The reason the cage was not distorted was because Gary had his truck overbuilt for the current speeds that he was running. The reason this whole thing is being discussed is because he went through the wall from what I understand. I'm not saying anything ill, but I'm waiting for a 4x4 to break a steering component and head through the wall, then we'll truly see how the weight issue plays out.

 

So by this note, I assume you folk are meeting with the Lightning Owners, the SRT Ram owners, and PerformanceTrucks.net to get the gas trucks on your side.

Perhaps a group petition to the NHRA to get them to crack down on all of us?

Somehow I don't think that would fly.

 

To the first part of your post....Gary's truck wasn't going fast enough to test the cage he had in it. And be clear, it was a full cage, not just a roll bar. The issue at hand is rolling one at "speed"...not rolling one at relatively low speeds like what happened there.
To your #3...I agree...UNTILL you put all that mass on it's roof at 120+ mph.
Sorry gentlemen....OEM's don't test these things at those speeds. Picture rolling a CC F250 up on it's side at 120 or so....them smashing into the wall roof first. The picture in my head isn't pretty.
My truck weighs 7600 lbs with me in it. Some might think a simple 6pt bar will perform the same in my truck as it will in a 3600 pound car like the spec is written for. I, for one, don't think it will.

As far as your direct post to Steve. What in the world does what he tunes or doesn't have to do with ANYTHING being discussed here ?

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And here I thought for sure I worded that in a way you couldn't twist it around into something it's not. I stand corrected.
Your theory there is so laughable I won't even dignify the accusation with a response.


On edit: I sometimes wonder if Mr. McSwain truly believes the drivel he spews. I think he might actually start these BS sessions just to get a rise out of people....troll like if you will.
Is it possible that every sanctioning body that deals with diesels specifically singles out McRat in some huge conspiracy theory to stop his so called Pro Street DMax from competing...or is it more plausible that he imagines this stuff due to lack of some form of medication ?
I have no idea....but it makes for some interesting reading....I guess.

 

 

 

the closes action the cage saw was gary gettign out of the truck after the wreck... all he has is a basic 6 or 8 point cage...

i agrees were the rules are currently at and do not need to be increase or made more stringent.

that roll/wreck never even hit the cage period....and does nto prove/warrent anything to make the rules tighter....

its funny the video the showed gary had lost control by the 330 was removed...... nto to mention he floored it after he hit the left rail....

back on topic... too many people are drinking the koolaid that we need put bars/cages in slower truck than the current standard.

the thing that need to be done is follow the current rules already set forth....... by the NHRA...

the only thing i could see puting in the truck is a remote kill switch ie like monster trucks do with a manual reset. that would have kept gary from accelerating again for what ever reason

 

So, you don't think it would have turned out a lot worse if he didn't have a cage?

 

What Gary's accident did, and rightfully so is start some discussion on current rules.
Some people take a 'wait and see' stance while others choose to be more proactive....but everyone should be able to discuss what's on their minds.

The same accident with a much better view is up on NHRDA's website and has been for days now...nobody on the planet can say what was going on inside the cab except Gary...and he doesn't remember. His helment too quite a shot during the accident.
My thoughts are that he was either dazed and didn't know he hit the throttle...or he braced himself for impact and in the heat of the moment didn't know he stabbed the throttle.....either way he didn't floor it right after he hit the left rail....he hit it just before he impacted the right rail. Either way....he was going through that raill...no doubt about it. I have to think that rolling once or twice and then clipping a light pole tested the cage at least a little bit. LOL



As for the current standard....if I remember close it's a 6 pt bar at 11.49 for about a 3600 pound car. Like I said before...I find it hard to believe a 6 pt bar will do the same job in a 7500 pound truck as it will in a 3600 pound car.....that's just my opinion though...I didn't call the NHRA hot-line or rally anyone behind me to raise the current spec.

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Here's the video we're talking about in case not everyone has seen it.

Vid


As I said before...Gary hit the throttle right when he hit the right wall.....NOT when he hit the left wall...at least in the sense of accelerating the truck. He did bump it when he hit the left wall...but 2 tires were in the air so I don't think that really counts.

 

I meant the solution to "Those Who Want Cages in Everything vs. Those Who Don't"....there can be common ground, we just need to find it. Dimplomatic debate.

Nobody does, dude. Perhaps those who "get it" need to find a way to better explain their side to those who "don't get it."


There is a lawyer out there someplace who will take your case to sue God for the tornado, too....Many people, many businesses, are afraid of lawyers. Perhaps DHRA is one of them.

Lots more cars are racing in the 12 second range than are trucks. Sooner or later it will happen, but that goes for anything.

We're all in this together.

**DISCLAIMER** I don't have a diesel drag truck, and don't particularly care for the DHRA, and also think the NHRA cage rules are good ones, but wish everyone a safe journey down the 1320, regardless of how you choose to fly it.

 

So which cage was he running?