Racer's Lounge - Just great: No more quarter mile drag racing for top fuel and funny car....

Stemming from the death of Scott Kalitta, the NHRA has reduced the 1320 to a 1000 feet. I think I'll be skipping the next race event.


http://www.nhra.com/content/news/30355.htm

Its says an Interim saftey measure. Hopefully it will be just for the rest of the season until they can come up with something better to stop the cars at the end of the track.

NHRA with no 1320!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh shit!! The first stage of the apocalypse!! I wonder what else they are going to change? In the end I do hope that they come up with something to safely stop an out of control vehicle. This was a terrible event, but everyone that races knows what risks are associated with our sport. It is dangerous, but that is one of the things that makes it that much more addicting and enjoyable. My heart and prayers go out to his family.

how about adding an ejection seat with a parachute to all those top fuel and funny cars? If in case of emergency just hit the button and fly out to safety.I know they have a full cage around the driver but if they really wanted too they could come up with something to work.

What's next? 1/8th for all other classes???

Wow, no disrespect to the Kalitta family or the legacy of Scott Kalitta but that's one of the most ridiculous ideas I've ever heard in the automotive world. What about past Top Fuel/Funny Car fatal and near-fatal crashes? NHRA never changed the finish line distance then. Why do it now? :bang::bang:

Wow, no disrespect to the Kalitta family or the legacy of Scott Kalitta but that's one of the most ridiculous ideas I've ever heard in the automotive world. What about past Top Fuel/Funny Car fatal and near-fatal crashes? NHRA never changed the finish line distance then. Why do it now? :bang::bang:

Exactly.

There is no reason to change anything. Look at what happened in that one funny car race where they didn't even make it to the 1000ft mark before the one guy flipped over on his side & the other driver drove thru his car, tearing it in half.

Fact is when you are playing with that much HP shits gonna happen eventually & it doesn't matter weather your running a full 1320 or not.

Also I didn't notice the big sand pit at the end of the track either. A deep sand pit with good sand(not old & hard) can stop a car very quickly. His accident looked like it just went right into the end of the track with no pit to help slow the car.

If they changed automotive sports every single time someone was killed at a event, we wouldn't even have racing anymore. Kinda brings the ol phrase into mind, "If your scared go to church." If they really believe taking out a little 320ft is gonna make that much of a difference, I'd be inclined to call them stupid. Those car cover 320ft in literly fractions of a second at the big end.

damn so now all the cars have to be set up for the 1000' mark? The gearing needs to be changed and all?

The track he died at was built back when cars were running 100mph slower. Its not the distance that needs to be shortened,

ITS THE DAMN TRACKS THAT NEED TO BE LENGTHENED.

Spend some damn money and bring all of these old school tracks up to modern day safety standards.

period.

The track he died at was built back when cars were running 100mph slower. Its not the distance that needs to be shortened,

ITS THE DAMN TRACKS THAT NEED TO BE LENGTHENED.

Spend some damn money and bring all of these old school tracks up to modern day safety standards.

period.

+100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000.

Keith

how about adding an ejection seat with a parachute to all those top fuel and funny cars? If in case of emergency just hit the button and fly out to safety.I know they have a full cage around the driver but if they really wanted too they could come up with something to work.

shut up noob

i think that it is great they are taking elaborate safety measures to insure the well being of those guys who lives our dream......... it seems more and more that the 1320 is becoming a thing of the past and its baby brother 660 is takin the thrown this has its ups and downs. The 1320 is the legacy of drag racing from our grandfathers day it has been the saturday strip meets that fuel the hot rod passion in all of us and now that it is disipating in our generation we are the ones who suffer in reality.

When those drivers climp into the cockpit of those cars they know every little risk they take when you push a car from 0-300 in about 5 seconds and do anyone think they would change that.............Nope cause then there wouldnt be any adrenaline

ban the nitro and run a diffrent fuel or limit the cubes somnthing needs to be done

The track he died at was built back when cars were running 100mph slower. Its not the distance that needs to be shortened,

ITS THE DAMN TRACKS THAT NEED TO BE LENGTHENED.

Spend some damn money and bring all of these old school tracks up to modern day safety standards.

period.

X100000000000000000000000000

They keep updating stupid less important stuff like towers & seating instead of more important issues like this. They could spend the extra money to lengthen the track if they can blow it on a cool tower set-up.

Keep the sport wide open.... this is America! :usa:

Make the trap at the end of the track better....

Nothin' but a bunch of liberal, butt dripping trying to limit everything!!! :spam:

ban the nitro and run a diffrent fuel or limit the cubes somnthing needs to be done

Yeah something does need to be done alrgith. People need to realize that this is a dangerous sport and live with it. It is COMMON knowledge that every time you get in these cars you take your life in your own hands. I bet if we look at every form of motorsports and compared the number of deaths to just flying we would see the truth. It is much safer to go mid 4's than to fly, yet no one is saying we shoud fly lower to the ground or fly at a slower speed. :eyes:

1000ft is gay and half ass.

The IHRA has already gone to the 1/8th for their Pro cars. Sad to say, it started here at San Antonio Raceway last year when they did an overnight asphalt repair to the right lane. The first round of qualifying was running the 1/4 until the rt lane starting showing problems. This year they ran the 1/8th,too;it's the first IHRA natl event of the season.

Did you catch what Jim Head was saying at E-town about most of the drivers want to shut-off at the 1/8th? He mentioned stuff like parts damage and above-300mph speed-related concerns.

I don't see why they'd have to go to 1,000' at the longer tracks

They should just have stationary races on dynos so no one gets hurt.

:eyes: :nono:

They should just have stationary races on dynos so no one gets hurt.

:eyes: :nono:

:jest: :jest:

Hmmm...races on dynos so nobody gets hurt...

NHRA could then stand for...Now Hosting Ricer Activities :nod:
:D

The track he died at was built back when cars were running 100mph slower. Its not the distance that needs to be shortened,

ITS THE DAMN TRACKS THAT NEED TO BE LENGTHENED.

Spend some damn money and bring all of these old school tracks up to modern day safety standards.

period.


So the thousands of passes countless top fuel/jet drag cars have made down the raceway park dragstrip safely, account for nothing? Fifty people will have died in car accidents in the time it's taken me to type this, perhaps we should just ban cars all together:eyes: It's ridiculous that people feel compelled to instill change in something when something freak and randomn happens.

Extending the track is the most logical solution, but tight-wads rather just bring the finish line closer, in essence giving the racer a longer stopping pad. Honestly, this just sounds a duct tape and zip-tied quick fix. Well, I'd hope so anyway. The pavement doesn't really have to be lengthened much, but the sand traps should get a little more attention. Hell, a gradual incline after the traps would help a bit.

It makes me wonder if the effects will trickle down to other classes and simple things like Test 'n' Tune. If they have to recalibrate their equipment for a shorter distance, they may just end up setting a new 1,000ft standard.

i was at E town last summer, and the track is pretty short in person past the traps.

1000' = Gay

Wow, no disrespect to the Kalitta family or the legacy of Scott Kalitta but that's one of the most ridiculous ideas I've ever heard in the automotive world. What about past Top Fuel/Funny Car fatal and near-fatal crashes? NHRA never changed the finish line distance then. Why do it now? :bang::bang:

Because no one has plowed into a concrete barrier at the end of the track head on @ over 200 mph. That is what killed him. Most of the deaths were from the cars hitting the side walls and flipping violently and catching fire. At least from what I can remember. Correct me if I am wrong.

Does NHRA really think 320 ft would have saved Scott? Ridiculous.

The track he died at was built back when cars were running 100mph slower. Its not the distance that needs to be shortened,

ITS THE DAMN TRACKS THAT NEED TO BE LENGTHENED.

Spend some damn money and bring all of these old school tracks up to modern day safety standards.

period.




agreed.

This is dumb. Those drivers know the risks involved, and they crave that adrenaline rush. I'll chalk this idea up as another example of the continued pussification of the USA.

What about the record holders for the 1320 races. Are you just going to tell those guys that they don't matter anymore because they don't race to that distance. I really hope they change it back.

Okay, everyone who is screaming that the short track at Etown killed him should STFU. Scott Kalitta was probably dead well before the 1/4 mile mark. The track could have been another mile long and he would still be dead.

Next, Etown does have a sand trap at the end of the track. If you have never raced there, then don't start spouting about how unsafe the track is.

At what point did his car go up in flames? 1000'? 1100'? Whatever it was, that's what killed him. Look at some of the other instances where people lose parachutes but are still able to stop the car. In this case, there was no attempt to stop the car, pointing to him either being unconcious or dead.

But please, if you've never raced, or even been to englishtown, don't spout about it being too short. Plenty of other people have no problems stopping in time without going into the sand traps.

Every driver knows there's a risk... It's common knowledge it's a dangerous sport and that's part of the reason people enjoy watching it... Terrible things happen all the time in all environments; it's unavoidable and equally unfortunate. Stop trying to alter fate and deal with it...

Remote control will probably be next! Bob

hey... how about we make all the races with to-scale RC top fuel and funny cars?

shut up noob

i think that it is great they are taking elaborate safety measures to insure the well being of those guys who lives our dream......... it seems more and more that the 1320 is becoming a thing of the past and its baby brother 660 is takin the thrown this has its ups and downs. The 1320 is the legacy of drag racing from our grandfathers day it has been the saturday strip meets that fuel the hot rod passion in all of us and now that it is disipating in our generation we are the ones who suffer in reality.

When those drivers climp into the cockpit of those cars they know every little risk they take when you push a car from 0-300 in about 5 seconds and do anyone think they would change that.............Nope cause then there wouldnt be any adrenaline

:lol: who is this chode calling a noob with a whole 19 posts?

Im wonderding about the world records in elapsed time and speed, there surely to be broken given the shorter distance.... Will the records be upheld??

All of the old records will have to be set aside... a new era will start.. much like NASCAR did whith the beginning of the modern era... prime example is Petty's 200 win's dosent really mean much anymore

Fact is, the NHRA doesn't really know what killed Scott Kalitta, so shortening the track is simply a bandaid till they figure out what happened. The problem wasn't the track, it was the car itself. There have been plenty of instances where people have been able to get the car stopped before the sand traps at Etwon when the chutes fail, but in this instance, nothing was being done to slow the car down prior to the sand trap which would indicate that Scott wasn't concious at the 1/4 mile mark.

Because no one has plowed into a concrete barrier at the end of the track head on @ over 200 mph. That is what killed him. Most of the deaths were from the cars hitting the side walls and flipping violently and catching fire. At least from what I can remember. Correct me if I am wrong.

I think Blaine Johnson (he died in 96) hit the wall side-on at about 309 mph. Eric Medlen was a side-on hit too,I think...speed ??.

I'm not a race fan, but I thought it would be funny if they just strapped the cars to dynos in a wind tunnel and raced. That would be about as safe is you could get, next to video games.

I think Blaine Johnson (he died in 96) hit the wall side-on at about 309 mph. Eric Medlen was a side-on hit too,I think...speed ??.


Someone posted that Medlen died from being shook to death from tire shake.

Maybe we should just do every event at the salt flats so everyone can stay safe.

I don't know if I'm the only one who noticed, but even at the end of the 1320, Englishtown has almost a whole half mile to shut down.(4150'-1320'=2083) Even though it is one of the shortest tracks on the circuit. You can stop a 747 in less than that at landing speed. He was obviously either already dead, or unconcious.

As stated earlier, plenty of top fuel cars have stopped at the end of a run (even at Old Bridge) without a parachute.

Someone posted that Medlen died from being shook to death from tire shake.
+1

its just the fact that there really isn't a good solution to this. There is nothing out there yet, that can keep drivers safe at that speed. Making the tracks longer I think would definitly help, only because I see a number of cars end up in the sand. I don't think that a longer track would have saved Kalitta, nor do I think 1000' would have saved him either. There is a risk of death to this sport, that's the fact of it. The sorry thing is that this world wants to see change after an accident and I don't feel like this was the solution, but I have a feeling that this is only the start of the slow down of top fuel.