Formula Drift 2011 Rule Changes?

[chris2low]

im looking at the formula drift , rule booke for 2010 and i am wondering if there are any new rules or better ways to do some things? for 2011 ? thanks

have a happy new year

[Bebop]

Weight to tire ratio is just about the only thing...google it or source a rulebook.

Cage is a little lax...now as well

[chris2low]

yeah i heard about the weight to tire ratio making it understandable ..
i also heard X doors are suppose to be ran instead of step doors.

[techtrix]

from the 2011 FD rule book. Happy new year!

7.4.11 Side Protection:
All cars shall have a minimum of two (2) door bars across each front door opening. The door bars may run parallel, or in the shape of an “X”. If the two door bars do not intersect as they do when forming an “X”, then a minimum of two vertical tube sections shall connect the upper and lower door bars. Teams may also choose to install a second row of double horizontal door bars that run parallel to the inner bars and extend into the outer door skin, these are also known as “NASCAR-STYLE” bars. In this configuration, the outer bars must also have a minimum of two (2) vertical tube sections connecting the upper and lower bars. The inner door panel and door internals may be removed.

[Justin Banner]

**Jeff Jones posted the door bar portion before I could finish editing. Here's the whole rule section on roll cages.**

Formula Drift Professional Drifting
2011 Rules and Regulations
25 Version 1.0 11/15/2010

7.4 ROLL CAGES
Roll cages are required.

7.4.1 BASIC DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

A. The basic purpose of the roll cage is to protect the occupant if the car turns over, runs into an obstacle, or is struck by another car. It shall be designed to withstand compression forces from the weight of the car coming down on the rollover structure and to take fore/aft and lateral loads resulting from the car skidding along on its rollover structure.

B. Forward braces and portions of the main hoop subject to contact by the occupant’s helmet (as seated normally and restrained by seatbelt/shoulder harness) shall be padded with non-resilient material. Ethafoam® or Ensolite®, or other similar material with a minimum thickness of one-half (1/2) inch and conforming to SFI spec 45.1 is required

7.4.2 General Construction
All roll cages must be based on a single Main Hoop of one (1) continuous length of tubing with smooth continuous bends and no evidence of crimping or wall failure. The radius of bends in the roll cage hoop (measured at centerline of tubing) shall not be less than three (3) times the diameter of the tubing.

Welding shall conform to American Welding Society D1.1:2002, Structural Welding Code, Steel Chapter 10, Tubular Structures. Whenever D1.1 refers to “the Engineer” this shall be interpreted to be the owner of the vehicle. Welds shall be continuous around the entire tubular structure. All welds shall be visually inspected and shall be acceptable if the following conditions are satisfied:
1. The weld shall have no cracks.

2. Thorough fusion shall exist between weld metal and base metal.

3. All craters shall be filled to the cross section of the weld.

4. Undercut shall be no more than 0.01 inch deep.
Aluminum bronze or silicon bronze welding technique is permitted, but extreme care shall be used in preparation of parts before bronze welding and in the design of the attaching joints.
No portion of the cage may permeate the firewall and shall be fully contained within the occupant’s compartment.

7.4.3 Roll Cage Material
Seamless SAE 1020 or 1025, etc. mild steel tubing (DOM) is the preferred material for Roll Cage construction. Please contact FORMULA DRIFT for approval if any alloy material will be used. An approved supplier MUST construct alloy steel cages. ERW tubing is not permitted.

7.4.4 Tubing Size
Roll Cage tubing must conform to the table below and is determined by the vehicle weight as raced without fuel and driver. The minus tolerance for wall thickness should not be less than .010" below the nominal thickness.
Vehicle Weight Alloy or DOM O.D. x wall thickness (inches)
Up to 3500 lbs
1.500 x .095
Vehicles weighing over 3500 lbs. must petition FORMULA D for approval of the roll cage prior to entering an EVENT.

7.4.5 Inspection Hole:
An inspection hole at least 3/16 inch diameter, but no greater than 1/4 inch diameter, shall be drilled in a non-critical area of all tubes to facilitate verification of wall thickness.

7.4.6 Main Hoop:
The main roll hoop (behind the driver) shall extend the full width of the driver/passenger compartment and shall be as near the roof as possible with a maximum of 4 bends, totaling 180 degrees ± 10degrees.
The roll cage Main Hoop should start from the floor of the car and be attached to the chassis/unibody via base plates as described in 7.4.12.

The Main Hoop shall incorporate:
A diagonal lateral brace of tubing equal to the roll bar to prevent lateral distortion of the hoop. This brace must attach to the driver side upper corner of the main hoop, not more than six (6) inches from the radius, and to the opposing leg, not more than six (6) inches from the base plate.
A horizontal brace of a tubing equal to the roll bar, installed behind the drivers seat. This tube shall be no higher than shoulder height and continue the full width of the main hoop, attached to both legs. Either the diagonal brace or the horizontal brace must be one continuous piece of tube, with the other attaching to it.
Any number of additional reinforcing bars, gussets or supports is permitted within the structure of the cage.

7.4.7 Front/Side Hoops:
The front hoops, side hoops, or down tubes shall begin at the floor.

Several configurations are allowed:
Side Hoop Configuration: Side Hoops connect directly from the floor of the occupant’s compartment and continue, in one piece, to connect to the Main Hoop. If Side Hoops are used, they are to be connected together by a single horizontal tube across the top of the windshield with a maximum of 4 bends totaling 90 degrees ± 10 degrees.
Front Hoop Configuration: A front hoop connected to the floor on both sides of the occupant compartment and following the line of the front pillars in one continuous piece may be used. A front hoop must be connected at the top by horizontal bars running back to the main hoop on each side, above the doors with a maximum of 4 bends, totaling 180 degrees ± 10degrees.

HALO Configuration: A top “halo” hoop following the roof line in one continuous piece from each side of the main hoop along the tops of the doors and windshield. A HALO must be connected to the floor with forward “down tubes” following the line of the front pillars with a maximum of 4 bends, totaling 180 degrees ± 10degrees and a maximum of 2 bends allowed on the down tubes.
The front, side or down hoops may extend through the dash pad, including the forward part of the door panel if it is an extension of the dash panel.
One (1) “Knee” bar is recommended in a horizontal plane between forward cage braces in the dash area for all configurations.

7.4.8 Rear Hoop Supports:
The main roll hoop shall have two braces extending to the rear attaching to the frame or chassis. Braces shall be attached as near as possible to the top of the main hoop not more than six (6) inches below the top and at an included angle of at least thirty (30) degrees. No bends are allowed on rear braces. On cars where the rear window/bulkhead prohibits the installation of rear braces, the main hoop shall be attached to the body by plates welded to the cage and bolted to the stock shoulder harness mounting points.

7.4.9 BOLT IN ROLL CAGES: Bolt In roll cages are not allowed.

7.4.10 Supplemental Bracing: Supplemental bracing is allowed.

7.4.11 Side Protection:
All cars shall have a minimum of two (2) door bars across each front door opening. The door bars may run parallel, or in the shape of an “X”. If the two door bars do not intersect as they do when forming an “X”, then a minimum of two vertical tube sections shall connect the upper and lower door bars. Teams may also choose to install a second row of double horizontal door bars that run parallel to the inner bars and extend into the outer door skin, these are also known as “NASCAR-STYLE” bars. In this configuration, the outer bars must also have a minimum of two (2) vertical tube sections connecting the upper and lower bars. The inner door panel and door internals may be removed.

7.4.12 Mounting Plates:

7.4.13 Each mounting plate shall be at least .080” thick

7.4.13.1 Mounting plates must be fully welded to the structure of the vehicle.

7.4.13.2 Each mounting plate shall not be greater than 100 square inches and shall be no greater than twelve (12) inches or less than two (2) inches on a side. The mounting plate may be multi-angled but must not exceed these dimensions in a flat plane.

7.4.13.3 Whenever possible, mounting plates shall extend onto a vertical section of the structure (such as a rocker box or door pillar).

7.4.13.4 Any number of tubes may attach to a single plate or to each other.

[chris2low]

thanx man , i really needed that finishing my cage here soon !!

[YOitzJDM]

when in doubt, call (or email) FD and ask. They are the end all for any rule questions.

[INFO]

when in doubt, call (or email) FD and ask. They are the end all for any rule questions.

yes, please contact Formula Drift directly.

[chris2low]

hmm some more questions i have arrison , that i need taken care of

what are the regualtions on the suit reqirrements and helment .. does it haev to be a snell 2010 or higher , ? and does the suit have to be an sfi-5 suit to spec? just a wonder

chris

[chris2low]

okay question again what actually can i get away with doing to the frame of the car , i have a small rusted spot of my s13 and i wanna fix it is theri anyway to patch it and get away with a patch > or cross stich weld *Censored**Censored**Censored**Censored* >

[Slapshotnerd]

okay question again .....

please contact Formula Drift directly.

http://formulad.com/contact/