upcoming NI drag meetings

[l1ttle_d3vil]

Does anyone know of any drag meetings coming up at Meremere or Taupo?
Had a look on a few websites, but just wondering if anyone knows of any?

It would be my first time out, so the less competitive the better

[finx]

winter speed would be you closest non competitive meets. they are still a couple of months away yet thou. these are normally the best to go to for 1st timers as you get loads of runs to practice as there isn't that many racers and its a lot less competitive.
failing that there will most probibly be some private days being organised by other forums or car groups you could try stick you nose into.

there's the outlaw drags on the 12th of April but that's a competitive meet with support brackets. but might not be the best meet go to if you car isn't overly fast and its your 1st time.

[cogent]

pro tip: get someone on the day to run you through how the lights work at the tree and staging and everything.

nothing worse than thinking you got it sorted and then all of a sudden the other dude is launching off outta there and you're still in neutral waiting for the 'get ready' signal.

[l1ttle_d3vil]

mint sounds like winter drags would be a go, will give me time to sort out the little things.
have done a fair bit of reading but will get some advice on the day too

couple of other queries -
*do helmets have to meet a specific safety standard, no matter what meeting you're attending?
*radiator catch cans are mandatory, but would a plastic bottle cable tied down be sufficient or does it have to be something more flash? (doen't have catch can from factory)

[loose_unit]

Yeh they check for a certain code on the tag of the helmet, though its not as hardout as msnz rules. As long as its a pretty modern helmet it will have the right code on it for drag racing.

As long as the catch can will stop water from leaking down onto the track then it will be acceptable.

[l1ttle_d3vil]

Right, car is ready to go, at the moment. See if its still going in a months time
Codes on my helmet are ARC E13 050146/J-2005. Can't find any details about it on the net, but I got it from a motorcross shop a couple of years ago for trackdays etc. Should this be sweet??

Dates for winter dragwars are:
14/06/2009 - Winter Dragwars #1
28/06/2009 - Winter Dragwars #2
12/07/2009 - Winter Dragwars #3
26/07/2009 - Winter Dragwars #4
09/08/2009 - Winter Dragwars #5
30/08/2009 - Winter Dragwars #6

[loose_unit]

My ones just a general motorbike one, heaps of people use motorcross ones. Cant remember the exact code but it will be fine. Its really old ones that generally dont have the right code on them.