Youth Full Size

2023 Deadman Derby 

YOUTH FULL SIZE RULES

These rules are written to comply with SMW rules and National Championship qualifier rules through Hardcore Derby Promotions.
It is import to note that you will follow hardcore derby promotions rules for the national championship event.  Also, Deadman allows a few different add ons that the other rules do not permit. Please note the differences.

Any year Sedan or wagon is permitted with the following exceptions. No imperials. No suicide lincolns. No open roofs, no trucks, no four-wheel drive vehicles, no vans, limos or compacts, no hearses, ambulances, etc. that have been frame altered. All cars must remain stock unless otherwise noted. If it is not in the rules, it does not mean you can do it. Frames and components must be standard automotive production standards. 

Helmets, (fire suit top is highly recommended), long sleeves, and eye protection must be worn at all times. Seat belts must be fastened. If your helmet comes off, you are “Out”! Fire extinguisher is Highly Recommended ! 

Seats must be securely fastened in vehicle 

It is highly recommended that occupant areas be clear of sharp, protruding objects.
Nothing is permitted to be mounted in occupant areas, such as transmission coolers, batteries, power steering, etc. Anytime deemed to be unsafe will need to be addressed prior to passing inspection.
No hot rodding or hot dogging will be permitted in the Pit Area or surrounding areas. This is only permitted on the track. Sportsmanship Both on and Off the Track Is Mandatory and enthusiasm are welcomed and encouraged. 

Inspection
l. Officials have the right to drill, scope, etc. as needed. 

2. Officials have the right to re-inspect any and all cars before and during the event. 
3. Any car found to be cheating will be disqualified. 
4. It is mandatory that all drivers and youth attend the Driver’s Meeting and secondary Youth Meeting with parent or rider. If you do not attend you will not run. 
5. Only drivers and one crew member or passenger are permitted in the inspection area during inspection. 
6. Cars that fail inspection get only one re-inspection and must wait until all cars go through a first time to get your car re-inspected (follow the rules). 
7. Cars that fail inspection due to Rules or any safety issue forfeit their entry fees — No Refunds. 
8. Bring torches or appropriate repair pieces to correct any violations found during inspection. If you believe anything to be questionable fix it prior to inspection! 
9. You may not only be asked to cut but to totally remove anything found to be outside of the Rules. No half-hearted attempts to cut something will be accepted. 
10. No additional welding permitted other than described in the following Rules. 

11 . Blatant attempts to cheat will result in automatic disqualification and you will not be given a chance to make repairs.
12. Cars inspected and flagged are legal to run and legal to win. 

Stripping 

All outside hardware such as glass, plastic, fiberglass and chrome molding, door handles, mirrors, etc. must be removed prior to arrival. No broken windows in doors. All flammable material must be removed. All airbags must be removed. Cars must be swept clean of all dirt and debris. All station wagon rear decking must be removed. All OEM gas tanks must be removed. 

All cars fresh of pre-run receive a max of 6 total 4”x4” x ¼” fix it plates. A maximum ½” bead of weld is permitted. Fix it plates must be 1 Full inch apart between the edge of the welds. Parallelogram plates are permitted but must meet the following criteria. All four sides must be exactly 4” long and the furthermost two points is to be exactly 7”. Fix it plates must be location on frame only and must be on one of the four outside sides of the frame. Plates must remain whole and cannot be cut apart.  Plates may be formed. 

Suspension and steeering

1. Stock suspension only. 
2. 1980’s upper A-arms may be swapped out in place of the 1980’s wishbone style upper arms. 98-02 frames forfeit crossbar on upper arm swap 
3. Spindles, ball joints, Must Be replacement over-the-counter OEM style only, no homemade fabrication or Moog Performance 
4. Twist in coil spring risers may be used; two per side maximum. 
5. No spacers in coil spring buckets will be permitted. No stuffing of shocks. 
6. Rear springs may be swapped out with any OEM coil spring for ride height. Rear springs may be wired or l” hose clamp or l” welds in three places on the bottom of rear spring to be secured.
7.  No homemade shocks in the front or rear. 
8. Tie rods may be reinforced, budget tie rods are permitted no heim joints. 
9. No all-thread or homemade shocks. Factory OEM automotive shocks only mounted in the factory location. No truck shocks will be permitted. Rear springs may be wired in top and bottom. Wire cannot be continuous, not used in the manner of limiting suspension travel. 
10. Front suspension may solidly be locked in place using only one of the following options NOT both flat stock or angle iron from lower A-arm vertically to frame using 3″ weld per side on frame with only one piece per arm maximum thickness 1/4″ or a 2″ x 4″ x 1/4″ thick plate, welded on the front and rear side of the upper control arm. This plate may not extend more than 2″ from the A-arm. 
11. Factory leaf spring cars must have factory leaf springs, clamps and hardware. The clamps must remain factory. No homemade or bolt-on spring clamps. OEM factory stairstep of 3″ must be maintained for the vehicle. No altering, restacking or adding of leaf springs will be permitted. No lengthening of the main or altering or relocating of the shackle. 
12. Rear suspension must be a working suspension! 
13. Sway bars must not be altered/manipulated from OEM shape or size. Sway bars may Not be welded to the frame in any way. Sway bars are to be mounted to the frame using OEM brackets. Hardware may be changed at the lower arm 1/2″ bolt size max in factory location. MAY DIRECT BOLT. Sway bars must be mounted using the factory orientation. No upside-down sway bars. Sway bars must be “Make for CAR”. 
14. Watts Link Conversions are permitted. You may use factory brackets and weld to car or Watts Conversion plates no bigger than 8″ x 8″ ; 4 bolts max per side. 
15. Minimal bracket fab for lowers. Lowers may be a max of 3×3 ¼ and 6” long max welding to the inside portion of the frame.  Stock trailing arms. Only stock OEM car trailing arms may be used. They may be adjusted to obtain pinion angle l” overlap — no reinforcing. 
16. Steering Columns
    Steering columns may be altered between box shaft and wheel. No hydraulic conversions. No Hydro Steering A simple Steering Stop Is Permitted 
17. Center link must remain 100% factory and OEM in mounting manner. 

Frame 

1. Factory frames only. No frame altering other than described in the Rules. 
2. Front frames may be shortened to the front of the core support mounting bracket. Not the hole
3. Repair stubs must be butt-welded in the middle of the car. No plates permitted. 
4. No welded seams are permitted (even where the factory may have missed). 
5. No shaping of front frame horn or dimpling of rear frame hump. 
6. No hump plates. 
7. No tilting or cold bending. 
8. Rear frame section may be cut or dimpled to bend up. No rear frame chain of any kind from side to side will be permitted. 
9. There is to be no welding on the frame except within the areas specified in the Rules. Standard automotive production frames and specs. 
10. No squeezing of frame rails.

BUMPERS

1. Bumpers must remain in the stock location. Front bumpers on the front and rear bumpers on the rear; no fabricated bumpers are permitted. No loaded bumpers are permitted. Ends of the bumpers must be open. Hard nosing is permitted 
2. A maximum plate of 6″ x 6″ x 1/4″ may be welded to the end of the frame Front Not The side top or bottom, for bumper mounting. If you are unsure of what you have ask. 
3. For Rear bumper mounting purposes an NLR style Bracket is permitted, may be no longer than 6 inches on the Frame. 
4. Bumper shocks may be collapsed and welded. 3/8″ chain may be wrapped and welded to outer bumper skin with a maximum of two links welded to the frame top and bottom within first 6″ of frame-measured from end of frame. Bumper chain links may not be welded over the seam. The rear bumper chain may NOT pass through the body in any manner. It is attached bumper to frame only. Bumper chain links may not be welded from the skin to the frame. Bumpers can and should be #9 wired to the body front and rear; two locations per bumper. Wire may pass through trunk lid and taillight panel and hood/core support; 3 strands per spot. 
5. If hard nosing, nothing can be inside of the frame and no bumper shocks of any kind, the shock cannot be unbolted and left inside the frame it must be removed
6. In the case that you are using a factory OEM bracket which must be Make and model specific, you may in addition to the factory bolts, weld the first 6” top and bottom. Must bolt in factory location. 
7. SMW Bumpers will be permitted — . http://www.smithmetalworks.info Comparable bumpers will be permitted with approval. OEM bumpers may be seam Welded, No Loaded or gusseted Bumpers permitted 
8. Maximum bumper heights must be 22″ in the front and a minimum of 14″ in the rear; measured to the bottom side of the bumper as mounted on the car. 

BODY

1. It is highly recommended that the driver’s and passenger’s doors be welded solid and plated. Door skins are also permitted along with inside door plates. Sidebar to sheet metal only; not within body mount areas. 
2. No C-channel reinforcements are permitted on the outer doors. Driver’s nor passenger’s door reinforcement may not extend beyond the driver’s door seams more than 3″. 
3. Doors may be welded, banded, bolted or chained shut. If welded, it can only have a maximum of six 3″ x 3″ x 1/8″ plates using vertical welds. Chain, wire or banding receive 6 locations and must not pass through or around the frame in any location. Maximum of three strands of wire, maximum of l” banding. Chaining, wiring and banding must be done sheet metal to sheet metal in six places only. No washers welded in for wiring will be permitted. 
4. All factory body mount may be changed. You may use hockey pucks or a stack of washers, etc. ½” max bolts may replace OEM bolts. All spacers must be free floating. Body mount rubbers must maintain a l” space between body and frame. Maximum space at firewall is 2” may be obtained by stacking washers, two pucks. No steel tubing spacers at firewall. 3″ x 3″ x 1/4″ washer top and bottom maximum. It is not permitted to move the body mount hole and washers may NOT be welded in the hole. No additional body mounts are permitted.  Risers made of a max 2″ x 2″ tubing. 
5. Trunk may be welded 3 on 3 off.  3”x 3” x1/4” plates. Trunk lid may be tucked in a 90 degree angle and attached to floor using 3 on 3 off method. One 10” inspection hole  per side of trunk is required. Holes may be bolted in six places with a maximum of 5/16″ sized bolts, l” in length with l” washers. Rear speaker decks cannot be removed.
6. Trunk may be dished a max of 8” from the top of the quarter panels which must remain upright
7. All hoods must have a minimum of two 12″ x 12″ holes. Holes may be bolted in six places with a maximum of 3/8″ bolts, l” in length with l” washers. You may use six h” bolts for hood hold-downs. 3″ x 3″ x J/4″ maximum dimensions for the hood hold-downs. Hood bolts may pass through core support only; they may not pass through or around the frame. You may

add 3″ x 3″ x 3″ x 1/8″ angle to the inner fender for hood bolt mounts. No gussets from core support to fenders as hood bolt hold-downs are permitted. Angles cannot connect 

fenders to the firewall. 

• Core support Risers may not be fastened to frame or core support in any way., Risers Must be Free Floating to core support. A maximum of 4” total. 
• No metal may be added to the radiator support. The radiator may be strapped in two places, vertically. Or 2 pieces of 3/8″ all-thread maximum, l” banding, or three strands of #9 wire may be used. Condenser or 1/8”expanded metal may be mounted in four places (not Both), factory style only with a maximum of four 3/8″ bolts. Inspectors must be able to see between radiators and condensers. No spray foam is permitted. 
• All-thread in the core support is permitted. 1⁄2 Max and cannot be used as a Hood Bolt, hood Bolts Must be separate from core support mount, bolt cannot be continuous through the hood 
• Rear quarter panels and front fenders may be creased.  

Cage 

1. A four point cage is permitted with a max of 6” material.  2 side bars, a dash bar and a rear seat bar are mandatory. Side bars cannot extend past the rear kick panel and must stop at the firewall.
2. Rear seat bar cannot be further back than the rear kick panel.
3. Dash bar must be at least 4” away from the firewall.
4. Cage bars are permitted to be inside the doors
5. A center bar for mounting of shifter is permitted. 
6. All cage material must remain 6” off of the floor with the exception of the gas tank protector.
7. Gas tank protector can be a max of 32” wide, may be tight to packing tray bu must stop at packing tray. No GTP may exceed the packing tray onto the speaker deck area. Gas tank protectors may 1 gusset per side either GTP to side bar or GTP to rear seat bar.  Addition material for mounting of coolers or batteries can be approved via conversation with TJ McCullough only.
8. Halo bar permitted but must run from top of side bar straight up across roof and straight down to top of opposite side bar. No angling of halo. 
9. Front window bar may come off of the Halo bar and down on top of the dash bar. As an alternative you be run 3” strapping in two locations in front window roof to cowel area. At minimum 2 locations of 9 wire in window area must be ran. 
10. Both front window bar and halo can be attached to roof with 2 locations using 2×2 angle and bolted using max ½ inch bolt.  
11. Rear window bar is permitted. Max of 2”x2” tubing.  May only extend onto the roof the first 3 inches and may be welded of bolted 3”. On the bottom the rear window bar must overlap at the speaker tray trunk lid conjunction. A 5”x5” plate may be welded at this location and rear window bar welded to that plate.
12. No down bars.
13. This is an interior cockpit cage meaning all material is to stay inside the body where passengers ride. Anything outside of this will not be permitted.  
14. If running a passenger the passenger must have his ow steering wheel or T BAR.  No sharp petruding blunt objects. Call for clarification.  
15. NO batteries between feet of passenger.  

Gas Tank

1.  Gas tanks must be constructed of steel. This includes metal fuel cells, Jerry cans and boat tanks. No plastic tanks or lacquer cans will be permitted (even if you put it in a milk crate). Fuel line must be securely fastened and clamped so that it will not pull free from the tank. Holes must be drilled into the floor underneath the tank if it is mounted on the bar, or around the perimeter of the tank if mounted on the floor. If you are using an electric fuel pump, you must use high pressure fuel line. A shutoff switch must be located on the dash bar. Shutoff switch must be visibly marked. Fuel tank vents should be positioned away from occupants. Rollover valves are recommended. 

Drive Train 

1. Engine swaps are permitted. 
2. Slider driveshafts are permitted. 
3. Transmission coolers are permitted inside the car. No type of rubber fuel line is permitted as transmission lines. Heavy duty transmission lines or hydraulic JIC are recommended.
4. A front plate, lower cradle and pulley protector is permitted.  No Midplates, DP’s or halo carb protectors and no connecting bars.  The lower cradle must stop no further back that where the engine and transmission meet.
5. No solid engine mounts,  Must have either a rubber bushing or poly bushing. 
6. Aluminum ultra bells are permitted, no steel bell.  Transmission must have stock housing and stock tailshaft.  Must use a rubber transmission mount. No solid mounts.  OEM crossmembers of 2”x2” max tubing as crossmember is acceptable. On the side of the frame rail one per rail a 6” long piece of 3”x3” angle is permitted to be welded to mount crossmember.  This angle can only be welded to the inside drivetrain facing side on the frame.  
7. Headers are permitted. 
8. Aftermarket shifter, gas pedal and brake pedals are permitted. 
9. Aluminum radiators are permitted. Electric fans are permitted. 
10. Motor chains must be used with a 3/8″ maximum size. Chain must be bolted to the motor and dropped vertically with no more than two links welded to the K frame. Links may not be welded from the frame to the motor. No skid plates. Transmission pan and oil pan may be plated for protection. Plate may not exceed l” beyond the pan. They cannot connect. Basic adapter plates for BOP transmissions are permitted. 
11. Cars must have working brakes. 
12. Automotive five-bolt OEM Housing rear ends only. Example, 10-bolt GM, 9″ Ford, 8.8 Ford, 
13. 8 % Chrysler, etc. No reinforcing the tubes. No changing size of bolt holes or use of oversized bolts or washers for mounting purposes. Spider gears may be welded. Bolt in axle conversions permitted. No Axles Savers. 
14. Direct bolt-on pinion brakes permitted. No extra bracing to mount pinion brake. Factory brackets can be swapped on rear differential. Example, 1980’s Ford brackets to 9″, etc. Top ears must be minimal fab with factory style OEM bushings only. No spherical joints, etc. 

Tires and Wheels 

Any wheels and tires with the following exceptions.  2” lip protectors max are permitted and a valve stem protector. This is for both front and back wheels.  

Rust Repair All rust repair needs to be pre approved. This includes frame and body both.  Body repair once approved will be allowing 16-18 guage sheet metal with a one inch overlap or using another floor pan etc from a OEM car.  Frame rust repair is to be pre approved. 

Questions and concerns can be answered by contacting
TJ McCullough 301-707-6870 Allow 24 hours for response.  Text message is encouraged