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Some interesting Top Fuel Dragster facts...

#21
Its been a while since I've gone to the races, but I still remember walking through the top fuel pits and seing the greenish cloud you could see down the row, and not being able to breathe or see, because of the fumes. That is what I call fun! Normally I would walk around the pits more than sit in the grandstands, but all in all, it is a lot of fun.

JTBP
 
#22
Originally posted by Michael Jewels
You left out how deafening they are! The first time I went to National Speedway at exit 68 off the Long Island Expressway about 30 years ago to see funny cars and top fuel, no one told us to cover our ears when the cars were burning out. When the cars idle they sound like a very loud typewriter, but when they hit the throttle, the noise they make is indescribeable. Loudest thing I ever heard.
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Wonder if it beats a B1-B Lancer at full afterburner - think that's the loudest thing I've heard. Shook the concrete I was standing on. And it wasn't touching the ground. :)

Eddie Hill and the Nuclear Banana!
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He was the first one to go over 300, wasn't he? Or was it the first sub-5 second run? I remember (back when I'd watch drag racing on ESPN whenever I could) when those two barriers seemed impassable.
 
#23
Originally posted by geshel


Wonder if it beats a B1-B Lancer at full afterburner - think that's the loudest thing I've heard. Shook the concrete I was standing on. And it wasn't touching the ground. :)



He was the first one to go over 300, wasn't he? Or was it the first sub-5 second run? I remember (back when I'd watch drag racing on ESPN whenever I could) when those two barriers seemed impassable.
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Eddie Hill - From http://www.cwftx.net/CELEBRITIES1.htm

Recognized world wide, Wichita Falls' own drag racing legend Eddie Hill was recently voted as one of the most popular drivers in history. In addition to being the first driver to cover the quarter mile in less than 5 seconds and the first driver to break the 200mph barrier in a gas powered car, over the course of his career, Eddie Hill has also proven to be one of the best drag boat racers of all time. In 1983, he covered the quarter mile track of Firebird Lake in Phoenix in 5.16 seconds. For the first time in history, the world's fastest quarter mile time was recorded on water rather than on asphalt. In 1984 & 1985, he held the world record for the fastest speed and quickest elapsed time ever in a propeller-driven boat in the Guinness Book of World Records. He was admitted to the NHRA Hall of Fame in 1978 and has been honored, on several occasions, as Driver of the Year by the International Hot Rod Association and Car Craft, Hot Rod and National Dragster Magazines. He was also the oldest driver to win an NHRA Top Fuel Championship at age 57 in 1993 and an NHRA national event at age 60 in 1996. He is second to only Joe Amato in number of appearances in the annual Big Bud Shootout, and event that invites only the top 8 qualifiers form the Top Fuel class. Eddie Hill is the co-owner of Eddie Hill's Fun Cycles and H & L Land Company here in Wichita Falls. Eddie Hill and his wife Ercie have also established the Hill Foundation for injured drivers and the Inner City Volunteers service organization, which benefits disadvantaged families.


I once saw Eddie Flip over a top Fuel dragster. THAT was crazy!!!
 
#24
Originally posted by lneal


"Big Daddy" Don Garlits
Don "The Snake" Prudhomme
Shirley "Cha Cha" Muldowney
But what was Kalitta's nick name? Can't remember.

BTW, why don't drag racers have nick names anymore? I mean, would you rather cheer for a guy called "The Snake" or some cat named Ron Capps? Come on! Capps is an outstanding driver, but is that any kind of name for a drag racer? What say you, Hammy?
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You forgot "TV" Tommy Ivo!

As for Kalitta, what more of a nickname do you need other than "Connie" if your a guy? ;)

I agree!! When I was a kid, the marketing bandwagon was just getting rolling in drag racing and the nicknames were flyin' as fast as the cars. Remember the "Snake" vs "Mongoose" funny car match races?
 
#25
Originally posted by ANBassist
Top fuels are cool, but IMO dirt sprint car racing takes the cake. 1100 pounds, pushing 900 horsepower...this is like putting a 350 on a skateboard. 160+ MPH, pitch it sideways, and muscle it through the turn wide open. At a track close to here (Eldora Speedway), they cover the HUGE high banked 1/2 mile oval at a track record of 12.7 seconds....

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I'm down with you about sprinters ANB!!! I'm mainly a circle track fan and have gotten to see these things (mostly on asphalt) several times. Here in the South they aren't as popular as the midwest. The USAC sprinters as well as the CLUB All-Stars have run at tracks I've competed at several times. One high banked 3/8mile asphalt bullring had 'em wheelying down the back straight all night!
 
#27
Originally posted by Hambone


You forgot "TV" Tommy Ivo!

As for Kalitta, what more of a nickname do you need other than "Connie" if your a guy? ;)

I agree!! When I was a kid, the marketing bandwagon was just getting rolling in drag racing and the nicknames were flyin' as fast as the cars. Remember the "Snake" vs "Mongoose" funny car match races?
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True for Kalitta, but he did have a nick name. Something to do with a hammer I think.

Yes! I remember those races! Good times!

I think the guy with the coolest drag racing name these days is John Force. He don't really need a nick name. And with a name like Force, you really wouldn't have any choice but to be a racer now would ya? I knew a guitarist whose last name was Funk. With that name he SHOULD have been a bassist!:D
 
#31
Thanks Mike. I can only dream of times like yours. 10.30? Schaweet! You've got almost 2 seeconds on me. In drag racing relativity, you could go have lunch by the time my poor Mustang Cobra crossed the line. Nice!

I did however show my son in law and his Camaro how it's done though. He totally choked at the tree. Watch him: LOL!

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#32
Originally posted by LoJoe
Thanks Mike. I can only dream of times like yours. 10.30? Schaweet! You've got almost 2 seeconds on me. In drag racing relativity, you could go have lunch by the time my poor Mustang Cobra crossed the line. Nice!

I did however show my son in law and his Camaro how it's done though. He totally choked at the tree. Watch him: LOL!

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I couldnt get the link to work, Joe.
Good to have another Drag Racer here.....:cool:
 
#35
Originally posted by ANBassist


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A 900 horsepower engine stand......too cool. Imagine what one of these could do in the 1/4 mile, given the power to weight ratio(and providing they could hook up).
 
#38
Originally posted by Munjibunga
A half mile in 12.7 seconds is an average speed of 141.7 mph. I don't think so, on dirt.
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Welcome to Eldora Speedway, the worlds fastest half mile. Ya, they were fast at bristol when they dumped the dirt on, but still fell short of Eldoras track record. Eldora is almost round, vs. a true oval. Banking is listed at 27 degrees in the turns, but honestly feels like more up towards the top of the track. Kinda like racing in a great big cereal bowl. When you pull out on it, it feels like it is going to dump you out the left side of the car.
 
#40
Originally posted by Muttluk
how's 4.17 on the second round?
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You mean .417? :)

Not bad. Best I managed was .411, but I redlighted a few times that game. Here's my last, and best, game. It's not really reaction time though, it's anticipation. If I react to the green, I score mid-0.500s every time. I did best thinking of it as a long note (yellows) followed by two short notes (green, then me). Not sure what the ratios is though.

edit: got 4000. . . :)
 

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