The Definition of Acceleration

[gregozedobe]

Preeny,

can you clarify for me something I think I read somewhere a while back ?

It was along the lines of 1/4 mile drags being phased out and replaced with 1/8 mile drags in the US as the top cars were going TOO fast on the full 1/4 mile distance, accidents were happening too often and they were too dangerous (because the dragsters were travelling too fast at the end of the 1/4).

TIA

[Treza360]

Preeny,

can you clarify for me something I think I read somewhere a while back ?

It was along the lines of 1/4 mile drags being phased out and replaced with 1/8 mile drags in the US as the top cars were going TOO fast on the full 1/4 mile distance, accidents were happening too often and they were too dangerous (because the dragsters were travelling too fast at the end of the 1/4).

TIA

As far as I'm aware this is true (Preen will confirm I'm sure). My understanding is that it's not that the cars are too fast, it's that the cars are too fast for the track.

From what I've heard most of the strips in the US have not been upgraded since 70s and no new ones have been built or something like that and therefore don't have the runoffs and area required for the current dragsters.

On the plus side though I believe that this gives us the fastest drags in the world.

Cheers,
Trent

[Preen59]

All nitro classes in the big show (Full Throttle Series) so, Funny Car and Top Fuel have been brought back to 1000 foot. 1/4 mile being 1320 feet.

This was after Scott Kalitta was killed at Englishtown when he fireballed and went into the safety fence, the car exploding.

Unfortunate but that's the way these things go. I reckon they should have made the tyres smaller rather than going back to 1000 foot, as do a lot of other people. The "Dog Food People" didn't see it that way.

[VW Convert]

-Rods (aluminium) are measured for squash. They actually get compressed by the force of the compression and power strokes. They are tossed after (usually) about 8 passes or when they get too short, which ever comes first. The the journal end is also measure for ovality.

8 passes at around 5 seconds per pass, add in a bit of idling time and burnouts, that's a lifespan of only a minute or two!

When are the drags next on at Eastern Creek Chris? I'm hanging out for another earth shattering experience.

Cheers

George

[Preen59]

As far as I'm aware this is true (Preen will confirm I'm sure). My understanding is that it's not that the cars are too fast, it's that the cars are too fast for the track.

From what I've heard most of the strips in the US have not been upgraded since 70s and no new ones have been built or something like that and therefore don't have the runoffs and area required for the current dragsters.

On the plus side though I believe that this gives us the fastest drags in the world.

Cheers,
Trent

Correct. They keep going faster and the runoff area hasn't been increased. The drag racers in europe are still running the full 1320 i'm pretty sure. You don't hear about that much but it's pretty big over there.


George, there's a meet as WSID on Boxing Day, but they're having Jet cars there which don't exactly interest me (Sound like **** and smell like kerosene..), so we won't be heading down for that.

Next REAL meet is:

2010 Summernationals

Friday, 12 February 2010
Saturday, 13 February 2010

http://www.wsid.com.au/event.asp?Id=1145

[Manaz]

When are the drags next on at Eastern Creek Chris? I'm hanging out for another earth shattering experience.

Cheers

George

There was an event last Saturday. Apparently someone measured 57ºC on the track (staging area).

Preeny will know for sure - how much does ambient temperature affect the dragsters? My Outback was retarding ignition severely at an indicated 45ºC on Sunday...

[Preen59]

There was an event last Saturday. Apparently someone measured 57ºC on the track (staging area).

Preeny will know for sure - how much does ambient temperature affect the dragsters? My Outback was retarding ignition severely at an indicated 45ºC on Sunday...

There was the Nostalgia Drags on Sunday. It was about 42 degrees ambient. High temperatures make the track sticky, but they also make the air less dense. Water grains make a lot of difference too.

So basically you end up with more grip and less HP.. To a point. Once it gets over certain temperatures tyres start doing funny things and they don't react with the track like they should, causing "tyre shake".






Tyre Shake

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lJnZbTFrcI

Bad for everything, especially the driver's head!

[mikepologti]

those stats are just incredable. i was watching the drag races on a hd channel on sunday, those cars still amaze me at how fast they go.

[Buller_Scott]

was that the rotary races? with all those mazdas with 13b's and the monaro with a toyota engine?

was that sunday?

[mikepologti]

think it might have been yeah , was watching the mini coopers as well , though that might have been a differant chanal