Reading a lot of threads lately where folks are putting blowers and other big power adders on their G8s. I think its great and hope to walk that same path someday. It does bring up some other things that will need to be done if we want to run these cars at sanctioned tracks.

The addition of a blower or Nitrous and a few bolt-ons is probably going to put one in the Pro class (NHRA, not sure what IHRA equivalent is called) , a few other tweaks such as a gear change will probably move one into Super Pro (a kick ass class in that it allows data recorders, delay boxes and a few other goodies that Pro doesn't).

Once you break a certain ET point, I believe its 11.49, you find requirements for various add-ons such as a roll bar (a bit faster and it becomes roll-cage) and transmission shield. No decent track is going to allow you to run these times without this extra gear.

So, my question is, has anyone yet investigated installing these items in a G8?

The only thing I've considered is a helmet so far.
Some tracks are different. 11.99 gets you a roll bar I believe.
Read your local tracks requirements for racing street legals.

The only thing I've considered is a helmet so far.
Some tracks are different. 11.99 gets you a roll bar I believe.
Read your local tracks requirements for racing street legals.

Yea, certainly there are differences, my numbers come out of the NHRA rule book. Chances are the differences won't be huge, at some point we'll need this stuff.

Its always been 11.49 that I know of. Slicks require a DS loop, any type of FI requires a fire jacket. Past that you have to be rollin real heavy really.

I run 11's and have not even been asked to put on a helmet.

I run 11's and have not even been asked to put on a helmet.

Really? Is your track sanctioned by any agency?

I run 11's and have not even been asked to put on a helmet.

ORP, formerly Indianapolis Raceway Park, requires a helmet on any run under 14.0.
This is for Tuesday night street legals.

ORP, formerly Indianapolis Raceway Park, requires a helmet on any run under 14.0.
This is for Tuesday night street legals.

Any sanctioned track should. Doesn't mean they do of course but that is the rule.

LACR (closed now) and LVMS (Vegas)
they just don't expect it from a stock looking car....I'm sure it will catch up with me.

I'm sure we'll see a 5-point rollbar in a G8 before the year is up. A good Vortech setup (and maybe Magnusen with some supporting mods) should put a G8 into the mid-11s, so these questions should be answered fairly soon...

I'm sure we'll see a 5-point rollbar in a G8 before the year is up. A good Vortech setup (and maybe Magnusen with some supporting mods) should put a G8 into the mid-11s, so these questions should be answered fairly soon...

We'll need an 8 point :)

LACR (closed now) and LVMS (Vegas)
they just don't expect it from a stock looking car....I'm sure it will catch up with me.

Yea, if I were you I'd pick up a helmet and toss it in the trunk just in case. Really oughta wear it, you're haulin ass and if you lose it....

were the hell can I buy a helmet for this? I'm assuming its not a bicycle helmet

11.49 for IHRA and 11.99 for NHRA. You'll need and SFI coat, harness, scattershield and 5pt bar (if I remember off the top of my head).

were the hell can I buy a helmet for this? I'm assuming its not a bicycle helmet

Summit, Jegs, etc. Look for SA2005 rating. I'm pretty much decided on a Simpson Bandit for myself.

Will a motorcycle helmet work (sport bike)?

how much are these helmets?

Will a motorcycle helmet work (sport bike)?

depends on the certification. Should be a sticker inside the helmet. Probably yes but post the cert and I'll verify in NHRA rulebook

how much are these helmets?

The better the cert the pricier. The one I want is $400 or so.

AGV Stealth

Inside sticker reads: AGV Stealth DOT Manufactured 2005 (bought it in 07) Family 0F23 Batch 01.

There is no number on the inside of the helmet but on the outside it reads:
"Certified to British Standard" Type A BS6658 : 1985.

Theres nothing that says "Snell"? DOT standards don't cut it for racing. most DOT helmets also carry a Snell cert. I'll verify in the book but I think no Snell, no go.

i did some googling but can't find any reference to AGV helmets having any certs other than DOT and the British thing.

Of course there's a very good chance the guy at tech will not even check for the sticker....

Note added- rulebook says SFI or Snell are the only acceptable ratings

I think they'll only accept Snell ratings within a certain number of years. New snell ratings come out like every 5 years. The big difference is a real car racing helmet will be fire resistent.

The Bandit is a nice helmet, I think that's what I'm going to get next.

I think they'll only accept Snell ratings within a certain number of years. New snell ratings come out like every 5 years. The big difference is a real car racing helmet will be fire resistent.

The Bandit is a nice helmet, I think that's what I'm going to get next.

Correct, they do expire. I think the M97 expires in 09.

I keep a new snell in the trunk..39 bucks at some half price bargain store. pearl white no graphics....haven't been asked to wear it yet though.

The better the cert the pricier. The one I want is $400 or so.

WHAAAAAT! So I can't go to the track unless I buy a helmet that costs hundreds of dollars!!!?

Current requirements at the track I go to (Bandimere):
"Any vehicle that runs faster than 13.99 seconds, and all motorcycles and dune buggy-type cars, must have an approved helmet. Helmets must have a SNELL rating of K98, 2000 or 2005, as well as those with an SFI rating of 31.1, 31.2, 41.1, or 41.2. (SNELL 95 helmets are expired as of 1/1/2007)."

Fire Jacket is required for anything with an aftermarket power adder, including an upgraded turbo/sc on a vehicle that came with one stock. Even my 2000 GP GTP...it has a blower off an 05, which is a newer generation, so it technically requires a jacket, although the tech guys wouldn't be able to tell. Not that it matters as the big blue bottle makes them ask for a jacket anyways.

For a roll cage, NHRA requires it at 11.49, and IHRA at 11.99. At least the last time I checked. Bandi is NHRA, so I don't have to worry about it for a while (kinda hard to get a 2 ton FWD V6 under 11.50 at 6000ft ...having enough of an issue getting below 12.0 :).



Aha, found the FAQ for Bandi:

What are some of the major safety items I will need as I go quicker?

The following is a list of major items that are required as specific ET's and speeds. This list is a guideline, and we recommend consulting a current NHRA rulebook for specific details, specifications, and diagrams.

13.99 seconds

- Drive Line Loop with slicks (13.00 with street tires)

- Approved helmet

- Roll bar in convertibles

- SFI seat belts in convertibles

- SFI 3.2A/1 Jacket in vehicles equiped with non-OEM nitrous, turbos or
superchargers

11.99 seconds

- SFI Flywheel / Clutch / Bellhousing Steel Valve Stems / Arm Restraints (open cars)

11.49 seconds

- SFI 3.2A/1 approved jacket

- Roll bar

- SFI approved seat belts

10.99 seconds or Super Street

- SFI Transmission Shield, or at 135 mph - Aftermarket axles

- SFI Harmonic Balancer

- Roll Cage with altered floor pans, or 135 mph - Window net required

- Ignition cut-off on all bikes / snowmobiles that exceed 135 mph

9.99 seconds or Super Gas or 135 mph

- NHRA Chassis Certification

- NHRA Competition License

- SFI jacket & pants 3.2A/5

- SFI neck collar & gloves 3.3/1

- SFI flexplate / flexplate shield

150 mph

- Parachute


As for installing stuff. Driveline loop should be fairly straight forward, and seat belts might work stock , though if not, swapping them might be a small pain but not too bad. A cage should not be any harder than in any other car not designed around one. Tranny shield might be a tight fit, but as I haven't had the chance to look that close, I can't say for sure. The rest shouldn't be any harder than dong stock replacements. Parachute would just be fun!!

Dang. The track I went to didn't make me wear a helmet. So for the G8 would you need one? Run's in that car stock are usually between the mid to high 13's to the low 14's. Sometimes it my be slower than 13.99 and sometimes faster.

I think full stock is a caveat to those rules.

There are many people who don't get proper equipment. They try for the perfect run then get kicked out. You won't be arrested. You'll just waste time and money for some baseline numbers.