Dragster Acceleration

chas smith · Post by **chas smith** » 18 Mar 2004 8:57 am

An innocuous topic having absolutely nothing to do with music, but one that I think is fascinating.

* One Top Fuel dragster 500 cubic inch Hemi engine makes more horsepower than the first 4 rows at the Daytona 500.

* Under full throttle, a dragster engine consumes 1-1/2 gallons of nitromethane per second; a fully loaded 747 consumes jet fuel at the same rate with 25% less energy being produced.

* A stock Dodge Hemi V8 engine cannot produce enough power to drive the dragster supercharger.

* With 3000 CFM of air being rammed in by the supercharger on overdrive, the fuel mixture is compressed into a near-solid form before ignition. Cylinders run on the verge of hydraulic lock at full throttle.

* At the stoichiometric (stoichiometry: methodology and technology by which quantities of reactants and products in chemical reactions are determined) 1.7:1 air/fuel mixture for nitromethane the flame front temperature measures 7050 degrees F.

* Nitromethane burns yellow. The spectacular white flame seen above the stacks at night is raw burning hydrogen, dissociated from atmospheric water vapor by the searing exhaust gases.

* Dual magnetos supply 44 amps to each spark plug. This is the output of an arc welder in each cylinder.

* Spark plug electrodes are totally consumed during a pass. After B= way, the engine is dieseling from compression plus the glow of exhaust valves at 1400 degrees F. The engine can only be shut down by cutting the fuel flow.

* If spark momentarily fails early in the run, unburned nitro builds up in the affected cylinders and then explodes with sufficient force to blow cylinder heads off the block in pieces or split the block in half.

* In order to exceed 300 mph in 4.5 seconds dragsters must accelerate an average of over 4G's. In order to reach 200 mph well before half-track, the launch acceleration approaches 8G's.

* Dragsters reach over 300 miles per hour before you have completed reading this sentence.

* Top Fuel Engines turn approximately 540 revolutions from light to light!

* Including the burnout the engine must only survive 900 revolutions under load.

* The redline is actually quite high at 9500rpm.

* The Bottom Line; Assuming all the equipment is paid off, the crew worked for free, and for once NOTHING BLOWS UP, each run costs an estimated $1,000.00 per second.

The current Top Fuel dragster elapsed time record is 4.441 seconds for the quarter mile (10/05/03, Tony Schumacher). The top speed record is 333.00 mph. (533 km/h) as measured over the last 66' of the run (09/28/03 Doug Kalitta).

Putting all of this into perspective:

You are driving the average $140,000 Lingenfelter "twin-turbo" powered Corvette Z06. Over a mile up the road, a Top Fuel dragster is staged and ready to launch down a quarter mile strip as you pass. You have the advantage of a flying start. You run the 'Vette hard up through the gears and blast across the starting line and past the dragster at an honest 200 mph. The 'tree' goes green for both of you at that moment.

The dragster launches and starts after you. You keep your foot down hard, but you hear an incredibly brutal whine that sears your eardrums and within 3 seconds the dragster catches and passes you. He beats you to the finish line, a quarter mile away from where you just passed him. Think about it, from a standing start, the dragster had spotted you 200 mph and not only caught, but nearly blasted you off the road when he passed you within a mere 1320 foot long race course.

That folks, is acceleration [This message was edited by chas smith on 18 March 2004 at 08:58 AM.]

John Macy · Post by **John Macy** » 18 Mar 2004 9:16 am

Nice, Chas...

I remember going to to the National Finals at the Amarillo Dragway in the late '60's as a kid, and did it ever seem fast then. It's come a long way since then...

By the way, listened to your CD again last night--great stuff.

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 18 Mar 2004 9:23 am

At rest, a hummingbird's heart beats 5000 beats per minute. In flight, hummingbirds have been known to explode.

One of THE FUNNIEST videos I ever saw was the lead in to the Indy 500 where Chris Iconomacky (you know who I mean) had video shot of a Indy car at full speed on the straightaway passing a family car doing 55 mph. They showed video clips from the track, from inside the race car and from inside the family car. The funniest one was from inside the family car (doing 55 mph) being passed by a car doing 225 mph.[This message was edited by Ray Minich on 18 March 2004 at 09:26 AM.][This message was edited by Ray Minich on 18 March 2004 at 10:03 AM.]

Ben Slaughter · Post by **Ben Slaughter** » 18 Mar 2004 1:11 pm

I heard this story last night, forgive me if I've forgotten the name of the driver.

Dodge is filming a new "Hemi" commercial, with a pickup next to a dragster. You know the "that thing got a Hemi?" The commercial's director informed the dragster's crew and driver that he thought they would need about 50 takes to get the commercial done.

The crew laughed in his face!!

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 18 Mar 2004 1:53 pm

Chas ... your bringin' out the Tim the Toolman in me ...

Arrg .. Arrg ... Arrg ...

------------------

www.horseshoemagnets.com

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 18 Mar 2004 2:32 pm

I grew up a motorhead, but haven't seen a drag race even on TV for nearly a decade.
I did do 100 mph in the backyard in my mom's V8 station wagon one day... ah thems was the days.

Nice stagger down memory lane Chas, thanks.

Gotta git me a DVD of the current crop o topfuelers...
and turn the sub-wooofer on too.
[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 19 March 2004 at 12:56 AM.]

Bill Ford · Post by **Bill Ford** » 18 Mar 2004 3:32 pm

Chas, that is some cool info,never thought of it in that perspective. Last year at Comerce Ga.,all Ford show/dragfest,I was going to take some shots of the jet dragsters,I was about 1/3 down the track,got the camera focused,setup,ready to shoot as they went by(yea right),the tree went down,camera ready,as they went by,I was so mesmerised,I failed to take any pictures. Don't know how much fuel they used but they made a heck of a lot of noise

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Bill Ford

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 18 Mar 2004 3:46 pm

So...I guess we can only keep this thread open by saying "That's music to my ears".

Other facts...

In the average "grocery-getter" automobile, for every mile you drive the pistons have "traveled" about 600 feet, and the valves have "traveled" about 125 feet.

The average car today gets twice the mileage and equal horsepower from an engine only half the size of one 20 years ago, and the engine's toxic emissions have been reduced by 90%!

My "everyday" car gets 300 horsepower from a 4.6 litre (about 276 cu. in.) engine. And it gets 19/city 27/Hwy. M.P.G., even though it weighs over 4,000 lbs..

Cars...'ya gotta luv 'em!

Ben Lawson · Post by **Ben Lawson** » 18 Mar 2004 3:58 pm

In my younger days I used to race but it got really expensive. We had a super stock AMX and a modified production 57 Chevy. We won our class at seven or eight national events in the AMX. It would run mid to low 10 second quarter miles at 130 mph. That was more than fast enough for me.I still have a 66 Plymouth with a 440 engine that runs mid 11's and that kinda scares me now.
There 's now way I could handle a dragster but I like to watch.

Paul Graupp · Post by **Paul Graupp** » 18 Mar 2004 4:04 pm

chas: While you're here, I need your help with something, Please !

Sometime back you posted some pictures of exotic musical instruments you have either acquired or built. I did a search here in music but your are a prolific contributor and there are 200 items to search in. Could you give me some clue as to where they might be ? You know I'd appreciate your help as always...

Regards, Paul

Glenn Austin · Post by **Glenn Austin** » 18 Mar 2004 4:28 pm

Chas, Since we're on this topic. What does HEMI mean ?

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 18 Mar 2004 6:06 pm

Think about it, from a standing start, the dragster had spotted you 200 mph and not only caught, but nearly blasted you off the road when he passed you

reminds me of being on stage with Herby Wallace & Buddy Charleton at Steelin'for Hearts close out jam a few years back...

chas smith · Post by **chas smith** » 18 Mar 2004 6:11 pm

Paul, check your e-mail, I have to fly out tomorrow and will be back next week.
and:
http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum5/HTML/003231.html
http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum2/HTML/002527.html

Glenn,
http://www.thehemi.com/heads.php [This message was edited by chas smith on 18 March 2004 at 06:25 PM.][This message was edited by chas smith on 18 March 2004 at 06:26 PM.]

erik · Post by **erik** » 18 Mar 2004 11:01 pm

Keeping it music oriented:

Southern Rock band Henry Paul Band of 20yrs ago had a song on their second album called Turn It Up. The beginning has the recording of a street car taking off drag style. It is credited to Allen Collins and his Deuce Coupe. It's a great tune too. Reissued by woundedbird.com

-johnson

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 19 Mar 2004 1:02 am

My brother is still out racing. He had a Mercedes and a Golf, on the circuits last year. I am not sure what this year.

Car racing and steel guitar seem to go togehter in my mind, well at least NASCAR and it's strong southern flavor.

Anybody gigging at racetracks regualrly? (music reference)

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 19 Mar 2004 1:10 am

duplicate post removal[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 31 March 2004 at 05:24 PM.]

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 19 Mar 2004 4:31 am

Glenn, "hemi" is short for "hemispherical", and it refers to the shape of the combustion chamber (that depression in the cylinder head above the piston). In a "hemi engine", this space has a curved roof, or more simply, it looks like a section of a sphere. In most other engines, the combustion chamber has an angular or roughly "wedge-shaped" appearance (hence the term "wedge engine"). It's thought that the "hemi" design gives better volumetric efficiency (top-end horsepower) than a wedge design. I believe the hemi design was adopted by Chrysler in the early-to-mid '50's, but it didn't get really famous until the development of the fabled 426-Hemi in the '60's (which was popularized in the Plymouth GTX, Roadrunner, and other Chrysler cars as well).

The big hemi in stock form made 425 horsepower from those 426 cubic inches, and was thus considered a "race engine". Back then, any normally aspirated (not turbocharged or supercharged) stock engine that produced over 1 hp per cubic inch was considered very impressive.

Craig Stock · Post by **Craig Stock** » 19 Mar 2004 5:34 am

Thanks for those stats, I'm excited about this years schedule at our local Track (Englishtown), I always go to the NHRA National event Mid June this year, and the Old Time Drags (late July) to see the Vintage Funny Cars.

Watching Top Fuel Dragsters is an amazing site as well as feel, The feeling of power is so amazing.
I still like the Stock classes also.

Craig (Stock)

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 19 Mar 2004 10:20 am

On those fuel dragsters, are the tuned exhaust stacks ET or JI? See this is a musical topic after all.

I like to put a NASCAR sticker on my pedal steel. Anyone know where I can get a NHRA sticker? I've been to their web site, but couldn't find one.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 19 Mar 2004 10:49 am

Definitely ET tuning for the pipes...

Dave Boothroyd · Post by **Dave Boothroyd** » 19 Mar 2004 12:12 pm

Really fast engines gave up hemispherical heads thirty years ago. Check the GP racers.
Cheers
Dave
[This message was edited by Dave Boothroyd on 19 March 2004 at 12:14 PM.][This message was edited by Dave Boothroyd on 19 March 2004 at 12:22 PM.][This message was edited by Dave Boothroyd on 19 March 2004 at 12:23 PM.]

Craig Stock · Post by **Craig Stock** » 19 Mar 2004 3:04 pm

Donald go to the Nitro Mall on their website: http://www.nitromall.com/product_info.php?products_id=170

Craig[This message was edited by Craig Stock on 19 March 2004 at 03:05 PM.]

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 19 Mar 2004 5:16 pm

Donny, isn't the piston domed too (also) to reduce the size (volume) of the combustion chamber to increase compression. Feel free to flame my butt if I'm wrong :>)

John Macy · Post by **John Macy** » 21 Mar 2004 10:00 am

Speed is a wonderful thing. We're headed out in a few minutes to the plains east of Denver in my friend's twin turbo Porsche to get over the 175MPH threshold a few times. Man, it gets the blood going....

richard burton · Post by **richard burton** » 21 Mar 2004 12:21 pm

If you want to hear what real engines sound like, go to this site: http://www.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/the_north_east/members/virtualbantam/index.htm [This message was edited by richard burton on 21 March 2004 at 12:23 PM.]