The current rules for the Pro
Street and Real Street
categories concerning the use of
various data collection sensors
and systems capable of being
used for Traction Control (TC)
and/or Wheelie Control (WC) have
existed in motorcycle drag
racing largely unchanged for
more than two decades. When
these rules were originally
written, the use of such
technologies was expensive and
required an unusual skill set of
electronics and controls, and
therefore was not readily
available to the average
competitor. The large size of
the electrical components
required to implement such
systems at that time made it an
easy task for a technical
department to maintain control
over these devices, and rules
therefore were written to limit
their use in the best interest
of maintaining a competitive
environment for all racers.
But technology has changed that
balance of availability vs.
regulatory feasibility in this
technical area. Aftermarket ECUs
now come with much of the
software already written for TC
and WC. Production bikes are now
beginning to leave the factory
with TC and WC already in the
factory electronics. The size of
the components and sensors has
shrunk many-fold, and the low
cost and wide availability of
small-footprint microcontrollers
has changed the landscape of
do-it-yourself electronic
control systems. The small size
of such systems has resulted in
a circumstance where tech
departments no longer have the
resources or time to properly
inspect class entrants for their
use. We would also have to cut
open wire harnesses to find such
devices. The combined effect of
low costs, small packaging, and
technical departments fighting
an increasingly-losing battle
trying to regulate them has
resulted in a large temptation
by racers to consider the use of
such illegal systems on their
motorcycles.
So, this has put the current
sanctioning bodies in motorcycle
drag racing at a crossroads. The
one thing that should never be
in a rule book is an
unenforceable rule. An
unenforceable rule is not fair
to the racer that chooses to
race legally, all the while
knowing that other racers will
not use the same level of
integrity when choosing how they
will race. Almost every other
sanctioning body in every form
of heads-up drag racing gave up
trying to control these devices
at least a decade ago, and they
have seen no long-term negative
effects from allowing these
devices in their racing
programs. Thus, considering all
of these factors, Jason Miller
from XDA, Jay Regan from Man
Cup, and Brian Welch from NHDRO
have jointly decided that it is
in the best interest of
competitive equality that all
such restrictions on devices be
removed from the rule book.
Therefore, effective immediately
virtually any sensors including
front wheel speed sensors, ride
height sensors, gyrometers, and
anglometers will be legal in all
Professional classes of racing
at XDA, Man Cup, and NHDRO. An
updated rulebook is now
available.
We realize that this will be
concerning to many racers,
fearing that these bikes will
now become robots, fully
controlled by automated
computers. But observing cars in
classes and sanctions such as
X275, Radials vs The World, and
PDRA shows this to not be the
case. Despite having these
technologies for many years,
these vehicles still lose
traction, still wheelie, and
still have aborted runs. This
proves the point that TC and WC
don’t prevent loss of traction
and wheelies, only a proper
tune-up by the crew chief
prevents these events. What TC
and WC are able to do is to
allow the vehicle to recover
from one of these negative
events more quickly, allowing
the vehicle to continue the run
with less loss of ET. All of our
Professional classes still have
class mechanical limitations
such as weight, wheelbase,
power, tires, etc. TC and WC
will not significantly affect
the ultimate performance of any
drag racing vehicle, it just
provides additional tuning
tools.
Also, there is an update to the
wording and structure of the
clutch rules in Pro Street. We
have had many questions
concerning some of the
particulars of the rules as
written. With the allowance of
air clutches in the new rule
book, some of the old wording
can lead to confusing, unclear,
and seemingly contradictory
statements to some readers. In
order to better clarify things,
a new section clarifying some of
the terms used in the rules has
been added as well as a few
smaller edits. The intent and
effect of the rules is
unchanged, only clarifications
of what was already written are
included.
To view the revised Orient
Express Pro Street rulebook,
visit:
www.xdaracing.com/rulebook/2018/prostreet.pdf
To view the revised DME Racing
Real Street rulebook, visit:
www.xdaracing.com/rulebook/2018/realstreet.pdf
We would like to wish good luck
to all racers this year at any
series you are racing with!
The Xtreme Dragbike Association
is an east coast motorcycle drag
racing series with 700+
motorcycle racers in
competition. The XDA features
professional and sportsman
classes along with grudge racing
and a vendor midway. Lifestyle
activities such as bike shows,
bikini contests, DJ and live
bands are also held at select
events. For more info on the XDA,
visit
www.XDAracing.com
or connect with us on Facebook,
Instagram, Twitter and YouTube @xdaracing
2018 XDA
Schedule:
MDIR: April 27-29
ATCO: May 18-20
VMP: June 22-24
MDIR: July 27-29
VMP: August 24-26
MDIR: September 21-23
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