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Change the cars not the track?

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Old 08-05-2010, 07:47 PM
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Default Change the cars not the track?

I went to night under fire at Summit motor sports park last weekend and saw a guy with a shirt that said change the cars not the track, We want our 1320 back. I didn't see anything on the shirt that explained what cars it was talking about. Then yesterday at work a guy was thinking that the fuel funny cars were only running the 1/8th. I know they were running 1000 ft. at least but I was curious if the fuel cars aren't running a full 1/4 anymore.

If they are does anyone know what class it might be talking about?
Old 08-05-2010, 09:13 PM
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Top Fuel and Funny Car went from 1/4 mile to 1000 ft racing after Scott Kalitta died from an accident 1 or 2 years ago in Englishtown. They have talked about ways to slow down the fuel cars to bring everything back to 1/4 mile since, but the recent 2 alcohol drivers killed has brought the conversation back to the table again.

Derek
Old 08-05-2010, 09:19 PM
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Gotcha. Why don't they just add more shut down area? Isn't that the biggest issue.
Old 08-05-2010, 09:30 PM
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Yep, problem is land value and some tracks can't just buy more shutoff. Some tracks have a TON of shutdown and they still have issues (no brakes at 100+ mph takes a while and even 1/2 mile of shutdown may not be enough). So they are looking at more safety options.
I love 1/4-mile racing, but the south has been overrun with 1/8-mile stuff due to many tracks not being able to purchase/have enough land to run a 1/4-mile deal. Then certain racers gear them for 1/8-mile, they won't make a full 1/4 on a regular track so they bitch instead of changing a gear. The 1/4-mile tracks run 1/8-mile. Tough but majority rules.....
Old 08-05-2010, 10:00 PM
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I was wondering why none went 300 mph. The fastest we saw was 299.66.

1/8th seems foolish to me but I understand why some tracks are built as such. I havn't been following drag racing for the past few years with so many other things on TV and not enough time to watch it all.

I guess I missed the 1000ft. deal by a long shot.
Old 08-05-2010, 10:55 PM
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1/8th mile blows unless it's a special race real man run 1320. Course i'm lucky to have 5 1/4 mile track within 2 hours of me, guess i'd run it if i had too.
Old 08-06-2010, 06:07 PM
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Originally Posted by ssdeuce74
1/8th mile blows unless it's a special race real man run 1320. Course i'm lucky to have 5 1/4 mile track within 2 hours of me, guess i'd run it if i had too.
1/8th mile=all about the 60ft...screw that up and youve lost.


So I guess if you drive a stick and run the 1/4....you must be the guy from the Dos Equis commercial...

Last edited by SuperSlow02; 08-06-2010 at 06:53 PM.
Old 08-06-2010, 08:54 PM
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1/4 mile is all about 60ft too. Obviously you have a tiny bit more chance too make up for it in a 1/4 but 60ft still makes the biggest differance no matter how far you are going.
Old 08-06-2010, 09:16 PM
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Drag racing is all about 60ft. Sure....tiny bit more chance if you consider another 8th mile tiny. Not going to bother arguing this, Just find it funny how 1/4 mile racing is a real mans race.
Old 08-07-2010, 07:53 AM
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Well 1/4 is the norm, and 1/8th seems foolish unless it is your only option. That is like have the Daytona 1 lap, or the Indy 25 mile. An 1/8th mile at a 60-90 mile an hour roll isn't all that much time or space is what I meant by it being tiny.
Old 08-07-2010, 10:41 AM
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1320 or nothing, IMO.
Old 08-07-2010, 11:23 AM
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and the track Scott Kalitta crashed at wasnt a 300 mph track.. why would they let them race on it? or am i wrong?
Old 08-07-2010, 12:12 PM
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Im all about safety in racing, but the NHRA needs to get a handle on this issue, and its not just TF, the guys in PS are pissed at NHRA, especially Warren Johnson.

They've tried these automatic 'chute deployment systems for TF, and IMO they are stupid and cause a cars 'chute to pop and cost a guy a race. Since 1000' racing WJ has raised a stink quite a few times on air about how PS gets screwed with track prep (no spray or clean up past 1000') and the PS cars have actually crashed. I think it was Seattle where PS left the staging lanes and had a 'walkout' and tried to force the NHRA to do something. WJ was on the TV again.

Im wondering whats next for trying to stop cars....rear tire exploders that cause the car to skid along the ground???

These last couple of deaths, I cant remember names, may they both RIP, the one guy if you watched the crash, he went into the sand and into the net not very hard, and it didnt look like that bad of a crash, but it still killed him. Point is its not all about the speed and reducing it for safety, maybe there are other things systems to make it safer.
Old 08-07-2010, 03:54 PM
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Originally Posted by 99BlackTransAm
and the track Scott Kalitta crashed at wasnt a 300 mph track.. why would they let them race on it? or am i wrong?
What are you talking about? It was at Englishtown.

I'm not sure what you're referring to as a "300 MPH track"...all NHRA tracks have to abide by the same guidelines.
Old 08-08-2010, 03:24 AM
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shoot my stick is just for playin got two drag cars with auto's one with trans brake. but i can tell you 60 is everything if 60 is off it translates to more at the 1/8 and even more at the 1/4 hell happened tonight spun .04 went .05 slow at the 1/4 on what should have been a runout pass tryin to make it up. don't get me wrong i run special 1/8 races and it's fun
Old 08-08-2010, 03:40 AM
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ADRL is 1/8 mile and that is some of the best drag racing you can watch. those cars are just too damn fast to run the whole 1/4 anyway. example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnBD3gBZHvQ [/QUOTE]
Old 08-08-2010, 11:47 AM
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To all you who think 1/4 mile is the only way to race you're just ignorant, and that's ok. I've raced 1/4 and 1/8 and the 1/4 lets whoever has the most money build more speed in the top end. 1/8 mile is much more dependent on the driver.
Old 08-08-2010, 12:07 PM
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Originally Posted by fenton06
To all you who think 1/4 mile is the only way to race you're just ignorant, and that's ok.
The only thing ignorant is that statement.
Old 08-08-2010, 12:25 PM
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Went to ADRL Yesterday at Gateway my first 1/8 event. Really great raceing. think it was better than NHRA. There where cars doing 3.70s at 205 mph and usally was wheel to wheel racing. And Titan motorsports scion was impressive also.
Old 08-08-2010, 12:47 PM
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Originally Posted by SuperSlow02
Just find it funny how 1/4 mile racing is a real mans race.
this has got to be the dumbest statement i've ever seen.



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