tributehub

Great soundtrack...this vid is really well done. Dragsters do the 1/4 mile in under 5 seconds at 330mph...this vid slows it all down so you can see the tyre distortion, flames from the 8000bhp engine exhausts...good music backing..

Great video Andy, thanks.

I few years ago I went to the Seattle International speedway to a drag race. Bare in mind I've been a mechanic for 35 years now and am used to engines and noise etc. But when the top fuel dragsters came out to race and we saw sub 5 second quarter mile times I was in total shock. The extreme nature of this experience is something you have to experience and feel to know what it's really like. When this engines start up...the noise is litterally frightening for the first time you see it. The explosive nature of these machines makes you feel in grave danger from being hurt. They litterally explode of the line. It's so unnatural what they do, that even for a guy like me it's mind boggling. It creates instant fear for your own personal safety as you watch from the stands. It's something that puts you on edge and leaves you shocked. You get somewhat used to it after a while, but you never really loose that fear completely. It's what brings people Back to watch I guess! The fastest E.T. I saw was 4.89 seconds and well over 300 mph. Breathtaking. For those that haven't experienced this ever....it's a good day out to go and see at least once in you life. It was a lot of fun. The race is over in about 5 seconds but it's only moments before the next cars are out there warming up their tyres and racing. It's constant entertainment.

BTW, if you look at the wide straps that are over the cylinder heads on these race cars...they are there to prevent the cylinder head from becoming missiles if the engine was to blow up.

Good post Bob. I have a lot of friends and people I know in car racing, very few of them have ever been drag racing. Trying to convince them to go is difficult, always the same answers 'Over in 5 seconds, where's the excitement in that' or 'how hard can it be to put your foot down and drive straight, with no corners'.

Thing is, trying to put down over 2000bhp on the road and steer straight when both wheels ( and not always at the same time) create wheelspin hence pulling the car this way and that is very difficult, let alone the 8000bhp from a top fuel dragster! The drivers say it is like trying to steer a corkscrew.

Friends that have relented and have been love it, and have returned time and time again. It is the sheer drama, two big powerful incredibly noisy fire breathing cars (or bikes) side by side at the startline with all eyes on them. When they launch, the ground shakes ( registers 2.3 on the richter!) and your whole body shakes, an incredible experience.

As you rightly say Bob there is plenty to entertain with a race every minute or so, with over 300 competing cars and bikes of all different types, some with ridiculously powerful engines ( 1000bhp drag bikes, 6secs and 230mph at the line) or a Minivan with a Jag 3.8 supercharged motor installed. It's crazy, wacky and a whole lot of fun!

Trying to convince folks to go is like trying to convince folk to get over the tribute thing and watch TAPFS. Once they have been they keep coming back. Can't wait for September, the big FIA meeting at Santa Pod near Rushden /Wellingborough, the European Finals.

Speaking of drag racing.....I hope everyone saw "Lightning" Bolt win the 100meter race in the Olympics yesterday!

Human drag racing at it's best! 

Yes that was fantastic Bob - hope he's running on legal fuel!
Back to drag racing of the nitro kind, a big event at Hockenheim in Germany this weekend, the annual 'Nitrolympix'
Some brilliant photographs:
www.eurodragster.com/live/2008nitrolympx/default.htm