320 feet short of a quarter-mile...

[wbeck257]

In wake of Scott Kalitta's death the NHRA series is shortening their races to 1,000 feet, 320 feet short of a quartermile.

From: http://www.nhra.com/content/news/30355.htm

As the investigation continues into the tragic accident that took the life of driver Scott Kalitta, NHRA has announced that beginning at the Mopar Mile High Nationals in Denver, Colo., both the Top Fuel and Funny Car classes will race to 1,000 feet instead of the traditional 1,320 feet or one-quarter mile. This is an interim step that is being taken while NHRA continues to analyze and determine whether changes should be made to build upon the sport's long standing safety record, given the inherent risks and ever-present dangers associated with the sport.

So what, at something like 400+ feet per second this will shave about a second of the ET's.
Which to me, is the NHRA saying, "If the races are a second shorter, that is a second less the car has a chance to explode burning up the parachute launching it into our unsafe run-off areas.".

(Also, if you watch the video it looks to me like Kalitta's car blew up more than 320 feet before the finish line, meaning to me, he would still been dead if it was a 1,000 foot race.)

[Speeddog]

It's kinda the typical 'logic' of the NHRA. 

I suppose it's a good temporary solution, but if I were in contention for a championship, I'd be pissed.
At least they're doing something.

In the wake of the tragic series of events that took Kalitta's life, the following technical issues are currently under investigation: 1) what might be done to reduce engine failures; 2) parachute mounting techniques and materials as well as identifying a parachute material that could be more fire resistant; 3) exploring whether there is a way to increase brake efficiency when cars lose downforce due to the loss of the body; 4) analyzing additional methods that might be developed at the top end of the race track to help arrest runaway vehicles; 5) considering whether current speeds should be further limited or reduced to potentially improve safety.

1) Good luck with that.

2) Not the first time chutes have burned off.

3) Putting front brakes on the floppers would help. Beyond that, see (1).

4) Good idea.

5) That would help, less speed is less energy dissipated in stopping, however it happens, whether by normal means or collision.

[Randimus Maximus]

I get to see the first test of that next weekend here in Denver 

I do, however, have a meeting with Cruz set up 

[Pakhan]

3) exploring whether there is a way to increase brake efficiency when cars lose downforce due to the loss of the body.
Is a good Idea

4) analyzing additional methods that might be developed at the top end of the race track to help arrest runaway vehicles.
Is a very good idea

5) considering whether current speeds should be further limited or reduced to potentially improve safety.
Is a ridiculous idea IMHO.  I understand the need for safety, but some sports are dangerous and restricting what is arguable the point of the sport, going as past as possible in a straight line, is defeating the purpose of the sport.

Maybe a fire suppression system along the track along with their other ideas should be considered.

[red baron]

  4) analyzing additional methods that might be developed at the top end of the race track to help arrest runaway vehicles

It's called gravel, just like on the sides of highways and freeways around the country where trucks can lose their brakes.


New idea not so much. Greedy track owners who need the space for parking $'s.

[mitt]

They need to figure out how to prevent engines grenading - it seems sooo stupid to only get 1 (or 0.95) race out of an engine, if you are lucky.

mitt

[Triple J]

They need to figure out how to prevent engines grenading - it seems sooo stupid to only get 1 (or 0.95) race out of an engine, if you are lucky.

mitt

It would seem that this goes hand in hand with trying to go down a track as fast as possible, as quickly as possible though. 

They need to just improve run-off areas. Did the explosion kill him, or just knock him out?  Seems the impact with the wall probably killed him. 

[Speeddog]

They need to figure out how to prevent engines grenading - it seems sooo stupid to only get 1 (or 0.95) race out of an engine, if you are lucky.

mitt

It's just part of the game, at least for a long time in the fueler ranks. 

It's called gravel, just like on the sides of highways and freeways around the country where trucks can lose their brakes.

New idea not so much. Greedy track owners who need the space for parking $'s.

Some of the tracks were built long before 300+ mph was even a crazy dream.
They don't have any more room.

Not that they shouldn't look for a more effective means of stopping runaway cars....

[Kaveh]

Maybe they can have nets that lie flat on the ground in the run out area of the track that can be deployed vertical if needed.  The nets should be made of a material that will break if resistance is to high (the vehicle is still traveling really fast).  A series of nets can be used to slow the vehicle down, not completely stop it right away.

[Mother]

the engine exploding and the chutes burning up is standard fare

the post that turned his car to shrapnel is what killed him as I understand it

I know

don't put posts at the end of the run-off area...brilliant!!

[sqweak]

safr?
water barrels?
aerated concrete?

+1 on red baron's suggestion of gravel/sand pits ala "runaway truck ramp".

[Mother]

safr?
water barrels?
aerated concrete?

+1 on red baron's suggestion of gravel/sand pits ala "runaway truck ramp".

safe sure

but I would be pissed if my car made it to the sand trap

sand don't jive with race car parts

how about a quarter to go and a quarter to stop?

I know, money and land

but seriously if the track can't start and stop a 300+mph car...don't race there

[Triple J]

How about they take a cue from the Navy, or the less intelligent version the Air Force uses (non-auto retracting).

Install a hook on the back of the car which is always a couple inches off the ground (so it doesn't drag).  Then at the end of the track have a series of 3-5 cables running across...positioned past the normal turn off area so they would only be used if the car went too far.  If the car goes over them the hook can try and catch one of the 5 cables (maybe only 3 are needed).  Build some give into the cables so they extend when engaged to not stop the car too fast.  System is only used at tracks with insufficient run-off.

Car owners are responsible for installing the hooks per. NHRA spec.  Tracks without adequate run-off are responsible for installing the cables per NHRA spec.

[Kaveh]

How about they take a cue from the Navy, or the less intelligent version the Air Force uses (non-auto retracting).

Install a hook on the back of the car which is always a couple inches off the ground (so it doesn't drag).  Then at the end of the track have a series of 3-5 cables running across...positioned past the normal turn off area so they would only be used if the car went too far.  If the car goes over them the hook can try and catch one of the 5 cables (maybe only 3 are needed).  Build some give into the cables so they extend when engaged to not stop the car too fast.  System is only used at tracks with insufficient run-off.

Car owners are responsible for installing the hooks per. NHRA spec.  Tracks without adequate run-off are responsible for installing the cables per NHRA spec.

What is the car flipped over or on it's side? 

[Speeddog]

Nets are an interesting idea, but can prevent a conscious driver from exiting a burning car.

Brakes sufficient by themselves to stop a car from 300+mph are a fairly tall order, but likely possible.
They'd be big and heavy, but if everybody has to run 'em, no big deal.
Still dependent on a conscious driver.

Sand traps are used at some tracks, not sure if they can stop a car from 300+.
Possibility is high that they would cause the car to flip and tumble, at even 200 the flip and tumble is usually fatal in a dragster or funny-car.
I've personally witnessed a sub-200 flip/tumble fatality at El Mirage dry lake, car was a lakester, very similar to a fuel dragster.
Saw video of another, involving a streamliner, same result.
Both cases the rollcage wasn't compromised and the driver was effectively restrained by the belts, it just beat the driver to death inside.

Stopping from 300mph in 1320 feet is a 2.28g stop, not going to happen without downforce.
Stretch that to a half mile, and it's a 1.14g stop, possible with proper brakes.
<quick math, need to check it>