2018 fastrak rules update – new shock/suspension rules

[Kromulous]

Interesting rules for 2018 for the Crates, bleed over to Supers ?

FASTRAK SHOCK AND SUSPENSION RULES FOR 2018
-No bumps, external or internal
-No air shocks
-Shocks must fully compress by hand (200 lbs max to compress)
-One spring per corner
-Spring must be magnetic material
-1 spring rubber per wheel only
-One shock per wheel
-Dummy shock allowed on LR
-Deck Max 39 inch maximum/38 inch minimum – measured from middle of t bar to ground
-No springs of exotic materials
-No progressive springs
-One standard “take up” spring per wheel. No air, pneumatic, etc allowed. (30 lbs pressure max)
-Must come through pre race tech without shock covers
-Top 5 can protest and back protest and/or claim

(CLAIM RULE):
Shock Claim: $800 per corner
Spring Claim: $100 per corner

(PENALTIES):
1) Refuse tech – no points for that event, lost all monies – 30 day suspension

2) Refuse claim- no points for that event, loss of all monies – 30 day suspension

[Josh Bayko]

Might have trouble getting cars in areas were there are other options available to race crates.

[Switchback29A1]

They gonna change the name to IROC dirt?

[MasterSbilt_Racer]

Supers have a body problem. Maybe a tire problem. These rules are silly and gonna cost some money and late nights.

[Kromulous]

Costs money dialing it back away from stacks, and air shocks?

[MasterSbilt_Racer]

Costs money dialing it back away from stacks, and air shocks?

Yes. You know it works. You are not gonna give up the attitude. Custom springs, custom springs rubbers, creative control arms, all very expensive.

[tsand]

How is it more expensive if you think your getting out run by customs shocks and springs all you have to do is claim them. Nesmith has had a shock rule for a couple of years and it hasn't hurt them.

[MasterSbilt_Racer]

How is it more expensive if you think your getting out run by customs shocks and springs all you have to do is claim them. Nesmith has had a shock rule for a couple of years and it hasn't hurt them.

Smart people are gonna get outside the box and won't slow down. If you are getting beat by readily available pieces, go get them.

[DV8]

They should remove spring rubbers as well. Seems you could game those as a bump.

[Nobody]

I guess the shock companies didn't buy fastrak's extortion on having to pay to be a legal shock manufacturer thus there isn't a spec shock.

They were taking bids to be the exclusive shock manufacturer or you had to pay five figures to be included as a legal shock. They gave the shot companies about 30 days to submit a bid and if you didn't put in a bid then they took it as you didn't want to be a part of it. It was very aggressive and very odd and pissed off a lot of the shock. I know at least one of them talked to legal counsel about it.

[a25rjr]

Im surprised a major shock company hasn't made a deal to build shocks for a crate series like this.

One size fits all where they have serial numbers and can be sent back for a nominal fee if they get damaged or have a component failure.

[Matt49]

Why don't they just supply the cars and drivers will pick one when they get to the track? That's the direction we're heading with all of this nonsense. People fear what they don't understand. Then come up with money as an excuse to make a rule against it that will ultimately cost MORE money. The level of stupidity at the top of these sanctioning bodies never ceases to amaze me. Thank god when Fastrak tried to take over in Indiana we ran them out of town. Crate late models around here are just that. A late model with a crate motor. Now everybody wants to dumb the crate late model class down to a street stock. Leaf springs will be mandatory next year I guess.

[dirtcrazy4u]

No air shocks ? Hummmm, all those brand shiny new XR -1's without the shock.

[Kromulous]

I notice in the South they have a 602 class, maybe these kind of rules would be well suited for that?

To be honest i like the rules to start out, not to dial back too.

[tb1545]

The new Cash money series in missouri,oklahoma,kansas,arkansas has very similar rules with open motors, believe they are going to have a spec shock too. Really not a bad idea in my opinion. Hopefully more guys think they can compete again and help increase car counts.

[Matt49]

The new Cash money series in missouri,oklahoma,kansas,arkansas has very similar rules with open motors, believe they are going to have a spec shock too. Really not a bad idea in my opinion. Hopefully more guys think they can compete again and help increase car counts.

And that's exactly the fallacy of it all. More guys will THINK they can compete when in reality it isn't money that is beating them. It's lack of knowledge and talent. The only way that you'll possibly get new blood at the top with dumb rules like this is when people that are up front quit because they are tired or rules making innovation and intelligence four-letter words.
Everybody is entitled to their own opinion but trends cant' be denied. The more rules you add and dumb down the cars, the closer it gets to NASCAR. And anybody that hasn't been living under a rock for the last 30 years knows that NASCAR is a VERY expensive yet sh!tty product.

[hucktyson]

These rules don't go far enough , spring rubbers shouldn't be allowed , there should be a minimum RF spring rate and the shock claim should be 300 not 800. Matt 49 all you people with your NASCAR comparisons are wrong , engineers will not completely own dirt racing due to the enormous amount of factors beyond their control AND there isn't enough money in the sport to keep them interested very long. Drastically changing track conditions , a cushion , big holes , mud covered visors etc etc etc all make it impossible for an engineer to completely control the situation

[MasterSbilt_Racer]

These rules don't go far enough , spring rubbers shouldn't be allowed , there should be a minimum RF spring rate and the shock claim should be 300 not 800. Matt 49 all you people with your NASCAR comparisons are wrong , engineers will not completely own dirt racing due to the enormous amount of factors beyond their control AND there isn't enough money in the sport to keep them interested very long. Drastically changing track conditions , a cushion , big holes , mud covered visors etc etc etc all make it impossible for an engineer to completely control the situation

It only takes one engineer with hobby interest in the sport or owning a car to make a joke of Cash Money series or this deal.

[Matt49]

These rules don't go far enough , spring rubbers shouldn't be allowed , there should be a minimum RF spring rate and the shock claim should be 300 not 800. Matt 49 all you people with your NASCAR comparisons are wrong , engineers will not completely own dirt racing due to the enormous amount of factors beyond their control AND there isn't enough money in the sport to keep them interested very long. Drastically changing track conditions , a cushion , big holes , mud covered visors etc etc etc all make it impossible for an engineer to completely control the situation

If you want to race a street stock, buy a street stock. And the comparisons to NASCAR are quite valid. It's already happening yet many are just too blind to see it. Follow the money.
The minute you get people that have never owned or built race cars making the rules, you're on your way to a sad excuse for racing. And that is exactly what is happening to dirt late models at almost every level.

[hucktyson]

Matt bob pierce who has been around racing for 50 years and put a a car on the track that won 3 Crown Jewels in the last 2 years along with dozens of races basically folded his team because he felt that even with a world class wheel man they couldn't stay competitive with the new technology. Bobby is 2-3 times the driver of most of the people he races against ... this tells me a problem exists. If tracks were perfectly smooth and consistent with no holes , no cushions , no weather changes , no BS inverts etc etc I agree narrowing the parameters could cause a problem but those conditions simply don't exist, the cars still have an insane amount of adjustments they aren't talking about limiting.