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Troxel's Wild Ride...
- Thread starter mike
- Start date
Bross Hawg
Nitro Member
If a fuel car does not make a full pass, and sometimes even if it does, the clutch pack welds itself together. Even if you step on the clutch pedal, if it is welded, you won't be able to disengage it. That is why all fuel cars have to have a mechanical neutral added in the drivetrain. It disengages the driveshaft from the reverser so there is no longer a mechanical link. The guy driving the atv should have been able to feel the car lugging, since it was turning the motor over. That's why the first thing a crew guy does when they arrive is put the ground straps on the coils.
Horsepower & Heels
Nitro Member
thanks for the clarification. I was wondering the mechanics of what happened.
MM
Nitro Member
The guys at the end of the track are always in a bit of hurry to clear the track so they can fire the next pair. It's hard to find neutral with the car moving, and can destroy the reverser if you try to do so. The guys on the quads need to take time to make sure the cars are in neutral before they push them off the track. It's easy to do on a dragster since the driveline is easily accessable and they can do it manually. On a funny car with the body and the driveline cover, it is more difficult for them to do.
mw6789
Nitro Member
Where does that line start????
mike
Nitro Member
MM
Nitro Member
It would have, but it wasn't in neutral when they started pushing her.
Paul
Nitro Member
I would think that the ATV driver would be able to feel the difference between a car in neutral and one with the engine engaged, it would have to take more throttle if the engine was being cranked over.
They probably just need to make it clear to these ATV drivers that they shouldn't push a car if its clearly not in neutral, and if they're not sure, stop and have someone check with the driver.
When you look at how some tracks Turn offs are designed, she could have injured or killed somebody at other tracks!
Just Paul
Nitro Member
She would have ended up in the campground at Brainerd I think.
JL
Nitro Member
In past years when they used to hook and tow, would the same thing have happened?
DrRocket
Nitro Member
I'm guessing they've also got "standing orders" to "get that car off the strip!!!"
It's not uncommon for the clutches to be welded together. Once clear of the track they release the coupler and the motor no longer turns over. But in that case the motor turns over until they clear the track. Obviously something else contributed to the accident. The fuel must have been on slightly or something.
DrRocket
Nitro Member
Nope. She would have taken a harmless "scenic tour" through turn one, a fairly well banked turn that would have given her a safe place to get things under control.
Just Paul
Nitro Member
David, I don't think so. Turn 1 goes off the end of the strip. Even the new turn 1 I don't think she could have made.
When the car fired back up, she was off the track and at a 90 degree angle to the racing surface, (left at Pomona, right at BIR) and went dead straight ahead. I don't think she could have made a sharp turn even if she wanted to. By looking at the map she would have hit the new wall for the road course head on at a pretty good speed. Or, since it's a tighter turn around, been pointed down the return road aimed at the other cars getting ready to tow back.
