The Triumph Dolomite Club - EzBoard Archive

Posted: **Wed Aug 30, 2006 3:40 pm**

Compiled over the years.....here's the top facts about top fuel dragsters! Fascinating stuff: 
 
I apologise as it lingers in my memory that I might have posted this before - still, it's a good read! 
 
---------------------------------------------------- 
 
*One top fuel dragster 500 cubic inch hemi engine 
makes more horsepower than the first 4 rows at the 
Indy 500. 
 
*under full throttle, a top fuel dragster engine 
consumes I gallon of nitromethane Per second, 
a fully loaded 747 consumes jet fuel at the same 
rate with 25% less energy being produced. 
 
*a stock dodge 426 hemi v8 engine cannot 
produce enough power to drive the dragsters 
supercharger. 
 
*with 3000cfm of air being rammed in by the 
supercharger on overdrive, the fuel mixture 
is compressed into a near –solid form before 
ignition. the cylinders run on the verge of hydraulic 
lock at full throttle. 
 
*at the stoichiometric1.7:1 air/fuel mixture for 
nitromethane the flame front temperature 
measures 7050degrees F, 3800degrees C. 
 
*nitromethane burns yellow, the spectacular 
white flame seen above the stacks at night is 
raw burning hydrogen, disassociated from atmospheric 
water vapour 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 ½ way, the engine is 
dieseling from compression plus the glow of 
exhaust valves at 1400degrees F.the engine 
can only be shut down by cutting of the fuel flow. 
 
*if momentarily fails early in the run ,unburned 
nitro builds up in the affected cylinders and 
then explodes with sufficient force to blow the 
cylinder heads off the block in pieces or split 
the block in half. 
 
*in order to exceed 300 in 4.5 seconds 
dragsters must accelerate at an average 
of over 4G`s.in order to reach 200mph 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 540 revolutions from 
light to light! 
 
*including the burnout the engine must only 
survive 900 revolutions under load. 
 
*the red line is actually quite high at 9500rpm 
 
*the bottom line; assuming all the equipment 
is paid off, the crew work for free, and for 
once NOTHING BLOWS UP, each run costs an 
estimated $1000.00 per second. the current top 
fuel dragster elapsed time record is 4.441 
seconds for the quarter mile (05/10/03,tony 
Schumacher).the top speed record is 333.00mph(533km/h) 
as measured over the last 66` of the run,(28/9/03 doug kallita). 
 
If that hasn’t made you think enough, let’s put all this into perspective: 
 
You are riding the average $250,000 Honda motogp bike-a seriously fast machine. Over a mile up the road, a top fuel dragster is staged and ready to launch down a ¼ mile strip as you pass. 
 
You have the advantage of a flying start. you run the RC211V hard up through the gears and blast across the starting line and past the dragster at an honest 200mph (293ft/sec).the `tree` goes green for both of you at that moment. The 
dragster launches and starts after you. 
 
You keep your wrist cranked hard, but you hear an incredible 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 the standing start ,the dragster had a 200mph disadvantage, and not only caught ,but nearly blasted you off the road when he passed you within a mere 1320 foot long drag strip. 
 
---------------------------------------------------- 
 
One I found out later too, is that how if one bank of the V8 fails, the resulting loss of downforce from the exhausts on that bank is enough to make the dragster veer off course. Bonkers! <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/smokin.gif ALT=":smokin">

<img src="http://www.antchip.com/sig2.jpg"/> 
Crazy! I mean like so many positive waves, we can't lose! You're on!Edited by: <A HREF=http://p206.ezboard.com/bthetriumphdolo ... >LewisK</A> at: 30/8/06 3:45 pm

Posted: **Wed Aug 30, 2006 4:48 pm**

Engine blocks are also made from Billet Ally and run without coolant.<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/smile.gif ALT=":)">

Posted: **Wed Aug 30, 2006 6:13 pm**

The tyres expand as they reach rotational speed increasing their circumference and so the distance travelled per engine revolution. The tyres are the only 'gearbox' on a TFD. 
 
Tinweevil

1978 <a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/704">Dolomite Sprint</a> Blue, a bit tetley. - Current daily drive. 
1972 <a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/754">Spitfire IV</a> No name, in bits. 
1968 <a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/705">GT6 II</a> Little blue, nice! 
1973 <a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/755">Dolomite Sprint</a> VA41, seriously tetley. 
1980 <a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/864">Dolomite 1500HL</a> Orange, really quite tidy.

Posted: **Wed Aug 30, 2006 7:52 pm**

I was at Santa Pod about 18/19 years ago and witnessed a TFD attempting to break the european record which at the time was sub 5 second. From the moment it took off it looked in trouble, veering to the side all the way up the strip, however the driver/pilot kept it going full chat until it hit the side just before the finish and disintegrated. The silence in what was a large crowd was eerie. It was a pretty shocking thing to see and almost sureal. I think some of the parts ended up 1/4 mile past the finish. The driver survived just, but broke his back and lost an arm. Will never forget it

Posted: **Wed Aug 30, 2006 7:53 pm**

what about the other crazy frog who jumps on a jet bike <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/eek.gif ALT=":eek">

Posted: **Wed Aug 30, 2006 9:35 pm**

Rocket car man Sammy Millar used to drive with his head to the side due to the G force and eventually stopped driving because his teeth were falling out !. 
If i remember right he did approx 330 mph in 3.5 seconds. 
 
Mike

Posted: **Thu Aug 31, 2006 11:26 pm**

<blockquote>Quote:<hr>You are riding the average $250,000 Honda motogp bike-a seriously fast machine. Over a mile up the road, a top fuel dragster is staged and ready to launch down a ¼ mile strip as you pass. <hr></blockquote> 
 
etc etc... 
 
just to support the biker fraternity, with perhaps a silly twist to show you cant actually use this as any sensible comparison as the machines are built for a completely different purpose (advocate of <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/devil.gif ALT=":evil"> ) : 
 
they decided to host this experiment on a stretch of the M1. unfortunately, while in real life terms this is generally a relatively straight road, we do still have to pity the dragster. after the dragster with maybe 10 times the hp of the bike went whooping past at around 1.5 times the speed, they reached a small curve in the road, hardly noticeable at 70-80 mph, but at 3 times that speed its a bit more significant. the dragster had no practical way of stopping in a controlled manner, hit the barrier, smashed into a squillion pieces, exploding into a horrendous fireball killing the driver and 5 onlookers instantly, while the honda rider, while mildy embarrassed at being overtaken a few seconds before, gently applied his BRAKES, leaned over a bit and negotiated the blaze and parts strewn around everywhere, and made it home in time for tea. 
 
DOH! 
 
<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/roll.gif ALT=":rollin">

project orange - gradual progress 
project STEALTH - PASS!!! 
project white - AAARGGGHHH!!! too many cars!!!

Posted: **Fri Sep 01, 2006 1:42 am**

and as he turned into his road on his way home a 
car knocked him right off his bike (he didn't see him ) 
and his bike is now in a squillion pices too !!!! <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/roll.gif ALT=":rollin">

Posted: **Fri Sep 01, 2006 9:43 am**

<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/roll.gif ALT=":rollin"> like it george, sad but unfortunately close to the truth... 
 
'borrowed' this from the superbike forum I go on, quite deep and makes you think: 
 
 
 
I saw you, 
hug your purse closer to you in the grocery store line. 
 
But, you didn't see me, 
put an extra £10.00 in the collection plate last Sunday. 
 
I saw you, 
pull your child closer when we passed each other on the sidewalk. 
 
But, you didn't see me, 
playing Santa at the local mall. 
 
I saw you, 
change your mind about going into the restaurant. 
 
But, you didn't see me, 
attending a meeting to raise more money for the hurricane relief. 
 
I saw you, 
roll up your window and shake your head when I drove by. 
 
But, you didn't see me, 
driving behind you when you flicked your cigarette butt out the car window. 
 
I saw you, 
frown at me when I smiled at your children. 
 
But, you didn't see me, 
when I took time off from work to run toys to the homeless. 
 
I saw you, 
stare at my long hair. 
 
But, you didn't see me, 
and my friends cut ten inches off for Locks of Love. 
 
I saw you, 
roll your eyes at our leather coats and gloves. 
 
But, you didn't see me, 
and my brothers donate our old coats and gloves to those that had none. 
 
I saw you, 
look in fright at my tattoos. 
 
But, you didn't see me, 
cry as my children where born and have their name written over and in my heart. 
 
I saw you, 
change lanes while rushing off to go somewhere. 
 
But, you didn't see me, 
going home to be with my family. 
 
I saw you, 
complain about how loud and noisy our bikes can be. 
 
But, you didn't see me, 
when you were changing the CD and drifted into my lane. 
 
I saw you, 
yelling at your kids in the car. 
 
But, you didn't see me, 
pat my child's hands, knowing he was safe behind me. 
 
I saw you, 
reading the newspaper or map as you drove down the road. 
 
But, you didn't see me, 
squeeze my wife's leg when she told me to take the next turn. 
 
I saw you, 
race down the road in the rain. 
 
But, you didn't see me, 
get soaked to the skin so my son could have the car to go on his date. 
 
I saw you, 
run the yellow light just to save a few minutes of time. 
 
But, you didn't see me, 
trying to turn right. 
 
I saw you, 
cut me off because you needed to be in the lane I was in. 
 
But, you didn't see me, 
leave the road. 
 
I saw you, 
waiting impatiently for my friends to pass. 
 
But, you didn't see me. 
I wasn't there. 
 
I saw you, 
go home to your family. 
 
But, you didn't see me. 
Because, I died that day you cut me off. 
 
I was just a biker,..... 
 
A person with friends and a family. 
 
BUT, YOU DIDN'T SEE ME

project orange - gradual progress 
project STEALTH - PASS!!! 
project white - AAARGGGHHH!!! too many cars!!!

Posted: **Fri Sep 01, 2006 10:38 am**

About the tosser on his BMW RT1200 this morning overtaking me on a tight country road approaching a corner and then cutting me up so he could get round without colliding with an on coming van, why is that so many bikers feel that they can overtake people whenever an whereever they please and car drivers should just accept it and put the brakes on. I agree that there are too many car drivers that don`t see bikers and it`s in-excusable but equally there are awful lot of bikers who put themselves and car drivers in danger just so they can squeeze past one car length, bikers are all too quick to blame car drivers but I wouldn`t mind betting that they ride around like tossers. 
Oh and I speak as a rider and driver...... 
I`m done now, the above mentioned tosser really got on my nerves..

Posted: **Fri Sep 01, 2006 11:36 am**

likewise steve, as a biker/driver i have to say there's a minority of biker morons who ride like idiots, too close to 4+wheeled traffic, overtake in daft situations etc and unfortunately give bikers a bad reputation. 
 
I also reckon theres an equal proportion of idiot car drivers out there, I see them every day, eg last night on the way home in the wet, I was doing about 85-90 down the A52 into derby, sat in outside lane coming up to overtake a car about maybe 40-50metres in front but on the inside line... pair of HID headlights appeared in my mirror, undercut me, distance between me and the other car had closed to about 10metres and this tw@t in his audi TT undercut me nearly landing up the @rse of the car on the inside lane, then cut me up when he pulled back into my lane, doing at least 100. whats the point in that? did he think he looked good? about half a mile later I pulled up along side him at the lights on the pentagon roundabout... didnt get very far did he... 
 
a few weeks ago I was going down the M1 just south of J21, doing a steady 90 or so, along came a little gathering of junior pimp my riders in corsas, saxo's etc, about 6 of them, absolutely flat out over all 3 lanes, overtaking eachother n weaving about all over the place. while I could have left them all behind I didnt engage, just left them to carry on. 
 
Morons. 
 
not just bikers m8 
 

project orange - gradual progress 
project STEALTH - PASS!!! 
project white - AAARGGGHHH!!! too many cars!!!

Posted: **Fri Sep 01, 2006 11:57 am**

<blockquote>Quote:<hr>not just bikers m8<hr></blockquote> 
 
Couldn`t agree more, it`s just that it happened to be a biker that tried to kill me/himself today and the passage you dropped in made me think how much I hate people like that. 
With regards TT drivers. I have to say that after having worked as VW/Audi technician and been out on many roadtests with a TT drivers for various faults I can confirm that all of them have driven like complete tossers, this makes me think that it`s an epedemic across the country with anyone that owns one of these most dull boring cars. Perhaps they feel they need to make up for certain in-adequacies.

Posted: **Fri Sep 01, 2006 5:01 pm**

BMW Motorcyle, Audi TT..... 
 
Seems that anyone in a German motor has the right to drive like a total tosser. Let them get on with it, keep out of their way, stay calm and be safe in the knowledge that you're the better driver. They'll be statistics sooner than you if you stay aloof and concentrate on keeping yourself safe and legal. 
 
'Everyone going slower than you is an obstruction, everyone going faster is a lunatic' 
 
Jod

<img src="http://www.towingandleisure.co.uk/images/bash.gif" style="border:0;"/>

The Triumph Dolomite Club - EzBoard Archive

Top Fuel dragster facts......

Top Fuel dragster facts......

Re: Top Fuel dragster facts......

Re: Top Fuel dragster facts......

Top fuel dragsters

top drag bike

Re: top drag bike

Re: top drag bike

biker

Re: biker

Makes me think....

Re: Makes me think....

Re: Makes me think....

Re: Makes me think....