Alcohol dragster?

[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.

[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?

[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.

[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

[SSDiv6]

Originally Posted by smracer2002

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

It has gravel, however is not deep enough.

[Alan Roehrich]

The tires on drag cars prevent the use of brakes such as those you find in F1.

If you've ever seen what happens when even a Super Comp dragster gets hard on the brakes, you'll understand.

[SSDiv6]

Originally Posted by 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

Recognizing that everyone wants to come up with ideas to make our sport safer, you cannot compare our type of racing from the dynamics and physics involved with other motor sports such as NASCAR and Formula 1. A monocoque chassis design of a Formula 1 car is not feasible for a dragster or funny car. The brake dynamics are also different. There are not frontal crashes in Formula 1 and NASCAR at speeds exceeding 250 mph. Most of their crashes are sideways and when they are frontal, they have already scrubbed speed before they hit.