Club Arnage

I lifted this, verbatim, from a US forum that I use - no relevance to Le Mans, but some interesting stats. Should appeal to Steve Brown, if nobody else...

One Top Fuel dragster 500 cubic inch Hemi engine makes more horsepower than the first 4 rows at the Daytona 500. Under full throttle, a dragster engine consumes 1 gallon of nitro methane per second; a fully loaded 747 consumes jet fuel at the same rate with 25% less energy being produced. A stock Dodge Hemi V8 engine cannot produce enough power to drive the dragster supercharger. With 3000 CFM of air being rammed in by the supercharger on overdrive, the fuel mixture is compressed into a near-solid form before ignition. Cylinders run on the verge of hydraulic lock at full throttle. At the stoichiometric 1.7:1 air/fuel mixture for nitro methane the flame front temperature measures 7050 degrees F. Nitro methane burns yellow. The spectacular white flame seen above the stacks at night is raw burning hydrogen, dissociated from atmospheric water vapor by the searing exhaust gases. Dual magnetos supply 44 amps to each spark plug. This is the output of an arc welder in each cylinder. Spark plug electrodes are totally consumed during a pass. After, 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 the fuel flow. If spark momentarily fails early in the run, unburned nitro builds up in the affected cylinders and then explodes with sufficient force to blow cylinder heads off the block in pieces or split the block in half.

In order to exceed 300 mph in 4.5 seconds dragsters must accelerate at an average of over 4G's. In order to reach 200 mph well before half-track, the launch acceleration approaches 8G's. Dragsters reach over 300 miles per hour before you have completed reading this sentence. Including the burnout the engine must only survive 900 revolutions under load.

The redline is actually quite high at 9500rpm.

The Bottom Line; Assuming all the equipment is paid off, the crew worked for free, and for once NOTHING BLOWS UP, each run costs an estimated US $1,000.00 per second. The current Top Fuel dragster elapsed time record is 4.441 seconds for the quarter mile (10/05/03, Tony Schumacher). The top speed record is 333.00 mph (533 km/h) as measured over the last 66' of the run (09/28/03 Doug Kalitta). Putting all of this into perspective: You are driving the average $140,000 Lingenfelter "twin-turbo" powered Corvette Z06. Over a mile up the road, a Top Fuel dragster is staged and ready to launch down a quarter mile strip as you pass. You have the advantage of a flying start. You run the 'Vette hard up through the gears and blast across the starting line and past the dragster at an honest 200 mph. The 'tree' goes green for both of you at that moment. The dragster launches and starts after you. You keep your foot down hard, but you hear an incredibly brutal whine that sears your eardrums and within 3 seconds the dragster catches and passes you. He beats you to the finish line, a quarter mile away from where you just passed him. Think about it, from a standing start, the dragster had spotted you 200 mph and not only caught, but nearly blasted you off the road when he passed you within a mere 1320 foot long race course.

That, folks, is acceleration!

That last bit...about the 200mph etc...scary!

I've never seen live drag racing, I think I ought to try it. When does the "season" start? And where's best? (...in the UK...)

Sorry but... FU CK!!!! Now that's motoring!

Thanks Matt, you've just made me all warm inside.

Time for a bottle of Adnams Broadside and a night infront of the TV with some Drag Racing videos.  ;D


Smokie - I knew you'd come round to my way of thinking.  The first big meet at Santa Pod is over the Easter weekend - more news later.
Myself and Andy 3 cobras will be there.

Great info on the dragsters. Living close to the RT 66 raceway near Chicago, nothing is better than seeing those things rip at night. 6-8 foot exhaust flames going down the track, and a musical mix of a bass note that makes junk of most pacemakers and supercharger whine that shatters glass. Oh, yeah...you can't imagine how fast they are until you see it.

Hey Smoke,
The NHRA Gatornationals will be taking place while your over here for Sebring, March 17-20 in Gainsville, Florida.  Perhaps you could catch both but I think Gainsville is hell of a long way from Sebring.
I've Indianapolis Raceway Park and National Trails Dragway both less than two hours away.  Been to National Trails but haven't caught the NHRA guys at IRP yet.
Fax

Awesome facts, but in typical American style, those dragsters don't corner very well!!  :o ;D :D

My thoughts too!  ;D

But neither does the 747 as noted above!

Thrust SSC (capable of 763 mph) did not corner at all and was only designed for correction steering to keep it in a (reasonably) straight line.

At 300 mph or 700 mph, cornering will be the last of your thoughts.  Preventing a fiery crash and burn will be your biggest concern.

Sigh....

Do they have a camp site??

Could be an ideal time for a pre Le Mans briefing!!  ;D

Now that would be a crack!
Also make us appreciate the sanitary facilities of LM.
Took Brad to Santa Pod a couple of years ago, used to go in the 70's when I was a teenager - absolutely awesome - fuelers so dam noisy they make your eye balls vibrate.
The Prostockers trying to twist their chassis up like a Christmas cracker and launching off the line with one front wheel about a foot in the air!
Only problem with is Easter meet is the probability of rain - it don’t mix well with so much grunt!

If you've never seen T/F before I'd suggest the Main Even in May....
8 car fields and good weather....

TTTD will be there...

WOW

I thought F1 cars were quick.

It's cool isn't it! However - did you see a video (may have done the rounds on here) that featured a Fiat Uno, a Ferrari 360 and a Ferrari F1 car. I think it was shot at San Marino. Anyway, the Fiat sets off from the grid on a spirited lap. When it's about halway round, the 360 sets off after it. Meanwhile the F1 driver's still putting his helmet and gloves on.
Needless to say, the F1 car finally leaves, at around the same time the 360 catches the Uno and end's up blasting past the 360 before the Modena completes a lap.
It's a very graphic illustration of just how freaking fast those pesky F1 buggies are, when compared to even the most exotic road cars.
No doubt, someone will post a link. I would - if I had the faintest idea how to!

Haven't seen that one yet but it sounds like a re-creation of the film Marlboro did in the early eighties at Silverstone where they sent out James Hunt in a Ford Escort half a lap ahead of John Watson in a Porsche 911 Turbo.  They show Niki Lauda calmly pulling on his helmet and rocketing off after them in a McLaren MP4/2 easliy blowing by them on the old run from Abbey to Woodcote.
John

so at 8G how does the driver stay alive   ???

I must admit Matt, as I read your transcript, my BS meter starting wobbling on the stop, and then crept up towards the red.
I was surprised when after a few quick sums on the calculator, I agreed with most of the figures down there. Frightfully amazing stuff alright. Strange coves these dragster boys. There's a couple of things there though:
This has to be bollocks. The energy required and heat produced would be phenomenal. There would just simply be no pay back (mind you, I know we're in the realms of the pretty impressive here...). Anyway, why would you want to burn solid fuel in an ICE? - flow/swirl rate in the chamber has to be at a maximum I'd have thought.
I came up with 4.4G, which in itself does not seem that impressive. Averaging an accelerative force is not that straightforward though, just maintaining it is the tricky bit. It's working as a square remember, so starting from a stop at 4G isn't exactly outrageous, and I don't see the point of hitting 8G, that means for same period of time you'd probably be going backwards if you're going to average 4. Fast jet pilots routinely experience 4G, and 10G isn't exactly a problem (so surviving 8 is not really an issue Ian). A German Tornado pilot told me once that he could handle 4G all day. And he had some really cool shades on and a nice haircut, so there was no reason to disbelieve him.
The story of the Uno and the F1 car reminds me of drinking sessions on Friday night at LM. Many times I've started off in the morning, well in front of Gazz, and have been hitting big volumes by tea time while he's still scratching his arse and putting his socks on. At 19:00 he's just hitting the groove. By 20 hundred hours the speed differential has increased to a gap that is out of my control, and by two in the morning he's putting me to bed and returning to unfinished business. If I'm lucky.
There's a very impressive dragster lurks outside of Laura Ashley's in Kingston on Wednesday afternoons...
H

Harry, do remember that I didn't actually pen the piece on the top-fuel dragster - nor am I a quantum physycist or professor of chemistry or math. I just thought it was ace.
I'm sure I saw the Uno/360/F1 vid on a link from this forum - but maybe it was from somewhere else. Not to worry.
I chuckled at the drinking analogy - I too know a few beer monsters, who are just warming-up, when I'm checkin' out.

I know mate! - I thought it was a great piece too, I'd love to see something like it, and with that sort of passion, written about sportscar racing.

Work stopped me getting to any of the drag meets at Santa Pod this year despite getting all the gen from Steve B, I'm going to have to try a little harder in 2005.
H

Which reminds me that in Top Gear last night they had an Evo VIII which was the mutts nuts - kept up with a  Ferrari something on the straight, and cornered faster. But they set it against a hire car Fiat 1.6 something (was it?) - both going in 4th at 30 mph, then both floored it at the same time, and the runway ran out before the turbo on the Evo kicked in so the Fiat won...

I've had a few did that make sense? I reread it and it looks OK...  :)

Bear in mind that it's +4G off the line amd -3-5G at the point the chutes are pulled 1/4 mile later

MATH??? MATH??? You've gone native mate!

It's a great piece though.

Sorry Andy - a mere slip of the (electronic) pen. I do endeavour to retain the way I speak, without being a pain in the arse about it. It can be a little difficult - particularly when people don't see the connection, like 'zed' vs 'zee', zip code/postcode, elevator/lift, sidewalk/pavement (don't get those two mixed-up). In a land where the 'oo' part of 'coupon' is pronounced the same way 'Tuesday' - and indeed 'Tuesday' is pronounced the same way as 'coupon' (this won't make any kind of sense to Americans/Canadians reading this), it is difficult to maintain the stiff upper lip, when the people who's country I'm a guest in can't friggin' understand me.
I have a morbid fear of becoming mid-atlantic (a nauseating trait of many British people here) - so please do cut me down to size, if ever I slip-up - but appreciate that 'when in Rome' and all that good stuff.
Later, dude.....

i thourght that at 4.1G you gray out and 4.7G you blackout 5.4G forget it the world is black

For all of you drag racing fans, somthing I found whilst looking for tuning tips on the Scimitar. Also a Le Mans connection

http://www.theaccelerationarchive.co.uk/john/woolfe_01.html

Wotcher Ian,
Fast jet pilots are expected to tolerate about 9g, and still communicate, operate systems etc. Mind you, 8g would just about pole-axe most people. They do have various aids though, like a g-suit and forced breathing equipment, as well as being trained for the job, physically fit and owning damn fine aviator glasses. When the aforementioned Tornado pilot mentioned he could pull 10G, his mate politely coughed into his hand. I'm not sure what the German for "bollocks" is, but it could have been a hint. Also, and I think this is the important bit when comparing drivers with pilots, these guys are geared up for negative G, the worst kind. Or at least so it seems, personally I rather like the idea of all my blood leaving my head and heading south, I can just picture my todger inflating like a party balloon and peeping out from the bottom of a trouser leg and giving me a wink. With the dragster pilots, I suppose most of their blood will drain from the ends of their noses and policemans helmets and head towards the arse area. If they hit 8g or maybe more (which would be right at the start I suppose) it's only going to be for a second or two.

I would imagine most people using this site have been in the odd quickish motor or two. A 0 to 60 time of 6 seconds is not that unusual, and that is exactly what 0.5G does (over about 80 metres).
H

They did a simular version on a Jeremy Clarkson video years ago.

Ford focus WRX with McRae Driving, A probe 2.5 v6 and the Stewart Ford F1 car. They all took of at differing times and the F1 car ate the WRX cars half a lap advantage and the probes 2/3 lap advantage.

I think it was at Silverstone.

But those figures are amazing, no wonder when it goes wrong the funeral people are happy.

the funeral people are happy.



Drag bike riders are now wearing kevlar armoured waistcoats to stop being killed by cylinder heads being blown off the engine beneath them. Saves their lives, just leaves them with bruised lungs :o :o :o

But those figures are amazing, no wonder when it goes wrong the funeral people are happy.

The safety record in UK drag Racing is aamazing.
If you take the DragFest at Blackbushe in 1965 as a starting point there have been 5 deaths at Sanctioned UK strips.

2 of them were jet car drivers and one was a bike rider.

So far as the integrity of the cars goes, just look at the Euro Finals in 2002 at The Pod. Mike Kagerad and Barry Sheavills both crashed at 300mph and both walked away.

Barry's car broke in two at the 1000 foot mark and the cockpit cell, with barry in it crossed the line, on it's side at over 300mph.

Top Fuel drivers seem to be susceptible to detached retinas.

Here's a video clip of Barry Sheavill's TF dragster having a bad day as mentioned by Steve TTTD above.

http://www.feel-the-noise.com/gallery/picture.php?cat=1498&image_id=20700&expand=1450,1639,1641,1854,1856,1857,1859,1480,1495,1498 (http://www.feel-the-noise.com/gallery/picture.php?cat=1498&image_id=20700&expand=1450,1639,1641,1854,1856,1857,1859,1480,1495,1498)

Steve, thats a very small picture ?

Robbo, try it now. I've just whipped out the soldering iron and there was a dry joint.  The link works now.

I remember seeing a clip of something similar Steve, taken from the finishing line end. I'm pretty sure it was from the US. Anyway, this dragster gets off line and completely disintegrates in front of your very eyes, and eventually this smoking cage rolls to a halt in the grass, looking like it had either just been shot from a canon or accidentally dropped off a passing Space Shuttle.
You would have bet your life savings that the driver must have been turned into something like the consistency of a puree, or a coarse haggis at best. But apparently the intrepid voyager survived. I suspect he had a bit of a buzz about him though.
H

As far as I know, Sheavills car had a rear wing strut fail at the top end.
The wing collapsed and, with no down force on the tyres, the whole rear end lifted and sheared the chassis.
Note the trap speed on the video!
After a check up, he walked away.

Steve, is that the average speed for the run or the top speed as taken from a speed gun??

Oh.... wow!


 :(


Bill

It's the terminal speed at the 1/4 mile line.  Times is elapsed time from GO to line.

H
i'm afraid i drive a diesel so the nearest i get to G's is Alton Towers
i'm not sure walking off any rides with an inflated todger is going to go down too well