Arizona Nationals weather (17 Viewers)

RebilasPhoto

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With the record temps next week in Phoenix, it makes me curious how far away we are from this being the hottest national event ever? I know back in the day Topeka had a 105 degree air temps so we will likely beat that. What’s the hottest temps you can recall? So thankful NHRA is working on making big changes to the weekend schedule to try and avoid the heat!
 

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can recall water trucks hosing down track @ BIR one year. can't recall actual temps.
is nhra starting early and/or running late in AZ?
 
Official word from NHRA:
Friday qualifying will begin at 9:30 a.m. local time on Friday with Pro Stock, followed by Funny Car and Top Fuel. The second session is slated to start at 12 p.m.



On Saturday, Top Fuel will open the day at 10 a.m., followed by Funny Car and Pro Stock. The final qualifying session – as well as the finals of the first Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge bonus race of the season – is scheduled to start at 12:30 p.m. with Top Fuel.



Sunday eliminations will be bumped an hour earlier as well, with the first round of eliminations slated for 10 a.m. local time.
 
With the record temps next week in Phoenix, it makes me curious how far away we are from this being the hottest national event ever? I know back in the day Topeka had a 105 degree air temps so we will likely beat that. What’s the hottest temps you can recall? So thankful NHRA is working on making big changes to the weekend schedule to try and avoid the heat!
they should run it at night
 
Maybe NHRA should've thought about AZ weather before they scheduled it.
Average temperatures in Phoenix this time of year are mid to high 70s. The temperature last year on March 20th was 77 degrees. I know it's expected that NHRA be able to foresee every possible circumstance and have a contingency plan for every possible situation, but maybe we should draw the line at being able to predict the weather 6 months in advance.
 
Average temperatures in Phoenix this time of year are mid to high 70s. The temperature last year on March 20th was 77 degrees. I know it's expected that NHRA be able to foresee every possible circumstance and have a contingency plan for every possible situation, but maybe we should draw the line at being able to predict the weather 6 months in advance.
I lived in Phoenix for 10 years I know how the weather is.
And maybe go back to the schedule of a few years ago.
 
Figured something was going to change but I thought it would be pushed back the other way and maybe some night racing. Personally Friday's start times are perfect for me because I can go straight from work watch both sessions and be back on my side of town before rush hour, maybe even sneak over towards Luke AFB and watch the Thunderbirds perform. As much as it benefits me, It sucks for a lot of others because that probably shuts them out of going Friday.

As far as weather goes, its unfortunate but we have been very lucky the last three years since being moved off our February date with pretty dam good weather, I think last years Sunday was the only really warm day but it was not even "that bad". We did not have any sort of winter this year and we are paying for it with some nasty February/March weather. This summer is going to be brutal. Hopefully the rumors of the schedule going back to pre-covid normal for next year is true, although I think I've heard that the last couple years.
 
There was a divisional race here a few years ago that they had to stop between 1-6pm every day because it was 110+. They even took the water truck and sprayed down the track and then re-prepped for the night half of racing each day. I was down at Cocopah in Yuma when it was 120, tried to run some hot laps and could not keep any moisture in the track and pushed everything back a few hours.

My favorite "heat story" was when I took your dad to Denver and the first day we got there I was helping push his wheelchair up the hill on the south side behind the entrance to the staging lanes. Well the last time I was there I was ten years younger and probably 40 lbs lighter so I did not think it would be a challenge. I was wrong, my fatass what out of breath and worn out. Also funny story from that weekend, I forgot what day it was but we were heading back to my truck and I remember there was a hill section that led to the parking lot and I thought he was goofing off and "drifting" his wheelchair well turns out he was actually sliding down and could not control it, he ended up ramming into my tire. After I made sure he was ok, he said, "I did not know if you were able to catch me so I aimed for the tire". I joked with him next time aim for the body because we need the tire to get home, I'm ok with a dented body...
 
When I moved from Ohio to Phoenix on my 1st day at my new job as a machinist it was a shop that on nice days they would have the garage doors open. So I'm working and thinking how nice the temperature was, guessing it was 75-79°. So I get home that evening and the news is saying WE SET a new record, it was high 80s. Yes it is a dry heat.
The spring and fall weather is the best in the world. Summer you just learn to work around it. And I never slipped into a ditch because the road had too much sun on it.
I'd still be there if not for family reasons.
 
I live 45 mins from the track. Adjusting the start time won't make a significant difference. 2 weeks ago at the Divisional, air temp was 75 degrees at 12:30 pm. Track temp was 122 degrees. The intensity of the sun out here is real, kinda foolish to expect spectators to sit in 100 plus temps, or race teams, both Pro and Sportsmen to deal with a 150 degree track temperature, lets not even get into the safety aspect. Figure out how to run it at night. Qualify every car on the property Friday night, start time 6 PM. Run 2 Elimination rounds Saturday night along with the Sportsmen, same start time. Finish the race Sunday night, same start time, 6 PM. Just do something, make it different and fun. Thank You, rant over!
 
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There was a divisional race here a few years ago that they had to stop between 1-6pm every day because it was 110+. They even took the water truck and sprayed down the track and then re-prepped for the night half of racing each day. I was down at Cocopah in Yuma when it was 120, tried to run some hot laps and could not keep any moisture in the track and pushed everything back a few hours.
I ran that race in Top Sportsman. Yes it was hot.

Back in the early 1990's when I was racing TA/FC we had a Division Race in Bakersfield, and it was 115 degrees. It was so hot we had a bucket of water to throw the tools in to cool them down. For the life of me I don't know why they ran it.

First round I had an issue with a driver I won't name, but he did everything he could to burn me down. After the run I towed my race car back up the return road, parked it right in front of the tower, and I went straight up stairs into the tower. Rick Stewart, who was the Division 7 starter back then, stopped the race and came to find out what was going on. He proceeded to tell me he knew what was happening but didn't know what to do about it. I told him that the box he holds in his hand on the starting line has a "nice big switch on it, doesn't it? Next time use it." I think Warren Smith was the Division 7 Director then. He agreed with me.
 
I ran that race in Top Sportsman. Yes it was hot.

Back in the early 1990's when I was racing TA/FC we had a Division Race in Bakersfield, and it was 115 degrees. It was so hot we had a bucket of water to throw the tools in to cool them down. For the life of me I don't know why they ran it.

First round I had an issue with a driver I won't name, but he did everything he could to burn me down. After the run I towed my race car back up the return road, parked it right in front of the tower, and I went straight up stairs into the tower. Rick Stewart, who was the Division 7 starter back then, stopped the race and came to find out what was going on. He proceeded to tell me he knew what was happening but didn't know what to do about it. I told him that the box he holds in his hand on the starting line has a "nice big switch on it, doesn't it? Next time use it." I think Warren Smith was the Division 7 Director then. He agreed with me.
COME ON RANDY, everyone has a bad day once in a while 😉😅. Rick is the reason NHRA came up with auto start. BTW "what nice big switch" LOL
Larry Sutton---🤠
 

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