2018 Late Model Rules

[FlatTire]

Anybody know what changes are coming for 2018 Lucas Oil/WoO? Haven't seen anything official yet.

[TheJet-09]

2018 DirtCar rules are online:

https://docs.google.com/viewerng/viewer?url=http://www.dirtcarump.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/2018WoOandDIRTcarLMRules.pdf&hl=en_US

In a nutshell, I see you have to have an intrusion plate now, and if you have a 39.2 seat you get a 25 lb. weight break.

I haven't seen the LOLMDS rules online yet, but "heard" something about the seat rule being in effect at some point during the season, then getting a number of "grace period weekends" to conform. But I by no means could explain it.

[billetbirdcage]

2018 DirtCar rules are online:

https://docs.google.com/viewerng/viewer?url=http://www.dirtcarump.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/2018WoOandDIRTcarLMRules.pdf&hl=en_US

In a nutshell, I see you have to have an intrusion plate now, and if you have a 39.2 seat you get a 25 lb. weight break.

I haven't seen the LOLMDS rules online yet, but "heard" something about the seat rule being in effect at some point during the season, then getting a number of "grace period weekends" to conform. But I by no means could explain it.

Without searching: the seat is mandatory around august of 2018 and IIRC you get to run 3 races a year without one, so if you just want to hit a couple Lucas races a year you can without having to buy a 1500.00+ seat.

[MBR Performance]

They claim to be concerned with the escalating prices of the sport yet they keep mandating unnecessary items. The seats we have now are more than enough.

[TheJet-09]

Check out this video regarding a new rule for the 2018 Southern Nationals Series:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xAduiR4mzU&feature=youtu.be

Kudos to Ray Cook! He's definitely putting it out there and not leaving much room for "interpretation." I do believe I experienced what he's talking about. A couple of years ago I tried a very soft RF, and during the feature I barely got bumped in the LR going into the corner. Up on my side I went! The only thing that saved me (I think) was our corner speeds were fairly slow, and the banking of the track sort of stopped the car from going over as I slowly fell back onto all four. The force was enough to shear the RR top shock bolt and bend the right side frame rail.

Having said that, isn't there something that will need to be done/restricted on the RF as well to keep the LR from getting too high?

[billetbirdcage]

Check out this video regarding a new rule for the 2018 Southern Nationals Series:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xAduiR4mzU&feature=youtu.be

Kudos to Ray Cook! He's definitely putting it out there and not leaving much room for "interpretation." I do believe I experienced what he's talking about. A couple of years ago I tried a very soft RF, and during the feature I barely got bumped in the LR going into the corner. Up on my side I went! The only thing that saved me (I think) was our corner speeds were fairly slow, and the banking of the track sort of stopped the car from going over as I slowly fell back onto all four. The force was enough to shear the RR top shock bolt and bend the right side frame rail.

Having said that, isn't there something that will need to be done/restricted on the RF as well to keep the LR from getting too high?

There is plenty of ways around his rule, so it all boils down to how well they enforce or update the rule. As always he who thinks of ways around the rule first, will have the advantage until/if they update the rule.

How long after the feature are they gonna wait before checking? I can see this being a nightmare and a ton of bitching going on. Lets say I have a ton of low speed rebound in my RF, depending on how long they wait to check the LR my height will vary a ton. Basically if I set my LR like ray shows in his video without the RF compressed at all, when the RF compresses from racing the LR will raise so if they check right after the feature and my RF is still compressed some I'll be illegal. They need to figure out something there or there will be tons of confusion and complaining during the tech session.

Not saying it can't work, but they are gonna need some more rules and specs then what the video leads you to believe.

[FlatTire]

That Ray Cook/Southern Nationals tech rule is a very poor procedure. So much room for discrepancies, errors, loop holes, poor accuracy, poor repeatability. Its worse than checking valve springs with a Moroso lever tool.

[MasterSbilt_Racer]

There is plenty of ways around his rule, so it all boils down to how well they enforce or update the rule. As always he who thinks of ways around the rule first, will have the advantage until/if they update the rule.

How long after the feature are they gonna wait before checking? I can see this being a nightmare and a ton of bitching going on. Lets say I have a ton of low speed rebound in my RF, depending on how long they wait to check the LR my height will vary a ton. Basically if I set my LR like ray shows in his video without the RF compressed at all, when the RF compresses from racing the LR will raise so if they check right after the feature and my RF is still compressed some I'll be illegal. They need to figure out something there or there will be tons of confusion and complaining during the tech session.

Not saying it can't work, but they are gonna need some more rules and specs then what the video leads you to believe.

Lifting discrepancies too. How will they jack up an over rail car? Chain near pumpkin vs chain near rotor will result in way different on track hike. etc, etc

[zerolm]

What he is saying is, limit droop with chain, cable, underslung block, your grandmas underwear, we don't care. Hook the chain to the bell, or to the brake caliper if you want, we don't care. All we want is for the left rear deck not to be higher than this measurement when the LR comes off of the ground with six pounds in it. So you can move your droop limiters to 70 different spots if you want, as long as the deck only comes up this much on the racetrack. If there is an overslung car I am sure they can jack on the bumper, etc. It is actually a pretty effective way to measure dynamic deck height in my humble opinion.

[MasterSbilt_Racer]

What he is saying is, limit droop with chain, cable, underslung block, your grandmas underwear, we don't care. Hook the chain to the bell, or to the brake caliper if you want, we don't care. All we want is for the left rear deck not to be higher than this measurement when the LR comes off of the ground with six pounds in it. So you can move your droop limiters to 70 different spots if you want, as long as the deck only comes up this much on the racetrack. If there is an overslung car I am sure they can jack on the bumper, etc. It is actually a pretty effective way to measure dynamic deck height in my humble opinion.

The on track performance vs lifting with a jack can be the same or very different depending on the variables you just shrugged off. Lifting point on the car will make a difference as well.

[zerolm]

I agree jacking point can make a difference they will have to figure out how to pick it up in a very similar place everytime, and I agree that where you limit the droop on a housing makes a difference as well. My point is that apparently they are not concerned with where the limiter is located. They are just trying to limit the LR deck height on the track.

[fastford]

so basically , you could leave your set up alone , jack the car up the way they want you to and set the deck to the correct height ?

[MasterSbilt_Racer]

so basically , you could leave your set up alone , jack the car up the way they want you to and set the deck to the correct height ?

The full rules amendment says deck must be between 37 and 39" from ground by old method.

[7uptruckracer]

Already Making a list of ways around it!

[stock car driver]

seems like they would measure from axle tube to the chassis or deck at rest and then jacked up, to me that would be measuring the hike.

the issue is for the tech guys there would be MATH involved every time and reading a tape measure... yikes