Anybody see the channel 5 episode last week about the dragsters. What an engineering marvel the engines are in them things. They can whip them apart in minutes. The blocks are so light. Unbelievable. The machine that won was using an engine made by the bosses own company yet had a Toyota sponsor decal on his machine whilst the nearest competitors machine was powered by a Toyota engine!
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chunkolini
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Is it available online?
Linky please.
I lurve the bonkers technology of drag racing and the simple rules.
Go from here to here as fast as you can; at least at the top end.
I went to Long Marston once, it was hilarious.
I expected to be bored, I spent the whole day head swivelling , jaw dropped muttering expletives. Loved it.
And in the pits at the end of the day. An imploded engine, every component with a price tag and a collecting tin.
Lunatics.
Linky please.
I lurve the bonkers technology of drag racing and the simple rules.
Go from here to here as fast as you can; at least at the top end.
I went to Long Marston once, it was hilarious.
I expected to be bored, I spent the whole day head swivelling , jaw dropped muttering expletives. Loved it.
And in the pits at the end of the day. An imploded engine, every component with a price tag and a collecting tin.
Lunatics.
I'm always amused at the people who say "its just in a straight line, anyone can do that". Humm yes, but that race was 80% won or lost a while back in some workshop late at night, by organizing things, getting stuff together, sourcing the right materials and know-how, making things work, trying new things etc. There's still lady luck to make everything come together on the day, but, you have to by and large make your own luck I think.
What they mean is the bit they're aware of, looks easy, in their uniformed opinion.
What they mean is the bit they're aware of, looks easy, in their uniformed opinion.
And as for "its in a straight line" on the day, they don't go straight. You get a drag slick to hook up by hitting it hard so it goes out of round and provides extra traction, that's whats going on when the sidewalls wrinkle. Its not just power, its intentional to deform the carcass.
And while that is happening, your tyre isn't very round. Or well behaved. Or wanting to go very straight.
A full on dragbike has a square rear slick 10" or upwards, you can't steer it through the handlebars, you have to shift your weight to make it move somewhat like trying to corner hard on a 3 wheeled ATC, and its heavy, and because when you start to lean it, it rolls onto a tiny narrow contact point on the edge of the tyre which is easy to overwhelm, and it doesn't really go the way you expect it direction wise either.
Then you get the top end, and you have to stop a very fast vehicle, with in the bikes case no front brake (the geometry is so far out, you'd be on your ear if you used it hard) that doesn't corner well enough to take the bend into the return road either.
But, straight line, anyone can do that mate. Says every expert in a pub
I don't mind personally, if it was that easy, it wouldn't be a challenge.
And while that is happening, your tyre isn't very round. Or well behaved. Or wanting to go very straight.
A full on dragbike has a square rear slick 10" or upwards, you can't steer it through the handlebars, you have to shift your weight to make it move somewhat like trying to corner hard on a 3 wheeled ATC, and its heavy, and because when you start to lean it, it rolls onto a tiny narrow contact point on the edge of the tyre which is easy to overwhelm, and it doesn't really go the way you expect it direction wise either.
Then you get the top end, and you have to stop a very fast vehicle, with in the bikes case no front brake (the geometry is so far out, you'd be on your ear if you used it hard) that doesn't corner well enough to take the bend into the return road either.
But, straight line, anyone can do that mate. Says every expert in a pub
I don't mind personally, if it was that easy, it wouldn't be a challenge.
A few of us are going to do it next yr
chunkolini
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Shox Dr book me a space.
I will forget, your job is to remind me.
Sounds like another potential life wrecker.
Just try this sonny, it wont hurt a bit.
I will forget, your job is to remind me.
Sounds like another potential life wrecker.
Just try this sonny, it wont hurt a bit.
langy
langys rodshop
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A little out of date but you might find these facts interesting
* One dragster's 500-inch Hemi makes more
horsepower then the first 8 rows at Daytona.
* Under full throttle, a dragster engine consumes
1 1/2 gallons of nitro per second, the same rate of
fuel consumption as a fully loaded 747, but with 4
times the energy density.
* The supercharger takes more power to drive
then a stock hemi makes.
* With nearly 3000 CFM of air being rammed in
by the supercharger on overdrive, the fuel mixture
is compressed into nearly-solid form before ignition.
* Cylinders run on the verge of hydraulic lock.
* Dual magnetos apply 44 amps to each spark plug.
This is the output of an arc welder in each cylinder.
* At stoichiometric (exact) 1.7:1 air/fuel mixture
(for nitro), the flame front of nitro methane measures
7050 degrees F.
* Nitro methane burns yellow. The spectacular white
flame seen above the exhaust stacks at night is raw
burning hydrogen, dissociated from atmospheric water
vapor by the searing exhaust gases.
* Spark plug electrodes are totally consumed during
a pass. After 1/2 way, the engine is dieseling from
compression plus the glow of exhaust valves at
1400 degrees F. The engine can only be shut down
by cutting off it's fuel flow.
* If spark momentarily fails early in the run, unburned
nitro builds up in those cylinders and then explodes
with a force that can blow cylinder heads off the block
in pieces or blow the block in half.
* Dragsters twist the crank (torsionally) so far (20
degrees in the big end of the crank) that sometimes
cam lobes are ground offset from front to rear to re-
phase the valve timing somewhere closer to syn-
chronization with the pistons.
* To exceed 300mph in 4.5 seconds dragsters must
accelerate at an average of over 4G's. But in reaching
200 mph well before 1/2 track, launch acceleration is
closer to 8G's.
* If all the equipment is paid off, the crew worked for
free, and for once NOTHING BLOWS UP, each run
costs $1000.00 per second.
* Dragsters reach over 300 miles per hour before
you have read this sentence.
* Top Fuel Engines ONLY turn 540 revolutions from
light to light!
* The redline is actually quite high at 9500rpm.
* To give you an idea of this acceleration, the current
TF dragster elapsed time record is 4.477 seconds
for the quarter mile.This means that you could be coming
across the starting line in your average Lingenfelter
powered "twin-turbo" Corvette at 200 mph
(on a FLYING START) and the dragster would BEAT
you to the finish line FROM A DEAD STOP in a quarter
mile distance!
Did you know …
… that the nitromethane-powered engines of NHRA Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars produce approximately 7,000 horsepower, about 37 times that of the average street car?
… that one cylinder of the eight cylinders of a Top Fuel dragster or a Funny Car produces 750 horsepower, equaling the entire horsepower output of a NASCAR engine?
… that the gasoline-powered engines of NHRA Pro Stock cars produce about 1,200 horsepower, about eight times that of the average street car?
… that an NHRA Top Fuel dragster accelerates from 0 to 100 mph in less than .8-second, almost 11 seconds quicker than it takes a production Porsche 911 Turbo to reach the same speed?
… that an NHRA Top Fuel dragster leaves the starting line with a force nearly five times that of gravity, the same force of the space shuttle when it leaves the launching pad at Cape Canaveral?
… that an NHRA Funny Car is slowed by a reverse force more than seven times that of gravity when both parachutes deploy simultaneously?
… that NHRA Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars consume between four and five gallons of fuel during a quarter-mile run, which is equivalent to between 16 and 20 gallons per mile?
… that NHRA Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars use between 10 and 12 gallons of fuel for a complete pass, including the burnout, backup to the starting line, and quarter-mile run?
… that NHRA Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars travel the length of more than four football fields in less than five seconds?
… that NHRA Top Fuel dragsters can exceed 280 mph in just 660 feet?
… that from a standing start, NHRA Top Fuel dragsters accelerate faster than a jumbo jet, a fighter jet, and a Formula One race car?
… that a fuel pump for an NHRA Top Fuel dragster and Funny Car delivers 65 gallons of fuel per minute, equivalent to eight bathroom showers running at the same time?
… that the fuel-line pressure for NHRA Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars is between 400 and 500 pounds, about 20 times greater than the pressure on passenger-car fuel pumps?
… that depending on size and angle, the large
rear wing on an NHRA Top Fuel dragster develops between 4,000 and 8,000 pounds of downforce?
… that the 17-inch rear tires used on NHRA Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars wear out after four to six runs, or about two miles? Some brands of passenger-car tires are guaranteed for 80,000 miles.
… that it takes just 15/100ths of a second for all 7,000 horsepower of an NHRA Top Fuel dragster engine to reach the rear wheels?
… that it's desirable for an NHRA Top Fuel dragster to race with its front wheels inches off the ground for about the first 200 feet of the run? This ensures proper weight transfer to the rear wheels, a crucial part of a good launch and quick run.
… that the nitromethane used to power the engines of NHRA Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars costs about $30 per gallon?
* One dragster's 500-inch Hemi makes more
horsepower then the first 8 rows at Daytona.
* Under full throttle, a dragster engine consumes
1 1/2 gallons of nitro per second, the same rate of
fuel consumption as a fully loaded 747, but with 4
times the energy density.
* The supercharger takes more power to drive
then a stock hemi makes.
* With nearly 3000 CFM of air being rammed in
by the supercharger on overdrive, the fuel mixture
is compressed into nearly-solid form before ignition.
* Cylinders run on the verge of hydraulic lock.
* Dual magnetos apply 44 amps to each spark plug.
This is the output of an arc welder in each cylinder.
* At stoichiometric (exact) 1.7:1 air/fuel mixture
(for nitro), the flame front of nitro methane measures
7050 degrees F.
* Nitro methane burns yellow. The spectacular white
flame seen above the exhaust stacks at night is raw
burning hydrogen, dissociated from atmospheric water
vapor by the searing exhaust gases.
* Spark plug electrodes are totally consumed during
a pass. After 1/2 way, the engine is dieseling from
compression plus the glow of exhaust valves at
1400 degrees F. The engine can only be shut down
by cutting off it's fuel flow.
* If spark momentarily fails early in the run, unburned
nitro builds up in those cylinders and then explodes
with a force that can blow cylinder heads off the block
in pieces or blow the block in half.
* Dragsters twist the crank (torsionally) so far (20
degrees in the big end of the crank) that sometimes
cam lobes are ground offset from front to rear to re-
phase the valve timing somewhere closer to syn-
chronization with the pistons.
* To exceed 300mph in 4.5 seconds dragsters must
accelerate at an average of over 4G's. But in reaching
200 mph well before 1/2 track, launch acceleration is
closer to 8G's.
* If all the equipment is paid off, the crew worked for
free, and for once NOTHING BLOWS UP, each run
costs $1000.00 per second.
* Dragsters reach over 300 miles per hour before
you have read this sentence.
* Top Fuel Engines ONLY turn 540 revolutions from
light to light!
* The redline is actually quite high at 9500rpm.
* To give you an idea of this acceleration, the current
TF dragster elapsed time record is 4.477 seconds
for the quarter mile.This means that you could be coming
across the starting line in your average Lingenfelter
powered "twin-turbo" Corvette at 200 mph
(on a FLYING START) and the dragster would BEAT
you to the finish line FROM A DEAD STOP in a quarter
mile distance!
Did you know …
… that the nitromethane-powered engines of NHRA Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars produce approximately 7,000 horsepower, about 37 times that of the average street car?
… that one cylinder of the eight cylinders of a Top Fuel dragster or a Funny Car produces 750 horsepower, equaling the entire horsepower output of a NASCAR engine?
… that the gasoline-powered engines of NHRA Pro Stock cars produce about 1,200 horsepower, about eight times that of the average street car?
… that an NHRA Top Fuel dragster accelerates from 0 to 100 mph in less than .8-second, almost 11 seconds quicker than it takes a production Porsche 911 Turbo to reach the same speed?
… that an NHRA Top Fuel dragster leaves the starting line with a force nearly five times that of gravity, the same force of the space shuttle when it leaves the launching pad at Cape Canaveral?
… that an NHRA Funny Car is slowed by a reverse force more than seven times that of gravity when both parachutes deploy simultaneously?
… that NHRA Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars consume between four and five gallons of fuel during a quarter-mile run, which is equivalent to between 16 and 20 gallons per mile?
… that NHRA Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars use between 10 and 12 gallons of fuel for a complete pass, including the burnout, backup to the starting line, and quarter-mile run?
… that NHRA Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars travel the length of more than four football fields in less than five seconds?
… that NHRA Top Fuel dragsters can exceed 280 mph in just 660 feet?
… that from a standing start, NHRA Top Fuel dragsters accelerate faster than a jumbo jet, a fighter jet, and a Formula One race car?
… that a fuel pump for an NHRA Top Fuel dragster and Funny Car delivers 65 gallons of fuel per minute, equivalent to eight bathroom showers running at the same time?
… that the fuel-line pressure for NHRA Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars is between 400 and 500 pounds, about 20 times greater than the pressure on passenger-car fuel pumps?
… that depending on size and angle, the large
rear wing on an NHRA Top Fuel dragster develops between 4,000 and 8,000 pounds of downforce?… that the 17-inch rear tires used on NHRA Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars wear out after four to six runs, or about two miles? Some brands of passenger-car tires are guaranteed for 80,000 miles.
… that it takes just 15/100ths of a second for all 7,000 horsepower of an NHRA Top Fuel dragster engine to reach the rear wheels?
… that it's desirable for an NHRA Top Fuel dragster to race with its front wheels inches off the ground for about the first 200 feet of the run? This ensures proper weight transfer to the rear wheels, a crucial part of a good
launch and quick run.… that the nitromethane used to power the engines of NHRA Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars costs about $30 per gallon?
langy
langys rodshop
- Messages
- 6,095
- Location
- London
And as for "its in a straight line" on the day, they don't go straight. You get a drag slick to hook up by hitting it hard so it goes out of round and provides extra traction, that's whats going on when the sidewalls wrinkle. Its not just power, its intentional to deform the carcass.
And while that is happening, your tyre isn't very round. Or well behaved. Or wanting to go very straight.
A full on dragbike has a square rear slick 10" or upwards, you can't steer it through the handlebars, you have to shift your weight to make it move somewhat like trying to corner hard on a 3 wheeled ATC, and its heavy, and because when you start to lean it, it rolls onto a tiny narrow contact point on the edge of the tyre which is easy to overwhelm, and it doesn't really go the way you expect it direction wise either.
Then you get the top end, and you have to stop a very fast vehicle, with in the bikes case no front brake (the geometry is so far out, you'd be on your ear if you used it hard) that doesn't corner well enough to take the bend into the return road either.
But, straight line, anyone can do that mate. Says every expert in a pub
I don't mind personally, if it was that easy, it wouldn't be a challenge.
I'm often amused by the people that say about the straight line thing too, My Willys is in the lower classes but when it leaves the line you have to drive it to keep it straight !!! Even in the lower classes where 10 second quarters are run, your driving a car that will accelarate to 60mph in under 2 seconds and is faster than a Bugatti Veryon !!!
chunkolini
celebrity artiste
- Messages
- 9,601
- Location
- Swansea
Langy.
Waaaah!!!!
Lurve that stuff.
Bonkers, and I love the ludicrosity of the whole business.
Probably the most honest motor sport there is.
Go faster/harder than the enamy.
Waaaah!!!!
Lurve that stuff.
Bonkers, and I love the ludicrosity of the whole business.
Probably the most honest motor sport there is.
Go faster/harder than the enamy.
The numbers involved with these beasts can be difficult to comprehend by themselves, amongst other interesting facts Langy said...
But at the same time if they've lost a spanner/bolt/whatever they need to get to the starting line lend them one of yours.
God mode restorations
Member
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drag racing is a awesome sport..i love it..i like the street eliminators'...some serious money..time and dedication goes in to the whole seen....missied the pod finals but will definitely be going next year....
