NHRA

[markiver54]

Given the fact that I have become dis-interested in current sports including the Olympics, I turned my attention today to drag racing and thoroughly enjoyed watching the nationals from Sonoma Ca. It's been a while, and I didn't realize that Tony Stewart runs top fuel. I might start following more closely. I spent a lot of time in my youth at the strip.

[Cowboy Gun Fan]

I split my time going back and forth from the Olympics to the Drag Strip.

Tony Stewart did pretty good, but got beat towards the end.

One negative about the Drags these days. Too many Funny Cars exploding.

[markiver54]

I enjoyed watching today. It's actually surprising that even more don't blow up. It blows my mind that they reach speeds of over 300 mph in only 1/4 mile.

[Rifletom]

Tony Stewart drag racing? And in TF!? That guy LOVES anything with wheels. Awesome.

[markiver54]

I can't believe I had not heard he was into drag racing. I think it's awesome too!
I guess I need to get more in tune about who the top competitors are now. I don't think John Force will be back. Hope he's getting better.

[Sir Henry]

Even I watched the NHRA today. I can remember when the first slingshot broke 180 mph. I was a kid and was amazed.

[bandit1250]

I enjoyed watching today. It's actually surprising that even more don't blow up. It blows my mind that they reach speeds of over 300 mph in only 1/4 mile.

Top Fuel and funny cars are now limited to 1000 feet and stopped running the full 1/4 mile after Scott Kalitta got killed at English Town. The speeds got too high for tracks that were built in the 60's with shut down areas being too short I was at English Town that day and it is still in my mind how bad it was. With them pushing 11,000 HP from a 500 cubic inch Hemi engine things are going to let loose and blow engines. Torque is somewhere in the 9,000 range. All top fuel and funny cars regardless of the brand of the body are running after market engines based on a 426 Chrysler Hemi. Hemi engines have been the engine of choice since the 354 and the 392 Chrysler Hemi's came out in the mid to late 50's and now the 426 based Hemi is in the rules that they run that engine. They may say Ford, Chevy or Toyota on the plug covers but they are Hemi's. They are only about 1 MPH from doing 340 in a 1000 feet. Last season they made the first pass at 300 MPH in 660 feet.
Imagine a race car accelerating to 100 MPH in 60 feet in 8 tenths of a second. That is why some top fuel drivers after years of running start to have problems with the retinas in their eyes from the G- forces. I have been to 43 national events and still love the drags better than any other racing.

[markiver54]

Bandit, you mentioned Englistown. That's where I used to go in my youth. A good friend of the family was a big car guy, (he had a Shelby GT 500) and used to take me on Sundays. What fun that was. I remember when Shirly 'Cha Cha' Muldowny was running there along with all the other big names. Garlits, Prudome Colitta etc. (probably mis-spelled all their names.} Wow...I'm getting old.

[Sir Henry]

Who remembers these?

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[clovishound]

And here I was thinking this was about the National Henry Rifle Association.

[Sir Henry]

And here I was thinking this was about the National Henry Rifle Association.

A Henry can go from zero to 2,000 feet in one second.

[BrokenolMarine]

When I was stationed in Memphis in the Mid 80s, we went to the Quaker State NHRA Nationals each year. I would go to the semi final days, and buy a pit pass so we could walk thru and watch these crews rebuild the engines between each pass, and often run into big name drivers walking among the peons between runs. Great Memories.

[Vaquero]

And here I was thinking this was about the National Henry Rifle Association.

RP

[bandit1250]

And here I was thinking this was about the National Henry Rifle Association.

It could be about the National Henry Rifle Association. Would have to change from 11,000 horse power to 1100 FPS with standard velocity 22 rim fire ammo.