HEMI6point1
Nitro Member
Why do some Alky cars stop in the waterbox to do their burnouts? Is it any different then just rollin' it on through?
Top Alcohol question (burnouts)....
- Thread starter HEMI6point1
- Start date
HEMI6point1
Nitro Member
- Thread starter
- #3
Re: Top Alcahol question (burnouts)....
Cool, thanks.
Cool, thanks.
B
Buzzz Miller
Re: Top Alcahol question (burnouts)....
It mostly personal preference. When you keep some speed and roll through, the car tends to stay more straight through the first part of the burnout. (This is more critical in a funny-car.) Unfortunately, it drags a little water further forward than stopping just out of the water and giving it a hit. Depending on how far you drag the water forward, you cannot back up into the water or that will get on your rear tires, so watch that.
Now to a little known deal, some teams do different burnouts on personal belief on the tune up- (Believe it or not.)
Most alcohol cars will do the whole burnout in high gear (3rd). (Shifting tends to unsettle the car a little and tries to kick it sideways. So most do not shift in the burnout.) Some people belive that when you roll through and hit the throttle in third gear, the clutch takes a quick hit trying to get the tires rolling with the tall gear. And if you roll further out of the water, and the tires get dried out more, then even more wear on the clutch until the tires break loose. Although this is not a center of concern for most teams, some believe that this clutch heat and wear affect the consistancy of the tune-up for the run. Some teams keep it consistant by getting just past the water, rev-ing the engine to a certain rpm and dropping the clutch to start the burnout. So I guess it is still personal preference, but there may be some details behind it.
It mostly personal preference. When you keep some speed and roll through, the car tends to stay more straight through the first part of the burnout. (This is more critical in a funny-car.) Unfortunately, it drags a little water further forward than stopping just out of the water and giving it a hit. Depending on how far you drag the water forward, you cannot back up into the water or that will get on your rear tires, so watch that.
Now to a little known deal, some teams do different burnouts on personal belief on the tune up- (Believe it or not.)
Most alcohol cars will do the whole burnout in high gear (3rd). (Shifting tends to unsettle the car a little and tries to kick it sideways. So most do not shift in the burnout.) Some people belive that when you roll through and hit the throttle in third gear, the clutch takes a quick hit trying to get the tires rolling with the tall gear. And if you roll further out of the water, and the tires get dried out more, then even more wear on the clutch until the tires break loose. Although this is not a center of concern for most teams, some believe that this clutch heat and wear affect the consistancy of the tune-up for the run. Some teams keep it consistant by getting just past the water, rev-ing the engine to a certain rpm and dropping the clutch to start the burnout. So I guess it is still personal preference, but there may be some details behind it.
Re: Top Alcahol question (burnouts)....
Like Buzzz said, a lot of how burnouts are done is probably dependant upon preference. I would say that past a certain point, the burnout becomes more about show than anything else. I remember when Force used to do really long smokers, until Coil nixed, probably too much wear & tear.
Like Buzzz said, a lot of how burnouts are done is probably dependant upon preference. I would say that past a certain point, the burnout becomes more about show than anything else. I remember when Force used to do really long smokers, until Coil nixed, probably too much wear & tear.
B
Buzzz Miller
Re: Top Alcahol question (burnouts)....
A super long burnout and a short little blip makes very little difference to the tires and the traction of a run. (When the tires try to grab, it can wear on the clutch, though.)
But the long burnouts are all about two things. A show for the fans, and fun for the driver. (The most fun part of the run usually.)
And when the fuel guys started doing shorter burnouts, it was mainly because the blower belts were breaking quite often and they liked less wear on the blower belt. The engine is not getting worked at all during a burnout. Especially in a fuel burnout. It does take a bit off of the tires, but well worth it for me.
A super long burnout and a short little blip makes very little difference to the tires and the traction of a run. (When the tires try to grab, it can wear on the clutch, though.)
But the long burnouts are all about two things. A show for the fans, and fun for the driver. (The most fun part of the run usually.)
And when the fuel guys started doing shorter burnouts, it was mainly because the blower belts were breaking quite often and they liked less wear on the blower belt. The engine is not getting worked at all during a burnout. Especially in a fuel burnout. It does take a bit off of the tires, but well worth it for me.
Bullet
Nitro Member
Re: Top Alcahol question (burnouts)....
A while back Jim Head tried not doing burnouts. I think they laid something over the water and he drove over it.
A while back Jim Head tried not doing burnouts. I think they laid something over the water and he drove over it.
Re: Top Alcahol question (burnouts)....
We usually do ours in 2nd gear and I agree with you Buzzz, the fun factor of the burnouts is great. In fact, a good burnout usually increased my confidence of the run. If it was hard and solid, whoo hoo! but if it was a cruddy burn, I could mess myself up by over thinking it.
We usually do ours in 2nd gear and I agree with you Buzzz, the fun factor of the burnouts is great. In fact, a good burnout usually increased my confidence of the run. If it was hard and solid, whoo hoo! but if it was a cruddy burn, I could mess myself up by over thinking it.
Tim5636sc
Nitro Member
Re: Top Alcahol question (burnouts)....
Might I suggest a Trip to Frank Hawley's class Jenn...That'll get those "DEMONS" out of your HEAD!!!!
"Don't think...Just Drive!"
-Ricky Bobby!
Might I suggest a Trip to Frank Hawley's class Jenn...That'll get those "DEMONS" out of your HEAD!!!!
"Don't think...Just Drive!"
-Ricky Bobby!
shawn fleischmann
Nitro Member
At the Atco divisional 2 years ago Art Gallant rolled through the water box quickly, staged the car, and ran a low .30, the next closest person was in the high .40's.
"Dr. Dirt"
Nitro Member
I can say this. When you swap tires from side to side you need a good burnout to "clear the grain" shall we say? Buzzz did a short burnout on a recently swapped set and just about jumped over the left wall at the hit in the Funny Car. The next pass he burned out to half track with the same tires and without a single change to the car made a perfect run?
In CIFCA they payed an extra hundred to the burnout winner. When you hit the throttle from standing still the tires start smoking instantly and you are not moving, by 50 feet where the rolling start guys start their tires smoking you already put up a big cloud of smoke.
Mike Hilsabeck
Mike Hilsabeck
B
Buzzz Miller
Mike, what would you know about a funny car?
You are just one of them AA/FA drivers now.
You are just one of them AA/FA drivers now.
