2008 Modified Rules
1. Roll Cages:
A. Must consist of continuous hoops not less than 1.666-inch outside diameter and must have a wall thickness of at least .095.
B. Must be frame-mounted in at least six places. Roll bar padding required in driver compartment, fire retardant recommended.
C. Must consist of a configuration of front and rear hoops connected by tubing on the sides or side hoops. Driver's head must not protrude above cage with helmet on and strapped in driver's seat. Roll Cage must be securely supported, and braced. Must have a minimum of one cross bar on top halo of roll cage.
D. Low carbon, mild steel tubing is recommended. No brazing or soldering allowed.
E. Protection of feet is mandatory. Bar across back of engine with vertical bars and rub rails, or similar protection.
F. No brace bars forward of cage may be higher than stock hood height. Main cage no further forward than engine plate.
2. A minimum of three driver door bars, at least 1.5" O.D., must be as parallel with the ground as possible, and located perpendicular to the driver so as to provide maximum protection for driver, but without causing undue difficulty in getting into or out of vehicle. The side bars must be welded to the front and rear of the roll cage members. No brazing or soldering allowed. No door bars less than .083 thickness. Steel door plates, 18 gauge or .049-inch minimum thickness metal, must be securely welded to outside of door bars on driver’s side. Plate must cover the area from the top door bar to the bottom door bar and from the rear down-post to a minimum of five inches in front of the seat and strongly recommended to go forward to front down-post. Must be visible for inspection. A protective screen is required on the driver’s side of the windshield opening. At least 4 vertical braces for support of this screen are required. Minimum screen size is ½ by ½ inch openings.
3. Helmets are required and must be approved SHCA or Snell-type full coverage and should be worn at all times car is on the track. Helmets-Snell SA2000 or SA2005 recommended. Helmet must accompany vehicle at time of inspection. Seat belts must be within 3 years of manufacture date to be legal. No Y-type shoulder harnesses.
4. Firesuits of a flame-retardant nature must be worn by all competitors. Two-piece fire suits allowed. One piece suits with nomex underwear, fire resistant gloves, shoes and neck braces required.
5. Brakes must have a working caliper and rotor on all 4 wheels and must lock up all 4 wheels during inspection. No brake shut-off devices or pressure sensitive devices allowed. Proportioning valve allowed: front to rear only.
6. Exhaust system must be mounted in such a way as to direct spent gases away from cockpit of vehicle and away from areas of possible fuel spillage. Right side headers must be directed toward rear of car. No Tri-Y or stainless steel or zoomies or 180 degree headers allowed. Approved mufflers required.
7. Racing fuel cells required and must be mounted by at least two steel straps, two inches wide around cell. Fuel cells must be enclosed in metal container, and must also be protected in rear of axle by roll-cage tubing mounted securely. No part of fuel cell should be lower or wider than protective tubing. Protective tubing should be no wider than 6" on both sides of fuel cell. All lines must come out of the top of the cell. No vented caps. All return or vent lines from fuel cells must have check valves to prevent leaking in case of rollover and bladders are highly recommended. Fuel cells are limited to 32-gallon maximum capacity. Fuel cell must be a minimum of 4" ahead of rear bumper.
8. Batteries must be securely mounted and shielded. Batteries must be located within the frame rails.
9. Fuel may be either gasoline or alcohol. No nitrous oxide or oxygen bearing additives. No additives of any kind.
10. Weight Rule:
A. Minimum weight rule - 2450 pounds after race with driver, See Rule #21 (Aspiration) for weight breaks.
B. Cars may be asked to adjust weight as per official's discretion. (add or take out weight -penalties for minor rules infractions)
C. All weight must be in block form of no less than 5 pound blocks.
D. All weight must be securely fastened to frame of car with at least two 1/2" bolts, grade 5 or better, for each weight and/or 50 pound piece. No redi-rod. Stacked lead can have a maximum total weight of 50 pounds per 2 bolts.
E. Weights must be painted white and have car number on them. No weights outside of body or on bumper.
F. Loose objects and/or weights must not be used in driver's compartment or outside of the body or hood area.
11. Tires and Wheels:
A. American Racer KK-704 or SHORT (stagger) tire allowed for first 8 completed events in 2008. IMCA stamped Hoosier G60-15 will be allowed all season and will be the only tire allowed beginning with the 9th event of 2008. No grooving, siping, or softening of tires allowed. You may use sandpaper up to and including 50 grit to remove the glaze on the top layer of your tires. When you are completed with sanding your tires, the edges of the tread blocks must remain the same as the edge of the block next to it. You will only be able to create the look of a worn tire, and not something of a different tire face appearance. (Example: no wavy tread pattern or deep grinding will be allowed.) Must pass Tech Inspectors approval.
B. Only conventional unaltered steel wheels with a maximum width of 8" can be used and can not be wider than 8.75” with beadlock.. Bead locking devices are allowed on the right rear only. Foam mud plugs may only be used on bead locks.
C. Maximum overall width (front or rear) shall not exceed 78" from outside of tread to outside of tread. No wide-five wheel adapters allowed.
12. All vehicles must have the capability of starting without being pushed or pulled.
13. Frames:
A. Factory production complete full 1960 or newer parallel American passenger car frames only. Frames may be cut in rear only at point not further than 36" from center of rear end housing. No front clips or tube type allowed.
B. Frames may not be widened or narrowed and must be able to support roll cage on both sides. Must be full and complete both sides. Front cross member may be notched for radiator clearance only. Minimum frame height (and body height) from ground is 4". Exception is front crossmember.
C. Front suspension and steering must be unaltered O.E.M. and be in stock location, and must be replaceable by stock part from same type suspension. Outer tie rod end and adjustment sleeve may be replaced by a minimum .625 inch rod end and steel tube. Stock passenger car spindles only; no fabricated spindles. Bottom A-frames cannot be altered or moved. Front sway bar must be O.E.M. No aluminum or fiberglass suspension or rear end parts allowed.
D. Tube-type upper A-frames allowed and can be moved. Aluminum cross shafts allowed.
E. One steel, non-adjustable, unaltered shock per wheel. One additional shock allowed on rear suspension. No bumpers or stops. No threaded body, front coil-over, air or remote reservoir shocks. No Schrader valves. Front half may be shielded. $50 claim per shock, one or all may be claimed per event. Same procedure to be followed as engine claim (including ability to swap instead of taking money for claim). Coil over kits will not be part of claim.
F. Springs: One steel, non-progressive coil spring, and/or steel leaf spring per wheel only. One additional spring allowed on pull bar or lift bar, may be progressive. Any coil spring must be at least 4.5 inches O.D. No torsion bars or air bags.
G. Rear Suspension: Coil-overs allowed on rear. All components must be steel. No covers allowed. All trailing arms/link bars must be solid tubing. Rear of frame may be altered to accept leaf or coil springs. Steel coil-over eliminators, or steel/aluminum coil-over kits allowed – must conform to shock and spring rules. One mechanical traction bar (pull or lift, not both). Rubber bumpers allowed only on panhard bar and mechanical traction bar. No sway bar.
H. No Jeep, Bronco (etc.) or 4-wheel drive frames allowed. No sports car frames allowed. No front wheel drive allowed.
I. Rear of frame may be altered to accept leaf or coil springs; any coil spring must be at least 4-1/2 inches outside diameter. Fiberglass leaf springs allowed. No torsion bars allowed in rear.
J. No hydraulic, ratchet or electric weightjacks anywhere in or on car. No air shocks or air bags allowed.
K. Minimum wheelbase, 108 inches, both sides-No tolerance.
L. Driveshafts must be steel and painted white. No aluminum or carbon fiber drive shafts.
14. Bodies:
A. 1970 or newer American compact passenger car only (no panel vans or station wagons). Stock appearing front windshield and rear window support unit (painted roll bars not acceptable substitute).
B. Firewall and floorboards are mandatory. Floorboard must be .125 inches thick if made of aluminum or 16 gauge(.060) if made of steel and must go from firewall to front of driver’s seat. Body parts may be constructed of steel, aluminum, or fiberglass.
C. All cars should be numbered with large legible numbers on both sides, on top and rear panel. Letters on sides of car should be in contrasting color from body, be at least 4 inches thick and at least 20 inches high. Top numbers should be at least 4 inches thick and 20 inches high.
D. Sponsors' names must not interfere with car numbers and must be neatly lettered.
E. Original roofline of vehicle should be maintained. Can be steel, aluminum, or fiberglass full size roof. No wings, spoilers or any other ground effects are allowed anywhere outside or inside car. No car covers or covers on suspension parts, either on the track or in the pits. No spoilers, Exception: see Rule #21 (Aspiration).
F. Engine compartment will remain open, no side panels; hood sides may have maximum 4" drop and must be enclosed at rear of hood; bodies should extend no further forward than back of block (NOTE: Passenger side of body must be no further forward than rear of block. Rear of bodies to be solid panel at least eight inches high and include car number). No panel in front of right door to engine compartment. No inner panels.
G. Driver and passenger side windows on both sides of car must have at least 12" vertical opening. Left side window net or arm restraints mandatory.
15. Transmissions:
Must have at least two forward gears and one reverse, plus a neutral position. With engine running and car in still position, must be able to engage car in gear and move forward, then backward. OEM production type or I.M.C.A. approved after-market transmissions allowed – two-speed, three-speed, four-speed and automatic. No five speed (or more) transmissions, ‘in and out’ boxes, or quick change devices allowed. Functioning shift levers must be in OEM location on all OEM production type transmissions. All belt drive pumps must be mounted on front of engine. Note: Any belt-drive pump mounted on the transmission or bellhousing will require 25 pounds to be mounted forward of or on the motor plate and the base weight of the car increased by 25 pounds. Flexplates must be full, steel, unaltered OEM, or OEM replacement. Flywheel/flexplate must bolt to engine between clutch assembly and crankshaft and all driveline components within bellhousing must rotate while car is in any gear. Transmission must be one of the following designs:
Manual: Must have a standard OEM case and working disc-type clutch or approved cone or disc-type coupler inside an explosion-proof steel bellhousing. One flywheel only, minimum 8.5-inch diameter. Diameter of clutch disc must be a minimum of 5.5 inches. Clutch assembly must be steel, except housing, which must be steel and/or aluminum. Bellhousing can have only a hole for throwout bearing lever or hose, must be 270 degrees around top of clutch and flywheel area. Standard or reverse mount starter allowed, must directly engage flywheel.
Automatic: Must remain in OEM or OEM replacement case, with a functioning OEM appearing pump. Must have approved scatter shield. Scatter shield must be constructed of minimum of .125-inch by three-inch steel, 270 degrees around flexplate.
Aftermarket: Must be approved, aluminum case, with internal clutch. Must bolt to explosion-proof steel bellhousing, and use full, steel, unaltered OEM or OEM replacement flexplate with starter mounted in OEM location. No coatings or paint allowed on transmission case.
Aluminum housings may be used Brinn or Bert type transmissions with no weight penalty.
16. Competition shoulder harness at least 3 inches, lap belt at least 3 inches, and sub-strap are required. No factory type shoulder belts or straps should be used. Metal to metal buckles are required on shoulder and seat belts. The shoulder harness should be mounted even with or slightly above driver's shoulders. Seat belts and shoulder harness recommended not to be more than 1 year old, and can't be more than 3 years old.
17. Kill switch required within easy reach of driver. This switch must be clearly marked "off" and "on".
18. Drive shaft loop is required and must be constructed of at least 1/4" by 2" steel and should be mounted no more than 6 inches back from front of drive shaft. Drive shaft must be painted white.
19. Engines:
A. Any American make V8 engine may be used as long as rear of engine (bellhousing flange) is mounted at least 72 inches forward from the center line of rear axle. Engine offset must be kept within 2" of centerline of front crossmember. Engine height minimum will be 11 " from ground to front center of crankshaft.
B. All engines used in competition must be able to be used in conventional passenger car without alterations. Motor mounts cannot be removed or altered. Castings and fittings must not be changed. No machine work on outside of engine or on front or rear of camshaft.
C. No total "dry sump" systems allowed. "Wet" system must be operative and will go with engine if claimed.
D. Cooling system may be modified. Radiators must be mounted in front of engine and oil coolers must not protrude above interior.
E. Stock production O.E.M. or aftermarket steel heads only. (No aluminum heads)
F. Hydraulic or flat tappet cams only. Roller rocker arms are legal.
20. Bumpers:
A. Bumpers should be used both front and rear. Front bumpers should be mounted frame end-to-frame end with the bottom loop parallel to the ground. Should be made of minimum 1 1/4" tubing and must be able to support car if lifted by wrecker.
B. Rear bumpers, nerf bars and bodies must not extend beyond width of rear tires, and must not contain any sharp edges.
C. Rear bumpers may be constructed of tubing or flat stock, and must protect fuel cell. Center of bumpers (front and rear) must be 18" (plus or minus 2") from ground. Rear bumpers no more than 2" wider than body.
21. Aspiration: Any one 2-barrel or one 4-barrel carburetor with gas or alcohol. Choke horn may be removed. Carburetor must mount so that throttle shaft is perpendicular to the crankshaft. Adapter plates on 2 barrels may be no thicker than necessary to allow butterflies to clear. Cars running a 500 c.f.m. model 4412 Holley can be altered to run alcohol and will be allowed a 100 pound weight break and may run a 5”tall spoiler with 3 braces 12” long and 1” tall in the front. Must be naturally aspirated. No fuel injection, no electric fuel pumps, no magnetos. If a belt driven fuel pump is used, you must leave lobe on camshaft so a claimer may use a stock type pump on your motor. Top and bottom of air cleaner must be solid metal with no plastic other interior air flow devices.
22. Rear end:
A. Any passenger car type or truck rear end may be used; no aluminum allowed, except lowering blocks, axle caps and drive plates. No aluminum spools allowed.
B. No quick change devices allowed. No cambered rear ends (one piece drive flange only.)
23. Steering box must be O.E.M. No rack & pinion allowed. Steering box must have one bolt remaining within original bolt pattern for type of frame used. In cockpit steering may be modified to suit driver's taste, but must be kept on left side of cockpit. No center steering.
24. No transmitting or listening devices in car. No electronic monitoring computer devices capable of storing or transmitting information except tachometers allowed on cars.
25. Aluminum wheels, hubs, calipers, "A" frames or spindles, or any other aluminum suspension parts, are not allowed. Plastic wheels not allowed. Calipers cannot be lightened and must be O.E.M. Rotors cannot be lightened or drilled. Rotors may be re-drilled for different bolt pattern or larger studs.
26. No traction devices allowed, including ratchets in rear end.
27. ENGINE CLAIM
$525 cash (greenbacks) on engine, $25 of which goes to wrecker for pulling engine. In an event of a trade claim, claimor pays both wreckers fee ($50 total).
A. Claim does not include: 1. clutch, clutch ball, or clutch arm 2. pressure plate 3. bellhousing 4. headers or exhaust manifold 5. carburetor and adapter 6. starter 7. air cleaner assembly 8. power steering 9. sending units and switches for oil pressure and water temperature 10. distributor 11. plug wires 12. water pump 13. fan and pulleys 14. motor mounts 15. throwout bearing 16. dip stick 17. fuel pump 18. wire looms 19. flywheel. Claim does include oil breathers, harmonic balancer, spark plugs, and dipstick tube.
B. First four position finishers (whether running or not) are subject to engine claim by any other driver finishing fifth on back in the feature, but must be on the same lap as the fourth place car.
C. Driver making claim must drive his race car immediately after feature finishes, under its own power, directly to claiming area, after weighing, and must have his engine tech inspected and be legal. During engine removal, if claimee is found to be illegal, claim will continue and claimee will be disqualified for the event. If the claimor is found to be illegal, claim is voided and not charged against either driver with claimor being disqualified for the event. Only driver may claim engine and only driver may agree to sell or refuse, unless driver appoints crew chief or car owner in his place.
D. A driver refusing to sell engine, when claimed within the rules, loses his or her right to claim for 12 calendar months from date of refusal to sell. Decisions of NASCAR officials are final and binding.
E. Only drivers and one crewmember per car are allowed in claim area. Unauthorized persons in claim area are subject to fine and suspension.
F. Claims must be made within 5 minutes of time when all of the top 4 finishers have entered the claim area.
G. If no driver 5th on back makes a legal claim by the end of the 5 minute period, then within the next 2 minutes, the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th place drivers may claim ahead.
H. Claimee has 3 minutes to make his decision whether to sell or refuse. At the end of 3 minutes, if no decision has been made, then it will constitute a refusal to sell.
I. Driver making a claim must stay away from car being claimed. Go directly to official and state intention to claim. Driver being claimed may ask to see claimer's engine and ask him to start it before deciding whether to trade or take the money.
J. Once an engine claim has been made and accepted, the engines are not to be started under any circumstances. Both cars are to be pushed to the area where removals will take place. (in the case of a sell with no trade, only claimed car must be pushed) If the claimed driver starts his engine, the penalty will be the same as a refusal of the claim. If the driver doing the claiming starts his engine, the claim will be disallowed. All claimed engines must be removed from car at the track; buyer must examine engine before removal--once removal is started, sale is final.
K. Claim is in effect on opening night for all eligible drivers who competed in at least 2/3 of the events the previous year, and driver must have been at track on opening night, plus competed in at least 2/3rd of the event the previous year to be eligible to claim second night of season. Following that, no driver may claim unless he/she has competed at that track the two previous consecutive events and competed in at least ½ of the events of that season. (Example: If claiming on July 17th, must have been in competition July 3rd and July 10th, and if that is the 10th night of the year, competed in at least 5 events for the season.)
L. Claims must be made to a Tech inspector and $525 must accompany the declaration of intention to claim. . If two drivers claim the same engine, a drawing will be held to determine the eligible claimor. If three or more drivers claim the same engine, the claim will automatically become a promoters claim. All claimors will place a sealed bid of the price over and above $525 that they are willing to bid for the engine. The highest bidder will become the eligible claimor. At that point, the claimee can choose to take the $525 or swap engines with the claimor. All money over and above the $525 will go into the class year-end point fund.
M. The first decision to sell or not sell by claimed driver is binding.
N. Refusal to sell forfeits all points, cash, trophies and contingency winnings earned in that A feature, and no non-qualifiers money will be paid. First refusal to sell will result in suspension for the next two completed race events and $500 fine must be paid before returning. Second, third, and etc. refusal to sell will result in suspension for next 4 completed events and $1000 fine.
0. Any driver found to be claiming an engine for anyone but himself will be suspended from ACS events for 14 days and until a $300 cash fine is paid.
P. Any sabotage to a claimed engine will result in the saboteur being banished from further ACS competition for 30 days and until a $500 fine is paid. The claim will be disallowed and money returned to the claimer.
Q. Anyone owning more than one car may not claim if one of his cars finishes in the top four places.
R. Any driver using any device which is intended to deceive other drivers including, but not limited to, devices which squirt oil into or onto engine which gives outward appearance of "blown" engine will be subject to the following penalties: forfeiture of all money, points, trophies, and contingency winnings earned in that event, suspension from events for next 2 completed regular point race nights and until a $300 cash fine is paid.
S. No driver may claim more than two engines or shocks or combinations thereof during a racing season.
T. No one driver may claim any other one driver more than once during current calendar year. A refusal to sell does not constitute a completed claim.
U. Driver of claimed engine has option to trade engine with claimer in lieu of money.
V. Driver doing the claiming must have claimed engine in his car the next time he or she returns to race. In the event that the claimed engine is blown at another track, bring the parts as evidence.
W. Promoter reserves the right to claim any engine, regardless of finish position. If claim is completed, engine will be auctioned and sealed bids will be taken. Claimee will receive $500 and wrecker pulling engine will receive $25. Claimee may pull his own engine and receive the $25 pulling fee. All money received in the highest bid exceeding $525 will be put into the modified point fund. All drivers registered to compete on that night of racing will be eligible to bid (including claimee).
Changes or clarifications of rules from last year are printed in red.