IPA General Rules

General Rules

Eligibility of Contestants

  1. All contestants must be a member of the Illiana Pullers Association. Contestants must be 18 years of age or 16 years of age and have both parent’s written consent or guardian’s written consent. (CHECK WITH ILLIANA PULLERS ASSOC. TO SEE IF THIS MEETS THEIR INSURANCE REQUIREMENT) General Rules for IPA truck division.
  2. Absolutely no passengers or riders on any competition vehicle.
  3. Each competitor must be entered in their respective classes 30 minutes before the event starts (not before their class) Any competitor not entered in their class 30 minutes prior to the event will pay double the entry fee for their class for that event.
  4. No tying down competition vehicle to drawbar or drawbar support while in transport.
  5. Any driver under the influence of drugs/alcohol, etc; will not be allowed to pull.
  6. Anyone refusing any tech inspections will be disqualified immediately! NO REFUNDS!
  7. Competitors in the four-wheel drive divisions will be required to have their vehicle teched and engine pumped and sealed by the truck tech committee by the third hook attended by the vehicle. Competitors that have not had their truck teched or engine pumped by the third hook will have any prize monies held by the IPA until vehicle is teched and pumped. Competitors are responsible for arranging their respective vehicles to be teched and pumped with the truck pump committee.
  8. In the event of an extended track situation the maximum length of the track will be 320’. Pull-offs after the event of 320’ tracks will be a floating finish. IPA officials may waive this at the discretion of track officials. Circumstances such as weather, time, etc; shall be a determining factor in these instances.

Drawbars

  1. Drawbars, hitching devices and drawbar supports shall be constructed of steel.
  2. Drawbars shall meet the following: drawbar to be a minimum of 2 square inches total steel material at any point. This includes the area of the pin with the pin removed. The pin will be a minimum of 7/8 inch. Drawbar must be equipped with a steel hitching device not more than 1.5 x 1.5 square, (or 1.5 round), and with an oblong shaped hole 3.75 inches long and 3 inches wide.
  3. No portion of the vehicle may interfere with the sled, chain or hook during a pull or while being hooked or unhooked.
  4. An area 5 inches wide and 12 inches high immediately above and below the drawbar must be free of all obstructions including weights, stabilizer bars and second drawbars for the ease of hooking and unhooking. Second drawbars are not required.
  5. Tech officials must be able to visually inspect the drawbar area of competition vehicle.
  6. No trick hitches, no cam type rear ends.
  7. Drawbar height or distance from center of axle / center of rear wheels cannot change during pull.

Clutches and Flywheels

  1. All flywheels, clutches, flex plates must be SFI approved. All automatics must have SFI scatter blanket
  2. There shall be twelve 5/16-inch grade 5 or better cap screws securing the cover to the bell housing. The cover must have a plate or fillet that fit flush inside of the housing. The cover and fillet must be steel. The fillet must be welded to the cover and all bolts must be flush to the inside.
  3. There must be five bolts used to secure the transmission to the bell housing, 3/8 inch minimum diameter or four ½ inch bolts.
  4. All bell housings must be flush on the inside surface.
  5. SFI certified bell housing with Crower stand adjustment slot is acceptable.
  6. Add four additional bolts to fasten the bell housing to block saver plate. These bolts are to be 3/8-inch grade 5 and between existing bolts on the top half of the bell housing, along with 5 evenly spaced bolts between block saver and bell housing on lower half.
  7. Clutch shall be actuated by mechanical linkage, hydraulic pressure, or RPM (centrifugal). Actuation controlled by timers, electronics, or other automated means are prohibited.

Engines

  1. No auxiliary internal combustion engines are allowed on board to drive pumps, accessories, etc.
  2. Shielding on all V or Y type engines must extend from the base of the head or the upper most point of piston travel to 2 inches below bottom center of crankshaft throw and be securely fastened.
  3. Side shields must be mounted independently of the engine block. Motor mount, block saver plate and header mounting or chassis mounting is acceptable.
  4. A deflection shield is required on both sides of the engine. Shields must extend the complete length of the block casting and be securely fastened. Shields must extend from sheet metal (hood) to 2 inches below bottom center of crankshaft throw and be securely fastened. Shields may extend beyond or cover starter or fuel pump. Shields shall be constructed of aluminum or steel a minimum of 0.060 inch thick or safety blanket material. Shields must be solid – motor mounts, filters, fuel injection pumps, steering rods, etc cannot serve as part of shield. Solid frame rails with no holes can serve as part or the entire shield, providing it covers required areas of block casting. It is recommended that a quick release fastener be used. Use of bolts, nuts, screws, and locks are discouraged, (Reason: ease of access in emergency – fire, run-off, etc). Any competition vehicle with that requires tools for the removal of side shields must be equipped with an onboard fire control system. System must place one nozzle on each side of engine, inside the engine compartment. Not to be attached to the sheet metal.
  5. All engine crankcase venting (blow by tubes) must be vented below the heads of that engine and extended down to the engine pan. All blow by tubes must exit forward of rear tires.
  6. All competing vehicles must be equipped with a dead-man throttle. All throttles in a forward-rearward direction shall be closed in the rearmost position. No hydraulic throttle linkage allowed. Must be positive, two-way mechanical linkage.
  7. A bolt in the crankshaft to hold damper pulley is required.
  8. All engine driven fans must be shrouded with 1/16 inch steel or thicker, 360 degrees. Electric fans excluded.

Exhaust Systems

  1. All exhaust pipes must be securely attached.
  2. Rain caps cannot be used.
  3. Turbocharged engines must have two 3/8-inch grade 5 bolts in either (or both) vertical portion, or horizontal portion of exhaust pipes. Bolts are to be installed 90 degrees of each other and within one inch of each other.

Fuel and Fuel Containers

  1. All forms of nitro methane including nitrous oxide and propylene are illegal as a fuel or fuel additive for pulling. Legal fuels are alcohol, water, diesel fuel (meeting constant dielectric test of more than 30 and less than 150), and gasoline. No oxygen carrier or combustion accelerators are allowed. Methanol alcohol is a clear, colorless liquid with a mild odor at ambient temperatures. No additives are allowed in any fuel except those additives blended by the fuel manufacturer or refinery. Fuels may be checked by tech official at any event at any time.
  2. All vehicles will be subject to fuel testing based on the IPA discretion.
  3. No pressurized fuels allowed with the exception of propane as a single fuel source in the Outlaw class.
  4. For classes allowing water injection only pure water with pump lubricant additive is allowed.

Kill Switches

  1. All competing vehicles with spark ignition must use a waterproof, dust proof tether type safety switch as an ignition kill switch and it must be in working order at all times. On a spark ignition vehicle, the kill switch must break or ground the ignition circuit. Spark ignition vehicles with electric fuel pump(s), the kill switch must also break current to the fuel pump(s).
  2. Kill switches on spark ignition vehicles must be checked with engine running.
  3. Track officials and/or tech inspectors have the option of checking kill switches as they feel is adequate at any event. It is recommended that all kill switches be check on all competing vehicles at every event.
  4. All kill switches must be mounted independent of drawbar and/or wheelie bars / stabilizer bars.
  5. The kill switch must be located in the rear center (maximum of 6 inches off center in any direction), approx four feet above the hook point.
  6. The breakaway kill switches must have attached to them a minimum of a 2-inch diameter ring, with a minimum 1/8 inch cross-sectional thickness. The cable from the sled will be attached to this ring.
  7. Portion of the kill switch and mounting bracket(s) must be able to withstand 32 pounds of pull per switch when pulled independently or collectively.
  8. Kill switch ring must be secured with a single nylon tie wrap (1/8 inch). The tie wrap must be broken for a re-pull. Competitors will be responsible for replacing the kill switch mechanism and securing the tie wrap once kill switch is checked by tech official.
  9. If vehicle has kill switch or shut-off located in a legal position, and during the pull it is pulled and the nylon strap is broken, and the presiding judge inspects and finds switch capable of operating properly under normal conditions, vehicle will be allowed to re-pull immediately or drop six positions. Decision to drop must be made before vehicle leaves the track. It is the puller’s responsibility to see that the official checks the switch before leaving the track.
  10. The use of OHM meters and buzz boxes allowed, however, if there is any doubt of whether the device is hooked up properly or the person using the device is not 100 percent certain of the reading he receives, the pulling vehicle will be started to check the kill switch.
  11. Diesel engines must have a fuel Dump valve and control within easy reach of driver. All diesel engines must be equipped with an emergency shutdown air shut-off at the air intake, which can be utilized from the seat.

Safety

  1. If an Illiana Pullers Association track official or tech official feels a vehicle is unsafe, they have the right not to allow vehicle to pull. Track official or tech official has the right to bar a competition vehicle from competing if he or she believes that the vehicle has a potential safety problem.
  2. All pulling vehicles must be equipped with a minimum of 2lb Halon type of 2½lb dry-powder type fire extinguisher, full charged with a gauge, in working condition and convenient to the operator.
  3. All competitors, unless noted otherwise in specific class rules, must wear full-length pants, leather shoes and SFI fire proof jacket and gloves.
  4. Driver must wear an approved safety helmet.
  5. Driver must wear a secure seat belt
  6. No pit racing-5 mph maximum in pit area.
  7. No competition vehicle is to be left running unattended without a capable operator available. Any competition vehicle that is left running unattended will be disqualified for that event
  8. Each competing vehicle must have a working parking brake or a brake “line-lock” that, maintains hydraulic pressure to the brakes while an operator is not attending a vehicle. The IPA board strongly recommends that all vehicles be in park or have the “line-lock” applied anytime that a vehicle is not in competition.
  9. A reverse safety light system is required all competition vehicles. A white light automotive quality minimum 2 inches in diameter, must be mounted directly above or below the safety kill switch at the rear of the vehicle. A light in the driver’s compartment must be operated off the same system. Both lights are to be activated by a shift lever such that it will be lit only when the vehicle is in reverse.
  10. All pulling vehicles must be equipped with a starter interrupter switch on the gearshift or clutch switch, which will allow starter engagement only in neutral position or clutch disengaged.
  11. All pullers will have fire protection equipment and helmets specified by division rules, on any time while on the track and driver is on the pulling vehicle, or the puller will be disqualified.
  12. Each member of the competitor’s crew must be properly attired when present in the staging or in the competition area. Shoes are mandatory. Tank tops, bare torsos or muscle shirts are not acceptable in the staging or competition.
  13. No tarp straps will be allowed for any use on pulling vehicles.
  14. All vehicles carrying on board start batteries must have a quick disconnect method.

Weights

  1. It is STRONGLY recommended that all vehicles have a front hitch attached to the vehicle that is capable of supporting the weight of the front of the vehicle. It must be the furthest most point on the vehicle and be centrally located. The hitch must have a minimum of a 3” diameter hole to allow for the 3 point mounted hitches on the movers to manipulate the competing vehicles. No weights are to be positioned next to the hitch in a way that may restrict the turning radius of the movers once they have picked up the front of the vehicle
  2. Weights must be securely fastened and no transfer of weight while vehicle is moving will be allowed.
  3. Weights must not extend rearward beyond rear tires.
  4. Any weight lost while hooked to the sled and under the green flag will be cause for disqualification. If weight touches the ground although they may still be attached to the pulling vehicle, pull will be disqualified (internal breakage excepted).
  5. ALL moveable ballast must be 10lbs or greater countable weight to be accepted in competition.
  6. No liquid or powdered substance allowed for weight purposes.
  7. Weights must not interfere with the kill switch, drawbar or chain.
  8. No tarp straps will be allowed to secure weights.

Protest Rule

  1. Any competitor wanting to protest another vehicle in the class for an alleged rule violation shall submit the following monies in cash in order to protest:
    A. Fuel Pull $100. Protestor paying for actual test from NTPA and specific chemical being looked for.
    B. Pump for C.I. $200
    C. Engine teardown $750.00
    D. Body Chassis Inspection (with specific notation of infraction being looked for) $ 200.00
  2. IPA will retain %20 of total protest monies with the balance to be paid accordingly.
  3. Protestor must be a contestant in the same class as the vehicle being protested. All protests must be made to a board member or track official no later than 15 minutes after the class is over. If the vehicle is found to be illegal, protestor will be refunded his/her money minus the IPA percentage and the vehicle being protested will be disqualified. If the vehicle is found to be legal, the owner of the vehicle shall receive all monies submitted minus the IPA percentage. The IPA board will determine eligibility of the protest.

Points

  1. If there is a rain out and the pull is rescheduled it will count as a points pull on the rescheduled date of the pull. If the pull is not rescheduled those competitors that have signed up will receive 15 points.

Pull Stating a Vehicle: In the event that a vehicle needs to be pull started due to breakage on site it must be done a safe environment.