Alcohol dragster?

[hemidup]

Originally Posted by Alan Roehrich

I'm waiting to see the entirely new back half for all race cars that will be required when they require racers install tail hooks for arrester gear.

NHRA doesn't necessarily need to check parachutes at every pass. But they should be checking the entire parachute system during the tech inspection. We never took the parachutes off of the dragster to pack them when we had it, I don't see too many teams taking the parachutes loose from the car when they pack them, unless they've been damaged. And if they've been damaged and replaced during a race, another inspection of the system should be required.

Tail hooks instead of catch nets. I'm all for that.

[Ed Fernandez]

Originally Posted by hemidup

Tail hooks instead of catch nets. I'm all for that.

I suggested that after the accident at Englishtown and was told it was stupid and too expensive/impractical.I still think it can be done.Someone said all the tracks couldn't comply.They don't have to,the Safety Safari crew can set up and operate the system,which would have to be designed to be adjusted to stop the full range of cars in compitition.
The cost,in the long run,would probably be cheaper than making the insurance company
rich.

[SSDiv6]

Originally Posted by Ed Fernandez

I suggested that after the accident at Englishtown and was told it was stupid and too expensive/impractical.I still think it can be done.Someone said all the tracks couldn't comply.They don't have to,the Safety Safari crew can set up and operate the system,which would have to be designed to be adjusted to stop the full range of cars in compitition.
The cost,in the long run,would probably be cheaper than making the insurance company
rich.

We all want to find solutions in our sport for saving lives. However, there is a big difference between the dynamics of an aircraft catching a hook on the deck when compared to a light weight race car.

An F-18 weighs around 35,000 lbs on final approach to hit the deck and the speed is around 145~155 mph. A dragster or funny car is much lighter with terminal speeds exceeding 260 mph. A heavy fighter airplane can run over the cables on the deck and the landing gear squawk switch will deploy the hook automatically.

A lightweight race car at high speeds running over the cables would be propelled off the ground and loose control and would also require the driver to deploy a hook manually.

One problem with sand traps is when the sand gets wet, it will compact creating a hard surface. A better solution would be substitution of the sand with small gravel the same way they do with highway sections that have runaway truck provisions.

[smracer2002]

We are sorry to hear of the death on Mr Niver.


http://www.competitionplus.com/index...atally-injured

Watching the video of the accident, the car folded
over on itself when it hit the netting and it didnt look
as bad as it was.


These things are happening way too much and
something HAS to be done,I just dont know what.





Its not just the Pro cars having problems.

We had a twin turbo Outlaw car have the parachute malfunction here at SAR
a few weeks ago.Car went through at a high 6.XX @ 210 plus and when the chutes
were deployed the cm cross member they attached to broke in half and the mounting
loops slid off of it. He went off the end and totaled the car,he suffered a compound
fracture to his ankle(foot still on the brake pedal trying to slow down we believe)and
other injuries.

[RPinoski1]

the catch nets need to flex and slow the car down......not 2 steel cable tied to posts instant stop no give.....
How about the cable on pulleys that are tied to weights that gradually catch and slow down as the car goes in to the next catch net same system?

The way the system is now I think I would rather scrub against the wall and go sideways in to the net.

[Mike Carr]

I agree with SSDiv6. My dad has been a truck driver for forty years, and once had go into one of those runaway truck ramps when the brakes failed. They are made of pea gravel. When he stopped, about halfway up, he was buried up to the axle in gravel. Now, granted, a 80,000 pound semi will probably sink better going 70-80 mph than a 2,000-2,400 pound dragster/funny car at much higher speeds, but might be worth a shot.

[smracer2002]

Originally Posted by Mike Carr

I agree with SSDiv6. My dad has been a truck driver for forty years, and once had go into one of those runaway truck ramps when the brakes failed. They are made of pea gravel. When he stopped, about halfway up, he was buried up to the axle in gravel. Now, granted, a 80,000 pound semi will probably sink better going 70-80 mph than a 2,000-2,400 pound dragster/funny car at much higher speeds, but might be worth a shot.

Seattles shutdown is pea gravel.Just saw a touching picture
posted on another site by a Seattle worker.

[Alan Roehrich]

Originally Posted by RPinoski1

the catch nets need to flex and slow the car down......not 2 steel cable tied to posts instant stop no give.....
How about the cable on pulleys that are tied to weights that gradually catch and slow down as the car goes in to the next catch net same system?

The way the system is now I think I would rather scrub against the wall and go sideways in to the net.

The text in bold is similar to how the arrester gear on an aircraft carrier works. It might be possible to use that idea as a way to improve the net. However, such a system is going to be extremely difficult to design, install, and maintain, and would likely require adjustment for each class of car that runs. That means more expense, and more down time, NHRA won't like that idea. But the nets themselves should have a considerable amount of elasticity to begin with.

[Paul Merolla]

What about some form of this system: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAFER_barrier ?

Maybe rows of them instead of sand?

[rx dealer]

N H R A must look at formula 1 and how the BRAKES are on those cars and the tub around the driver. those brakes can stop the formula 1 car at 220 mph, it can stop an
alcohol dragster/funny car and for that matter a nitro car and even pro stock. The brakes on the PRO / alcohol category cars are a JOKE compare to formula 1. Jeff Gordon drove a formula 1 car a couple of years ago and he said what is more incredible than the excelaration is the braking on the car. Luke SS 311