AA Fuel Dragster 101

[cudabob496]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VF0JwxQqcA

[jimynick]

Good video, but until you've been there and heard them when they go past and your eye balls shake so bad you can't focus for a second and the pounding of those 8-10,000 horses makes your chest reverberate like a drum; you can't truly understand. I love the T-shirts that say "What could possibly go wrong in 4 seconds?" LOL 

[cudabob496]

Yep, son and I stood about 60 ft behind one that took off, at SIR.
Pretty much think your are dead!

[Racer57]

First summer my wife and I were dating, myself and some buddies went to the US Nationals and took her along. Was in the pits and saw that John Force was getting ready to fire up his car. I told her to come and stand in front of me against the rope.  When it first started on alky she didn't flinch because she's use to sprint cars, etc. But when it was switched over to nitro, everyone in the crowd ran like hell gasping for air and rubbing their eyes. I looked up and she was about 20 feet away holding her hand up in the air giving me the finger and saying "You SOB, you KNEW that was going to happen !!! " Everyone around her was laughing their azzs off.    20 minutes later she said "Lets go find another one !"  I knew I had a keeper. 

[HP_Cuda]

I lost interest in Top Fuel when they changed it from 1/4 mile to 1000 feet because they wanted to impress the crowds with 3 second times.

It's purely a physics problem to go faster - look up the cube of power.

[dfrazz]

I lost interest in Top Fuel when they changed it from 1/4 mile to 1000 feet because they wanted to impress the crowds with 3 second times.

It's purely a physics problem to go faster - look up the cube of power.

There was a safety factor involved as well as everyone was exceeding the speed "safe zone".  Engineering the cages can only protect you so much, so either shorten the distance or change all of the tracks, or something else.  This is similar to Nascar restrictor plates.  I agree that 1/4 mile races are better, but at what cost.

[Racer57]

I lost interest in Top Fuel when they changed it from 1/4 mile to 1000 feet because they wanted to impress the crowds with 3 second times.

It's purely a physics problem to go faster - look up the cube of power.

You wouldn't have any interest anyway because they would no longer exist. No one would be able to afford the cars or survive a crash. They are already going 334 in 1,000ft.

[HP_Cuda]

You guys make good points but what's next 800 feet?

 

[cudabob496]

dang, didn't know, when did the switch to 1000 ft happen

[jimynick]

I don't like shortening the track either and think that restricting boost or fuel/fuel pump capacities would be a better way to go. Cudabob, if you like to get up close and personal with the fuelers, you should go to Grand Bend Motorplex. If you get on the fence at the start line, I don't think you're 40 ft away. Been there.... and you'd best wear your ear plugs!!