Sorry to be off RX-7 topic, but I have a 1974 Triumph Spitfire with a 12a engine. I am wanting to take the car to the drag strip in a few weeks, and have questions about the legality of removing certain items from the car for weight savings:
1. I would like to remove the hood and fender unit as a whole since a spitfire uses a frame, not a unibody. This would equate to a weight saving of 200+.
2. Also would like to take off the trunk lid
3. Passenger seat and convertible top
4. Lastly, do I have to have a rollbar to run the convertible car?
Removal of these items would make the car around 300-400 lbs lighter, and it only weighs 1700 lbs to begin with. Hoped some of you experienced drag racers could give me an idea of what would pass inspection or not. Thanks,
Aaron

 

I think if you expect to run faster than 14.0 you need a 6pt roll bar. Faster than 12.0 you need a full roll cage in a convertible.

I'm sure you need the trunk lid and unless your track is supercool you will need fenders etc.

Passenger seat will be fine to remove.

I would call the track you plan to run at and ask them or have a friend ask that goes the week before. Many track don't follow NHRA/IHRA rulebooks and let you do whatever you want.

-Mark

 

So you want to fly down the track with 12a, windshield, doors, drivetrain - and not much else. Yeah, call ahead first.

I recommend going to the test-n-tune night for practice first, with a car body attached. It's harder than it looks when you're a newbie, and you will feel really really small in that sweet little ride, surrounded by musclecars with motors the size of your car belching flames and deafening you with each weight-defying pass.

Keep us posted!

 

What's the point of removing all that? You'll never be driving your car stripped like that anywhere else.