Modifieds

Modified Rules

El Paso County Speedway Modified

2008 MODIFIED RULES

(New Rules are highlighted with bold/italicized print are in yellow)

1. SAFETY EQUIPMENT: Rules apply at all times car is on track. Snell rated SA2000 or SA2005 helmet required. Roll bar padding required in driver compartment (Fire retardant recommended). SFI-approved full fire suit required. Fire retardant neck brace, gloves and shoes required. Recommended: Fire retardant head sock and underwear; head and neck restraints; collapsible steering shaft. Driver-side window net required, minimum 16"x20" ribbon or mesh style, and must be mounted so latch is at top front of window. Minimum three-inch wide, five point safety belt assembly required (Y-type shoulder harness not allowed), must be mounted securely to roll cage, cannot be no more than three years old. Must have original manufacturers label attached and readable. Kill switch required within easy reach of driver and must be clearly marked ‘OFF’ and ‘ON’.

2. FRAME: 1964 or newer OEM perimeter American rear-wheel drive passenger car frame only. No sports car frames. Frame must be full and complete, cannot be widened or narrowed, and must be able to support roll cage on both sides, exceptions are: weight jack in original center line of spring tower allowed; frame may be cut a maximum 36 inches forward from center of rear end housing; horns may be removed in front of steering box; front cross member may be notched and boxed for radiator and/or steering clearance; maximum seven-inch wide opening in side of spring tower for spring removal. Maximum two inch wide by four inch tall frame stiffener may be welded directly to outside of left side frame rail. Minimum wheelbase 108 inches, maximum 112 inches, both sides. Maximum overall width (front or rear) shall not exceed 78 inches from outside of tire to outside of tire. No part of frame can be lower than four inches from ground except front cross member.

3. ROLL CAGE: Must consist of continuous hoops, minimum 1.75 inch O.D. tubing, with a minimum wall thickness of .095 inch for main cage, frame-mounted in at least six places, low carbon or mild steel recommended. Must consist of a configuration of front, rear and top hoops connected by tubing on sides or side hoops. Driver’s head must not protrude outside cage with helmet on. Roll cage must be securely supported and braced with minimum one cross bar in top halo. Foot protection bar required. Main cage no further forward than rear of engine. All bars forward of cage must be lower than hood.

4. DOOR BARS: All driver side door bars and uprights must be minimum 1.5 inch O.D. and .083 inch wall thickness. Minimum three driver side door bars, parallel to ground and perpendicular to driver, and welded to front and rear of roll cage. Passenger side must have at least one cross door bar, horizontal or angled, minimum 1.25 inch O.D. and .083 inch wall thickness, and one top door bar, minimum 1.5 inch O.D. and .083 inch wall thickness. Steel door plate, 18 gauge or .049 inch minimum thickness, must be securely welded to outside of driver side door bars and cover area from top door bar to bottom door bar and from rear hoop down-post to five inches in front of seat. Must be visible for inspection.

5. BODY: (See diagram) Must be same width, front to rear, and parallel to OEM frame. Engine compartment must remain open (no side panels). Hood must be enclosed at rear. No panel in front of right door to engine compartment. No inner panels. No car covers. Must have front windshield and rear window support posts. Driver and passenger side windows must have at least 12 inch opening (height and width), measured at center of window, between lowest point at top of window, whether roof or roll cage, and highest point at bottom of window, whether interior or body. May use Lexan in sail panels. May use full windshield. Must be fiberglass full size roof, rounded down in all directions. No wings or spoilers. Maximum four-inch plastic skirting allowed on bottom of doors and quarters. No reflective doors or quarter panels. Outside of tires must be widest part of car.

6. DRIVER COMPARTMENT: Must have minimum three windshield bars in front of driver. Lexan or aluminum cowl panel in front of driver can be no wider than cockpit and no farther back than steering wheel. Minimum .125 inch aluminum, or .060 inch steel, complete floor pan required. Aluminum high-back seat only and must be bolted in, using minimum 0.375-inch bolts, next to left side frame rail and ahead of rear tires. Bottom of seat can be no lower than bottom of frame rail. Driver must be sealed off from track, driveline, engine, fuel cell, cannisters and pumps. Oil coolers must not protrude above interior. Accumulators cannot be mounted between driver and left-side door bars. No driver-adjustable devices allowed while car is in competition except brake adjuster. No mirrors of any kind.

7. FRONT SUSPENSION: All components must be steel, unaltered OEM, in OEM location, and replaceable by OEM parts, exceptions are: tube-type upper A-frames with or without aluminum or steel cross shaft, and mounts can be moved; stamped steel OEM replacement lower A-frames; rubber, nylon or steel lower A-frame bushings, no offset or bearing type; welded or bolted shock mount on lower A-frame. Lower A-frames must be right and left, and of same design. Lower A-frame mounts and bolt holes on frame must be in OEM location. OEM ball joints only. Sway bar must be unaltered OEM.

8. STEERING: No rack and pinion. All components must be steel, unaltered OEM, in OEM location, exceptions are: outer tie rod end and adjustment sleeve may be replaced by a minimum .625 inch steel rod end and steel tube; spindles can be ground for brake caliper clearance only; unaltered, OEM replacement Pinto spindles with raised cast; bolt on spindle savers allowed; steel steering shafts and knuckles only; steering quickener, steering wheel and quick release may be aluminum; driver compartment steering may be modified, must be kept on left side. Spindles must be right and left, and of same design. Idler arm, pitman arm, and center link must match frame.

9. SHOCKS: One steel, nonadjustable, unaltered shock per wheel. One additional shock allowed in lift- or pull-bar area. No bumpers or stops. No threaded body, front coil-over, air, or remote reservoir shocks. No Schrader or gas refill ports. Front half may be shielded. One or all shocks may be claimed per event for $50 each, counting as one claim on card, following shock claim procedures (see rule book).

10. SPRINGS: One steel, non-progressive coil spring per wheel only. Steel or composite leaf spring allowed. 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.

11. REAR SUSPENSION: No independent rear suspension. 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 or 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. No chains, cables or tethers (except on front of lift bar). Minimum 19 inch long panhard bar, measured straight line, center to center.

12. REAR END: Any steel approved OEM passenger car or truck rear end (housing and carrier) allowed. Safety hubs (floater) allowed. All components must be steel, except lowering blocks, axle cap, drive flange. Inspection hole required in housing. Full steel spool, steel mini spool or welded rear ends only. Steel axles only. No quick change devices, or cambered rear ends. One piece drive flange only. No torque dividing differentials. No scalloped ring gears.

13. BUMPERS: (See diagram) Steel bumpers must be on front and rear at all times and welded, or mounted with minimum .375 inch bolts. Must be minimum 1.25 inch O.D. tubing, .065 wall thickness on front - .095 wall thickness on rear. Two-bar front bumper must be mounted frame-end to frame-end, no wider than width of material outside frame horns and with bottom loop parallel to ground. Top bar must be directly above bottom bar, minimum 6.5 inches apart, measured center to center.

14. TIRES/WHEELS: Must use unaltered Hoosier Race tire G60-15 (IMCA type), or American Racer –15 (old IMCA type). No softening, conditioning, siping or grooving of tires (see rule book for automatic penalties). No re-caps. All wheels must display white ‘IMCA approved’ decal and wheel manufacturer decal. Aluminum or steel spacers only. May use IMCA approved bead lock, on right rear only. External, steel bead lock only and it cannot make wheel any narrower than 8 inches and no wider than 8.75 inches. Must use only steel bolts. One foam type or plastic mud cap allowed on right rear only. Rim-mounted bleeder valves allowed.

15. BRAKES: Must be steel approved OEM, operative four wheel, drum or disc. Must maintain minimum OEM dimensions for hubs/rotors and calipers, cannot be lightened. Bolt pattern may be changed. Larger studs allowed. Rear rotors may be aftermarket, minimum .810 inch thickness. Vented rotors only, no scalloped rotors. No brake shut-off or pressure sensitive devices. One proportioning device allowed, front to rear only. Brake lines must be visible.

16. EXHAUST: Round tube headers only. All primary header tubes must enter directly into one collector, at same point, at end of header. Mufflers must be used for noise reduction of 95 dB or less. All exhaust must go through mufflers, two per car, one per header. No exhaust sensors. If side exit headers are used, a 90 degree elbow must be used to turn exhaust down or back. Preferred - would be to have right side exhaust turn and remain inside body and exit rearwards, or down and out (for additional noise reduction).

17. FUEL SYSTEM: Mechanical or belt driven fuel pump only and must be mounted at front of engine. Racing fuel cell required, maximum 32 gallon capacity, must be in minimum 18 gauge steel container. Cell must be securely mounted behind rear axle, between rear tires, minimum of four inches ahead of bumper, minimum of ten inches above ground. Must mount with minimum two solid steel straps around entire cell, two inches wide and .125 inch thick. All cell mounts must be steel, securely welded to frame/cage. Protective tubing must cover rear and extend past both sides of cell. No part of cell shall be lower than protective tubing. Fuel cell vents, including cap vent, must have check valves. Pick-up must be on top or right side of cell. Limit of one fuel filter. No cool cans. Air cleaner top/stud cannot direct air into carburetor. No top flow air cleaner housings. One naturally aspirated two- or four-barrel carburetor only. No adjustable throttle bore carburetor spacers.

18. FUEL: Gasoline or alcohol. Racing fuel allowed. NO performance-enhancing additives. Upper cylinder lube allowed with alcohol only. (See rule book for automatic penalties).

19. WEIGHT: Minimum weight limit of 2,450 pounds, no tolerance, after race with driver in car. No weights and/or loose objects in driver compartment or outside body. Weights must be securely mounted to frame or roll cage and painted white with car number on it. Must be attached with at least two .5 inch bolts. No titanium, magnesium or carbon fiber products. No gun-drilled, tubular, hollow bolts or studs. Steel fasteners only.

20. BATTERY/STARTER: One 12 volt battery only, must be securely mounted between frame rails, and positive terminal must be covered. Car must have capability of starting without being pushed or pulled. Car must leave initial staging area on demand, unaided, or go to rear of that race. Reverse-mount starters with OEM case transmissions only, see transmission rules for specifics.

21. GAUGES/ELECTRONICS: No transmitting or listening devices, timing retard controls, or digital gauges (including tach). No electronic monitoring computer devices capable of storing or transmitting information except analog tach. No adjustable ignition control boxes. One 12 volt ignition box allowed, must be out of driver’s reach. No additional ignition accessories allowed. Only change allowed to ignition box is one high-end rev-limiter setting. This setting can be changed through one chip only, or an internal setting inside box. No magnetos. No electronic traction control devices (see rule book for automatic penalties).

22. TRANSMISSION/DRIVESHAFT: 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 IMCA approved aftermarket 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. 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:
        OEM 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. Aluminum OEM bellhousing may be replaced with aftermarket explosion-proof aluminum bellhousing. Original OEM bellhousing must have approved scattershield constructed of minimum .125-inch by three-inch steel, 270 degrees around flexplate.
        Aftermarket Manual: Must be IMCA 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.
        Drive Shaft: Minimum two inch diameter steel drive shaft and must be painted white. Steel slip-yokes only. 360-degree drive shaft loop required and must be constructed of at least .25 inch by two inch steel, or one inch tubing, mounted six inches back from front U-joint.

23. ENGINE COMPARTMENT: Rear of engine (bellhousing flange) must be mounted at least 72 inches forward from centerline of rear axle. Engine offset must be kept within two inches of centerline of front crossmember with engine level. Minimum 11 inch engine height from ground to center of crankshaft. Radiator must be mounted in front of engine. Cooling system may be modified. Overflow tubes must be directed to ground between frame rails.

24. ENGINE SPECIFICATIONS: Any American make engine allowed. Steel heads, block and oil pan only. OEM passenger vehicle production block only. No GM Bowtie, Ford SVO or Chrysler W blocks. Flat tappet cam/lifters and stud-mounted rocker arms only. No stud girdles. No mushroom lifters, cannot alter lifter bores. OEM firing order cannot be changed. No crank triggers. All engines must be able to be used in conventional passenger car without alterations. Engine mounts cannot be removed or altered. Castings and fittings must not be changed. No machine work on outside of engine. All belt driven accessories must be on front of engine. ‘Wet’ sump oiling system only. External oil pumps go with engine if claimed.

25. Engine Swap: Any driver finishing on the same lap as the leader, may buy any one of the top four (4) finishing cars engine for $1000, plus a swap of their engine. This must be completed immediately following the feature event, in the tech area, or at the scales. This does not include carburetor, water pump, pulleys, starter, clutch, transmission or attached accessories. Claimer must utilize that purchased engine in their car at their next attended event. Only one engine can be claimed and one sold per driver/owner per racing season.

26: Penalties:

Failure to sell engine – Disqualification for the evenings results. Owner/driver receives no points and no money. Owner/driver will be suspended for the next two event.

Failure to proceed directly to tech area/scales – Disqualification for the feature. Owner/driver receives no points and no money.

Illegal carburetor/parts – Illegal part will be confiscated. Owner/driver will be disqualified and receive no points and no money. If owner/driver refuses to relinquish illegal part, they will suspended for the next two events.

Illegal fuel or additives – Disqualification for the evenings results. Owner/driver receives no points and no money. Owner/driver will be suspended for the next two event.

Failure to utilize swapped engine - Engine claiming owner/drivers car will be inspected before next event for utilization of swapped engine. Competitor will not be allowed to compete until engine is installed.

27. POINT STRUCTURE/PROCEDURES: Refer to Official 2007 El Paso County Speedway Rules, or visit www.elpasocountyspeedway.com.

28. Except in rare instances -- Decisions of El Paso County Speedway Officials are final and binding without exception. In some cases, track safety rules may take precedence.