Return to 1/4 mile (1320ft.) (12 Viewers)

[ironpony]

Eric Medlen, maybe, but if I recall correctly, the tire(s) on the Joe Amato car was taken out when the engine let go, which also took out the rear wing. The ensuing debris punctured the tire. Debris also pierced Darrell's helmet from behind.

Last I read Darrels wife successfully sued Goodyear, not that means much.

 

[TSK]

And Eric Medelen and Darrell Russell were both killed by exploding Goodyears, which seems to be happening again.

I thought Eric Melden’s car went into severe tire shake. This was before the form fitting padding was mandated.
His head injury was caused by the tire shake slamming his head back and forth.
Somebody please correct me if I’m wrong, but the padding we see in today’s roll cages was mandated after losing Medlen.

 

[J. S.]

Last I read Darrels wife successfully sued Goodyear, not that means much.

I do recall that as well, though I also recall it was settled out of court. And the terms were kept very quiet by all parties. I still don't think a tire failure directly caused his death.

 

[J. S.]

I thought Eric Melden’s car went into severe tire shake. This was before the form fitting padding was mandated.
His head injury was caused by the tire shake slamming his head back and forth.
Somebody please correct me if I’m wrong, but the padding we see in today’s roll cages was mandated after losing Medlen.

With Eric, I recall that a tire did come apart, though I don't recall reading exactly how the accident started. The tire came apart in such a way that it caused a severe imbalance as the rubber that was still attached to the wheel continued to spin around, and thus it rattled the chassis like a paint shaker. And yes there was minimal roll cage padding back then. So it wasn't "tire shake" like we normally hear about.

 

[Nitro Bass!]

These are race car owners/drivers/tuners. If you take away blower and fuel, they are going to work on other areas of the engine to try to make up for it. They are going to change pistons (compression), rods, and possibly even crankshafts. All of this equals $$$$. You could mandate that they can’t change that stuff, but then you have to be able to tech it, which becomes increasingly difficult with the limited staff.

Take away 30 mph from the current combo, but send them to the 1/4 mile and they will re-gain 15-20. Again, that puts them right where they were in 2008 when the switch was made to go to 1000’. Net zero.

I doubt 1/4 for nitro will ever come back, but you make an interesting point. "You could mandate that they can’t change that stuff, but then you have to be able to tech it, which becomes increasingly difficult with the limited staff". Isn't that one of the most important reasons why there is a sanctioning body in the first place, to keep a level playing field for everybody? Seems to me if a sanctioning body doesn't have the staff to do tech correctly and police those who bend the rules, then that sounds like the sanctioning body needs to re-evaluate their business model to make sure they have enough of the right people in place to enforce the rules they make. there is no middle ground or grey area there to me.....

 

[Nitro Bass!]

This sport was built on the foundation of the quarter mile. For decades, drag racing was 1,320 feet, plain and simple. But who in the early days of drag racing could have imagined that today’s nitro cars would be approaching half the speed of sound in just 1,000 feet? Nobody back then could have dreamed that was possible.

When you really think about it, NHRA has actually done a solid job over the years managing speed and safety, while still allowing the cars to get incrementally faster. But we’re living in a very different reality now. Several major factors have all converged at the same time, almost like a perfect storm.

We’re dealing with tire failures at ever-increasing speeds, short shutdown areas, rising insurance costs, and the overall cost of racing skyrocketing. Many racers are being pushed out simply because they can no longer afford to compete. Parts attrition is brutal, with teams routinely blowing things up just to stay competitive at the highest level. On top of that, major corporate sponsorships are disappearing. How many Fortune 500 companies are willing to spend millions of dollars for just a few minutes of TV exposure per race, even if their car goes four rounds and wins?

Then there’s the loss of tracks. No tracks means no racing. If the grandstands are half-empty at national events and mostly empty at divisional events, how can we expect tracks to stay in business and operate with limited revenue?

From my perspective as an outsider, all of this has to be considered together if the sport is going to survive and thrive in the future. There are a lot of smart people in this chatroom and a lot of smart people within professional drag racing itself. It’s hard to believe that a reasonable middle ground can’t be found, one that addresses the bigger picture of the sport’s long-term health.

That bigger picture includes the cost of racing, parts attrition, safety, the quality of the racing itself, the fan experience, and the entertainment factor that originally made this sport what it is. It also means increasing the overall value of drag racing in a way that attracts major corporate investment again. It’s not about 1,320 feet anymore, it’s about survival and future growth.

I watch a lot of old NHRA races on TV, and the most striking difference between the Winston-era races and today is the crowd size. In the ’80s and ’90s, tracks were packed to the rafters, grandstands full from the starting line all the way down the strip. Today, many motorsports venues are shutting down sections of grandstands. Pomona shut down the entire west-side grandstands years ago and now uses the space for signage. Those seats used to be full of fans. I actually preferred sitting on the west side.

So the real question is this: how do we make the sport exciting enough again to fill those seats like we once did? The racing itself is as good, if not better than it’s ever been. What’s changed is the overall experience at the track, especially with the nitro cars, and perception of what professional drag racing is.

I truly love this sport, but it feels clear that professional drag racing needs a long-term, big-picture solution, one that ensures it doesn’t just survive, but continues to grow and thrive. Again, I’m just a fan, but maybe it’s time for NHRA to re-invent itself and evolve it's business model. Perhaps that means forming a true advisory board, not just PRO, a true advisory board made up of team owners, drivers, track owners, tire manufacturers, sponsors, and even fans through a serious, in-depth survey that is genuinely taken into account. Fans are the end users and the fans are the ones who buy the tickets and tee-shirts. What fans care about is important. No fans, no professional Drag Racing.

Just a thought from a life long fan who has gone to races all over the country for my almost my entire life. I want to see all sanctioning bodies of professional Drag Racing thrive....

 

[Ponyhntr]

I doubt 1/4 for nitro will ever come back, but you make an interesting point. "You could mandate that they can’t change that stuff, but then you have to be able to tech it, which becomes increasingly difficult with the limited staff". Isn't that one of the most important reasons why there is a sanctioning body in the first place, to keep a level playing field for everybody? Seems to me if a sanctioning body doesn't have the staff to do tech correctly and police those who bend the rules, then that sounds like the sanctioning body needs to re-evaluate their business model to make sure they have enough of the right people in place to enforce the rules they make. there is no middle ground or grey area there to me.....

They do take tech seriously. That is a major factor when making rules… can they tech it? When nitro teams change pistons and rods after every pass, they would have to be constantly monitored in order to keep everyone in check, which takes much more staff than they currently have which is not feasible.

 

[Nitro Bass!]

They do take tech seriously. That is a major factor when making rules… can they tech it? When nitro teams change pistons and rods after every pass, they would have to be constantly monitored in order to keep everyone in check, which takes much more staff than they currently have which is not feasible.

I certainly wasn't implying that they don't take tech seriously, I was thinking that maybe they were under staffed to support it. Going back to my circular firing squad remark etc....It sounds like a monster has been created that can't be stopped with today's rule packages, hence my thought on advisory board and re-evaluation of all aspects of the sport from top down or bottom up....

 

[twostep]

With Eric, I recall that a tire did come apart, though I don't recall reading exactly how the accident started. The tire came apart in such a way that it caused a severe imbalance as the rubber that was still attached to the wheel continued to spin around, and thus it rattled the chassis like a paint shaker. And yes there was minimal roll cage padding back then. So it wasn't "tire shake" like we normally hear about.

I believe this is exactly what happened. The tire deflated first; I don't know why, and shook the car due to a reported rapid, violent 18 inch up and down motion. So yes, it 'shook' but not in the manner in which we're accustomed to seeing tire shake such as you'd see right after the hit. I was told the forces that applied to the chassis were approximately 40,000 pounds and the G's applied to Medlen's head were rapid-fire, back and forth and massive, in excess of 50.

How JF survived his impact with the walls is an absolute miracle and a testament to the structural integrity of the car. We all watched Dale Earnhardt's crash at Daytona which to me looked like a parking lot fender-bender compared to the hits Force took.

 

[ironpony]

I would. not argue any points made above as it was a long time ago and probably lots of speculation at the time.
The one thing I do remember right after Erics crash, I was doing contract work at the Wright Patterson landing gear test facility. While I was there they received Goodyears mounted on rims from JFR. They then mounted them on the machine to spin them up under load til they exploded. Very interesting testing to say the least. Goodyear and JFR representatives were there to witness, oversee the testing procedures.
The machine was originally built to spin up and simulate aircraft landings under load.

 

[65 Goatboy]

This sport was built on the foundation of the quarter mile. For decades, drag racing was 1,320 feet, plain and simple. But who in the early days of drag racing could have imagined that today’s nitro cars would be approaching half the speed of sound in just 1,000 feet? Nobody back then could have dreamed that was possible.

When you really think about it, NHRA has actually done a solid job over the years managing speed and safety, while still allowing the cars to get incrementally faster. But we’re living in a very different reality now. Several major factors have all converged at the same time, almost like a perfect storm.

We’re dealing with tire failures at ever-increasing speeds, short shutdown areas, rising insurance costs, and the overall cost of racing skyrocketing. Many racers are being pushed out simply because they can no longer afford to compete. Parts attrition is brutal, with teams routinely blowing things up just to stay competitive at the highest level. On top of that, major corporate sponsorships are disappearing. How many Fortune 500 companies are willing to spend millions of dollars for just a few minutes of TV exposure per race, even if their car goes four rounds and wins?

Then there’s the loss of tracks. No tracks means no racing. If the grandstands are half-empty at national events and mostly empty at divisional events, how can we expect tracks to stay in business and operate with limited revenue?

From my perspective as an outsider, all of this has to be considered together if the sport is going to survive and thrive in the future. There are a lot of smart people in this chatroom and a lot of smart people within professional drag racing itself. It’s hard to believe that a reasonable middle ground can’t be found, one that addresses the bigger picture of the sport’s long-term health.

That bigger picture includes the cost of racing, parts attrition, safety, the quality of the racing itself, the fan experience, and the entertainment factor that originally made this sport what it is. It also means increasing the overall value of drag racing in a way that attracts major corporate investment again. It’s not about 1,320 feet anymore, it’s about survival and future growth.

I watch a lot of old NHRA races on TV, and the most striking difference between the Winston-era races and today is the crowd size. In the ’80s and ’90s, tracks were packed to the rafters, grandstands full from the starting line all the way down the strip. Today, many motorsports venues are shutting down sections of grandstands. Pomona shut down the entire west-side grandstands years ago and now uses the space for signage. Those seats used to be full of fans. I actually preferred sitting on the west side.

So the real question is this: how do we make the sport exciting enough again to fill those seats like we once did? The racing itself is as good, if not better than it’s ever been. What’s changed is the overall experience at the track, especially with the nitro cars, and perception of what professional drag racing is.

I truly love this sport, but it feels clear that professional drag racing needs a long-term, big-picture solution, one that ensures it doesn’t just survive, but continues to grow and thrive. Again, I’m just a fan, but maybe it’s time for NHRA to re-invent itself and evolve it's business model. Perhaps that means forming a true advisory board, not just PRO, a true advisory board made up of team owners, drivers, track owners, tire manufacturers, sponsors, and even fans through a serious, in-depth survey that is genuinely taken into account. Fans are the end users and the fans are the ones who buy the tickets and tee-shirts. What fans care about is important. No fans, no professional Drag Racing.

Just a thought from a life long fan who has gone to races all over the country for my almost my entire life. I want to see all sanctioning bodies of professional Drag Racing thrive....

As is often stated here the problem that may not be solvable is the different generations. Brian, you and I are two years apart, and like me I bet you grew up with 60's and 70's muscle cars, everyone had one or wanted one. I took high school auto shop, worked on anyone's car that would let me and read all the car magazines. Fast forward to today and it's a whole different world. Can Nhra survive? Of course it can but I don't see how the fan base will ever be like the 80's and 90's again. The advisory board is a must because their is a lot to figure out in the coming years. Listen up everyone, take that high school or college kid to your local track and also a national event if you can. Their is hope!

 

[TSK]

With Eric, I recall that a tire did come apart, though I don't recall reading exactly how the accident started. The tire came apart in such a way that it caused a severe imbalance as the rubber that was still attached to the wheel continued to spin around, and thus it rattled the chassis like a paint shaker. And yes there was minimal roll cage padding back then. So it wasn't "tire shake" like we normally hear about.

Thanks John. I couldn’t remember the part about the tire coming apart.

 

[Nitro Bass!]

As is often stated here the problem that may not be solvable is the different generations. Brian, you and I are two years apart, and like me I bet you grew up with 60's and 70's muscle cars, everyone had one or wanted one. I took high school auto shop, worked on anyone's car that would let me and read all the car magazines. Fast forward to today and it's a whole different world. Can Nhra survive? Of course it can but I don't see how the fan base will ever be like the 80's and 90's again. The advisory board is a must because their is a lot to figure out in the coming years. Listen up everyone, take that high school or college kid to your local track and also a national event if you can. Their is hope!

Tucson Dragway with my dad in the early ’70s, those memories are burned into me. I still remember the track’s phone number from back then. The first time I saw, heard, and smelled nitro, and watched nitro flames at night, when in those days the flames were visible the entire time the engine was running, it absolutely wrecked me for life. From that moment on, I was done. Drag racing was it for me.

There is nothing on this planet like a blown nitro motor at night. Nothing.

You bring up a really important point and observation when you talk about high school, muscle cars, working on cars, and car culture in general. Those days aren’t coming back. Cars are computers with tires now, and that reality makes it even harder to bring in new fans. Cars just don’t play the same role in people’s lives that they used to.

That’s exactly why the nitro show is more important than ever. You simply can’t experience that anywhere else. That has to be the hook for the next generation, the thing that blows their minds and makes them fall in love with the sport.

Alcohol cars and Pro Mods absolutely have a place too, they’re badass in their own right and need to be seen as the racing and the talent of the drivers are second to none, but nothing compares to the experience of blown nitro drag racing.

As I said in another post in the tech section, there has to be a way to bring back more of the show: the drama, the anticipation, and the pure entertainment factor that made so many of us fall in love with drag racing in the first place.

 

[ch streetcars]

As a kid growing up in the 60s, I first fell in love with drag racing through the pages of Super Stock, Car Craft and Pop Hot Rodding, etc, especially the nighttime pictures and pull out posters. Later, I would ride my bike uptown and watch the big kids cruise and stoplight race. Which is what we did when we turned 16. I accept that those days are not coming back, but at 64, I still prefer night races, tractor pulls, concerts, anything to get out of the relentless heat. Tracks need to have some more night racing to put people in the seats. Younger people will come out at night for events.

 

[Nitro Bass!]

Tucson Dragway with my dad in the early ’70s, those memories are burned into me. I still remember the track’s phone number from back then. The first time I saw, heard, and smelled nitro, and watched nitro flames at night, when in those days the flames were visible the entire time the engine was running, it absolutely wrecked me for life. From that moment on, I was done. Drag racing was it for me.

There is nothing on this planet like a blown nitro motor at night. Nothing.

You bring up a really important point and observation when you talk about high school, muscle cars, working on cars, and car culture in general. Those days aren’t coming back. Cars are computers with tires now, and that reality makes it even harder to bring in new fans. Cars just don’t play the same role in people’s lives that they used to.

That’s exactly why the nitro show is more important than ever. You simply can’t experience that anywhere else. That has to be the hook for the next generation, the thing that blows their minds and makes them fall in love with the sport.

Alcohol cars and Pro Mods absolutely have a place too, they’re badass in their own right and need to be seen as the racing and the talent of the drivers are second to none, but nothing compares to the experience of blown nitro drag racing.

As I said in another post in the tech section, there has to be a way to bring back more of the show: the drama, the anticipation, and the pure entertainment factor that made so many of us fall in love with drag racing in the first place.

Not taking anything away from Pro Stock, amazing racing, but it does get old seeing the same car in both lanes 90% of the time....

 

[65 Goatboy]

I guess we can't go back to the days when they actually were factory hot rods. But....they could do better.