Random thought about the *HRA

[jim reynolds]

Originally Posted by tim worner

Gee I wonder where the "1/4 mile" guys go or do they just not race? Seems to me if you like to race you race 1/5 mi 1/8 mile 1/4 mile whatever mile.

EXACTLY DEAD ON Tim !!!

[jim reynolds]

Originally Posted by Michael Beard

Incorrect. At higher speeds, cars cover more distance per time. The faster you go, the easier it is. Junior Dragsters driving the stripe to .00x are VERY impressive.

I've raced 1/8th, 1000', and 1/4. It's all good. 1000' is my favorite... best of both worlds, closer handicaps than 1/4, more speed than 1/8th. Seriously, cars are just riding after 1000'. It's not a big deal. They'd have to come up with all new indexes to implement S/SS on 1000', however, so it's unlikely. Race distance is typically predicated on whatever the fastest class on the property is.

I also agree here...I prefer 1000' too, a little longer on the chase and less wear and tear than the 1/4!

[Ed Wright]

Originally Posted by Michael Beard

Incorrect. At higher speeds, cars cover more distance per time. The faster you go, the easier it is. Junior Dragsters driving the stripe to .00x are VERY impressive.

I've raced 1/8th, 1000', and 1/4. It's all good. 1000' is my favorite... best of both worlds, closer handicaps than 1/4, more speed than 1/8th. Seriously, cars are just riding after 1000'. It's not a big deal. They'd have to come up with all new indexes to implement S/SS on 1000', however, so it's unlikely. Race distance is typically predicated on whatever the fastest class on the property is.

I know you consider yourself an expert here, but I disagree with you about this one. I find driving the stripe much easier 1/8th mile. Just don't think it is as much fun. I find it boring. Just will no longer do it. Tried it, don't like it. Your first sentance contradicts your statement.

[Another Friendly Racer]

What Beard is saying is that it's easier to take 5 thousandths stripe on someone at 135 than at 105 (Taking someone through the traps by a tire at 135 will be a tighter MOV than doing the same at 105). Not to mention many guys are staring at the tack for a good part of an 1/8 mile run with less time to size up their opponent. There is an argument that 1/8 mile top end driving is easier because there is less of a variance in E.T.'s between two competing cars, as opposed to if they were racing 1/4.

Fun stuff.

I prefer 1/8th but love it all.

[Dan Fahey]

1/8 mile or 1/4 mile !

If I am Drag Racing it is a good day..!

Dan

[treessavoy]

QUOTE=Dan Fahey;485692]1/8 mile or 1/4 mile !

If I am Drag Racing it is a good day..!

Dan[ QUOTE]


Amen!

JimR

[Michael Beard]

Originally Posted by Ed Wright

I know you consider yourself an expert here, but I disagree with you about this one.

Sir, it is not a matter of expertise. It's math.

If you are running 100 mph you cover 17.6" in .010 seconds. If you are running 135 mph, you cover 23.7" in that same amount of time. So, if you take 12 inches of stripe, is the MOV closer at 100 mph, or at 135 mph?

Try some light reading from an expert over on Bogacki's website. Bud McNasby's Guest Tutorial on the subject is here: http://www.thisisbracketracing.com/g...s=5F5409020E06

[Mickey Whaley]

Beard is right!
,

[Ed Wright]

Your talking about time. I'm talking about it being easier to put foot on somebody at 100.
Easier for me to control that 12" at 100 MPH. Maybe not for you?
Still don't care to do it. IHRA can have it.

[Michael Beard]

Originally Posted by Ed Wright

Your talking about time. I'm talking about it being easier to put foot on somebody at 100.
Easier for me to control that 12" at 100 MPH. Maybe not for you?
Still don't care to do it. IHRA can have it.

Of course we're talking about time. That is the metric used by our sport, and what determines a win or loss. If you take a foot at 100 mph, you're looking at just under .007. At 135 mph, that same MOV is over 16 inches, i.e. you don't HAVE to cut it as close to achieve the same result.

In terms of judging physical distance, the difficulty level is a factor of the speed differential between you and your opponent. It is easier to judge a 1/4-mile matchup of 135 mph vs 130 mph than it is an 1/8th mile matchup of 100 mph vs 115 mph. Perhaps the argument you are actually trying to make is that statistically, the speed differentials are more likely to be smaller on the 1/8th mile.