Mandating another nitro ‘spec’ engine is a mistake! by Jeff Burk – Posted May 5, 2009
Personal comment: I have mixed emotions about this new ‘spec’ engine being the answer. Burk is absolutely correct that the nitro cars must be quicker and faster than the alcohol cars or interest will dramatically wain. On the other side of the equation, insurance costs are driving up the fees to all competitors in NHRA not only because of the accidents in the fuel ranks, but in other categories that seemingly will never see a MPH restriction imposed by NHRA. Something must change!
Roger Young
Related articles: NHRA Increases Membership Fees
NHRA Spec Testing Update – Torco Racing Fuel’s Competition Plus.com – May 29, 2009
NHRA competition, tech departments conduct test with help from Cruz Pedregon Racing – NHRA – November 4, 2009
Proposed Fuel Pump Change Has The Nitro Pits Buzzing - Competition Plus.com – May 3, 2010
I agree with both sides as Roger stated BUT here is a third side,,,
Here is the outside solution,, many of these track were built when cars were running 260mph past the lights
The tracks have had updates since but how does a gain in 70mph (thats alot of acceleration tp gain 70mph in the lights in a 1/4 mile) make the track safe ? It doesnt,,
The only solution is to make the tracks longer, You dont see the problems with Top Fuel, it all has been Funny Car the past couple years
I say the issues with Funny Car are the following:
- short wheel base
- engine exploding infront of the driver and going 300mph+ it throws that fire at the driver, not a good scene
I think they should do better shut downs and they still need to build an electronic brake pumping systems that uses a relay and when it melts under the hood or hook it up to the burst panel, this relay will pump up the brakes like ABS systems to stop the car and in an engine failure you have more than one way of the car stopping
Other than that Funny Car is dead, i have not seen a problem with Top Fuel running 1/4 mile for what, 9 years ?
I think NHRA needs to take a good hard look at the Pro Mod class as this past weekend there were 3 crashes! I like the full body cars going fast as much as the next person but they are simply unsafe and something needs to be done or otherwise the class will be dissolved just due to insurance purposes alone.
The problem with making the tracks longer has been the development that has taken place around many of the tracks making it impossible to lengthen the shutdown area.
Therefore the solution must be made by slowing down the cars or the time will soon come when insurance will not be available for racing.
Remember, there was a time when Funny Cars were limited to 400 cubic-inches?
Seems some of the information provided in Burk’s article could be used with the current engine displacement to slow the cars down, such as blower size, fuel pump volume, etc. without developing a completely new engine combination?
Just thinking outloud…
Good points Roger !
Regarding “Proposed Fuel Pump Change Has The Nitro Pits Buzzing” above, I believe they need to couple reduced blower capacity along with the reduced fuel pump volume to get the desired effect of slowing the cars without violent explosions.
Much will also depend if they return to the 1320 standard if some crews with large budgets desire to meltdown the engine to get a win. That would be more difficult at the old 1320 standard than the shorter 1000 feet finish line.
Just my thoughts…
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