Why a canopy?

[Leebone]

I'm just an arm chair crew chief, so I don't know. What are the advantages of a canopy on a top fuel car? Seems to me, it only adds weight to the car. Who am I to say though. Doug Kalitta won the last two races.

 

[r2]

Safety!
Would you want an errant part in the head, or cockpit?
The cars weigh the same. With or without it.

 

[none]

There are a couple of schools of thought.

As Ray said, the enclosed canopy is supposed to ensure that there is no intrusion into the cockpit, no matter the circumstance.

Some feel that a driver could be trapped if the car is upside down or against the wall and on fire, but with the open cockpit would still be able to squeeze out.

It does weigh30-35 lbs. more. If you have a light driver, not a big deal at all.

If you have a heavier driver, there is the penalty of not being able to move ballast for balance and stay at the minimum weight.

When it first appeared some thought it was an aerodynamic advantage. After some testing, a lip was added to the back, and the open cockpit cars raised the windshield to equalize the two.

At one point the top ten speeds all time were all held by Brittany (canopy) and lately the fastest car out there has been Salinas (open).

So, you decide.

Alan

 

[Pete]

There are a couple of schools of thought.

As Ray said, the enclosed canopy is supposed to ensure that there is no intrusion into the cockpit, no matter the circumstance.

Some feel that a driver could be trapped if the car is upside down or against the wall and on fire, but with the open cockpit would still be able to squeeze out.

It does weigh30-35 lbs. more. If you have a light driver, not a big deal at all.

If you have a heavier driver, there is the penalty of not being able to move ballast for balance and stay at the minimum weight.

When it first appeared some thought it was an aerodynamic advantage. After some testing, a lip was added to the back, and the open cockpit cars raised the windshield to equalize the two.

At one point the top ten speeds all time were all held by Brittany (canopy) and lately the fastest car out there has been Salinas (open).

So, you decide.

Alan

Like the safety of the canopy, but being a purist, I will always be a fan of the open cockpit

 

[4onthefl4]

With or without a canopy, think about how far drag racing has come since this :

Or this:

 

[r2]

IMO - The Halo in F1, and the Aeroscreen in Indy Car, have already proven themselves multiple times, which came after the TF canopy.

Thank You for explaining it much better than I Alan!

I am going to go sleep the day away.

 

[Cliff]

The 2nd photo above - that car looks sharp with the blown flattie, except for the roll bar..... heh

 

[none]

With or without a canopy, think about how far drag racing has come since this :
View attachment 13580
Or this:
View attachment 13579

This roll bar looks like it would be a real pain in the neck................................

 

[nwspeedshots]

Is that guy breathing through a skin-diving snorkel...?

 

[sutton]

With or without a canopy, think about how far drag racing has come since this :

Or this:
View attachment 13579

I think this is Ora Vasquez, it originally had carbs. there is a picture of Ora in the car as it was being built on the internet. same roll bar, helmet and steering wheel. he was a fantastic guy and I was blessed to call him my friend.
Larry Sutton

PS; Ora was a great racer and crew chief that won many National and division events including with for Dennis Taylor.

 

[mike]

I think this is Ora Vasquez, it originally had carbs. there is a picture of Ora in the car as it was being built on the internet. same roll bar, helmet and steering wheel. he was a fantastic guy and I was blessed to call him my friend.
Larry Sutton

PS; Ora was a great racer and crew chief that won many National and division events including with for Dennis Taylor.

Cory Mac Bruce McDowell were people he helped he was a vg friend-Mike&Janet

 

[Cliff]

Is that guy breathing through a skin-diving snorkel...?

No it's the goggles strap on his helmet. I had to really look at that......

 

[stitcherbob]

If you go back to Antron’s crash you can see the confusion in the Safety Safari when they knelt down in front of his canopy and didn’t know how to open it. The guy kinda shrugged his shoulders when the other yelled to him “what do you need?” Not being there I’m only guessing but it certainly was a stalled moment in Antron’s rescue

 

[z28]

If you go back to Antron’s crash you can see the confusion in the Safety Safari when they knelt down in front of his canopy and didn’t know how to open it. The guy kinda shrugged his shoulders when the other yelled to him. Not being there I’m only guessing but it certainly was a stalled moment in Antron’s rescue

they addressed that afterwards. There is an external release.

 

[TF CREW]

If you go back to Antron’s crash you can see the confusion in the Safety Safari when they knelt down in front of his canopy and didn’t know how to open it. The guy kinda shrugged his shoulders when the other yelled to him. Not being there I’m only guessing but it certainly was a stalled moment in Antron’s rescue

In the drag boat capsule the latching mechanism latches onto a push lock pin that is removable from outside. Was mandatory for that very reason the driver was unable to open lid.

 

[twostep]

The 2nd photo above - that car looks sharp with the blown flattie, except for the roll bar..... heh

What I was thinking. Look at that cute little blower sitting up there. The roll bar? That's a negative, Ghost Rider. LOL

If I recall, Garlits campaigned a canopy car back in 1986 with mixed results. Always the pioneer, he mounted it after one of those big black beetles smacked him in the head at 260mph, rendering him momentarily unconscious.

 

[r2]

If I recall, Garlits campaigned a canopy car back in 1986 with mixed results. Always the pioneer, he mounted it after one of those big black beetles smacked him in the head at 260mph, rendering him momentarily unconscious.

A few ran the Pro-Glass Lexan shield.
Don Garlits
Joe Amato
Eddie Hill
Butch Blair
John Carey
Chris Karamesines
Mendy Fry had one for her TAD
Etc., others can add too the list, it's 3:30am here and no coffee.

I'm not sure what you mean by mixed results, and am not looking for an answer, but imagine a bird strike, or ??? That Lexan was nowhere near the canopy of today.

Someday they will be mandatory after an incident.

 

[Jim]

With or without a canopy, think about how far drag racing has come since this :

Or this:
View attachment 13579

The driver's head would do a great job of protecting the roll bar in a crash.

 

[sammi]

One wonders why the canopy hasn't appeared in A/F or T/D?

 

[r2]

One wonders why the canopy hasn't appeared in A/F or T/D?

Weight, 30+ pounds takes quite a bit of horsepower to push.