Drag Racing Class

[ZLP955]

Have finally found some old photos of my car being campaigned at the 1971 AHRA Grand American Championship at LA (Lions), and it has different class lettering to what it had when I bought it. Hoping someone could tell me what class/category 'F2 IS' on the windshield means?
The car still has 'E/MP' on the side glass, but I guess that must've been a later class change, possibly even under NHRA rather than AHRA?
Thanks for any help!
- Tim

[Spooky]

NHRA
modified production M/P

In the 70's E class I think was 11.00 to 11.99

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong

Scott

[ZLP955]

Thanks Scott, yes that's what I had deduced from researching the E/MP. So while I was absolutely stoked (an understatement!) to find these new photos last night, I wasn't aware the car had previously run in another category.
I *think* the 'F2 IS' is:
F=Formula
2= carburation (possibly single 4-barrel?)
I=? (could even be a '1')
S=Stock
But would love to know for sure!

[Spooky]

I think the F2 (F-factory 2-solid lifter)
I think IS is the cubic inch rating for the class (AHRA?)

Could be way off base here though

Scott

[Lee Stewart]

This help? 1966 AHRA Stock Indexes

[ZLP955]

Thanks for posting that Lee.
I've been able to find a 1972 AHRA Rule Book, extracts below, that indicate that 'F2 IS' would be Formula Stock, 3- or 4-barrel carburation, manual transmission, 9.50-9.74 lbs/ci.
That's interesting, because the car must've been a lot lighter, or running a bigger CID engine at the time, than when it later ran in E/MP (11.00-11.99 lbs/)..... unless the rules were different again in 1971.

I'm beginning to see the complexity of all the classes that AHRA allowed in the late 60's and early 70's, seeing how different the classes were between the 1966 and 1972 books!

[John Brown]

IHRA and NADS (National Association of Drag Strips) also had similar Formula Stock classes, with no doubt slightly different weight breaks and rules. Sadly, I don't have any of the their old rule books anymore.

[ZLP955]

Good point John. This was definitely at an AHRA event (Grand American series) but it must've been hard to keep up with all the classes and rules back in the day, changes from year to year and at least 4 sanctioning bodies, all different...... yikes.

[Flying Undertaker]

Tim: My 1st drag racing exposure was at the 1972 AHRA Summernationals at Dragway 42 in West Salem, OH.with my brothers in tow. From that moment on, I was hooked big time! What an experience! All the big names in drag racing were there: Cha Cha Muldowney in Funny Car, Jungle Jim & Jungle Pam in F/C, Grumpy Jenkins in the 331 c.i. Vega in P/S, Ronnie Sox in the Hemi Cuda in P/S, etc.; just to name a few. Many of my friends who hung out at Diney's Drive-In ran formula stock classes, also the old factory optional classes (slightly modified street/strip cars). My brother Joe races NHRA stock eliminator today and held the record in A/S from 2016 until 2018 when the record returned to the Index. How about posting some of the old photos of your car in action? Thanks, Don.

[ZLP955]

Thanks Don, I will post up those pictures here shortly. And thanks for the comments about you and your family experiences in the racing world, it must've been a great scene to be a part of, especially with all those names and characters. Would love to have met Pam in person!
PS Congrats to your brother for his achievements!