This week has proven to be a proverbial rollercoaster ride for drag racing’s sponsorship market, and yet underneath all the turmoil another monster issue is broiling that could produce even more dire results.

A week before the first official pre-season test a definitive Funny Car chassis design remains elusive. 

According to prominent chassis industry sources, as recent as a week ago, builders were scurrying trying to fill the newest regulation requiring the X-bracing on frames that was proposed towards the end of the 2007 season.

This is the same bracing that reportedly failed in October during testing on Robert Hight’s flopper in Dinwiddie, Virginia following the Torco Race Fuels Nationals.

Less than a month before season begins, FC Chassis Designs Are Still Changing

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This week has proven to be a proverbial rollercoaster ride for drag racing’s sponsorship market, and yet underneath all the turmoil another monster issue is broiling that could produce even more dire results.

A week before the first official pre-season test a definitive Funny Car chassis design remains elusive. 

According to prominent chassis industry sources, as recent as a week ago, builders were scurrying trying to fill the newest regulation requiring the X-bracing on frames that was proposed towards the end of the 2007 season.

This is the same bracing that reportedly failed in October during testing on Robert Hight’s flopper in Dinwiddie, Virginia following the Torco Race Fuels Nationals.

The design was then reportedly legalized following a test where Ford engineers tested the “fix” on the shaker table.  

One chassis builder who spoke with Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com under the condition of anonymity said the real concern is about the lateral movent and when chassis failure leads to tire failure. This adjustment is believed to control such actions following such a scenario.

Brad Hadman, one of the chassis builders on a committee to establish the NHRA Funny Car specs, will follow the specs put before him, although he questions the logic at times. A source told Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com that only three chassis builders participated in the meeting as opposed to the five that SFI mandates, proposing the change. Hadman was outvoted two-to-one.

“It’s almost like those who don’t believe in creation by the Bible version,” Hadman said. “They have to change around their numbers to make the s^&% fit right.”

While the official SFI spec for Top Fuel was realized in the latter stages of 2007, the Funny Car version remains in cyberspace. Reportedly, a set of guidelines were issued to the chassis builders two weeks ago that provides the guidelines until such a spec is released.

Oh there’s no doubt we needed to do something different. What I feel comfortable is the NHRA telling me the frame rails have to be a certain size and then get the hell out of the way. The rest is for me to fill in. Right now we have a team dictating how it should be based on what their engineer is telling them. - Chassis Builder Brad Hadman

Hadman considers himself at least one of several chassis builders extremely frustrated with the process. Reportedly another hung up on NHRA Nitro Liaison Dan Olson.

“We all agreed on inch-and-a-half .095 bottom rail,” Hadman said. “You also have to double-tube your steering column. It has to be bolt-in. We all agreed.”

According to a source, this revision is based on the information provided by John Force Racing and Ford.

“Where is the NHRA in all of this?” asked a competitor who spoke under the condition of anonymity. “Are we putting a competitor in a too powerful position with this?”

Hadman said he’s not balking at change. He’s adamant a change needed to be made.

“Oh there’s no doubt we needed to do something different,” Hadman said. “What I feel comfortable is the NHRA telling me the frame rails have to be a certain size and then get the hell out of the way. The rest is for me to fill in. Right now we have a team dictating how it should be based on what their engineer is telling them.”

The real question remains, are there any engineering reports to validate the SFI/NHRA’s new design?

“Ford has used the strain gauge and the Dephi box to test the configuration,” Hadman contended. “To my understanding, they want to use four cars for testing throughout the year.”

John Force Racing has already indicated they will not have a chassis ready for next weekend Vegas test. However, a team statement suggests they will be ready for Phoenix a week later.

Also added into the mix is a weight increase for the Funny Cars of 100 pounds.

Hadman is working at a feverish pace to finish two cars he was scheduled to deliver on Monday, one for Gary Scelzi and the other for Kenny Bernstein. This recent rule revision sent him backwards to make adjustments.

“Now we have to go in there and chop tubes out and change stuff,” Hadman said. “This is making it safer?”