NHRA shortens top fuel and funny car races to 1,000' for safety...

[05' Ditry Duramax]

After I heard they going to 1000 ft I was bumed out. I don't think it will help that much. Scott hit the boom on that lift also. I'm sure that didn't help. The NHRA has not lengthened a track in quite a while. These older tracks need to be updated. Now that Nationals up here in Washington is a few weeks away I will not be looking forward to it as much because I know they will be shuting down at 1000'. It just doesn't seem right. I know in Columbus Ohio at National Trail the runout area was lengthened past a county road and there is an old farm house right next to the sand pit. There is a "dragster crossing" sign and a stop light that is in time with the christmas tree. Why can't other tracks do the same thing to help stop the cars. Now they don't run at that track anymore but they made a step to be safer.

 

[Fingers]

300' earlier shutdown means 300' more run out.

Scott's incident was a double failure. Chute and brake. It WILL happen again.

Sand piles will/should stop a car with a single failure and have in the past. The net needs to be added to back up the sand pile.

The nets used to stop planes are designed to grab the wings of the planes. (strongest part) Getting something to work for the race cars will be a little more tricky, but I think it is what has to be done.

Nobody racing Top Fuel or Funny Car is trying to hit the wall. But they all are aware that if they stay in the sport long enough, it will happen. They also are aware that the faster the speeds and the harder they push the cars, the more likely something is going to break. Some times you just have to know when to walk away.

 

[McRat]

After I heard they going to 1000 ft I was bumed out. I don't think it will help that much. Scott hit the boom on that lift also. I'm sure that didn't help. The NHRA has not lengthened a track in quite a while. These older tracks need to be updated. Now that Nationals up here in Washington is a few weeks away I will not be looking forward to it as much because I know they will be shuting down at 1000'. It just doesn't seem right. I know in Columbus Ohio at National Trail the runout area was lengthened past a county road and there is an old farm house right next to the sand pit. There is a "dragster crossing" sign and a stop light that is in time with the christmas tree. Why can't other tracks do the same thing to help stop the cars. Now they don't run at that track anymore but they made a step to be safer.

Not sure that would work at all tracks. I remember OCIR, which was one of the first "modern" dragstrips. It's runout area was the 5 Fwy IIRC. I wonder if they would write you a speeding ticket?

Firebird in Arizona shares with Bondurant. IIRC, the emergency runout is the roadrace course area after a tire wall?

Funny car brakes have little effect after they lose the body. The body is what supplies the downforce, so if it comes off, the car doesn't have as much traction on the tires.

 

[Turbotug]

Not sure that would work at all tracks. I remember OCIR, which was one of the first "modern" dragstrips. It's runout area was the 5 Fwy IIRC. I wonder if they would write you a speeding ticket?

Firebird in Arizona shares with Bondurant. IIRC, the emergency runout is the roadrace course area after a tire wall?
Funny car brakes have little effect after they lose the body. The body is what supplies the downforce, so if it comes off, the car doesn't have as much traction on the tires.

Firebird's runout is LONG.

If you miss the first exit it seams like it takes 15 minutes to get back to the ticket shack...

Being stuck in the right lane all night and running against a slower cars sucks!

 

[MMLMM]

I agree that "some tracks need longer run off areas, but either way, you make the choice and know the risk when you hop in a car. Would I run down the track at those speeds knowing something could go wrong and I may die? You bet your ass, but thats just me. Its racing, if you feel terrified every time you strap in maybe its time to start looking for another sport/hobby/job/whatever. Running down the track scared is mostly gonna cause a problem.

safety is a huge concern. Weather your running 4's or 12's. however, implementing everything you can to protect a driver is never gonna happen. There will always be a crash, and then we will have to come up with a way to prevent that. All you can do when shit hits the fan and there is no driver control, is hope for the best. And if you walk away, make your choice weather you get back in a car again.

 

[LBZ]

IMO I believe the 1000' shutdown may be a temporary thing. This gives the extra 300' shutdown until all the tracks can build a longer/better shutdown area.

I think we will see the full 1/4 mile again-that's what true drag racing has always been and it will always be the standard.

 

[CtChevy427]

Scott's incident was a double failure. Chute and brake.

Guys lets remember one thing If Scott was unconscious noting was there to stop that car, the chutes and brakes are both driver controled. There has to be something implemented that takes over for the driver. Blow offs are nothing new to this sport and most end before the end of the track. There was no attempt to slow this thing down and when the investigation is released it will show Scott was not there in the end. He will be greatly missed.

 

[rushingbc]

I tend to agree that there should be some sort of external control over atleast the chute. a kind of a deployment system that goes off at 'X' feet past the lights, then maybe a remote back up to that?

When the Navy buys a plane they require back up systems for the back up systems. It would have to be right though, anyone remember, and I think it was that same day, the funny car that left the light and the chute dropped on the ground at the lights

 

[MoJoe]

IMO I believe the 1000' shutdown may be a temporary thing.

It is for now, simply an interim solution until they figure out a suitable method to fix tracks. I am sure the IHRA will follow in there steps as well.