NHRA Top Fuel

[rattlsnak]

Ive been around gear heads my whole career who always talked about drag racing. Yada yada yada. Well after 20 years of hearing this, i went to the Southern Nationals last year. I COULDNT FRIGGING BELIEVE IT. OMG.. We were right at the start line, two rows up. After watching all the other classes which were cool, it was time for the Top Fuel cars. One the first one went, i was speechless.. It literally shook my eyeballs and felt like ten guys pounding my chest at the same time. Its simply undescribeable.. I couldnt believe it... I highly recommend it at least once.. and i am not a NHRA follower.

[450knotOffice]

What I can't believe is that these drivers are willing to stap their bodies into these beasts within inches of these nuclear bombs called top fuel nitro engines and pull the trigger on them.

[Jeff Higgins]

Last year when my son and I were out on Saturday for qualifying, we did our usual pit walk-through when they were starting to warm them up. The way the game is played is to watch for the next crew that is going to fire one up and try to get there first, for a front row seat. Being the old hands that we are, we check wind direction and stand off to one side, never directly behind and downwind. Then watch the guy's hand that reaches for the throttle. Idling these things are loud enough; when he gooses it all hell literally breaks loose. They literally "blow a hole in the crowd"; those that didn't get their ears covered are stumbling around completely disoriented. Then the car goes back to idle, and the nitro shower rains down upon them. It's like running through a sprinkler; there is that much raw unburnt fuel just spraying up out of the pipes. Now they are all blinded, eyes burning, clothes soaked in nitro, stumbling around in a state of confusion, and the guy gooses it again. Now kids are crying, wives and girlfriends are screaming, no one knows what to do. So they all run away and try to gather their senses. Then the first idiot pipes up "that was AWSOME" and they go looking for the next car so they can do it all over again.

[TheMentat]

Originally posted by Jeff Higgins
Last year when my son and I were out on Saturday for qualifying, we did our usual pit walk-through when they were starting to warm them up. The way the game is played is to watch for the next crew that is going to fire one up and try to get there first, for a front row seat. Being the old hands that we are, we check wind direction and stand off to one side, never directly behind and downwind. Then watch the guy's hand that reaches for the throttle. Idling these things are loud enough; when he gooses it all hell literally breaks loose. They literally "blow a hole in the crowd"; those that didn't get their ears covered are stumbling around completely disoriented. Then the car goes back to idle, and the nitro shower rains down upon them. It's like running through a sprinkler; there is that much raw unburnt fuel just spraying up out of the pipes. Now they are all blinded, eyes burning, clothes soaked in nitro, stumbling around in a state of confusion, and the guy gooses it again. Now kids are crying, wives and girlfriends are screaming, no one knows what to do. So they all run away and try to gather their senses. Then the first idiot pipes up "that was AWSOME" and they go looking for the next car so they can do it all over again.

ha.... that describes it pretty well. That fuel is some of the most noxious stuff I've ever been exposed to...

[Superman]

True. AAA fuel is terribly nasty. The fragrance says "this is nastier than the nastiest chemicals you have ever smelled before" and then gives you an immediate headache.

[450knotOffice]

Have you ever wondered what it must be like to be the guy standing between these cars at the lights who controls the starting light tree? Nerves of steel, man. (...probably deaf too..."WHAT?!")

[Rikao4]

All so true, few years back I HAD to go to one of these events , hanging in the pit area with Clay Milligan 4 X worldchampion ( drives the WERNER top fuel rail ) so all is very impressive, crew and gear..fired it up and as stated, if you been you know. TV gives you no idea of what really transpires during a run. Cost per run..10K.
Rika

[TerryH]

Once a year for about 15 years, a group of us would call in sick on a Friday and go see the Winternationals qualifying at Pomona, CA. Far less crowded and no less thrilling than the weekend.

I graduated high school with Mike Dunn, son of Big Jim Dunn. Both highly respected top fuel drivers in their respective eras. While I can't claim Mike as a close friend, there were times our paths crossed and he was a genuine nice guy even as a kid.

There is a documentary like movie about Jim Dunn's life as a racer, family man, and fireman called "Funny Car Summer". It didn't win the Oscar in 1974, but it shows some vintage drag racing that is great fun to watch for us affectionados of the sport.

[Jeff Higgins]

Now this will date me - I can remember the old Dunn and Reath funny cars. I remember when they tried a mid-engine car; it was really weird to see "Fireman" Jim Dunn driving with his face pressed up against the windshield. Does he still run a team? His son? I haven't seen them run in awhile.

[TerryH]

Jim Dunn gave up driving around 1990. Jim Dunn Racing owns a funny car team. I think Mike retired in 2000 and resides somewhere in Pa.

You're correct on Dunn's inovative move to have the motor over the rear wheels in funny car. It made perfect sense since it was so successful with the rails.

[Jeff Higgins]

That's right. Weren't they, or aren't they still, the K&N sponsored car? Who does he have driving it?

I think they had some handling problems with the mid-engined car. I'm surprised funny cars have not figured it out yet. They have the same safety concerns that the old diggers did. If I had my druthers, I would an 8,000 horsepower timebomb behind me, too. Certainly not right in my lap, right between my feet.