Top Fuel Dragster evolution. Morphing Top Fuel and F1 (4 Viewers)

[none]

Brian,
I agree in theory but, they don't want the cars to go faster.
You spend the money (which I belive would be substantial.) Let's say the cars pick up 10 MPH.
The response would likely be to move the rev-limiter (Timing retarder) back to around two seconds.
What would be accomplished?
And while some teams could afford the investment, most can't.
So if you make the Kalitta's stronger, but run the Palmer's out of business?
I don't see that as a win.

Strictly my opinion,
Alan

 

[Nitro Bass!]

Alan, I totally agree with you. The cars could go a lot faster today if NHRA allowed it. But that's really the heart of the issue: how do you evolve a sport when it doesn't want to evolve?

If it's for safety reasons like tires disintegrating during a run because the cars are approaching half the speed of sound, I completely understand and agree. If it's a money issue, I understand that too, although that's a little harder to swallow. In my mind, if evolution can happen safely, it should be allowed to happen.

I truly understand the conundrum NHRA, the team owners, and the insurance companies are facing. But maybe the sport needs to evolve in a different direction. Maybe it's smaller or even a single fuel pump. Maybe one magneto. Slow the cars down enough to tighten the competition, reduce costs, make it more affordable for smaller teams to compete, and maybe, even though I doubt it will ever happen, go back to the quarter mile.

I remember hanging out with you in Las Vegas after the race when Cruz was testing a single-magneto, slowed-down combination. If I remember correctly, he ran something like a 4.92 in the quarter mile at around 302–308 mph. I remember thinking, "There's the future." It seemed like a combination that could bring back quarter-mile racing while making the sport more affordable. But nothing ever came of it, and I've always wondered why.

Professional drag racing is at a crossroads for dozens of reasons. Some of those things we can change, and some we can't. But as a fan, and you know how big a fan I am, I believe something has to be done for the future of the sport. It has to work for both the team owners and the spectators. If it doesn't, the sport will continue to slowly fade away in today's non car oriented world.

As my friend Alan Reinhart always says, "Strictly my opinion."

 

[none]

So do you want to slow the cars down, or speed them up?

Alan

 

[Nitro Bass!]

So do you want to slow the cars down, or speed them up?

Alan

Yes!

 

[Nitro Bass!]

Yes!

As a fan, I want to see the cars go faster. But realistically, given today's challenges, maybe the sport needs to slow down. That's the heart of the problem: which direction do you go?

What is the vision for the future of drag racing? What is the sport trying to become? What is the long-term goal of modern drag racing, considering all the concerns we've discussed along with many others?

That's why I believe the sport is truly at a crossroads. Racers will always want to go faster, and fans will always want to witness new track and national records. But it seems we've reached a point where safety concerns and the financial realities of competing make that increasingly difficult. If that's the case, it's a shame, because chasing speed has always been at the very core of what drag racing is all about.

 

[ironpony]

Brian,
I agree in theory but, they don't want the cars to go faster.
You spend the money (which I belive would be substantial.) Let's say the cars pick up 10 MPH.
The response would likely be to move the rev-limiter (Timing retarder) back to around two seconds.
What would be accomplished?
And while some teams could afford the investment, most can't.
So if you make the Kalitta's stronger, but run the Palmer's out of business?
I don't see that as a win.

Strictly my opinion,
Alan

So, what if you could get the cars to go the same MPH, ET by making the car more efficient and eliminate the carnage as it would take less HP and reduce strain on all the other components possibly making the overall cost more affordable ???

 

[Nitro Bass!]

So, what if you could get the cars to go the same MPH, ET by making the car more efficient and eliminate the carnage as it would take less HP and reduce strain on all the other components possibly making the overall cost more affordable ???

That to me would be a great start as it is quite obvious that making them quicker and faster is out of the question now for the most part