Racing The Datsun Tonight. Hope it Slows Down.

Going to Irwindale to race the 302/240Z. The motor is fresh now after blowing a head gasket,spinning a bearing and taking out the crank a few months back. The only change made was to replace the solid cam with an old XE284H left over from the Morris.

Last time out it ran under the 7.25 roll bar cut-off running 7.18(6000RPM shifts)7.19 (5500)7.24(5200) 7.25(5200). Put a 7.25 dial in for the bracket and cut a good light only to break-out by .001 running a 7.249. It was fun anyway.Didn't get kicked off for running under the rollbar cut-off but will slow it down some tonight. Cut a best 60ft of 1.510 with the tiny 215/60R14 BFG Drag radials.

Here's a video my buddy Nate took about a month ago.
Video of Datsun new cam - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Jim glad to hear the datsun is back in action...Sounds like it's going to be the year of the roll bar rules with as many as 4 of us possibly butting up against it.

That little Z is flying! When I put my roll bar in originally, I did not like the look of it w/ the top down, but I knew safety wise running low 11s was the only way I was gonna take the car down the track. Now, I think w/ the top down, the car looks super tough, especially w/ the 275 60R15 drag radials. There is no more important thing than being safe. A few years back at my local track, some idiot w/ a built Shafiroff big block in a 442 convertible would rocket down the track in the low 11s and the car was all over the place. They eventually threw him out, but I think of what a fool he was for running in a convertible making so much power and getting so loose. Always be safe and always have fun! -Mike

Originally Posted by frdnut

Sounds like it's going to be the year of the roll bar rules with as many as 4 of us possibly butting up against it.

Make that 5!

Your videographer needs some better equipment and more practice. LOL! So how did the Just Jim's Garage Bracket Master 750 Holley do? Send me an email. Had to visit my sick grandmother otherwise I'd have tried to head down to Irwindale before my game. Next time.

Interesting - how do they get away with the 7.25 mark, NHRA requires a bar at 7.49.

Originally Posted by ckelly

Interesting - how do they get away with the 7.25 mark, NHRA requires a bar at 7.49.

Irwindale's 1/8 mile used to require a roll bar at 7.49 when the 1/4 was 11.99. Since the 1/4 mile is now 11.49 they lowered it to 7.25. I'm pretty sure California's other 1/8 mile track Barona down near San Diego has the same 7.25 cut-off.

The car ran a best of 7.32/93.4MPH,1.57 60 ft, last night staying away from the 7.25 roll bar cut-off. Track prep was bad so it wasn't hooking up and I was first round runner up in the bracket.Fun anyway.

The Datsun isn't getting a roll bar and will be tuned to stay under the 7.25 requirement. My Morris has a 6 pt roll bar and runs 6.80's in the 1/8. When it's 90-100 degrees out it isn't too comfortable racing it while wearing a helmet,jacket,and 5 point belts which are required with the roll bar. So,my plan is to race the Datsun when it's hot out not burn-up in the Morris. Make's since to me but hey I'm old.

I'll have to find my 2008 NHRA book. The 2008 IHRA book lists 11.49/7.49. That was what I was thinking - they did lower the 1/4 ET threshold, but not the 1/8 mile mark. Interesting - usually the two org stay in step on the simple stuff.

Good to hear you got it back up and running Jim. And running strong!!

You kill me with those 60 foot times!!!! Nice.....

Sure 'nuff, NHRA has a different bar spec.

The Datsun runs right where I'm at, we'll have to do some heads up some day. I had a 7.29 on the window for Round 2 before the cold track made us give it up. You want uncomfortable, come to Texas in August and run with us on one of those days where the starting line temp is 140F. IHRA single layer jacket requirement is 7.49, so I wear my nice "point champ" fire jacket in the cool and my less fancy (ratty, actually) model in the heat.

94 MPH is still fast - I could show some pictures of a car that lost a front ladder bar mount in the lights running 85MPH. The Mustang is down in the 7.70s @ 88, we'll put a bar in it this year. Worries me she runs without it.