl]

Patrick, thx for the advice. my main goal is to get 3 passes@10sec. Not really wanting to make this a dedicated race car. but you are right about safety first. i may just stick with mid 11s. i drive the ccar more than race. caging it would make it a lil difficult for street use...

 

[psycho6cyl]

thx billy.. i guess ill start looking at diff btwn heads up and bracket. Ive done track rentals 2xs and there were maybe 20 guys so we got a lot of runs in. i def looking fwd to it and hope i can attain my goals. should be fun...

 

[toofastforyou]

I've had a 6pt. roll bar in my street driven car for many years, but now that the car is running into the 9's, I'm having the whole thing removed as we speak and a new 8 pt. roll cage built in it's place. Also like "RUQWKNF" said, "A lot of things can happen in 10 seconds."...Same holds true for 9 sec cars.
and

"you need to decide if you are running heads up or bracket."

Personnally, I much prefer bracket because it gives everyone a fair chance at winning as compared with heads up where most of the time (but not always) the fastest car will likely win.

Claude.

 

[gnxtc2]

Personnally, I much prefer bracket because it gives everyone a fair chance at winning as compared with heads up where most of the time (but not always) the fastest car will likely win.

Claude.

Not true but you're entitled to your opinion. Ever see a fast turbo car win Q16 at a Buick event?

Billy T.
gnxtc2@aol.com

 

[Sydwyndr]

Personnally, I much prefer bracket because it gives everyone a fair chance at winning as compared with heads up where most of the time (but not always) the fastest car will likely win.

Claude.

Same goes for index racing. No need to have the fastest car to win. Its like combining bracket racing and heads up racing. Best of both worlds

 

[toofastforyou]

Same goes for index racing. No need to have the fastest car to win. Its like combining bracket racing and heads up racing. Best of both worlds

"index racing"?...Do you mean indexes like they have in NHRA "stock" and "super stock" classes?

Claude.

 

[Sydwyndr]

Yes sir just like it... My car runs bottom 10's and would easily be able to run either a 10.99 or 10.49 class. Cars that run low 11's could easily run either a 11.99 or 11.49 index class. Makes for great heads-up racing and don't have to beat the car to death tryin to be the fastest car. Been running index races at the TB nats for 3+ years, problem is most Buick racers don't understand it enough to want to try it. All Heads-up on a pro tree just as all the T classes are already. People get tired of the same thing over and over again with no changes. Make it interesting for the racers and the fans as well....

 

[toofastforyou]

Yes sir just like it... My car runs bottom 10's and would easily be able to run either a 10.99 or 10.49 class. Cars that run low 11's could easily run either a 11.99 or 11.49 index class. Makes for great heads-up racing and don't have to beat the car to death tryin to be the fastest car. Been running index races at the TB nats for 3+ years, problem is most Buick racers don't understand it enough to want to try it. All Heads-up on a pro tree just as all the T classes are already

I understand what you're saying about index racing having some similarities but it's till not true bracket racing. It's still easier for a car running a 10.49 than one running 10.99...At the end of the track that is a 5 car length lead!

Claude.

 

[Sydwyndr]

I understand what you're saying about index racing having some similarities but it's till not true bracket racing. It's still easier for a car running a 10.49 than one running 10.99...At the end of the track that is a 5 car length lead!
Claude.

Not if the index is 10.99 it isn't. Then both cars are at the end of the track at the same time. The only advantage to the 10.49 car is the ability to leave the line a bit harder for better reaction time vs a 10.99 car...What Im referring to about bracket vs heads up vs index is simple... In heads-up racing generally speaking and not referring to pro stock or top fuel is this. The Majority of the time the faster car has the advantage, not always but more than average. Bracket racing is more of a drivers race because you have to be on your game both at the starting line and finish line. Index racing is no different. Races are won at the starting line the majority of the time, also if you go too quick you lose.... Claude I take it you haven't done any index racing before??

 

[toofastforyou]

Not if the index is 10.99 it isn't. Then both cars are at the end of the track at the same time. The only advantage to the 10.49 car is the ability to leave the line a bit harder for better reaction time vs a 10.99 car...What Im referring to about bracket vs heads up vs index is simple... In heads-up racing generally speaking and not referring to pro stock or top fuel is this. The Majority of the time the faster car has the advantage, not always but more than average. Bracket racing is more of a drivers race because you have to be on your game both at the starting line and finish line. Index racing is no different. Races are won at the starting line the majority of the time, also if you go too quick you lose.... Claude I take it you haven't done any index racing before??

Clint, I did race in NHRA Super Stock classes years ago with two different cars and one of the reasons why I quit was because if I was not able to run my class index I wasn't competitive and had no chance whatsoever. I turned to bracket racing and never looked back and had years of fun that way because every now and then, I was able to win or at least get into the finals...The main difference is that the dial is determined by myself, not a pre-set NHRA index...but the rest is indeed similar to bracket racing, winning and not breaking out.

Claude.

 

[Sydwyndr]

Right.... and to me it just brings something different to the Buick community to try and doesn't cost a ton of money to do..