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2009 Midnight Mayhem Presented By MetroPCS season kicks off Jan. 23 at The Strip at LVMS

The 2009 Midnight Mayhem Presented By MetroPCS series kicks off on Friday evening, Jan. 23, at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Street-legal racing will take place from 7 p.m.-Midnight. Registration gates will open at 6 p.m. Now in its eighth year, the Midnight Mayhem Presented By MetroPCS program was instituted to offer a safe alternative to illegal street racing in Las Vegas and Clark County.

Midnight Mayhem Presented By MetroPCS is open to any licensed driver with proof of insurance. Minors must present a signed parental consent form, which may be obtained by calling The Strip’s office at (702) 632-8213.

The popular late-night program is open to any street-legal car or motorcycle. All vehicles must undergo technical and safety inspections before they are allowed to race on LVMS’ quarter-mile drag strip. Alcohol is not allowed and beer is not sold at the track during Midnight Mayhem.

Midnight Mayhem Presented By MetroPCS affords street racers the opportunity to compete on the same drag strip that the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series uses twice each year for its national events. Midnight Mayhem participants race on the same track John Force and Tony Schumacher use to make nitro-burning passes in excess of 220 mph.

Entry fee is $10 to race and $6 admission for spectators. Ride-along passes and restricted-area passes are $10. The Strip at LVMS will strictly enforce new rules to keep the program true to its roots of street- legal, stock OEM-type production vehicles.

“At several events in 2008 we encountered fluid leakage and oil-down problems from participants who weren’t following the rules of the program,” said Chris Blair, LVMS’ vice president of racing operations. “Drivers experimenting with power additives and performance modifications created lengthy delays for participants who were there to run their street-legal vehicles. We are implementing a few policy changes that will eradicate some of those problems.”

An SFI-certified tech inspector will visually inspect all cars prior to entering the facility to determine eligibility. Any car not meeting the basic guidelines, requirements and specifications will not be permitted to purchase a racing credential and tech card.

Participants will no longer be permitted to use racing slicks. Only street tires or DOT-approved drag radials will be permitted. Tires must have proper air pressure as recommended by the manufacturer.

Vehicles must meet all state highway safety requirements for the state in which the vehicle is registered and must remain as produced by the OEM manufacturer to be deemed an “accepted street-legal vehicle.” All vehicles must be street-driven, display valid license plates and have proof of vehicle registration and valid insurance. Temporary vehicle registrations will no longer be accepted under any circumstance.

Cars with performance modifications and “power-adders” that alter its performance and/or appearance from OEM stock will be considered a racing vehicle and must meet the rules guidelines that apply to the NHRA E.T. category in the 2009 NHRA rulebook.

Drivers with highly-modified vehicles that cross the line from street-legal to race car are encouraged to participate in one of The Strip’s many open track testing days and/or bracket test ‘n’ tune events.

MIDNIGHT MAYHEM REQUIREMENTS & SPECIFICATIONS

Engine and transmission: OEM-production engine and transmission case and components must be as produced by OEM manufacturer for the particular vehicle application. All other engines and transmissions prohibited.

Exhaust system: All vehicles must be equipped with mufflers and a functional exhaust system that extends at least behind the drivers’ seat. Competition exhaust permitted. Exhaust must be directed out of car to rear, away from driver and fuel tank.

Fuel: Racing gasoline, gasoline, gasohol, diesel, ethanol, natural gas, and propane permitted. Nitromethane prohibited.

Fuel system and battery: All batteries, fuel tanks, fuel lines, fuel pumps, or filler necks must retain stock OEM location as produced by the OEM manufacturer.

Liquid overflow: Catch-can mandatory for coolant overflow; one-pint (16-ounce) minimum capacity. Supercharger, turbocharger: Original OEM supercharger or turbocharger permitted. Any non-OEM, high helix, or screw-type supercharger prohibited.

Brakes and suspension: Four-wheel OEM-style brake system mandatory.
Steering: Car must have sufficient positive front-end alignment to ensure proper handling of car at all speeds.
Suspension: All cars must have a full suspension system of the type produced by an automobile manufacturer (i.e. springs, torsion bars, etc.). Lightening of stock components prohibited. Rigid mounted suspensions prohibited.

Tires and wheels: Street tires or DOT drag radials permitted. Racing slicks prohibited. Wheels must be automotive-type wheels suitable for street use. All lug nuts must be in place and securely tightened.

Body: Must have full top and windshield as produced by OEM manufacturer. All full-bodied cars must have two driver exits. Both doors must be functional from inside and outside on all full-bodied cars. Four stock-production fenders mandatory, body kits permitted.

Firewall: Mandatory, as produced by OEM manufacturer. Firewall may not be altered in any manner.
Hood: Mandatory.
Seats: Properly braced, framed and supported OEM-style seats mandatory.
Windshield, windows: Mandatory, as produced by OEM manufacturer only. Must be in good condition and free of cracks. Windshield/window tint must meet the applicable state requirements. Windows must be closed during races; need not be operable.

Electrical: Batteries must be securely mounted in stock OEM location only. Ignition OEM-designed ignition system permitted. Headlights, taillights: All lights must be operational. Support group: Computers installed on stock vehicles by the new-vehicle manufacturers for the proper operation of such vehicles are permitted. OEM electronic fuel injection permitted.

Electronics: The use of racing electronics (i.e. delay box, throttle stop, etc.) strictly prohibited. Fire-extinguisher system: Permitted; must be securely mounted. Driver: Driver must have a valid, unrestricted state or government-issued driver’s license, with no underage driving restrictions (i.e. supervised, provisional, etc.).

Driver restraint system: Seat belt mandatory in all cars as produced by OEM manufacturer. Aftermarket driver-restraint systems with higher rating than OEM permitted.

For more information, please call The Strip’s office at (702) 632-8231 or visit www.LVMS.com.