Not a problem…
;-]
I love NHRA racing. 7000 HP? Wow. Just wow.
Unless you’ve seen it in person, you have no idea just how loud those cars are.
Drag racing lost its attraction for me a long time ago,what a burst of glory,7000 HP for a few seconds from a mere 500 cid,I believe, disbelievers said no way,it cant last(who said anything about these engines lasting?)
I think that a run down the strip pretty much consumes the engine and clutch. One of the more interesting things to watch is the pit crew getting the car ready for the next race. They pretty much replace everything that goes round and round or up and down.
These things are not just stupid fast, this sport is stupid expensive, to the point where it’s hard to get enough sponsors to pay the bills.
There is a growing category called “nostalgia drags”, top fuel cars of the '70s limited to the technology of the day. Every control has to control a single function, it can’t set off a chain of events controlled by a timer.
Yup, those motors get rebuilt after every run. The amount of energy it takes to get those things to 330 mph in 1/4 mile creates enormous stresses on the parts. The good news is that the crews can totally rebuild these engines in less than the 75 minutes the NHRA allows.
I have to admit that while I like drags, I’d like to see a totally unrestricted class. Modern chassis designs are extremely safe, even designed to intentionally break the driver cage from the engine portion of the chassis in an engine explosion, and while the engines would generate enormous energy I doubt if it would really be any more dangerous that current restricted dragsters. I’d like to see how fast these cars could really go without engine restrictions.
I used to love watching the “funny cars”, but I stopped enjoying them as much when they evolved to fiberglass clamshells over chassis bearing absolutely no resemblance to street cars. That transition is a big part of what made the drags “stupid expensive”.
How about lawn mowers? At the fair tonight they had lawn mower races. Never seen that before. Mostly stock stuff with the governors disconnected and the mowing deck removed. Two wheel corners and a couple flips but no injuries. Top speed about 50 mph.
Oops, sorry. We drove there.
How about lawn mowers? At the fair tonight they had lawn mower races. Never seen that before. Mostly stock stuff with the governors disconnected and the mowing deck removed. Two wheel corners and a couple flips but no injuries. Top speed about 50 mph.
Didn’t you ever watch “Tool Time”?
I expect they are getting pretty close to what,you can put on the ground and engage(maybe they will go to airscrews)there has to be a limit,but you you know the infernal clamor,is what a lot of people like.Its sort of ironic a lot of the tech was driven by aircraft and warfare,trail and error,now I would say,its getting close to a pure science.One of my friends is awestruck by these things,calling it a controlled explosion,well I dont know how controlled it really is.
These made up classes(funny cars,etc)just dont appeal to me,no more then the so called stock cars,people get up and hoot and holler for their brand,but I will say one thing,racing has proven that speed ,doesnt necessarily kill,the safety structures and sacrificial parts have made the building of the standard sedan a lot safer.Not to mention the talent of the people that ride these beasts.
A Top Fuel dragster or Funny can can pull 5 G’s plus on the starting line and hold 4 G’s down the track the entire way. To put that into perspective, it is early fighter jet territory. Pre-G-suit fighter jets. Right at the point where you black out.
I went to an NHRA even a few years back after a 25 year absence and was amazed at the increased speeds. Near the starting line, at the launch, it feels as if the oxygen is just sucked out of your lungs as the cars leave the line. Well, more of an explosion than a launch. Amazing, but I don’t need to go see it again.
How about lawn mowers?
At the state fair probably 10 years ago or so they had a lawn tractor pull. One guy had a D16 motor from a 4th gen Civic in his John Deere. A 108hp lawn mower… And he lost to the guy with the nitromethane-fueled one. One of the more ridiculous sights I’ve ever seen was the guy in the full Nomex race suit and helmet climbing onto a Cub Cadet.
I remember when 200 mph in the quarter was considered an almost unreachable goal. The first 200 mph run wasn’t made until 1960.
The cars are so fast that they don’t run a quarter mile race anymore. There isn’t enough track left after the quarter mile to stop reliably. I’m a big fan of John Force. Dave deSpain interviewed him more than once on WindTunnel. Force is a real motormouth, and it is a result of his extraordinary enthusiasm. He enjoys what he does so much that I became an immediate fan. All the better now that he drives for Chevy. And it’s a family affair now! Can’t beat it!
As for the noise, take ear protection.
jt,as if the brand makes a huge difference,big bucks usually makes big wins.
I know, Kevin. I’m a GM fan, as you may recall.
Your typical 1/12 scale radio control model car likely has as much GM content as John Force’s funny car. “Driving for Chevy” does not mean he’s driving a Chevy, it means Chevy pays him to put a bowtie emblem and the work “Chevrolet” on his race car.
Actually, Chevy probably does provide the engines. But they’re not engines that you or I could buy in a Cavalier. These engines are designed and built solely for drag racing by a GM division that does nothing but this. For GM it’s a marketing expense.
You have a point there,I’ve heard you can buy a brandnew flathead “Ford”(for whatever reasons)
I’m aware of the money connection @B.L.E. Force cars wore the Ford badge before because Ford supported the team. The same could be said for NASCAR with the Car of Tomorrow Today.
I’m pretty sure John Force’s car will have a Keith Black or Donovan engine in it no matter who’s name is on the side of the car.