Weather….Lightning and Drag Racing
 

Lightning and Drag Racing do they mix?

Re: Weather….Lightning and Drag Racing
 

In the old days it would mess with the timing system. Im sure its still not good.

Re: Weather….Lightning and Drag Racing
 

if it hits your car no but I think the inferred timing system is different

Re: Weather….Lightning and Drag Racing
 

I was at Napierville a few years ago and lightning hit. The timing system got fried. They patched together some of the wiring and the event ended up being run as an eighth mile race.

Re: Weather….Lightning and Drag Racing
 

Most timing systems are wired using copper wiring and the wiring acts like a big lightning rod, so if there's lightning in the area, most tracks will shut down and disconnect the timing computer from the track wiring.

The most spectacular lightning strike I've ever witnessed was at Edgewater. Lightning hit the grandstands next to the tower, jumped across to where the track wiring enters the building and came out of the box with all the connections inside (the cover was partially open for some reason). A ball of lightning shot across the room and bounced off the opposite wall. Needless to say, we were done racing and had to come back the following weekend to finish the race.

Fiber-optic cabling is replacing the copper wiring at some tracks, but it's an expensive alternative unless it's a new installation - the rising price for copper makes fiber optics a little more attractive for new installations and the big advantage is that it isn't a lightning rod.

Re: Weather….Lightning and Drag Racing
 

Even with fiber optics, most tracks still have to run copper power lines. Lightning and electronics just don't mix well. A direct hit to a house could take out computers, tvs, etc if they are plugged in. Likewise, a direct hit to a race track will take out timers and sensors (as well as computers and whatever else is powered up). In the case of lightning, it is always a good idea to unplug :).

Still a pretty cool photo!