It is definately a gimmick but still cool to see once in a while.
I have no doubt that to be there and see it would be something. I just feel they need to keep it an exihibition type thing, not actual racing. Or use it for qualifying only. That would work for me.
The nitro cars in NHRA have been running 1000' for about the last couple years as a safety measure for these monsters going 'way over 300MPH. There were lots of problems for the drivers getting used to the four wide start and it sounded like many of them didn't like it too well. The Charlette track is a show place, designed for four lanes but it would be very expensive to convert the other tracks. I doubt the four wide will catch on. Back in the day, I raced at Dragway 42, in Northern Ohio, and they had four lanes. Rather than four cars on the same class running at the same time, they used the two right lanes for the slower classes and the fast cars used the left lanes. That was a pretty good set up.
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Karlos
"In the Land of the Pigs, The Butcher is King"
The nitro cars in NHRA have been running 1000' for about the last couple years as a safety measure for these monsters going 'way over 300MPH. There were lots of problems for the drivers getting used to the four wide start and it sounded like many of them didn't like it too well. The Charlette track is a show place, designed for four lanes but it would be very expensive to convert the other tracks. I doubt the four wide will catch on. Back in the day, I raced at Dragway 42, in Northern Ohio, and they had four lanes. Rather than four cars on the same class running at the same time, they used the two right lanes for the slower classes and the fast cars used the left lanes. That was a pretty good set up.
The 1000 foot came about after Scott Kallita was killed when he had a motor blow in the lights and went off the end of the track.
And even the 1000' doesn't stop those monster powered cars from blowing up once in a while and hurting someone. Wasn't it just last year that a wheel came of and killed a spectator?
And even the 1000' doesn't stop those monster powered cars from blowing up once in a while and hurting someone. Wasn't it just last year that a wheel came of and killed a spectator?
Ron
Nope, that was this year at Pomona. Antron Brown had some pretty violent tire shake and it snapped the studs. Then it was a really freaky thing that happened. The tire was just rolling along, but it hit the forward section of the body and that launched it into the stands.
Thanks for correcting when it happened. I knew that I saw it on a news report but couldn't remember if it was last year or this year. I don't watch much drag racing so I don't really keep up with what is going on.
The accident happened at Phoenix, between the rain squalls. The lady that was killed was in the pits and probably never saw the tire coming at her. It was bouncing higher than car hauler trailers parked in that area.
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Karlos
"In the Land of the Pigs, The Butcher is King"
The accident happened at Phoenix, between the rain squalls. The lady that was killed was in the pits and probably never saw the tire coming at her. It was bouncing higher than car hauler trailers parked in that area.
You're correct, it was Phoenix. Thanks for correcting me.
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