***Texas Mile Update!!***
Teching In
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Please pick up a physics book at the nearest used student bookstore.
If you are concerned with the exact length of a track, then yes I'll agree that every foot counts in order to make it an exact length track.
If you are concerned with your speed results at the end of the track length, then you'll probably find that your finishing mph doesn't vary much if you decide to wheelstand at the starting line, or roll into the throttle from the starting line. Therefore, the "every foot" doesn't count when we are discussing acceleration or velocity potential.
Why? Because of this equation.
Pay attention to the V squared part of that equation. That shows that the Force (F) of drag generated has an exponential relationship to velocity (v). The faster you go, it takes even more power to overcome that Force, to achieve the same rate of acceleration.
What does this mean? It means if you are accelerating as quickly as you can, as you approach the end of the mile, those feet have FAR more importance than the feet located near the starting line. Therefore, the start style you use doesn't affect much in terms of final mph.
If you are concerned with the exact length of a track, then yes I'll agree that every foot counts in order to make it an exact length track.
If you are concerned with your speed results at the end of the track length, then you'll probably find that your finishing mph doesn't vary much if you decide to wheelstand at the starting line, or roll into the throttle from the starting line. Therefore, the "every foot" doesn't count when we are discussing acceleration or velocity potential.
Why? Because of this equation.
Pay attention to the V squared part of that equation. That shows that the Force (F) of drag generated has an exponential relationship to velocity (v). The faster you go, it takes even more power to overcome that Force, to achieve the same rate of acceleration.
What does this mean? It means if you are accelerating as quickly as you can, as you approach the end of the mile, those feet have FAR more importance than the feet located near the starting line. Therefore, the start style you use doesn't affect much in terms of final mph.
The physics is a lot simpler:
v = m/s
(Your speed is the rate in which you cover a particular distance i.e., meters per second)
a = v/s (= m/s/s)
(Your acceleration is the rate in which your speed changes i.e., meters per second per second)
The nice part is, you can express these relationships as mathematical equations and rearrange them to suite... for example, it should be clear from the above that the inverse functions are simply:
m = v*s
(Your distance is your average speed over a given time)
v = a*s
(Your speed is your average acceleration over a given time)
It's this last one that is relevant to a vmax competition. The higher your average acceleration over the period of time you spend between the start and end point of the distance, the higher your velocity.
Whether it's a 1/4 mile or a mile or 5 miles, there is a fixed distance.
Yes, you can talk about aerodynamics. You can talk about traction. You can talk about power. You can even talk about weight... these are all factors in the vehicle's acceleration at any point over that fixed distance, some matter more a lower speeds, some at higher speeds, but all that matters is that by maximizing your (positive...) acceleration throughout the duration of time the vehicle spends traveling across that distance, you are maximizing your velocity.
Whether a particular technique actually offers optimal acceleration (velocity change over time) is a whole different discussion, but what you need to know at the end of the day is that if you're under-accelerating what the vehicle is capable of at anypoint in time, you're reducing your vmax potential.
e.g.,
Granny shifting = time spent while acceleration is less than zero
Soft launch = under utilizing traction (or if you have more traction than power, under utilizing engine power)
etc...
There may well be good reasons for doing things like this (avoiding parts breakage), but it'll never make you go faster.
Teching In
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
I wonder if events like this will eventually prompt new sizes offered or even new tire products... It really is unique because there is zero turning unlike a road race tire would see but the tire will undergo higher top speeds than the typical quarter mile tire would see, sustained too.
Are these tires ideal or simply the best we have so far?
Are these tires ideal or simply the best we have so far?
They may not be particularly good for traction on asphalt, mind you. I have no idea where to buy stuff like this.
Never heard of those... Sounds interesting.
LS7 Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,173
Likes: 0
From: HOUSTON
Time not spent accelerating at your max potential will net you a slower mph. Period. I don't understand why this is a hard concept.
If they are going faster in the 1/2 mile they should all things "equal" go faster in the mile.
With that said, I doubt they can leave too hard in most of these cars. A crazy smoke show would probably be the only thing you can get. I think Tony was trying to put emphasis on the limited gains to be had with leaving hard during a top speed run of this nature.
If they are going faster in the 1/2 mile they should all things "equal" go faster in the mile.
With that said, I doubt they can leave too hard in most of these cars. A crazy smoke show would probably be the only thing you can get. I think Tony was trying to put emphasis on the limited gains to be had with leaving hard during a top speed run of this nature.
Teching In
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine
Verdad Gallardo
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin
Verdad Gallardo
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
That statement is assuming there is zero tire slippage, basically perfectly transferred power and acceleration over a fixed distance. I agree, under those assumptions.
However, with a vehicle that sees tire spin, it doesn't apply. This is a more realistic case. Can you explain why a spinning takeoff (not accelerating to full potential) at the drag strip typically nets a higher trap speed at the finish line? Talking street cars here, not top fuel cars with excellent traction.
It is because that tire slippage at the takeoff puts the engine at a higher initial rpm range in the same amount of distance travelled, compared to a car that hooked and didn't spin. When they cross the trap box at the end of the track, that translated higher rpm range is then producing more power, which means more acceleration within the trap speed box.
Anyone that has spent enough time at the drag strip should be able to confirm this.
I'm looking for understanding and not just trying to be a dick. But it would seem if they launched harder and used an auto they would go a few mph faster at the mile which could be the record. LMR seemed to just roll out for a bit and the driver was shifting slow which you end up losing mph when you're going fast due to wind resistance.
I am sure this has been brought up before, but is there a specific reason why nobody is running whatever tires Nascar guys are running? Aren't they staying at 200+ mph for much longer periods of time than in the Tx Mile before they have to come in for tire changes?
LS7 Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,173
Likes: 0
From: HOUSTON
Ben,
That statement is assuming there is zero tire slippage, basically perfectly transferred power and acceleration over a fixed distance. I agree, under those assumptions.
However, with a vehicle that sees tire spin, it doesn't apply. This is a more realistic case. Can you explain why a spinning takeoff (not accelerating to full potential) at the drag strip typically nets a higher trap speed at the finish line? Talking street cars here, not top fuel cars with excellent traction.
It is because that tire slippage at the takeoff puts the engine at a higher initial rpm range in the same amount of distance travelled, compared to a car that hooked and didn't spin. When they cross the trap box at the end of the track, that translated higher rpm range is then producing more power, which means more acceleration within the trap speed box.
Anyone that has spent enough time at the drag strip should be able to confirm this.
That statement is assuming there is zero tire slippage, basically perfectly transferred power and acceleration over a fixed distance. I agree, under those assumptions.
However, with a vehicle that sees tire spin, it doesn't apply. This is a more realistic case. Can you explain why a spinning takeoff (not accelerating to full potential) at the drag strip typically nets a higher trap speed at the finish line? Talking street cars here, not top fuel cars with excellent traction.
It is because that tire slippage at the takeoff puts the engine at a higher initial rpm range in the same amount of distance travelled, compared to a car that hooked and didn't spin. When they cross the trap box at the end of the track, that translated higher rpm range is then producing more power, which means more acceleration within the trap speed box.
Anyone that has spent enough time at the drag strip should be able to confirm this.
I know this car can destroy the tires in every gear, although the boost by gear or whatever setup seems to be working better now (could be wheels / tires too). Shifting this thing hard would be questionable, but they might be leaving some mph on the table by rolling out so slowly for such a distance. Any speed gains in the 1/2 should show up on the big end as well, just like at the track.
When setting records you have to take all the track theyre going to give you.
Are they spinning the tires in this thing at 196?
Is this for real??? Lol, if every foot doesnt matter why don't they just cruise thru the 1/2 mile at 100 then punch it? Lol, so u mean to tell me if they could hit 200 in the first 1/4 it wouldn't help there mile mph? Come on man!
