NHRA.com is reporting that the NHRA is waiting for the Implemenation of the new SFI Spec. 49.1 for Top Fuel wing assemblies... i.e. MONOSTRUT!! (specifically airfoils and spill plates) is delayed until March 14, 2007... This date coincides with the ACDelco Gatornaionals and will provide suppliers additional time to fulfill orders... Minimum standards for the rear wing struts are already enforced under the chassis spec, SFI Spec 2.3M

So does that mean that DPM and DPR cannot run it until it is readily available to everyone?

That's exactly what I'm reading into this. NHRA made a good call here, if those two teams went out and won the first two races using the Monostrut when no one else could, you would neve hear the end of it. They served themselves well on this one, the drama would never end.

What it means is, that no one can run it in competition... Until March 14, 2007
As far as testing??
Fuller had an interesting comment on speed scene live last night about the monostrut weighing 45 lbs. more, and that the front end was light on one run, so they put more ballast in the front to compensate...

And I agree with you Lance... NHRA made a good call on this one... At least give the teams a chance, who want it, time to GET IT!! I hope Kloeber is on that list...

Let's see.... By then I have a feeling Rod will be ahead of Clay in the points... #1 session runs reverse points, so Clay will get to run the monostrut in a national event first. Assuming he gets his by then.

This is just another first class move by NHRA... let the teams get all the way to the pits of your 1st event of the year and then tell you, you can't run the parts they spent time testing .... bravo .....

Sounds to me like NHRA should raise the TF minimum weight up 45 lbs. Chances are good that the bigger (physically) drivers will be at a disadvantage when they approve it. Should'nt be a problem for the smaller drivers like Melanie, Hillary, Fuller and a few others. Larger drivers are probably already over the minimum and more weight will make it tough.

I believe it was a promptus from Dan Olson that kicked it into gear, and he seems ready to throttle up through the water box ,................
Whats that CCR song " Bad Moon Risin".
I see the lights are ready to Drop on this season!
Hold on Tight!!

H00-AHhhh!

[quote=Ray Ghio Jr;41174]NHRA.com is reporting that the NHRA is waiting for the Implemenation of the new SFI Spec. 49.1 for Top Fuel wing assemblies... i.e. MONOSTRUT!! (specifically airfoils and spill plates) is delayed until March 14, 2007

Well - has anyone actually read SFI Spec. 49.1? I can't find it on the SFI Foundation website! If someone could provide a link, it would be greatly appreciated.

As I stated in the first Monostrut thread, a friend who is an expert on carbon fiber fabrication said that it could take several months just to produce monstruts for teams running Hadman chassis. I have no idea how SFI specs are formulated or if NHRA rules mandate that a new technolgy must be available to all teams before it is approved. After someone provides us with SFI Spec. 49.1, I'll bet a lot of people are going to be very disappointed!

I may be wrong here... But I believe that the minimum weight was raised 20-25 lbs. this year... If I am wrong...
Sorry-

Don't know about TF but FC minimum was raised 25 lbs.

I think they should set a remote control option....that way everyone could run sitting in the stands drinking a toddy...

KB

The struts are not made of carbon fiber. The struts are chromoly tubing. There are just carbon fiber bits mounted over the tubing to make them more aerodynamic. It is probably far easier to make the carbon fiber bits than it is to weld up a new strut and retrofit it to the chassis.

Pic #1 Strut w/out Carbon Fiber:
TIM_01

Pic #2 Strut w/ Carbon Bits added on:
tn_DSC_0537

My question is, since Fuller had the aero bits added on to the monostrut before DPR's even hit the track, is that some development that Fuller's team made on their own (or based upon information that Hadman/Kloeber had), or was there information sharing based upon what Snake's team learned in the wind tunnel? Or will Snake's monostrut look different (based upon what he learned in the wind tunnel)? IF they are different, which one will NHRA certify? Will they certify them both? Should be interesting in Gainesville ...

Garlits once said that the monostrut was his greatest inovation in this sport and nobody used it , And now someone is using it and nobody has mentioned garlits importants in the whole monostrut idea and original use but me.

Only you.........and about a dozen other 'maters.