Rules in NASA HPDE 1
 

The rules state that battery hold downs are required to have two bolts. Has anyone had any issues passing tech with a stock hold down?

Will my Hard Dog Double Diagonal M2 Sport be legal to participate? Any words of wisdom regarding this?

The rules state that stock seats and belts are fine but if I add an aluminum racing seat it may or may not need to be braced. Any way to know because I do want a good seat and harnesses? It would be foolish to run without them.


My cashflow has been crap since the housing market tanked but I am seriously considering putting some HPDE expenses on a credit card and finally going out to play a little.

The instructor will once over your car really fast when you are in grid (mainly to test torque on tires). You can self tech your own car and sign off on it. I've never had an issue here.

You should be fine. I have the same bar in my car. I have sprints in my car so I cant comment on the kirky but you should be fine in the factory seats for a few events till you get up to higher speeds. At the first event you can ask tech what the rulls are about the seat. In my 2000 that I rolled I had the stock seats and was thankfull that I didnt have a fixedack seat and harnesses I had the bossfrog clearview max which is almost identical to yours.

Have a great day,
Jared

Have fun.

Have a great day,
Jared

I thought the Boss Frog Clearview Maxx was different.

Keep the hardtop on. I've never had a problem with NASATX and as long as the national TT director isn't there you don't have to worry about him banning you from NASA or raping your children, which he's known to do because when he's not being unreasonable on the internet or booted people from HPDE, he's using his mouth on the anus of children.

Nasa has tech? Shit, all I do is drive up and they give you a window sticker showing what group you're in... it's laughable (that's the SE region any way). They way I look at it, I should know my car inside out b/c it's my ass (and passengers) on the line... fellow drivers too should my neglect cause an incident on track.

Back to the the battery - I bought a SM bracket for mine.

Here in Socal 1,2,3,4 all have to have tech. TT cars can have a yearly done. Most people don't know what to look for. I am glad that they do it that way here. I would rather you be inconvenienced for a few moments than to risk my or someone else's life.

Have a great day,
Jared

Here in TX, I have the stock battery bracketry and have passed NASA tech with no mention of it many times and have had an annual for two years now. I also have ultrashield seats without back braces and no mention of those either.

Only thing I have been dinged for is the clip-in harness lap belts have tiny holes for pins or safety wire after they have been clipped in. I never knew about them, but it makes sense.

Yep I have also passed NASA tech with the stock bracket. I also have a Hard Dog Hard Core. They are all 1.75" diameter, no?

We can self-tech at some of the non-NASA HPDE events, like Driver's Edge. But I have had to go through tech at all of the Tx Region NASA events and they do check the car over. Now I have an annual tech sticker, which is quite nice.

You'll be fine, have fun.

Yes. I just didn't want to spend $400 and drive 8 hours each way to be told to sit it out when I get there.

As for the seats, I don't run with NASA, so I don't have personal experience, but from what I've heard, if the seat has FIA certification, it doesn't need a back brace. If it doesn't, it needs the brace. When I got my car inspected and dialed in by Hartzel last year, that was one thing he mentioned - I had a Momo Start at the time that was not FIA cert and he said if I ran with NASA I'd need the back brace. I've since switched to a big boy track seat though, so it's a non issue for me.

You don't need 1.75, 2 bolts, or brace for hpde1...

If you call and ask they will just state the rules, if you show up your fine fyi.

I have never had problems with NASA tech. They pretty much kick your wheels and let you go.

Thanks for the reassurances, guys.

My next question is not rules related but an opinion question that is limited by what parts I have on hand. My car ('96) has stock springs and sways with some new NB Bilsteins (HD or Sport IDK?) that I traded for and NB tophats. I'm loving the improvement the Bilsteins made to the ride and the roadholding over the worn out stockers. The parts car I am parting out came with older Koni yellow adjustables and Racing Beat springs. Which would be better, RB springs with older Koni yellows, RB springs with new NB Bilsteins, or stock springs with NB Bilsteins as it sits? Keep in mind that this will be used with RS2 tires on stock Miata 14" hollow spokes for now. I am currently inclined to keep the Bilsteins and use the RB springs. No, I'm not buying anything additional at this point, but a forum member is supposed to be trading me a RB solid front sway bar ...eventually.

I would assume that you are running nb shocks with na hats? If that is the case I'd run the shorter/adj Konis with the RB springs. With nb shocks on na hats you'll be all over the bump stops. Get some of those dirt cheap honda mcu bump stops for the konis/rb and profit. What pads are you on and whats your experience level? Rs2's are a sticky tire and you might need a little more aggresive pad to go with them. You could get away with some yellow front pads/stock rear. What camber are you at?

He said he's running NB tophats... that being the case I'd vote Bilsteins with RB springs.

Talked to sixshooter via phone, I think he is all squared away. Looking forward to seeing you when NOLA opens.

Well done Jake.

one really good thing to remember on your first DE1 adventure is to go with a very open mind and not to try to impress the instructor in any way shape or form since they've had YEARS of seat time. The best advice i got is take everything you know about driving and throw it out the window. Be like a sponge and just learn everything you can.

I wouldnt worry about performance so much until you really learn all the basics then the car will let you know what to modify next.

Have fun and be safe!