Anatomy of a Top-Fuel Dragster
Anatomy of a Top-Fuel Dragster
If it hasn't been seen, pretty interesting article with video
On the 1000 ft track-3.83 Sec — 321.58 mph
http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars...gster?click=pp
On the 1000 ft track-3.83 Sec — 321.58 mph
http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars...gster?click=pp
Disinformation Terminator
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,930
Likes: 0
From: NorCal
If it hasn't been seen, pretty interesting article with video
On the 1000 ft track-3.83 Sec — 321.58 mph
http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars...gster?click=pp
On the 1000 ft track-3.83 Sec — 321.58 mph
http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars...gster?click=pp
This is a good read folks, check it out. It's short too, which should blend well with AZer's attention spans.....mine own included.
AZ Community Team
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 19,125
Likes: 4,765
From: Maryland
Sweet. Thanks for sharing that. I hadn't realized about the clutch setup, I thought there was a 2-spd. hydraulically operated gearbox in there.
This is a good read folks, check it out. It's short too, which should blend well with AZer's attention spans.....mine own included.
This is a good read folks, check it out. It's short too, which should blend well with AZer's attention spans.....mine own included.
Disinformation Terminator
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,930
Likes: 0
From: NorCal
Registered Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 8,342
Likes: 163
From: Suburb of Manassas, VA
A few other interesting facts. In a quarter mile run, the engine will turn not much over 500 times (do the math). This is from launch to race's end.
The g-forces are enough where prolonged racing can threaten separation of the optic nerve from the rear of the eyeball.
The cylinders are filled around 80% with nitromethane during the run.
When you're in the stands, you can smell the nitro quite a bit, and the sound as the dragster goes by is crazy loud. Your clothes actually vibrate (I've seen a number of runs years ago when these cars were only turning in the very low sevens).
This is the one I like. Make a bet with one of your friends. Ask them if you were to take the fast car and put it on an aircraft carrier next to a Navy fighter being launched by catapult, which "vehicle" would make it to the end of the flight deck first? Most everyone is going to think the plane will but that's just not true. A AA/FD will make it there long before the plane will.
A modern AA/FD will hit 100 MPH from a standing start in under 3/4's of a second.
If you were driving a car 200 MPH as you approached a quarter mile starting line and when you hit the line, a AA/FD launched, the dragster would beat you to the finish line.
There's more, but you get the idea. These things are pure violence on wheels. I saw a man killed driving one in 1965 when they were nowhere as quick as they are now.
The g-forces are enough where prolonged racing can threaten separation of the optic nerve from the rear of the eyeball.
The cylinders are filled around 80% with nitromethane during the run.
When you're in the stands, you can smell the nitro quite a bit, and the sound as the dragster goes by is crazy loud. Your clothes actually vibrate (I've seen a number of runs years ago when these cars were only turning in the very low sevens).
This is the one I like. Make a bet with one of your friends. Ask them if you were to take the fast car and put it on an aircraft carrier next to a Navy fighter being launched by catapult, which "vehicle" would make it to the end of the flight deck first? Most everyone is going to think the plane will but that's just not true. A AA/FD will make it there long before the plane will.
A modern AA/FD will hit 100 MPH from a standing start in under 3/4's of a second.
If you were driving a car 200 MPH as you approached a quarter mile starting line and when you hit the line, a AA/FD launched, the dragster would beat you to the finish line.
There's more, but you get the idea. These things are pure violence on wheels. I saw a man killed driving one in 1965 when they were nowhere as quick as they are now.
AZ Community Team
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 19,125
Likes: 4,765
From: Maryland
Back in the 90's a computer chip salesman I knew went to Frank Hawley's school in PA as a 50th Birthday present from his wife. He said it was a rush, he drove a alcohol dragster. I don't remember his 1/4 mile time but thought the trap speed was in the 160-170MPH range. It was 2 days and the best gift he ever got from his wife.
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Awesome article, thanks for posting it!
I had no idea they shortened the track to 1000ft. I guess I don't watch too much drag racing on TV anymore. It makes sense as far as safety goes, but it's weird to try and relate the ETs to the 1/4 miles times back in the day.
Still an incredible amount of parts/money that go into each run.
I had no idea they shortened the track to 1000ft. I guess I don't watch too much drag racing on TV anymore. It makes sense as far as safety goes, but it's weird to try and relate the ETs to the 1/4 miles times back in the day.
Still an incredible amount of parts/money that go into each run.
Registered Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 8,342
Likes: 163
From: Suburb of Manassas, VA
Awesome article, thanks for posting it!
I had no idea they shortened the track to 1000ft. I guess I don't watch too much drag racing on TV anymore. It makes sense as far as safety goes, but it's weird to try and relate the ETs to the 1/4 miles times back in the day.
Still an incredible amount of parts/money that go into each run.
I had no idea they shortened the track to 1000ft. I guess I don't watch too much drag racing on TV anymore. It makes sense as far as safety goes, but it's weird to try and relate the ETs to the 1/4 miles times back in the day.
Still an incredible amount of parts/money that go into each run.
What I really enjoy are door slammers. Cars that most people who have the time and a few bucks (maybe a couple of local sponsors) can take to the track. I like to watch "Pinks All Out" but even that has started to turn too commercial and dramatic in their editing. I like the show more when they show racing; as in launches and the runs down the track. I wish they would post the E.T. and trap speeds.
The networks, and a few other channels, mostly only show top fuel, funny car, and pro stock when they broadcast drag racing. Frankly, the only one of those I find interesting to watch more than a little is pro stock.
What I really enjoy are door slammers. Cars that most people who have the time and a few bucks (maybe a couple of local sponsors) can take to the track. I like to watch "Pinks All Out" but even that has started to turn too commercial and dramatic in their editing. I like the show more when they show racing; as in launches and the runs down the track. I wish they would post the E.T. and trap speeds.
What I really enjoy are door slammers. Cars that most people who have the time and a few bucks (maybe a couple of local sponsors) can take to the track. I like to watch "Pinks All Out" but even that has started to turn too commercial and dramatic in their editing. I like the show more when they show racing; as in launches and the runs down the track. I wish they would post the E.T. and trap speeds.
I have to say though, in person, there's nothing like watching a Top Fuel go down the track. It's something everyone should experience at least once in their life to see just how intensely insane these guys are and how loud the cars are. You indeed feel the cars going down the track just as much as you see them, if not more.
Disinformation Terminator
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,930
Likes: 0
From: NorCal
Awesome article, thanks for posting it!
I had no idea they shortened the track to 1000ft. I guess I don't watch too much drag racing on TV anymore. It makes sense as far as safety goes, but it's weird to try and relate the ETs to the 1/4 miles times back in the day.
Still an incredible amount of parts/money that go into each run.
I had no idea they shortened the track to 1000ft. I guess I don't watch too much drag racing on TV anymore. It makes sense as far as safety goes, but it's weird to try and relate the ETs to the 1/4 miles times back in the day.
Still an incredible amount of parts/money that go into each run.
http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/racing...ory?id=3484086
Trolling Canuckistan
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 10,453
Likes: 811
From: 100 Legends Way, Boston, MA 02114
As shocking as tht was I think this was even more incredible.
So it basically takes the more power than a modern Formula 1 engine makes just to turn the freakin' supercharger on these monsters.
The supercharger, which is just a belt-driven air pump that force-feeds the engine, is so massive that it takes 700 hp to run it.
Here's some more facts that were posted here in another thread a while ago...
TOP FUEL ACCELERATION PUT INTO PERSPECTIVE
* One Top Fuel dragster 500 cubic-inch Hemi engine makes more horsepower (8,000 HP) than the first 4 rows at the Daytona 500.
* Under full throttle, a dragster engine consumes 11.2 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 merely drive the dragster's supercharger.
* With 3000 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 1.7:1 air/fuel mixture for nitro methane the flame front temperature measures 7050 degrees F.
* Nitromethane 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 1/2 way, the engine is dieseling from compression plus the glow of exhaust valves at 1400 degrees 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.
* Dragsters reach over 300 MPH before you have completed reading this sentence.
* In order to exceed 300 MPH in 4.5 seconds, dragsters must accelerate an average of over 4 G's. In order to reach 200 MPH well before half-track, the launch acce leration approaches 8 G's.
* 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 9500 RPM.
* THE BOTTOM LINE: Assuming all the equipment is paid off, the crew worked for free, & for once, NOTHING BLOWS UP, each run costs an estimated $1,000 per second.
0 to 100 MPH in .8 seconds (the first 60 feet of the run)
0 to 200 MPH in 2.2 seconds (the first 350 feet of the run)
6 g-forces at the starting line (nothing accelerates faster on land)
6 negative g-forces upon deployment of twin parachutes at 300 MPH
An NHRA Top Fuel Dragster accelerates quicker than any other land vehicle on earth . . quicker than a jet fighter plane . . . quicker than the space shuttle.
The current Top Fuel dragster elapsed time record is 4.420 seconds for the quarter-mile (2004, Doug Kalitta). The top speed record is 337.58 MPH as measured over the last 66' of the run (2005, Tony Schumacher).
Putting this all into perspective: 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 & 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 & pass the dragster at an honest 200 MPH. The 'tree' goes green for both of you at that moment.
The dragster launches & starts after you. You keep your foot down hard, but you hear an incredibly brutal whine that sears your eardrums & within 3 seconds the dragster catches & 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 & not only caught, but nearly blasted you off the road when he passed you within a mere 1320 foot long race!
* One Top Fuel dragster 500 cubic-inch Hemi engine makes more horsepower (8,000 HP) than the first 4 rows at the Daytona 500.
* Under full throttle, a dragster engine consumes 11.2 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 merely drive the dragster's supercharger.
* With 3000 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 1.7:1 air/fuel mixture for nitro methane the flame front temperature measures 7050 degrees F.
* Nitromethane 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 1/2 way, the engine is dieseling from compression plus the glow of exhaust valves at 1400 degrees 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.
* Dragsters reach over 300 MPH before you have completed reading this sentence.
* In order to exceed 300 MPH in 4.5 seconds, dragsters must accelerate an average of over 4 G's. In order to reach 200 MPH well before half-track, the launch acce leration approaches 8 G's.
* 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 9500 RPM.
* THE BOTTOM LINE: Assuming all the equipment is paid off, the crew worked for free, & for once, NOTHING BLOWS UP, each run costs an estimated $1,000 per second.
0 to 100 MPH in .8 seconds (the first 60 feet of the run)
0 to 200 MPH in 2.2 seconds (the first 350 feet of the run)
6 g-forces at the starting line (nothing accelerates faster on land)
6 negative g-forces upon deployment of twin parachutes at 300 MPH
An NHRA Top Fuel Dragster accelerates quicker than any other land vehicle on earth . . quicker than a jet fighter plane . . . quicker than the space shuttle.
The current Top Fuel dragster elapsed time record is 4.420 seconds for the quarter-mile (2004, Doug Kalitta). The top speed record is 337.58 MPH as measured over the last 66' of the run (2005, Tony Schumacher).
Putting this all into perspective: 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 & 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 & pass the dragster at an honest 200 MPH. The 'tree' goes green for both of you at that moment.
The dragster launches & starts after you. You keep your foot down hard, but you hear an incredibly brutal whine that sears your eardrums & within 3 seconds the dragster catches & 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 & not only caught, but nearly blasted you off the road when he passed you within a mere 1320 foot long race!
Putting this all into perspective: 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 & 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 & pass the dragster at an honest 200 MPH. The 'tree' goes green for both of you at that moment.
The dragster launches & starts after you. You keep your foot down hard, but you hear an incredibly brutal whine that sears your eardrums & within 3 seconds the dragster catches & 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 & not only caught, but nearly blasted you off the road when he passed you within a mere 1320 foot long race!
The dragster launches & starts after you. You keep your foot down hard, but you hear an incredibly brutal whine that sears your eardrums & within 3 seconds the dragster catches & 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 & not only caught, but nearly blasted you off the road when he passed you within a mere 1320 foot long race!
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