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Nitromater

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Run of the Year

Tony was right. If it were a lesser driver it could've gotten ugly. I'm very impressed with El Guapo's composure. WOW
 
On FB, Cruz said the wheels went up at the 330, and didn't touch down til about 1100 ft! What did he say about the NHRA that was derogatory? I guess I missed it during his interview.
 
sure seems the altered header thrust has made these cars front end lite?.....and notice how the back of the body lifted up too :eek: .......would love to see a study on air flow going over and under that body and why it didn't blow off......how those slicks stayed stuck when for a brief moment they also lifted as the chassis loaded onto the wheelie bars?......mite not ever see another one like that again.
amazing piece of driving by cruz.
 
Registered member said:
sure seems the altered header thrust has made these cars front end lite?.....and notice how the back of the body lifted up too :eek: .......would love to see a study on air flow going over and under that body and why it didn't blow off......how those slicks stayed stuck when for a brief moment they also lifted as the chassis loaded onto the wheelie bars?......mite not ever see another one like that again.
amazing piece of driving by cruz.
Click to expand...

Body tethers on the rear are probably what kept it from blowing completely off. The rear tree of the body was totally disengaged, essentially just turning the body into a giant sail once the air got underneath it. Will be interesting to see if he still has the optional body tethers on in Pomona. Cruz was along for the ride, all he could do was get out of the throttle, his speed is what kept the car in the air. The body burst panel coming loose along with slowing down is the only way he could have landed it. The only thing he had control of was the throttle, brakes and parachutes at that point.
 
It was great, but not the first time a nitro car ran out a wheelie and stayed in their lane....

go to 5:00

There were so many tongues hanging out, The Napps didn't have to clean the grandstands that week...

Cruz won his round, Eddie, unfortunately did not...

anyone remember one at Maple Grove years ago? I was at that race as well and every was going nuts saying a car went straight up but my photo of the run just shows a light pole....that means the car had to be absolutely vertical!
 
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I have 2 questions about this. When you watch the slow motion part of the video, Cruz is on the throttle and it is way up in the air. There is no smoke from the tires or dropped cylinders, not even hazing the tires before the throttle plates close and the flames go out. 1, Why didn't the wheelie bars unload the tires before it got anywhere near the point where the air could lift it? 2, WHY didn't Cruz lift sooner? I know it's race day but look how high Cruz let the car get with the throttle plates wide open and flames over the roof. I know things happen fast in nitro racing but Cruz is a very experienced driver and it seems to me he was on the throttle way too long.
 
One of the first things I thought of was that the new front latch system mandated by NHRA is what kept the body on the frame.

That was wild to watch.
 
Registered member said:
I have 2 questions about this. When you watch the slow motion part of the video, Cruz is on the throttle and it is way up in the air. There is no smoke from the tires or dropped cylinders, not even hazing the tires before the throttle plates close and the flames go out. 1, Why didn't the wheelie bars unload the tires before it got anywhere near the point where the air could lift it? 2, WHY didn't Cruz lift sooner? I know it's race day but look how high Cruz let the car get with the throttle plates wide open and flames over the roof. I know things happen fast in nitro racing but Cruz is a very experienced driver and it seems to me he was on the throttle way too long.
Click to expand...
I've watched it several times and I thought he got out of the throttle pretty damn quick once he realized it wasn't going to settle down.
1) When the tires grow the wheelie bars get further from the ground. At that speed the tires have grown considerably so the car is going to be way high in the air before the bar hits.
2) see above.

Did anybody else notice how the front snapped up even further once he got out of it? No more header downforce.
 
Registered member said:
It was great, but not the first time a nitro car ran out a wheelie and stayed in their lane....

go to 5:00

There were so many tongues hanging out, The Napps didn't have to clean the grandstands that week...

Cruz won his round, Eddie, unfortunately did not...

anyone remember one at Maple Grove years ago? I was at that race as well and every was going nuts saying a car went straight up but my photo of the run just shows a light pole....that means the car had to be absolutely vertical!
Click to expand...

I almost forgot....go watch the T/F final where Joe Amato went into a power wheelstand losing to Gary Ormsby....traction was great at E-Town that year!
 
The late Ray Higley's "flight" was at Ennis (broken header), he collided with John Force in the shutdown area which knocked the body off of John's car.

Starts at 1:50 in this video. Jim Epler's flight at 4:05 in.
 
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