Inappropriate Drag Racing Cars?
Discussion
The beauty of bracket racing is you can race anything, from a VW Sharan to a dragster and still be competitive which means you don’t need deep pockets to compete just a consistent car and an ability to cut a good light (my biggest failing at the moment).
Methanol cars inhabit the 5 second zone with Super Pro cars running 6's regularly. Even street legal cars (on treaded tyres and pump gas in a MOT’able state) are running low 7's in the UK
The only thing faster than top fuel is rocket power at the moment (a rocket dragster holds the 1/4 mile record).
Cotty said:
But jet cars are quicker than top fuel? I thought they were. No need for traction just light the afterburners and go.
Top fuel is way quicker than jet cars/trucks it’s the pinnacle of the sport in terms of power and speed. Top fuel races over the 1000ft now rather than the 1/4 (1320ft) and in the States they are well into the 3 second 1000ft range even in funny cars. I believe they were in the mid 4's over the full 1/4 mile. We are a little behind in Europe but that’s mainly down to the low track time compared to racers in the US.Methanol cars inhabit the 5 second zone with Super Pro cars running 6's regularly. Even street legal cars (on treaded tyres and pump gas in a MOT’able state) are running low 7's in the UK
The only thing faster than top fuel is rocket power at the moment (a rocket dragster holds the 1/4 mile record).
PanzerCommander said:
Top fuel is way quicker than jet cars/trucks it’s the pinnacle of the sport in terms of power and speed.
PanzerCommander said:
The only thing faster than top fuel is rocket power at the moment (a rocket dragster holds the 1/4 mile record).
Jet, rocket whats the difference?Cotty said:
Jet, rocket whats the difference?
A rocket engine requires both a stored oxidiser and a fuel source. A jet engine draws in air, compresses it, mixes it with fuel and burns it like any conventional air breathing engine.A rocket engine has a much higher power to weight ratio than a jet engine for the same thrust output (there is far less of it for the same thrust output) even when you take into account the tank of fuel and tank of oxidiser required.
Jet cars are also only demonstration classes for the most part, very few places actually race them any more as they are fundamentally less safe than a piston engined car. Rockets are certainly a demonstration class only.
PanzerCommander said:
A rocket engine requires both a stored oxidiser and a fuel source. A jet engine draws in air, compresses it, mixes it with fuel and burns it like any conventional air breathing engine.
A rocket engine has a much higher power to weight ratio than a jet engine for the same thrust output (there is far less of it for the same thrust output) even when you take into account the tank of fuel and tank of oxidiser required.
Jet cars are also only demonstration classes for the most part, very few places actually race them any more as they are fundamentally less safe than a piston engined car. Rockets are certainly a demonstration class only.
Are there any turbo-shaft powered cars?A rocket engine has a much higher power to weight ratio than a jet engine for the same thrust output (there is far less of it for the same thrust output) even when you take into account the tank of fuel and tank of oxidiser required.
Jet cars are also only demonstration classes for the most part, very few places actually race them any more as they are fundamentally less safe than a piston engined car. Rockets are certainly a demonstration class only.
Scuffers said:
Are there any turbo-shaft powered cars?
Possibly but I couldn't give you a name for any of them and I can't imagine the launch would be very sprightly, they do use them in hydroplanes though.daytona365 said:
Except that rocket/jet cars are not strictly speaking dragsters, which traditionally always made use of an internal combustion engine....Like my Lil ol 320i.
I assume that is why they have a Jet/Rocket prefix.
whysub said:
North Weald event dates are shown at www.maitlandracing.com
Only one car and bike date left on Sunday 26th July, and bikes only on 9th August. £10 to spectate, £25 to run the track.
Some really good vehicles there (plenty of sub-10 second quarter mile times from road cars), including (this time) quite a few Transit vans too. Top day out!
The 58.16 second 100E:
thanks for that- will see if I can make the 26th July..Only one car and bike date left on Sunday 26th July, and bikes only on 9th August. £10 to spectate, £25 to run the track.
Some really good vehicles there (plenty of sub-10 second quarter mile times from road cars), including (this time) quite a few Transit vans too. Top day out!
The 58.16 second 100E:
Edited by whysub on Tuesday 7th July 13:53
Mr2Mike said:
A jet engine, and chemical rockets are internal combustion engines you donkey.
He probably meant reciprocating piston engine, at least that’s how I interpreted it.But going back on topic, I personally don’t think there is such a thing as an inappropriate car for drag racing (unless it can’t make the full 1/4 mile in 30 seconds as the equipment times out) because as I said, the beauty of the drag racing bracket classes means that as long as it complies with the rules for that class the dial your own index puts the outcome with the drivers skill and his knowledge of the car rather than the depth of his pockets, it’s what allows 17/18 second VW Sharan people carriers to be competitive against 13 second Mustangs like mine, or my Mustang to be competitive against 9 second cars when I race in American Super Stock.
I used to play up at Crail quite a bit back in the day with a Cavalier Turbo... had a few great races with a guy in a Rover 220 Tomcat, an S40 T4 and a Sapphire Cosworth. The bewilderment on the "young teams" faces was superb as three completely unknown quantities took on the fabled Cossie and beat in on several occasions. In fact Crail used to be pretty well known for getting anything that moved flung down the strip on a regular basis! Good times! Literally...
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