GizmoQ
Seasoned Member
- Joined
- Jun 3, 2010
- Messages
- 1,079
- Location
- Traveling the Country
- My XLR/V(s)
- 2006 Black Raven XLR-V; 1996 Eldorado ESC-V
ECTA imposes limits both on the driver and on the car - primarily for safety. A rookie driver has to step up from one category to the next to prove he/she is in control during the three primary phases and the transitions between each - launch, run, and shutdown/exit. The car requires more safety gear the faster you want to drive it - if even one of the numerous safety features is suspect the car will not pass "technical inspection" (tech) for that speed range. All speeds are based on the speed achieved at the end of the 1 mile track where there are timing lights to give you your "official" speeds. So a 200MPH car can be driven hard by a rookie as long as he is in control and his official trap speed through the timing lights is within 5mph of his driving license.
My record setting 133mph run was coasting from about the .6 mile point and the brakes were on before I hit the timing trap because it wasn't slowing down enough. Everybody watching could hear me get out of the boost by 3/4 mile and they gave me hell for it, but the officials let it stand cause it was well controlled and within the guidelines of the rulebook.As far as classes go there are classes for body style and construction and classes for the size of the motors.
Drivers with a valid state drivers license are allowed up to 124 in a long sleeve shirt and long pants. To get the next license you must complete one pass over 100 and under 125.Then you can qualify for the next license with one pass over 125 but under 149. When they sign off your helmet for that, you can qualify for the next license with a pass over 150 but under 175. And again for 175-199, then 200-249, 250-299, and finally 300+.
Safety equipment "tech inspection" is a lot more complicated. Any street legal car can run up to 135 with no additional equipment. The requirements go up at 135, 150, 175, and 200. The kicker is all blown cars (supercharger and turbos) are automatically required to meet the rules of the next higher speed range. And convertibles are required to meet the roll cage requirement of the next higher speed range unless an exception is granted 45 days prior to the event (which I thought I had accomplished with the 50 pages of GM Tech data I now have on the roll-over protection). The basics are roll bar/roll cage, 5 point seat harness, racing seat bolted to the frame, battery disconnect switch, 5lb fire extinguisher within reach of the driver will get you to 150. More roll cage, hood pins, built-in fire suppression system, arm restraints or full door net, and hans device or head restraint in the seat will get you to 175; a whole bunch more and a parachute will get you to 175-200.
The drivers are recommended to wear a SFI3.2A/1 fire suit but the above street clothes are allowed for non-record setting runs. Fire suit specs go up at 135, 150, and 200. So over 135, you need a SFI3.2/5; over 150 needs a SFI3.2/15; over 200 needs SFI 3.2/20 (a "/20" suit is what pro drag racers wear and cost $1500+).
The bottom line is there's a speed limit for the driver and the car as recorded in the 20 ft of timing lights at the 1 mile point. The Texas Mile also has a timing system at the half mile point. Exceed either by more than 5mph and both are suspended for the day; by more than 10mph both are ejected from the even and possibly banned. One of the Z06 drivers who's car was downgraded at the start line from 150 to 135 (the race director did it to him for unknown reasons) ran an official time of 151 but wasn't allowed to record it. It wasn't a convertible and he has replaced the seat and harness and added the fire extinguisher, so he should have been good.
C6 corvettes were supposedly certified by GM in coordination with ECTA sanctioning body to be able to run up to 150, but I can't get anyone to give me the full details on when, where, and how that is documented. And the race director last weekend was overtasked enough without having to take 30 minutes to review my data and inspect Elwood in order to decide whether he would grant my exception. And I realized that and was OK with it as the weekend progressed.
For more info on ECTA go to their website: East Coast Timing Association
For info on the Texas Mile go to their website: TEXAS MILE // OFFICIAL SITE // 3 DAYS, 1 MILE: NO SPEED LIMIT
As a side note, the Texas Mile is a little less stringent on the rules. A couple from Corpus Cristi had their 08 XLR at the mile in March when I went as a spectator. They volunteered their car so I could take it through tech inspection. With my driver gear and the stock car plus a 2lb fire extinguisher strapped to the passenger door, the car teched for up to 190mph! I think I'm going to Texas in October.
- you sure do get around! 
Sorry to see you are not doing the Gettysberg run, oh well, I will see you again, take care!
that as a used car they were much more affordable and besides I DESERVED ONE! With that, he smiled and said "Yes, you do!, Enjoy" Then he drove off and so did I, thinking how lucky I am! 
