Blowovers

[1960Zody]

Found a video that I recorded back in the 90's (I Think) from ITV of the race at SPR where Rico suffered his blowover.
That set me to thinking.
There was a 'spate' of blowovers around that time, Garlits had two I think.
But then the problem went away.
Was it the aero packages that got better or some other design of the rails that stopped it happening?

[Furyous]

Better clutch management would be my guess.

[1960Zody]

So, The clucth doesn't come in with such a 'bang' therefore less chance of picking the front wheels up and that means less chance of wind getting underneath and 'picking the rest of the car up is what you're saying??

[Furyous]

Yes, but Im sure an expert will be along shortly to explain the real reason.




Im only guessing.

[Jon C]

Technically, Rico's incident was a power wheelstand rather than a true Garlits/ Eddie Hill style Blowover. Both Gar's blowovers were a consequence of the 'spoon' shaped front end on the car which whilst great aerodynamically had the disadvantage that once air got underneath they acted in the same way as a cupped hand out of a car window. That style of car never caught on, probably for that precise reason.

Eddie Hills incident (featured on the 'decade of thrills' vids) was caused by the front wings slipping back from sloping down (causing downforce) to sloping up (causing lift). Presumably a more positive locking mechanism for the front wings resulted. In all those incidents caused by lift at speed (a true Blowover), there was absolutely nothing the driver could do to rescue the situation.

I have been told by people who know far more about these thing than I, that Rico's car was set for Bear, the clutch was quite aggressive, and more importantly he stayed on it far too long. He was travelling at relatively low speed, and had he got off it the car would have been saved. Several European racers (notably Lex Joon) have had the top frame rails parallel to the track, and got away with it.

FIA (and I imagine therefore NHRA) rules mandate the use of a wheelie bar in T/F now, and that would act to stop power wheelstands going right over.

I was always terrified what would happen if a car at SPR had a full on high speed Garlits / Hill blowover at the top end, and caught the chassis on the finish line gantry. Thankfully it would seem that the likelyhood of such an incident has receded.

Edited by Jon C on Thursday 30th October 18:45

[hellfish]

I have also heard theorys from some noted tuners/crew chiefs that if the car is set too soft(for conditions) it is actually easier for the car to rotate around the axle than it is to spin the wheels hence the wheelstand.The top fuel car got bigger front wings as the 90s evolved so i guess the extra surface area was a help also they may have set the front wing attack a little more agressive when built?Its only a guess as im not really a dragster guy,Please dont take offence dragster people,im not after a pistonheads sgging match

[1960Zody]

As always, the place to come for good technical explainations.

Thanks

[PhilSweeney]

hellfish said:

I have also heard theorys from some noted tuners/crew chiefs that if the car is set too soft(for conditions) it is actually easier for the car to rotate around the axle than it is to spin the wheels hence the wheelstand.The top fuel car got bigger front wings as the 90s evolved so i guess the extra surface area was a help also they may have set the front wing attack a little more agressive when built?Its only a guess as im not really a dragster guy,Please dont take offence dragster people,im not after a pistonheads sgging match

not so much in modern fuel racing. In the late 60's early 70's the tire tech and tracks caught up briefly with the power levels. With shorter cars the tendancy was for the pinion to climb the ringgear causing a wheelstand. Most modern blow over are as a result of drivers or wing strut failures.

[veryoldfart]

is this the UK record holder for altitude achieved by a TF car?

and i was there....

http://www.eurodragster.com/news/features/roger_go...

[Flying Toilet]

veryoldfart said:

is this the UK record holder for altitude achieved by a TF car?

and i was there....

http://www.eurodragster.com/news/features/roger_go...

I should think Rico got higher thanks to a longer Wheelbase.

[veryoldfart]

mickey naylor was up ON the single wheelie bar wheel teetering left/right
came down with a right bang


lex joon's attempt...

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=mkMnuXEIeKo

Edited by veryoldfart on Friday 31st October 13:54

Edited by veryoldfart on Friday 31st October 13:55

[veryoldfart]

Flying Toilet said:

veryoldfart said:

is this the UK record holder for altitude achieved by a TF car?

and i was there....

http://www.eurodragster.com/news/features/roger_go...

I should think Rico got higher thanks to a longer Wheelbase.

yes, not a bad effort.....lol

[veryoldfart]

spectacular version from Big daddy

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=WJNokivoXu4&feat...

[topnitro]

veryoldfart said:

lex joon's attempt...

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=mkMnuXEIeKo

You took a nice bit of video there, Steve.

The thing about blowovers is that when they happen, the car's usually wasted. Two notable exceptions to this are Eddie Hill, who fixed the car and carried on campaigning it on the NHRA tour and Rico, of course, who fixed the car and sent it to Brazil for demonstration purposes (I presume - please advise if not). Upon it's return to Europe, the car was campaigned by Peter Beck and later Rico had an extra seat added and thus the Top Fuel Taxi was born.

Back to blowovers, here is Randy Parks having a slight mishap at Phoenix a few years ago:- (turn your sound up)

http://www.nhra.com/movies99/race2/RParks1_99Phoen...

and:-

http://www.nhra.com/movies99/race2/RParks2_99Phoen...

That's Doug Kalitta in the other lane, by the way.

[veryoldfart]

going back to the don garlits swamp rat blowover, i bet the startline crews were just considering a fast exit in case he shot back at them, some scary fluke that was

[Jon C]

veryoldfart said:

going back to the don garlits swamp rat blowover, i bet the startline crews were just considering a fast exit in case he shot back at them, some scary fluke that was

Just such an incident happened to poor Shelley Howard and her son Brian. Lest we forget...

[veryoldfart]

Bizzare to say the least, and most tragic.

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2005/Apr-05...