1/8th vs 1/4mi racing:

[McRat]

http://www.competitiondiesel.com/forums/showthread.php?t=54347

The event they are talking about is at Bowling Green and is a 1/4 mi track that has TF cars running there. So it's not a safety issue.

There is a move afoot to reduce Diesel Drag Racing to 1/8th mi for the fast guys. They did it to us at Bakersfield.

From what I gather, they are blowing turbochargers and engines by running the full racecourse. To me, that sounds like a tuning problem, not a problem with the track. If your engine blows at 1000' when tuned to 900HP, I guess you need to adjust the tuning to 800HP.

 

[fast03]

I agree race should be 1/4th mile. 1/8th is good practice for getting the launch right. I am in 5th by the end of the 1/8th so how much more harm could be done in the last 1/8th.

 

[McRat]

If your local track is 1/8th, I can see the reason. But if it's a quarter mile?

All the magazines, and all the current "records" for diesel pickups are based on 1/4mi times. So 1/4mi races will always be the barometer.

But I'll admit I'm puzzled why it's even being discussed. Everyone knows Bowling Green is a 1/4mi track. Then right before the race, "Hey! I got an idea. Let's run only half the track. It came to me in a dream."

 

[DmaxHawk]

If your local track is 1/8th, I can see the reason. But if it's a quarter mile?

All the magazines, and all the current "records" for diesel pickups are based on 1/4mi times. So 1/4mi races will always be the barometer.

But I'll admit I'm puzzled why it's even being discussed. Everyone knows Bowling Green is a 1/4mi track. Then right before the race, "Hey! I got an idea. Let's run only half the track. It came to me in a dream."

:rofl:

I agree, I see no point in running 1/8th

 

[TrentNell]

i cant believe that ... posted my opinion anyway .

 

[McRat]

i cant believe that ... posted my opinion anyway .

Timmay doesn't know how to reply.

Ask Timmay: "Uh, you don't even race, so why are you even in a racing thread?"

 

[McRat]

Here's the rumor I've heard, I don't know how true it is:

There is a "big name" Dodge truck that doesn't like 1/4mi racing. If they want that truck to attend, they need to cut the race back.

The decision will be based on what's best for the Dodge racing community.

 

[JoshH]

What truck will that be?

 

[McRat]

Since I heard the info second-hand (good source), I'm not going to "out" them. They have made no public comment on the issue.

Another rumor by a less reliable source is that all the dumb "12 Second Rollcage" crap was actually an effort to just get diesel racing to be switched over to 1/8mi in the name of "safety".

I do find it laughable that the Dodge Boys used to claim "Dodges Are Indestructable!!" and now? They want to shorten the racetrack cause they can't survive 10 seconds at full power.

 

[dieselson]

I can't believe they're actually serious. Everyone know's real racing is a 1/4 mile. If you don't build your truck to run a full 1/4 mile at full power, then why do you bother... :banghead:

 

[McRat]

I think they need another class for the 1/8th-mile-only racers.

Since it's the smaller track, it could be called Junior Dragsters.

Wait. That name has been taken.

 

[McRat]

But think about it.

What does that say about diesel technology when we now consider a 1/4mi to be an endurance race?

 

[IdahoRob]

From what I gather, they are blowin...en someone needs to figure out a new program.

 

[McRat]

I'll give TS this:

At least they are discussing it publically. At Bakersfield, they didn't discuss it at all. We were told about it in lanes.

 

[Idaho CTD]

I couldn't agree more Pat. I'm a Cummins fan but if they can't keep their smoke belching 12v's together for the WHOLE race then stay at home. Hell we may break the first pass but that's part of racing. You push it to the breaking point and either back it down to live or you fix the parts that break (hopefully with better parts).

 

[Mike L.]

1/8 mile drag race doesn't prove anything except you got out of hole quicker. How many times have we seen someone ahead at the 1/8 mile and have their asses handed to them at the end of the 1/4? The last 1/8 is the most exciting IMHO.

 

[McRat]

"If we tune our truck and nitrous jets to last a full 1/4 mile, then we might lose the race to the Fuel Only trucks. So the only way we can be guaranteed a win, err... I mean the only thing that would be fair, is if we cut the track down to 1/8th mile so we can crank up the power higher." - anonymous

 

[Accelerator]

Timmay doesn't know how to reply.

Ask Timmay: "Uh, you don't even race, so why are you even in a racing thread?"

Maybe cause he would feel left out if he did'nt, or cause he owns the site??

BG sucks, the track is slick and very hot, not to mention it's short shut down area make for a act of GOD to stop when going faster than 115 MPH, and i mean on the brakes. Guys with lighter trucks may not have an issue.

1/4 mile on that track is a must for the racers to make up for the tractionless start line, But 1/8 mile would be more competitive and safer, i 've seen a few hit the wall there, and it's not pretty.

So my answer would be......Fix the traction issue's, and add to the shut down, and then it's a real 1/4 mile track, untill then it's a 1/8 or a 1/5 mile track and nothing more!

 

[McRat]

Dunno, I went about 125mph at BG and had no problems slowing down IIRC. But that was 4 years ago. Might have changed. I do agree with the "slick" comment. They get stingy with the VHT there. We had one of our friends go into the wall and towed his car home to St Louis after the race.

But, lots of diesel pickups have run BG, so there is no more concern than other tracks. Safety is only a concern if it sells the concept.

 

[McRat]

Looks like it will be decided the night before the race in private if you attend the TS Sales Promo.

It looks like majority of the Dodge guys want 1/8th mile and most the Dmax guys want 1/4mi.

If it is split down brand lines (1/8th favors a certain engine setup), then it should remain a 1/4mi race. Otherwise it is nothing but handicapping one brand over the other. Time for that crap to come to an end if they want the sport to move forward.