How hot can it be? (8 Viewers)
- Thread starter GumbyWVU
- Start date
When I lived in the Phoenix area. Riding my Harley it was amazing how much temp difference you could feel from concrete to asphalt. Always made me wonder why would they use asphalt in the desert. But the most oddest thing was in Ohio in the summer kickstand would sink into the pavement, in Phoenix very seldom had the problem.
I was at one race at E'town when it was so hot and humid that the air conditioner in the media center froze. They had to turn it off until the ice melted. It was horrible!
2006. 105 ambient if I recall. Don't remember the fuel numbers but whatever PS was running, deduct about 3/10ths from that. I remember the fuel crews really struggling with the heat.
To be honest the most miserable I've ever been at a national event was Bandimere. the altitude, temps in the low 100s and the sun so intense a lot of fans (and some competitors) simply packed it in. I remember them announcing the DA was nearly 11,000 feet.
Professional Fan
Nitro Member
I was there that day. No shade back then at Sonoma. This was before track was redone. I almost was one of those fainting. I have been to 100s of national events. This was the worst for me.
Dennis
Nitro Member
I think the worst was 1987. A nasty thunderstorm rolled through and luckily Dick LaHaie let us stand under his awning. The storm blew through quickly but all I remember is the heat and humidity!
ZWeinstein
Nitro Member
I have a pretty funny story about Bandimere. The second time I went it was 2019 and it was hot although it was not too bad, at least I thought. Well I was with Gil Rebilas who at this point had to get around in a wheelchair so I was pushing him to help conserve battery since we were going to be there all day and I told him I'll go ahead and push you up the hill that went behind the staging lanes into the south side of the nitro pits. Well when I was there ten years prior I was ten years younger and probably 30-40 pounds lighter that hill was not that steep. My fatass was huffing and puffing pretty hard and the heat coupled with the thin air it took me a good 15 minutes to catch my breath. Luckily Scott Palmer's pit was right there so I stopped in and grabbed a bottle of water and sat in the shade to cool off. It was another good half mile before I got Gil parked at the finish line on top of the hill. He never liked being anywhere but the finish line while I liked to move around to different spots. Like it normally does at Bandimere it went from 95ish degrees to storming in a pretty short amount of time. I was on the other side of the track and raced over to the hillside to make sure he got somewhere before it dumped. I get to the finish line and he is nowhere to be found while its raining pretty good. I am running around looking for him now completely soaked and he calls me and tells me he is in the Elite pit and they got him all setup over there.
After it cleared up Gil was right back at the fence and Mark ended up joining us for the session until I think it ended up being rained out with a couple pair left.
After it cleared up Gil was right back at the fence and Mark ended up joining us for the session until I think it ended up being rained out with a couple pair left.
Chili
Nitro Member
Bandimere was almost always hot and they had very little shade to hide. Being a native it didn’t bother me as much because the altitude didn’t bother me. On NHRA.TV a few races ago, Jason Galvin said the hottest racer he was ever at was Bandimere in 2023. He was dying on the starting line.
- Thread starter
- #32
When the track temp get that hot, does it make traction better or worse for the nitro cars? Does the humidity/water grains affect traction too or just the air/fuel intake?
- Thread starter
- #33
Interesting, some posts referring to 100 degrees plus at Sonoma and Bandimere, the first one likely the closest to sea level and the second one the highest above sea level. Had to be miserable at either because of the air pressure relative to altitude with that high a temperature.
Barry made a good point - perhaps having a/c at home, work, in our cars, has made things "different" than it used to be regarding outdoor events. I know it has affected me.
Barry made a good point - perhaps having a/c at home, work, in our cars, has made things "different" than it used to be regarding outdoor events. I know it has affected me.
MM
Nitro Member
Big effect on traction. As the track gets warmer, especially asphalt, all the grease, oil, and grime rise to the surface. It's also more difficult to get fresh rubber to adhere well. Since asphalt has bitumen in it, which is petroleum based, the effects of heat are worse on that type of surface.
MM
Nitro Member
More power you're trying to put down, the more detrimental. Just like driving in the rain/snow.
T.Smith
Nitro Member
When it's that hot, at least you won it.
stitcherbob
Nitro Member
Yeah but that Wally droops to the side a little…..When it's that hot, at least you won it.
That is a good point but still, with direct sunlight beating on you at 5800 feet and 100 degrees, you're gonna be hot. Mexican roofers might withstand it a little better but most of us are gonna be looking for shade and a Dasani.
When I moved to Phoenix in 1986, I was able to drive around with no A/C the first year (most of the time). Since then, we have so many "heat islands" that the temp has gone up. 115 is no big deal (this week is 111-114) anymore. call it THTL - Too Hot To Live. heh And yeah. you go from your air conditioned home to your air conditioned car to your air conditioned job & that's how you survive. I wish NHRA would move the race back to Feb, cuz March can really heat up.
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