The Hour long delays are back....

[PJ]

Its real simple if the track does not have a long enough shut down area find a new track to race at period !!!!

How long is long enough? There are tracks with nothing around it and the cars can run off forever. Most tracks have something around it. What is your criteria for length? Chances are whatever is is, eventually there will be a car that goes too long.
By knocking off the tracks that aren't considered long enough there isn't a replacement for each. Beyond track length, it also has to have the facilities to handle a national event. There are not many of those around that don't already host an event.

 

[Muddy]

I think a few tracks are uphill in the shutdown area. What is Pomona like? Wasn't clear from the video.

SHORT !!!

 

[FABMAN]

I would say with the Speeds race cars are running now Pomona would not be acceptable length if it were built today.

 

[camaro]

Are those nets tethered to a sprung cable like the arrestors on a carrier ship? In other words, do they have any give?

I wondered about that myself. if a car that's still going at a good rate of speed gets stop suddenly, by the net like that, it would seem like that could seriously injure the driver.

 

[1painter]

How long is long enough? There are tracks with nothing around it and the cars can run off forever. Most tracks have something around it. What is your criteria for length? Chances are whatever is is, eventually there will be a car that goes too long.
By knocking off the tracks that aren't considered long enough there isn't a replacement for each. Beyond track length, it also has to have the facilities to handle a national event. There are not many of those around that don't already host an event.

Ok what is the number 1 reason these cars go into the sand ?? ,Right no chutes there are plenty other tracks this happens at and they get the cars stopped

 

[willy]

That setup could have saved Scott's life.

 

[none]

I think a few tracks are uphill in the shutdown area. What is Pomona like? Wasn't clear from the video.

It's fairly level.

 

[You!]

It's downhill like the entire track. First big dip is about 300-400' past the finish line. If you're hard on the brakes there with no chutes, that's where the car will start to bounce.

 

[none]

It's downhill like the entire track. . . .

Bill's right about downhill. According to Google Earth:

Start -- 1036' elev.
1000' Finish line -- 1021' elev (15' below Start)
1320' Finish line -- 1017' elev
End of asphalt -- 995' elev (26' below and ~2450' past the 1000' Finish line)
End of sand trap -- 1000' elev (the sand trap is ~270' long)

 

[Dennis]

What is surprising to me is how little the kitty litter affects the speed. I would be interested in the entry speed vs. exit speed. I suppose there is a fine line to walk between slowing a car down vs. making it nosedive (like Force did in the 90's).

 

[Jimbo]

Maybe the answer lies in New Technology such as the way planes land on aircraft carriers.

It seems to slow planes down fast and without damaging them.

How about a second type of emergency chute system if the first chutes do not deploy?

There are ways to make racing safer and save lives it just takes money and creative thinking.

Just my opinion.
Jim Hill
http://www.nostalgicracingdecals.com

 

[None]

Its real simple if the track does not have a long enough shut down area find a new track to race at period !!!!

Bull! It is up to the driver and crew chief to get it stopped in the shut down distance at each track.

 

[none]

I haven't re-watched Densham's mishap but first time watching it something made me think he was going to "catch" the nose just before the net and launch over it. Maybe add a less-harsh net a bit earlier in the trap to help ensure they stay grounded.

 

[mick]

a few years ago this topic was discussed at length......somebody posted a video or pics from an australia track that had a very
simple cable system in place that i think was tied to large movable concrete blocks that would act in the same fashion as an
aircraft carrier arresting cable......i thought the system look very simple, yet very functional at scrubbing speed.
no clue if the system has merit, just remember seeing it.

 

[1painter]

Bull! It is up to the driver and crew chief to get it stopped in the shut down distance at each track.

Really, your real smart do you think these guys want the chutes or brakes to fail no!! But guess what they do sometimes and like I said there are tracks you can get them stopped without either. And guess what year this track was built do you think these cars where this fast back then

 

[Greasemunk]

a few years ago this topic was discussed at length......somebody posted a video or pics from an australia track that had a very
simple cable system in place that i think was tied to large movable concrete blocks that would act in the same fashion as an
aircraft carrier arresting cable......i thought the system look very simple, yet very functional at scrubbing speed.
no clue if the system has merit, just remember seeing it.

It works. I am the track announcer at Sydney Dragway, and it's biggest test was when Steve Read's TF car hung the throttle Wide open more more than 1/2 way down the breaking area.

The Car (the ex Gary Clapshaw "Spirit Of Las Vegas" Car that gave Garlits his first 300mph timeslip , if I remember correctly) was absolutely junked, and the car dragged the net to the tyre wall and through it but the net slowed it down enough that Steve only came out with a broken pinkie finger if I remember correctly.

I am one of the announcers you can hear, and after seeing the fireball nearly 3/4 of a mile away I swore that we just lost him. Keep in mind that this was only a matter of months after we lost Scott Kalitta and we were all holding our breath for a very. long. time. Still one of the hardest calls of my commentary career so far.

 

[Dan]

Side note I enjoy watching the Australian Racing on mav TV

 

[Raw]

How about trying about 2" of standing water, in the same size area that the sand currently occupies,
We all know what it is like hitting a decent puddle at speed. Not of the extreme like the attached link, @ the 2:48 mark. The car would push or displace the water , thus no worry of drowning, plus it would act as a fire suppression.

 

[none]

That setup could have saved Scott's life.

Are you aware that that accident resulted in a fatality !

 

[none]

Allen, I don't agree with the fire suppression aspect. Water on a gasoline fire typically spreads the flames. But maybe nitro and methanol fires are different?