Acceleration!

[LandSharkGT]

I found this to be an interesting read on another site!!!

 

One top fuel dragster 500 cubic inch Hemi engine makes more horsepower

than the first 4 rows of stock cars at the Daytona 500.

 

Under full throttle, a dragster engine consumes 1-1/2 gallons of nitro

methane per second; a fully loaded 747 consumes jet fuel at the same rate

with 25% less energy being produced.

 

A stock Dodge Hemi V8 engine cannot produce enough power to drive the

dragster's supercharger. With 3,000 CFM of air being rammed in by the

supercharger on overdrive, the fuel mixture is compressed into a

near-solid form before ignition.

 

Cylinders run on the verge of hydraulic lock at full throttle. At the

stoichiometric (stoichiometry: methodology and technology by which

quantities of reactants and products in chemical reactions are determined)

1.7:1 air/fuel mixture of nitro methane, the flame front temperature

measures 7,050 deg F.

 

Nitro methane burns yellow. The spectacular white flame seen above the

stacks at night is raw burning hydrogen, dissociated from atmospheric

water vapor by the searing exhaust gases.

 

Dual magnetos supply 44 amps to each spark plug. This is the output of an

arc welder in each cylinder. Spark plug electrodes are totally consumed

during a pass. After halfway, the engine is dieseling from compression,

plus the glow of exhaust valves at 1,400 deg F. The engine can only

 

be shut down by cutting the fuel flow.

 

If spark momentarily fails early in the run, unburned nitro builds up in

the affected cylinders and then explodes with sufficient force to blow

cylinder heads off the block in pieces or split the block in half.

 

In order to exceed 300 mph in 4.5 seconds, dragsters must accelerate an

average of over 4G's. In order to reach 200 mph (well before half-track),

the launch acceleration approaches 8G's.

 

Dragsters reach over 300 miles per hour before you have completed reading

this sentence. Top fuel engines turn approximately 540 revolutions from

light to light! Including the burnout, the engine must only survive 900

revolutions under load.

 

The redline is actually quite high at 9,500 rpm. Assuming all the

equipment is paid off, the crew worked for free, and for once NOTHING BLOWS UP, each run costs an estimate $1,000.00 per second.

 

The current top fuel dragster elapsed time record is 4.441 seconds for the

quarter mile (10/05/03, Tony Schumacher). The top speed record is 333.00

mph (533 km/h) as measured over the last 66' of the run (09/28/03 Doug

Kalitta).

 

Putting all of this into perspective, picture this scenario: You are

driving the average $140,000 Lingenfelter "twin-turbo" powered Corvette Z06. Over a mile up the road, a top fuel dragster is staged and ready to launch down a quarter mile strip as you pass. You have the advantage of a flying start.

 

You run the 'Vette hard up through the gears and blast across the starting

line and pass the dragster at an honest 200 mph. The "tree" goes green for

both of you at that moment.

The dragster launches and starts after you. You keep your foot down hard,

but you hear an incredibly brutal whine that sears your eardrums and

within 3 seconds, the dragster catches and passes you. He beats you to the finish line, a quarter mile away from where you just passed him.

 

Think about it, from a standing start, the dragster had spotted you 200

mph and not only caught, but nearly blasted you off the road when he passed you within a mere 1,320 foot long race course.

 

.................................... And that my friends is ACCELERATION!

 

Bill

[BADGERMAN]

Ahh Nitro!!!!

 

Give me the keys, I'll drive.

[antig24]

Drag racing is great

[trout31]

Thanks for that post. Its a good read.

[99silveradoz71]

Always love watching that on a Saturday afternoon if I happen to be home and off work.

[Halen5150]

Ahh Nitro!!!! 

 

Give me the keys, I'll drive.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

I call shotgun!

[R Dogg 56]

One top fuel dragster 500 cubic inch Hemi engine makes more horsepower

than the first 4 rows of stock cars at the Daytona 500.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

What is roughly the hp of a Nextel Cup car...725-750hp? 725*8= 5800. 750*8= 6000.

Assuming I have the numbers and the math right, that is some serious horsepower.

I can only imagine the tq coming off one of those TF cars.

[BADGERMAN]

What is roughly the hp of a Nextel Cup car...725-750hp? 725*8= 5800. 750*8= 6000.

Assuming I have the numbers and the math right, that is some serious horsepower.

I can only imagine the tq coming off one of those TF cars.

 

From I have read and seen at the races, they have approx. 6000+ hp and 6000+ tq.

 

If you ever get a chance to see them in person, I would highly recommend it.

Words and TV can't begin to describe it.

[Black02Silverado]

What is roughly the hp of a Nextel Cup car...725-750hp? 725*8= 5800. 750*8= 6000.

Assuming I have the numbers and the math right, that is some serious horsepower.

I can only imagine the tq coming off one of those TF cars.

 

From I have read and seen at the races, they have approx. 6000+ hp and 6000+ tq.

 

If you ever get a chance to see them in person, I would highly recommend it.

Words and TV can't begin to describe it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I agree, one really needs to attend a Top Fuel event. Also get as close as you can to the starting line to really get the full effect, if not then anywhere near the track is one intense moment in time when they take off and blurr by. Walking the pits is also interesting, especially if they are test running with the car on stands. The nitro really makes the eyes and nose burn, not to mention when they hit the throttle, what a loud surpise that is.

[R Dogg 56]

So which one of you can I sue when I lose all of my hearing from heeding your advice?

[LandSharkGT]

There are things called HEARING PROTECTORS if you chose not to wear them then that hearing loss is on your stupidity and expense!!!!

[ZZebes]

I WANT ONE!!!!!!

I WANT ONE!!!!!!

I WANT ONE!!!!!!

I WANT ONE!!!!!!

I WANT ONE!!!!!!

I WANT ONE!!!!!!

I WANT ONE!!!!!!

I WANT ONE!!!!!!

I WANT ONE!!!!!!

I WANT ONE!!!!!!

[Elwood 2000]

The current top fuel dragster elapsed time record is 4.441 seconds for the

quarter mile

 

My Silverado can do that. I've got a Westers Tune!

[R Dogg 56]

There are things called HEARING PROTECTORS if you chose not to wear them then that hearing loss is on your stupidity and expense!!!!        

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

wtf indeed. Apparently my trying to be funny just doesn't work anymore. I know that you are supposed to wear hearing protectors in an environment like that. 'Twas only a joke.

 

No need to get your socks in a knot over something as menial as a post.

[AirForceAngler]

I think they are actually making close to 8000 hp these days, but not all of that goes to the track at once if ever. Would blow the tires right off.

 

One must really attend in person to experience it. When the cars go past, you can feel the pounding on your chest!

 

Plus, Nitro just smells so good!