Explaining Top Fuel

[Jeff Higgins]

This young man does a remarkable job. The only thing he can't adequately convey is the noise...

[JackDidley]

Cool video. Nothing like the feeling of a fuel motor shaking the earth under your feet.

[Bob Kontak]

Thanks for that.

This is a good supplement. Check out fuel spray "pattern" at 8:15 in. So much fuel it's a fine line between hydrolock and combustion.

Lots of goodies and a good production.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Very cool video, thanks for posting Jeff. Love all the details and extreme specs.

I wonder if you can mix the best of both worlds from top fuel and F1 to create a new engine platform.

[VINMAN]

Top fuel in person is such an incredible experience. Nothing else like it.

Was so pissed when they shut down Raceway Park here. Summer Nationals every year.

.

[stevej37]

They have top fuelers at the 131 Motorsports Park every summer. I've been to a few and a couple years ago I was there. Seated about 20 rows up, next to the starting line.

The race day was sponsored by Hooters and the girls (in work attire) were told to stand and cheer right next to the 'Christmas tree'

I felt sorry for them even though they had ear plugs in. The sound waves coming off those engines distorts your view...incredibly loud....it shakes you to the bone.

[herr_oberst]

Watch this rear end come apart today (Nov 3) in Vegas. That's pieces of ring gear that you can see hitting the track and the wall.

(9" Ford ring gear is on the right. TF cars use an 11" gear.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by VINMAN

Top fuel in person is such an incredible experience. Nothing else like it.

Was so pissed when they shut down Raceway Park here. Summer Nationals every year.

.

Had to do it. Kalitta losing his life in the shut down and no more land to extend the track tied the NHRA's hands. Even reducing the track to 1000 feet wasn't going to be enough to make that place safe. The cars just got too fast.

But, yeah, an absolute bummer to lose that track.

Or any of the old tracks, like Mile High. Is Seattle next?

[A930Rocket]

Cool video.

The guy in the video mentions the excess fuel being burned out of the headers, creating big flames.

There was a video or fact sheet, that mentioned the hot exhaust was burning the hydrogen in the air, to make the flames.

Thoughts?

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

Cool video.

The guy in the video mentions the excess fuel being burned out of the headers, creating big flames.

There was a video or fact sheet, that mentioned the hot exhaust was burning the hydrogen in the air, to make the flames.

Thoughts?

Correct. They spit a lot of unburnt fuel at idle and part throttle, but very much burn every bit of it at wide open throttle. The intense exhaust heat actually "cracks" hydrogen molecules from atmospheric "air" and burns it independently. Pretty amazing phenomena all on its own.

[Rikao4]

[QUOTE=Jeff Higgins;12350626]This young man does a remarkable job. The only thing he can't adequately convey is the noise...

having stood near the line a few times..
'noise' doesn't really do it justice...
your guts will move...


Rika

[Sooner or later]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Watch this rear end come apart today (Nov 3) in Vegas. That's pieces of ring gear that you can see hitting the track and the wall.

(9" Ford ring gear is on the right. TF cars use an 11" gear.

Clean up from that took so long that they had to postpone the finals until today.

[GH85Carrera]

[QUOTE=Rikao4;12351372]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

This young man does a remarkable job. The only thing he can't adequately convey is the noise...

having stood near the line a few times..
'noise' doesn't really do it justice...
your guts will move...


Rika

The race I watched in person sounded like someone dropping thousands of utility poles from a mile up as they smashed into the ground. It makes your guts and chest vibrate. Just mad amounts of noise.

[VINMAN]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Had to do it. Kalitta losing his life in the shut down and no more land to extend the track tied the NHRA's hands. Even reducing the track to 1000 feet wasn't going to be enough to make that place safe. The cars just got too fast.

But, yeah, an absolute bummer to lose that track.

Or any of the old tracks, like Mile High. Is Seattle next?

Was at that race when that happened. Sad.

One of the main reasons for shutting down the track was noise complaints by new residents in the area. ( the track had only been there for 50 yrs.....)


.

[David]

I always tell people who want to see some form of motorsports: see top fuel, there's nothing like it.

I took my girlfriend, no wife, several years ago. She was somewhat OK with the sound of the pro stock and alcohol cars but then top fuel launched, she leaned into me and said, "I think I'm going to be sick!"

[Deschodt]

Originally Posted by VINMAN

Top fuel in person is such an incredible experience. Nothing else like it.
.

It's one of those things... Not really my wheelhouse, my crowd, my anything really..
But I went anyway, because I try to keep an open mind.. It blew my mind, what a spectacular experience feeling that power in your chest (rather than hearing it).

Took my wife and kids a few years back so they could experience it also (still not my crowd). Still amazing.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by David

She was somewhat OK with the sound of the pro stock and alcohol cars but then top fuel launched, she leaned into me and said, "I think I'm going to be sick!"

It needs to go on the bucket list.

Also the comment that it distorts your vision puts it on the list as well. Probably more decibels than the Saturn V (given 50 yards vs 2 miles - or whatever the setback is for each)

Where do I go? I remember Milan Dragway commercials near Detroit in the way (way) back from CKLW (AM) radio growing up in Toledo.

Has to be accessible with a little bit of effort? Help a brother out.

[stevej37]

^^^ Post #6
https://www.us131msp.com/
Near Kalamazoo

[Sooner or later]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

It needs to go on the bucket list.

Also the comment that it distorts your vision puts it on the list as well. Probably more decibels than the Saturn V (given 50 yards vs 2 miles - or whatever the setback is for each)

Where do I go? I remember Milan Dragway commercials near Detroit in the way (way) back from CKLW (AM) radio growing up in Toledo.

Has to be accessible with a little bit of effort? Help a brother out.

An hour and a half from North Canton (if you still live there)

June 2025