Thunder Truck Racing

The Rules have changed for 2006, please contact Larry or Jim for any questions.  Their phone #'s are on the Contact Info page.

Bodies: Bodies are to be stock appearing inside and out but by the year 2007 all trucks must have the truck racing bodies on. Hood scoops or holes in hood for air cleaner are optional. Rear spoiler optional. No sharp edges anywhere on the truck. All holes in firewall must be tinned over. Front outer wheel openings may be cut and rolled for tire clearance. **NOTICE** front and rear bumpers shall incorporate hooks for wrecker towing. Stock bumpers or up to 6” C channel is allowed or 3” square tubing. All bumpers must have side plated bolted to rear and front fenders. Front inner wheel wells are optional. Sheet metal to cover damage body parts will be permitted. All trucks must have beds covered with sheet metal. You do have the option to up grade your truck by putting a 2000 or later model body skins on or you can run a late model truck racing body up to 2005. If you have questions please call Larry Lentz at 303-343-3846 or Jim Penn at 720-351-9813.

Interiors, Seats and Driver Restraint System: All upholstery, unnecessary wiring and glass must be removed, including headlights, taillights, chrome trim and anything else that may come loose and become hazardous, Dashboards optional; if removed all sharp edges must be rounded off or rolled, **Note no holes allowed** Holes for linkage in front firewall must be as small as possible. All unnecessary holes in firewall must be covered with sheet metal . Interior tin allowed but must incorporate inspection panels. A hand-held fire extinguisher (2 lbs. or larger) must be securely mounted within arms reach of the driving position. Four or more vertical steel bars of 3/8 or heavier material spaced approximately 4” apart must be installed in windshield opening in front of the driver for protection. These bars are to be welded between the crossbar of the cage behind the dash and the front halo crossbar. Windshield bar may be arched outward if necessary for steering wheel clearance. Steel mesh will be allowed with holes no larger than ½” squared. No rear-view mirrors or 2 way radios . No communication to driver of any kind while racing. If caught penalties will be applied and a $50.00 fine. Find must be paid before the next time we race.

Seats: Aluminum racing seats with headrest mandatory. Must be mounted to the cage, not the floorboard. A minimum or (4) 3/8” mounting bolts must be used, 2 at the bottom and 2 through the back to the cross bar.

Driver Restraint System: The driver must be secured in the seat with sfi-approved 5-point seat belts and shoulder harness assembly that is mounted securely to the roll cage with 3/8” bolts (not the floor pan) using proper seat belt mounting hardware. The date of manufacture on the belt must not be over 2 years old. All drivers are required to use window nets. Window nets must cover the driver side window opening. Window net to be mounted at the top or bottom with a quick release latch mechanism at the front of the net attached to the cage.

Numbers: All trucks are required to purchase a number before they will be allowed to compete. Truck numbers must be neatly painted or applied with die-cut decals (no spray cans) solid colors on both side doors and top, readable from the right side of right side of the truck. Numbers must on the drivers side of the truck front an rear, a minimum of 3” in height. Numbers on the doors and roof must be 18”-20” tall with a minimum 3” stripe width. Trucks with unreadable numbers will not be scored and therefore will not be paid.

Roll Bars: A 4-post roll cage and rear kickers must be properly welded to the frame. Cross bars must be installed form left to right behind steering wheel. Top of driver’s head with helmet on and seated in normal driving position must be below top halo. Must have a minimum of one cross bar in top halo. Two rear support bars are mandatory. Support bars must exit top of cage to rear of bed and be secured to frame. Three or more horizontal bars must be installed on driver side, and placed between the driving position and the left door with at least four vertical bars . Passenger side must have at least two horizontal bars and three vertical bars or one diagonal. Gussets are recommended all welded joints and are mandatory on the driver side. Additional radiator bracing is allowed as long as bracing does not extend more that 6” front or back of radiator these bars can be no longer than the confines of the body. These bars can be no wider than the frame horns and must be within the confines of the body. Main cage and door bars must be constructed of continuous loops of steel pipe or tubing of minimum .095” wall thickness and minimum 1.75”O.D. No galvanized pipe, black pipe, or threaded joints allowed. All welding is to be done electrically. Additional gusseting and triangulation of all cage construction is recommended roll bar padding (high-impact, fire retardant type recommended) is mandatory on all parts of the cage that comes in contact with the driver’s head and body parts. Eleven gauge square tubing may be used for frame support or to attach cage to frame.

Fuel System: Stock gas tanks must be removed and replaced with fuel cell not to exceed 12-gallon capacity. Fuel cell must be located in bed area and must be completely enclosed in a steel container on 20 gage or heavier. Two steel straps, minimum 2”x1/8” and 3/8” bolts must completely secure the fuel cell to the frame. Fuel cell may be drop below bed floor but not below top of frame. Vent lines should be routed to a point below tank and must be incorporate a check valve to prevent fuel spillage in the event of a roll over. All fuel lines running through the driver’s compartment must be sealed in solid steel conduit or butting (no flexible conduit). Stock type mechanical fuel pump or electrical pump only. No racing or belt driven pumps allowed. No alcohol allowed. Pump gasoline only additives., racing fuel are permitted.

Frames, Suspension & Brakes: All frames must be O.E.M. Regulation quick release steering wheel allowed. Stock shock or Racing shocks (1 per wheel) must be mounted in the stock position. Screw jacks, weight adjusters and adjustable shocks allowed. Original steering box must be mounted in original location. No steering quickners. Front and rear springs both can be offset. Racing springs and cutting springs allowed and heating springs allowed. Front and rear adjustable sway bar allowed. Adjustable control arm allowed. All brakes must be in good working order on all four wheels. Brake master cylinder bias adjusters allowed. No racing suspension allowed. Spacers or adjustable lowering blocks may be used on rear axle only to lower bed of truck for safety. Both sides can be offset. Rear springs shackle extensions can be used. Leaf spring sliders allowed.

Transmissions, Rear Ends & Running Gear: All trucks must be equipped with an O.E.M. stock production transmission having all forward and reverse gears, Stock flywheel, pressure plate and single disc clutch only on all manual transmissions. All automatics must have working torque converter. Transmission cooler allowed with automatic transmission. Must be mounted outside driver compartment. No racing transmissions OR rear ends allowed. Rear ends must be O.E.M. stock. Any O.E.M. TRUCK REAR END may be used for better gear selection. Rear Ends may be modify to fit in stock position. Rear ends may be locked.

Drive Shafts: Must be painted white and have full 360 2”x¼” steel loop. 3”to 12” or a steel chain behind the front u-joints completely encircling the shaft falling to the ground in the event of a u-joint failure. Drive shaft must stay stock.

Batteries & Electrical: One automotive type battery (no larger than group 27 17” x 8”) must be moved form the engine compartment to bed area. All batteries must be completely enclosed in an approved battery container. A steel hold down strap must be used to secure the battery inside the box. The steel strap must be directly on top of the battery and must be secured to the frame using at least two 3/8” bolts or all-thread. Electrical ignition switch must be clearly labeled on/off must be mounted on the cab area. The master kill switch must be mounted in the back of the cab between the two kicker bars and must be clearly labeled on and off.

Tires & Wheels: Any STOCK DOT OR RACING TIRES PERMITTED. Wheels will not exceed 10” wheel width. No studded snow tires. NO knobblies and no bead-lockers allowed. Wheels must be steel and must be of heavy duty type reinforced or plated centers. Heavy-duty large lug nuts or washers are recommended to prevent loss or breakage. No 6ply tires . Tires are allowed to extend no more than 2” outside of body. Tire grooving on tread is permitted.

Weight Rule: Truck must weigh at least 2400 pounds minimum weight with driver before and after all races. Two Lead blocks will be allowed only in bed of truck for better traction. It is recommend two 25lb. Lead blocks works good but not mandatory. Blocks must be bolted to the frame and painted white with your truck number. All trucks will be weight at the track and at radom through out the season.

Engines: You may use only TRUCK Engines from 1970 to 1990 must be strictly O.E.M. stock nothing over 2500cc. for make and model of truck. NO special high performance engine of limited production allowed. No crossbreeding of parts to produce non-factory cubic-inch combinations. All heads, intakes must be O.E.M. stock. Cooling and oiling systems may be modify. One radiator ahead of engine is allowed. Exhaust system must extend straight back, beyond the driving position. To direct spent exhaust gases past the driver compartment. Tail pipes may not extend beyond body line and be pointed straight out or pointed down. Trucks will be allowed headers. Engines may be rebuilt but must remain with normal rebuilding specs. Radiator must have a catch can. Intakes may be modify to help mount carburetor.

Carburetors: Limited to O.E.M. type or one 2-barrel carburetors not to exceed to 500cm 2-barrel Webber or Holly is permitted. No racing carburetors allowed. No predator (1) barrel. Choke butterfly may be removed. All fuel injection engines must be converted to carburetion.

Handicapping: Any driver who wins two main events in a row will automatically be placed in the rear of the next main event regardless of finish in any qualifying event. Note: this does not guarantee a starting spot. The driver must still qualify to be in main event. If a driver wins three “A” mains in a row 300lb will be added to the truck between the cab and fuel cell in the bed of the truck. On the front right corner. This is to make competition more equal. If the same truck doesn’t win an “A” main on the next two events 100lb will be removed. If the same truck still doesn’t win “A” main on the third event 200lb will be removed. Hopefully with this handicap rule there will be less tear downs. Failure to comply with handicap rule penalties will apply.

Penalties: If TT officials inspect your truck and found illegal, or charged with poor sportsmanship these penalties will apply:

Safety: All drivers must wear an sift-approved fire suit (fireproof underwear required), sfi approved fire retardant gloves (fire retardant shoes are also recommended), fire retardant neck brace, Snell 2000 or newer helmet and eye protection any time they are operating a race truck on any racing surface. No two or one way radios allowed at any time in trucks on the track.