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You are driving the average $140,000 Lingenfelter "twin-turbo" powered Corvette Z06. Over a mile up the road, a Top Fuel dragster is staged and ready to launch down a quarter mile strip as you pass. You have the advantage of a flying start. You run the 'Vette hard up through the gears and blast across the starting line and past the dragster at an honest 200 mph. The 'tree' goes green for both of you at that moment.
The dragster launches and starts after you. You keep your foot down hard, but you hear an incredibly brutal whine that sears your eardrums and within 3 seconds, the dragster catches and passes you. He beats you to the finish line, a quarter mile away from where you just passed him.
Think about it, from a standing start, the dragster had spotted you 200 mph and not only caught, but nearly blasted you off the road when he passed you within a mere 1,320 foot long race course. ... and that my friend, is ACCELERATION!
Yeah Baby..!!!
And it beats the hell out of "EAR CANDLES" lol....lol
-------------------- Arvil Shep' Shepherd Art by Shep' -------- " Those who dance are thought to be mad by those who cannot hear the music " Posts: 1281 | From: Mt Airy NC | Registered: Mar 2001
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Hi Shep, I've seen and raced in all types of cars, but have never been to a Top Fuel event! Dave Gentil, ,manager of Chicagoland Speedway In Joliet, IL, has invited me to come out this year and go to Route 66 Dragway! He said he will put me out on the "line" with the NHRA starter for one Top Fuel run!!!! He said that's all I could stand! I plan on going this summer! I can't wait!
-------------------- Tony Vickio The World Famous Vickio Signs 3364 Rt.329 Watkins Glen, NY 14891 t30v@vickiosigns.com 607-535-6241 http://www.vickiosigns.com Posts: 1063 | From: Watkins Glen, New York | Registered: Sep 2001
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Some interesting stats from top fuel--- Lot of power in one place, more like a barely controlled explosion.
Subject: Top Fuel Dragsters
One Top Fuel dragster's 500-cubic-inch Hemi engine makes more horsepower than the first four rows at the Daytona 500.
A stock Dodge Hemi V-8 engine cannot produce enough power to drive the dragster's supercharger.
With 3000 CFM of air being rammed in by the supercharger on overdrive, the fuel mixture is compressed into a near-solid form before ig-nition. Cylinders run on the verge of hydraulic lock at full throttle.
At the stoichiometric 1.7:1 air-fuel mixture for nitromethane, the flame front temperature measures about 7000 degrees Fahrenheit.
Nitromethane burns yellow. The spectacular white flame seen above the stacks at night is raw burning hydrogen, separated from atmospheric water vapor by the searing heat of the exhaust gases.
Dual magnetos supply 44 amps to each spark plug. This is the output of an arc welder in each cylinder.
Spark plug electrodes can be totally consumed during a single pass. After half-distance, the engine is dieseling from compression plus the glow of exhaust valves at 1400 degrees Fahrenheit. The engine is shut down by cutting the fuel flow.
If a spark plug fails early in the run, un-burned nitro can build up in the affected cylinder and explode with sufficient force to blow the cylinder head off in pieces or split the cylinder block in half.
In order to exceed 300 mph in 4.5 seconds, dragsters must accelerate at an average of more than 4 g's. In order to reach 200 mph before half-distance, the launch acceleration approaches 8 g's. A Top Fuel dragster reaches more than 300 mph before you have completed reading this sentence.
With a redline that can be as high as 9500 rpm, Top Fuel engines turn approximately 540 revolutions from light to light. Including the burnout, the engine needs to survive only 900 revolutions under load.
Assuming that all of the equipment is paid off, the crew works gratis, and nothing breaks, each run costs an estimated $1000 per second.
The current Top Fuel dragster elapsed time record is 4.441 seconds for the quarter-mile (October 5, 2003, Tony Schumacher). The top-speed record is 333.25 mph as measured over the last 66 feet of the quarter-mile (November 9, 2003, Doug Kalitta).
Putting all of this into perspective: You are driving the average $140,000 Lingenfelter twin-turbo Corvette Z06. More than a mile up the road, a Top Fuel dragster is staged and ready to launch down a measured quarter-mile as you pass. You have the advantage of a flying start. You run the Vette up through the gears and blast across the starting line and past the dragster at an honest 200 mph. The "tree" goes green for both of you at that moment. The dragster launches and starts after you. You keep your foot down, but you hear a brutal whine that sears your eardrums, and within three seconds, the dragster catches you and beats you to the finish line, a quarter-mile from where you just passed him. From a standing start, the dragster spotted you 200 mph and not only caught you but nearly blasted you off the road when he passed you within a mere 1320 feet.
-------------------- Mike O'Neill
It has yet to be proven that intelligence has any survival value. - Arthur C. Clarke
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Tony, Back in the late 70's I drove a Blown Hemi Fueler down the 1/4 a few times...(Belonged to a friend)...What a ride.......and it was no way near the speed they are turning now.......And in the "Old Days"...I was the guy who started them with a flag...that alone could prove to be quite interesting at times.......
Good luck on "The Line" at Route 66 Dragway..I am sure you will have a Blast (NO pun intended)
-------------------- Arvil Shep' Shepherd Art by Shep' -------- " Those who dance are thought to be mad by those who cannot hear the music " Posts: 1281 | From: Mt Airy NC | Registered: Mar 2001
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Shep, those "old" dragesters were so cool!!! Sitting behind the rear axle, tires smoking, had to be an experience!!!
Do you have any "old" photos?
My best time was in an Altered Corvette. This was in the '70's. It was a 10:29 at 123 mph. It's hard to imagine what a 4:40 feels like! I can't wait to see what it looks, and sounds, like!!!
-------------------- Tony Vickio The World Famous Vickio Signs 3364 Rt.329 Watkins Glen, NY 14891 t30v@vickiosigns.com 607-535-6241 http://www.vickiosigns.com Posts: 1063 | From: Watkins Glen, New York | Registered: Sep 2001
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Tony, I have lots of old photos.I will have to dig them out......
Back when you are talking about..I painted and lettered a Fulie owned by Don Schumaker..father of the world record holder Tony Schumaker...
At that time I had a Custom built Fiberglass car called "Shark"...it was a modified Kellison J6 Panther........It would do 0 to 60 to 0 in less than 7 seconds..(This was a Street driven car)..you can see photos of it on my web site..
And those old Dragsters wer'nt called "Nut Busters" without reason... Shep'
-------------------- Arvil Shep' Shepherd Art by Shep' -------- " Those who dance are thought to be mad by those who cannot hear the music " Posts: 1281 | From: Mt Airy NC | Registered: Mar 2001
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Thanks for the walk down memory lane Shep, I grew up around circle track but in my twneties was introduce to drag racing, we used to go to Englishtown.
There is nothing like feeling you inner organs rumblin like you've never fealt in you life.
Last night was my first time at a live Monster Truck event and I'd be surprised if they were not running top fuel engines. it was a familiar eyes watering and chest tightening from the fumes and a similar deep vibration throughout your body.
I said to my brother this morning for those trucks like Grave Digger to get so much torque in such a short amount of space, it had to be top fuel.
-------------------- Bob Rochon Creative Signworks Millbury, MA 508-865-7330
"Life is Like an Echo, what you put out, comes back to you." Posts: 5149 | From: Millbury, Mass. U.S. | Registered: Nov 1998
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Cool post Shep; My claim is in funny car, had interest in "Hellfire", Corvette funny in '70 and out of the west coast, also went on Coke's Calavacade of Stars. Best I did was 7:23 @227 mph, our car ran arrow straight, not known in those times for a corvette to do, most crashed or burned. Our sister car the "Invader", crashed at Englishtown I believe. Also made a living back then painting/lettering/striping those cars, traveled quite a bit doing touchups for Shumaker, Beadle, Roland, and the like, fun days. Some really great stories... Good friend of mine from here just entered top fuel this year, if success in pro-stock is any indicator, top fuel is going be one to watch this year. Mikes unique and graphic example even took me by surprise, I thought it might be close, even a tie, but not ready for true results, ya!! top fuel is awesome!!! Ro; motors in monster trucks are on alcohol, different ballgame entirely...nitro would create so much heat for those guys, motors would expire before free style was over...alcohol takes a long time to heat up, it burns cool...hence blue flame...just thought you'd like to know...heheh
-------------------- Frank Magoo, Magoo's-Las Vegas; fmagoo@netzero.com "the only easy day was yesterday" Posts: 2365 | From: Las Vegas, Nv. | Registered: Jun 2003
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I am having a "Bench Racing Session" on Friday Oct 13 prior to a Car Show that I am hosting here...(Mt Airy NC..."Mayberry USA" )Oct 14 2006... Sure would like to hear some of your "War Stories"
A lot of the "Ole Time" Hot Rodders will be here.... Shep'
-------------------- Arvil Shep' Shepherd Art by Shep' -------- " Those who dance are thought to be mad by those who cannot hear the music " Posts: 1281 | From: Mt Airy NC | Registered: Mar 2001
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Last year at the spring race in Bristol they fired up a Top Fueler down near the infield. They were promoting the Bristol Drag strip that sits just next to the oval track. Everytime they cracked the throttle all 150,00 spectators jumped in their seats. That giant bowl of Aluminum seats just echoed all that sound! One Top Fueler was louder than the whole field of 43 Nascars!
I really have to get to one of the Drag Racing events soon!
Tony you will be in for a shock standing on the line! The first time I stood on the starting line I was suprised at how bad it BLURED my vision. Nothing like it.
I love top fuel like everyone but I am a ProMod fan. All the diversity!
Take a look at a few Top fuel helmets this year. We are building a name there. Currently we are doing helmets for Doug Herbert, Andrew Cowin, [NEW SERTA TEAM} Clay Millican {WITH HELP FROM TRAMP} Louie Allison and Jack Ostrander. Total world domination one head at a time!
-------------------- Ryan Young Indocil Art & Design indocil@comporium.net 803-980-6765
I highjacked Letterville!! Winter Muster 2004 Posts: 904 | From: Rock Hill, SC | Registered: Sep 2001
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It's probably the most incredible thing I've ever seen. The sights sounds and smells you won't forget. Take the loudest thing you have ever heard and double it. Ryan is right about the blurred vision, the first pass I ever saw I was standing at about half track when they went by I could barely see them because my head was shaking.Being in the pits is cool you get to be right beside them when they fire, the only problem is the unburned fuel coming out of the headers is like tear gas you can't see or breathe-it's great. If your remotely into motorsport syou've got to see them.
-------------------- Eric PA Posts: 149 | From: Intercourse, PA | Registered: Jun 2004
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Greatest thrill of my life has to be the press box at end of the old Lions dragstrip in Long Beach, California. It hung out over the left lane just over the timing lights at end of track, we used to stand up there and enjoy top fuel like never before, it would literally shake the stand and vibrate your teeth when cars passed underneath you. Best all time for me was experiencing John Peters "Freight Train" passing by, that thing almost tore stand off its foundation or at least felt like it did or would, incredible!!!
Drag Racing Rocks!!! And if you've never turned a room literally yellow from nitro fumes, you haven't lived!!!
-------------------- Frank Magoo, Magoo's-Las Vegas; fmagoo@netzero.com "the only easy day was yesterday" Posts: 2365 | From: Las Vegas, Nv. | Registered: Jun 2003
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I saw some Nitro burning Harleys a few years back at Bristol. That had to be the highlight of the day. They didn't let the front wheel down until about 3/4 track.
-------------------- Mike gatlinburg Sign Crafters Posts: 1051 | From: Gatlinburg, TN | Registered: Oct 2005
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My husband bracket drag races. I call it the poor mans racing but he loves it. We are at the dragway every weekend from April 1 through October 31st. Elk Creek Dragway in Elk Creek, VA (which is about 1 hour from you Shep in Mt.Airy NC) is just an eighth mile track but some fast cars. My husband runs about 102 in the 1/8 and he loves it. He loves that adrenal rush and I am happy he has that to do on the weekends. We have been to see the big guys several times and the noise is something. Our son was building these big engines in TX. before he was killed. He always talked about the smell of the fumes and how he loved that. It must be a guy thing.
-------------------- Cynthia Pack 246 Diamondview Loop Galax, Va. 24333 Posts: 659 | From: Galax, Virginia USA | Registered: Mar 2001
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Used to go to the drags at Bakersfield. Some good times. One time we were sitting in the front row at the starting line. Had an engine blow right in front of us...the motor parts were raining down on everyone. Had a piece of the blower for some time, but lost it somewhere.
Also saw the worlds fastest flatheads run at the drag strip in Vina, California
This was a rail with four 51 Mrec flatheads in a row....man, that was something to see. I just love those old flathead motors. Had a sweet one in a '40 Ford pickup....you could always tell by the sound.
hahaha
-------------------- Jackson Smart Jackson's Signs Port Angeles, WA ...."The Straits of Juan De Fuca in my front yard and Olympic National Park in my backyard...
"Living on Earth is expensive...but it does include a free trip around the Sun" Posts: 1000 | From: Port Angeles, Washington | Registered: Jan 1999
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