what did happen to the "less glue" experiment and why did it stop? I believe the racks are over-prepped today. I can run 40 year old technology and run quicker than the fuel cars did 40 years ago. What has changed?? Has to be the tracks, right? I believe the track prep is the biggest single reason for the speeds.
New F/C Tether system (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Cliff
- Start date
z28
Nitro Member
I was at the Gators when Larry dixon went airborn and I was at Ennis when John Force and KB got together. I couldn't tell you who won those races but I sure remember those moments like yesterday. The element of danger is part of the appeal. Why do most fans go to the midway when Nitro is over? That's why they always show the blowups in the highlights. They don't care about two Camaros going 210 or a Suzuki and Harley going 200. The element of danger is part of the appeal.
DragFan2
Nitro Member
My understanding of why they don't do the long smoky burnouts anymore is due to crew chiefs dictating that it messes up the clutches if they do, so they do the rather short ones now that don't build too much heat in the clutch. I don't know if the tires have a compound now that does not lend itself to smoke if that is what some of you think. Has Goodyear stated this?
FWIW, Garlits discussed the one engine idea back in 2015...
dragillustrated.com
From the article:
The second thing I would do is mandate that the engine you qualify with is the engine you will run in the race. In other words, you can take the engine all apart after that last qualifying run and you can go through it, but the block will be sealed into the chassis with one of them little special wires. You can take it apart and mess with it, change bearings and all that kind of stuff, but you ain’t going to change the block. That’s the block that’s going to be in the car on race day. When the race starts, all you can do is change the oil and screw spark plugs in it and set valves. You cannot take it apart. You cannot. I don’t want to see no blowers coming off of it. I don’t want to see no pans dropping off of it. None of that. And you run the break rule: if you beat a guy and your car is hurt–you didn’t beat him.
See with that, we could go to live TV. And if you put any oil on the drag strip that can’t be wiped up with just a common little shop rag, you’re out. No oil on the drag strip. And the diapers come off. No diapers. In other words, I don’t want these engines blowing up.
“Big Daddy” Don Garlits Tells All | Drag Illustrated
“So the kid sticks his head out the window and there was a silver disc over the car, maybe two- or three-hundred feet up–just a glowing, great big silver disc,” says Don Garlits. “And the kid says, ‘It’s a saucer! It’s a flying saucer!’” It’s a midsummer day, an hour or so before lunch, and
dragillustrated.com
From the article:
The second thing I would do is mandate that the engine you qualify with is the engine you will run in the race. In other words, you can take the engine all apart after that last qualifying run and you can go through it, but the block will be sealed into the chassis with one of them little special wires. You can take it apart and mess with it, change bearings and all that kind of stuff, but you ain’t going to change the block. That’s the block that’s going to be in the car on race day. When the race starts, all you can do is change the oil and screw spark plugs in it and set valves. You cannot take it apart. You cannot. I don’t want to see no blowers coming off of it. I don’t want to see no pans dropping off of it. None of that. And you run the break rule: if you beat a guy and your car is hurt–you didn’t beat him.
See with that, we could go to live TV. And if you put any oil on the drag strip that can’t be wiped up with just a common little shop rag, you’re out. No oil on the drag strip. And the diapers come off. No diapers. In other words, I don’t want these engines blowing up.
Yes
ironpony
Nitro Member
FWIW, Garlits discussed the one engine idea back in 2015...
“Big Daddy” Don Garlits Tells All | Drag Illustrated
“So the kid sticks his head out the window and there was a silver disc over the car, maybe two- or three-hundred feet up–just a glowing, great big silver disc,” says Don Garlits. “And the kid says, ‘It’s a saucer! It’s a flying saucer!’” It’s a midsummer day, an hour or so before lunch, and
From the article:
The second thing I would do is mandate that the engine you qualify with is the engine you will run in the race. In other words, you can take the engine all apart after that last qualifying run and you can go through it, but the block will be sealed into the chassis with one of them little special wires. You can take it apart and mess with it, change bearings and all that kind of stuff, but you ain’t going to change the block. That’s the block that’s going to be in the car on race day. When the race starts, all you can do is change the oil and screw spark plugs in it and set valves. You cannot take it apart. You cannot. I don’t want to see no blowers coming off of it. I don’t want to see no pans dropping off of it. None of that. And you run the break rule: if you beat a guy and your car is hurt–you didn’t beat him.
See with that, we could go to live TV. And if you put any oil on the drag strip that can’t be wiped up with just a common little shop rag, you’re out. No oil on the drag strip. And the diapers come off. No diapers. In other words, I don’t want these engines blowing up.
WOW that sounds awfully familiar.............................
Litefoot
Nitro Member
Well put LarryI was not going to commit on this because everyone has their opinion on the problem and they all have the right too their opinion. So the only thing I want to say is fuel racing will never go back too my time in top fuel but if this crazy type of fuel racing continues, fuel racing will end because Goodyear will say enough is enough we can't continue to build a tire that will be safe at the higher speed and we will be liable for the results of the speeds attained. If Goodyear pulls out fuel racing is done. no other tire manufacturer will invest the time or money to support drag racing because they have so many other types of motorsports to advertise their product. If not goodyear then the lawyers will back out.
Larry Sutton---
From what I understand, Goodyear is using different sythetic compounds now and that why there is a big reduuction of smoke during the burnout.
A few months ago, I caught grief in another thread for saying racers should not be allowed to go to a backup car once eliminatioms have started.
When mentioning no other form of motorsports allows this, some guy even posted "well, drag racing is not like other types of motorsports," which is a lame answer but whatever.
When mentioning no other form of motorsports allows this, some guy even posted "well, drag racing is not like other types of motorsports," which is a lame answer but whatever.
Drag racing is like "no other motorsports" NHRA allows you to build a bomb and go 340+ mph, spend millions to support their racing. then they find the race team for oiling the track, cross the center line after the finish line drop an small bag of shot, ETC ETC. and say what happen to all the racers we used to have. when was the last time NHRA management spent a dime on a race car or even but their ass in one. they do design a stopping run off area so the don't have to groom, after a car goes into it using pee gravel not sand, why not work on a better mouse trip for that area, no that would take brains or money, I forgot. Yes other types of motorsports do find their racers, Nascar for a loose lug nut they find the team and suspend the crew chief, but not for oil. or parts dropped on the track. NHRA allows the racing to continue to get more expensive and dangerous and say have fun guys.
Larry Sutton---
Especially when the post originally started with a new tether design and responses suggesting how many engines one should be allowed to run.
Marchboom
Nitro Member
"NHRA allows the racing to continue to get more expensive and dangerous and say have fun guys."Drag racing is like "no other motorsports" NHRA allows you to build a bomb and go 340+ mph, spend millions to support their racing. then they find the race team for oiling the track, cross the center line after the finish line drop an small bag of shot, ETC ETC. and say what happen to all the racers we used to have. when was the last time NHRA management spent a dime on a race car or even but their ass in one. they do design a stopping run off area so the don't have to groom, after a car goes into it using pee gravel not sand, why not work on a better mouse trip for that area, no that would take brains or money, I forgot. Yes other types of motorsports do find their racers, Nascar for a loose lug nut they find the team and suspend the crew chief, but not for oil. or parts dropped on the track. NHRA allows the racing to continue to get more expensive and dangerous and say have fun guys.
Larry Sutton---
Couldn't agree more. At what point do the major teams tell NHRA that they are running out of money and will not be able to continue to compete?
sammi
Nitro Member
I would love to sit down with Kenny Bernstein and Tony Stewart in an Indianapolis establishment and after a couple of pops, ask them where the ROI is in NHRA fuel racing. Both guys have fielded cars in the roundy round world and both are entrepreneurs and businessmen. I might also ask them who the cowards are.
