Talk:Drag racing
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I've been drag racing for over 25 years now, and I'm also somewhat of a writer. I think if we clean it up a little and add some pictures and a couple of more sections, this could make the 'featured article' list. Cliff is cool
I was thinking about grabbing a picture of a christmas tree today, but since it's late I couldn't think of anywhere to get it that wouldn't be a copyvio. I'll do some searching when I'm more awake. Mo0[talk] 05:13, 12 Mar 2005 (UTC)
Sounds cool, Mo0. I can scan in some pics of a car doing a serious wheelie, and probably any other drag racing thing you can think of. But my scanner's not hooked up. These are all my pictures, so no copyvi problems...more later. Cliff clifffster@earthlink.net
Well, I got registered and uploaded one of my pics. I hope it doesn't get deleted, I couldn't find all those copyright or copyleft (or whatever, that stuff confused the hell me) forms are. Some of the pics I have are mine, and some I got years ago off the 'net, but have no clue where they came from or when exactly I got them. --Cliffster 16:43, 12 Mar 2005 (UTC)
[edit] recent adds
Good work, Cliff. --Pmeisel 22:15, 12 Mar 2005 (UTC)
Well, thanks, I appreciate it, Pmeisel. I'm old, but I'm trying. I'm shooting for the "Featured Article" thing. I'll do my best, but I need help (isn't that what this is all about?). The Holy Grail of articles. I've seen some of the critics of potentials, and we need to fillin the red links with blue (I'll fix that). Also, we're gonna catcb hell for "too long" and "not enough detail", which is typical.
BTW, I didn't start this article, I'm just adding on. No matter how you cut it, the original poster gets the credit, one way or the other. I'd just be happy to be a piece of it :) --Cliffster 23:23, 12 Mar 2005 (UTC)
I added a glossary of terms, not necessarily in the article. Anybody want to add? Trekphiler 20:16, 8 December 2005 (UTC)
I notice "any car with doors" added to doorslammer; I've never heard it applied to non-Pros. Clarify? Or delete? Trekphiler 05:04, 10 December 2005 (UTC)
[edit] Photo caption
Just a point - the picture which claims to be of a Top Fuel dragster is actually a Top Methanol dragster raced out of Malta and shown performing a burnout at Santa Pod, the UK's main drag strip.
Martin
The driver of the Top Methanol dragster on the picture is actualy Peter Beck from Switzerland. The dragster has then been sold to Malta. Andrea
[edit] Popularity
Some more information on the popularity of the sport would be nice. Also, I'm a bit confused by the sentence "Drag racing originated in the United States and is still the most popular there" in the first paragraph. The most popular what there? Kind of car race? Or does it mean "and is still most popular [relative to other countries] there"? --LostLeviathan 14:24, 4 May 2005 (UTC)
- I was going to comment on the same part of the intro. I really don't think drag racing is extremely popular in the US, and if not I don't see how it woud be "very popular" in the countries listed if it's not as popular as it is here. The article doesn't really provide any support for the claims of popularity given in the intro, either --Sketchee 19:29, 24 September 2005 (UTC)
[edit] Mistake in sentence
I get no sense in the sentence " the astounding performance of 0 to 330 mph to 0 in 20 seconds can be obtained! " I suppose it should be "... 330 to 0 mph in 20 seconds..." ? In particular as it seems to be obtained by using parachutes... \Mikez 19:27, 13 Jun 2004 (UTC)
- I belive it is 0 to 330 to 0 in 20 seconds and have changed it accordingly. Also some infomation about .5 and .4 trees should be added and infomation about how racers may be disqualfied --2mcm 08:34, 31 Dec 2004 (UTC)
- It's been done - check out "Drag racing strategies and methods. (I wrote it) Cliff
[edit] more cleanup needed
the whole drag racing section, this article, the individual top fuel, top alcohol, etc. articles, etc. really need a big reorganization. I might get around to it sometime, but if anyone wants to jump in now, feel free.......Gzuckier 03:32, 10 May 2005 (UTC)
There's still some needed. Does NHRA allow nitrous now? Has Top Gas disappeared? Super Gas, too? And how 'bout a para on records? Or a beefed historical section? I'd love to see mention (& pix!) of the Allison diggers. And mention of who got 1st 200, 250, 300mph pass; 1st in 6s, 5s, 4s in TFD/TFFC; 1st FC, 1st flopper; Big's 1st rear-engined digger (& how it wasn't 1st ever!); 1st in 8s, 7s, 6s in ProStock; win strings (Glidden in ProStock, Force overall, Shirley's 3 national titles). I'm a fan, but not a big enuf one to try this. And, what about a special page on racing/rodding &/or customizing terms? Trekphiler 15:50, 3 December 2005 (UTC)
For trivia buffs: TFDs pull 5g off the line, -4g when the chutes pop (enuf to cause retinal separation, which I understand ended Big's career...) And first TF/FC in 4s was Chuck Etchells. Trekphiler 05:08, 10 December 2005 (UTC)
[edit] Selected Records
I added the section, based on a piece in CC or HR (I forget which). Early & more recent records would be welcome! How 'bout it? Somebody who's been a fan longer than me (& with better records!) must know this stuff! Trekphiler
[edit] Verifiable?
The sentence "At any given time there are over 325 drag strips operating world-wide." is interesting but is it verifiable? --antilived T | C 09:35, 22 December 2005 (UTC)
I would doubt that it's verifiable. Although I would be interested in finding out what is the oldest continuously operating dragstrip; as my local dragstrip Great Lakes Dragaway (www.greatlakesdragaway.com) makes that claim (50 years, 1955-2005) although I'm wondering if there isn't a track who's been running longer.. J. Straub 16:08, 22 December 2005 (UTC)
- The name sounds familiar. Is that a narrow 2-lane, no tree, Deep South? I've heard that's the last "original" strip still operating, heads-up only, RWYB. If N, I'd compare Pomona or Ontario; could be Great Lakes is oldest still in operation. Trekphiler 04:31, 31 December 2005 (UTC)
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- Great Lakes Dragaway is in Union Grove, Wisconsin... don't know if it is the oldest but it has a good claim. I know Inyokern Airport held that distinction for many years but according to its article drag racing no longer takes place there. As for the Deep South strip, you may be thinking of George Ray's Wildcat Hot Rod Dragstrip in Arkansas, not the oldest (opened 1961) but perhaps the most old-fashioned. Great Bend, KA [1] hosted the first NHRA Nationals in '55 (same year Great Lakes) but I don't know if it has been continually operating. Cdh1984 15:43, 6 May 2006 (UTC)
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- George Ray's sounds right. I caught a TV piece on it. I guess it meant the oldest (or only) still running "classic" style races. (I gotta say, that kind of track looks mighty damn dangerous to me, raised on mod NHRA style, complete with Safety Safari!) Trekphiler 12:12, 6 November 2006 (UTC)
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[edit] Silhouette?
Has anyone ever heard "silhouette" used in a drag racing context? Here in the UK I've only ever heard it used with regards to circuit racing, in particular GT cars. I've been a regular at drag racing meetings for 17 years and have never heard a commentator, fan or racer use the expression. Cdh1984 15:19, 6 May 2006 (UTC)
- I've heard it (rarely, on U.S. TVcasts) to describe the Pro Stock cars because they resemble stockers (the same way NASCAR racers are silhouette cars). It's not common even here. Trekphiler 12:18, 6 November 2006 (UTC)
[edit] "Drag Racing For The Uninformed"
Sounds awkward. Shawnc 03:41, 21 May 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Sand Drag
Does someone want to add a section on sand drag racing? I am creating the page sand drag, describing a pile of sand at the end of a railway siding, and intend to disambig link it here. FiggyBee 12:53, 8 June 2006 (UTC)
well i think that you should give information about junior drag racing and the n you can start but i cna't find any information about it —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 66.188.82.243 (talk • contribs) 15:32, July 17, 2006 (UTC).
[edit] Dragster - no definition
For some reason there is no description or definition of a Dragster anywhere - the word "dragster" leads to the "Drag racing" page, and the different classes of vehicles are defined but there does not seem to be a way for anyone not acquainted with the sport to find out:
- what a dragster IS
- what a dragster LOOKS like
- how a dragster differs from similar vehicles (e.g. Funny Cars, Hot Rods)
Simon Beck London, UK
definition for "dial-in" needed, too. currently circularly defined with "breakout."
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- According to http://www2.newton.mec.edu/~mike_sylvia/DRAGSTERS/glossary.html : "A type of car designed for a quarter-mile race from a standing start, against time or another car." Crabapplecove 23:40, 22 October 2006 (UTC)
- Good catch. I added dragster & dial-in to the glossary. Hope it helps. Trekphiler 12:35, 6 November 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Seat ejector?
The article says Jrs that breakout are "ejected from the entire race". Meaning the event? Or what? (I'm unfamiliar with Jr, but I'd guess "event".) Can somebody who knows clarify? Trekphiler 12:20, 6 November 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Give him a citation
The article says:
- "The sport has taken off so much in recent times areas with no drag racing facilities have converted urban roads into drag strips."
Where? In the U.S. in the last couple of decades, tracks have been closing all over the place. Has something changed? What's the source for that claim? (From the tome & emphasis on European racing, I'd guess Britain or Sweden.) Trekphiler 13:03, 6 November 2006 (UTC)
[edit] The Pomona sanction
Are Pro Mod IHRA only, or what? Clarify? Also, are turbos banned entire? I seem to recall IHRA allows them. Trekphiler 13:21, 6 November 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Altered states
I added this:
- "The FIAT Topolino was the first to be exploited this way, in the notorious AA/FA, or Altered, followed by the more conventional modified VW Beetle."
Altereds are still being run in nostalgia events; I don't know who sanctions them. NHRA banned them long ago. Trekphiler 13:40, 6 November 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Planting a bulb
Since when is redlighted ="bulbed"? I've never heard it. Trekphiler 07:20, 11 December 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Outdated/inaccurate information
Supercharged 8 cyl. engine* (typical) = 350hp-765hp [260kW-570kW]
These make up to 7500 HP these days
"Top Fuel" 8 cyl. engine (typical) = 5,500hp+ (these are 500 cubic inch V8 Hemi Engines running on a mix of 95% Nitro Methane to 5% petrol - they produce phenomenal power and propel the vehicle to speeds of over 300mph (500+kmh) in under 5 seconds
The do not use "Petrol", they use Methanol. Top fuel engines are generally limited to 450 cid, and generally are limited to 80% nitromethane (NHRA allows an increased amount of Nitromethane at Denver Colorado, to compensate for the high altitude of the track). There used to be no limit to the amount of nitromethane used. This is straight out of the 2004 NHRA rulebook.
In fact, most of the information under four, six, and eight cylinder vehicles are grossly innacurate, or at least extremely modest in terms of horsepower ratings. There are normaly asperated, nitromethane burning 8 cylinder engines that make a few thousand HP, much more than the 550hp listed. 550 is a VERY modest number for an American V-8 that is used, even very casually, as a Drag car. Unfortunately, this is not the type of information one can find from any written source.
In the "The Race" section, some verbage regarding "pedalling" a top fuel car is injected right after talk of shift points. To make this less mis-leading, it should be mentioned that Top Fuel cars have no transmissions, thus do not employ "shift points". This is what makes "Pedalling" nessisary, since there is no option of depressing the clutch to allow the tires to regain traction.
Under "Racing Organization" TA/D and TG/D should be removed from the "Top Fuel Dragster" line, as those are not pro catagories.
This line, also under "Racing Organization": The NHRA is more popular with large, ¼ mile nationally-recognized tracks, while the IHRA is a favorite of smaller 1/8th mile local tracks. Is Mis-leading, it implies that IHRA only incorporates 1/8 mile races.
This line, under "The Burnout", is not entirely accurate: Some cars have a mandatory "line-lock" which prevents the rear brakes from engaging when the brake pedal is depressed (which can be toggled on and off).
"Line Lock", when mandatory, is required to be on the FRONT brake system. It HOLDS the pressure in the font brakes, leaving the driver free to operate the clutch and Gas pedals. The only may it coukld be used on the rear brakes is in a car with an automatic transmission (else one would need an extra foot for the brake), but there are no classes (that allow automatic transmissions) that require it. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 146.63.253.240 (talk • contribs).
[edit] Re: Outdated/inaccurate information
I agree, this article could benifit from a rewrite, and the estimated horsepower stuff NEEDS TO GO ENTIRELY! In response to your issue with the numbers being underated, I think the author was trying to give an estimate for STREET cars that you would see at the drag strip. BMan1113VR 01:53, 20 December 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Is that a [citation needed]?
The article claims:
- "One of the negative side-effects of sport compact drag racing is the cheaper cars involved are often raced (illegally) on the street,"
If this was true, the existence of bracket racing would have created a persistent, mass menace. It seems to me somebody's drawn a false causality, but I don't know enough about the history of the sport compacts to correct it. If somebody does, please fix this. Thanks. Trekphiler 07:40, 11 December 2006 (UTC)
IMO, It should just be taken out completely, it's pretty much based on backward logic. In Drag Racing, unlike Nascar, Formula 1, IRL, and other auto racing, one can easily race their daily-driver in sportsman bracket races, making it one of the few racing organizations that involve all levels of involvement, from Child-level, to hobbyist, all the way up to professional level. The requirement to have a valid driver's liscense makes street racing unattractive to the enthusiast. If one is a IRL, Nascar or Formula 1 fan, there is no way for one to get involved with whatever vehicle they may have (unless they happen to have an IRL-class car sitting around). If one is going to race on the streets, they will do so without motivation from the existance of organized racing of any kind.
