Change the cars not the track?
#1
Ph.D. in HUBRIS
Thread Starter
iTrader: (11)
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,964
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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?
If they are does anyone know what class it might be talking about?
#2
7 Second Club
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Gainesville, Florida # of drag strips runs: ?!?!?
Posts: 8,834
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
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
Derek
#4
7 Second Club
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Gainesville, Florida # of drag strips runs: ?!?!?
Posts: 8,834
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
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.....
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.....
#5
Ph.D. in HUBRIS
Thread Starter
iTrader: (11)
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,964
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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.
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.
#7
11 Second Club
iTrader: (16)
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Cape Girardeau, MO
Posts: 1,865
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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.
Trending Topics
#9
11 Second Club
iTrader: (16)
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Cape Girardeau, MO
Posts: 1,865
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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.
#10
Ph.D. in HUBRIS
Thread Starter
iTrader: (11)
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,964
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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.
#13
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Alberta, Canada
Posts: 617
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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.
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.
#15
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: crownsville md
Posts: 355
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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
#16
8 Second Club
iTrader: (67)
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]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnBD3gBZHvQ [/QUOTE]
#17
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.