NHRA shortens race distance...

WShade · 07-02-2008, 08:22 PM

http://www.nhra.com/content/news/30355.htm
7/2/2008

Quote:

As the investigation continues into the tragic accident that took the life of driver Scott Kalitta, NHRA has announced that beginning at the Mopar Mile High Nationals in Denver, Colo., both the Top Fuel and Funny Car classes will race to 1,000 feet instead of the traditional 1,320 feet or one-quarter mile. This is an interim step that is being taken while NHRA continues to analyze and determine whether changes should be made to build upon the sport's long standing safety record, given the inherent risks and ever-present dangers associated with the sport.

Very drastic move.

xDIEGOx · 07-02-2008, 08:25 PM

JETPILOT · 07-02-2008, 08:39 PM

TreeFiddyZee · 07-02-2008, 09:27 PM

Good grief! They could shorten the race to 500 feet and the guy still would have gotten killed. He was an uncontrolled fireball once he hit the finish line. Typical safety "freakoutedness" of our culture.

eltness350 · 07-02-2008, 09:46 PM

+1...y not keep it a t 1/4 mile but lengthen the area after the finish line another 1000 feet?

C6Zhombre · 07-02-2008, 10:00 PM

the real issue was the runout room distance and configuration at englishtown.....I'm not sure reducing the actual timed section 320 feet is the answer. this is a money decision pure and simple - keeps historic facilities like englishtown (that really isn't up to standards for modern drag cars) from having to spend more money buying land/and or extending runout or repositioning safety walls.

basically lame. make the facilities step up, regardless of cost

SlowZster · 07-02-2008, 10:47 PM

well, im not top fuel, or a funny car, so I guess I'm still ok.

Z Infidel · 07-02-2008, 10:50 PM

If they shorten the length they can forget about breaking speed/time records as they would have to start from scratch.

onebadfyvo · 07-02-2008, 11:02 PM

I heard most of the NHRA racers are all for this because it will lessen the number of mechanical failure due to the fact that most failures occur after the 1000 feet mark. I agree with most of you on this board though. Sounds like your typical "knee jerk reaction".

JETPILOT · 07-02-2008, 11:42 PM

The 1000 foot will only be temporary until they can make changes in the off season to slow these cars down. The changes will be mandated in the off season and next year the 1320 will be back but the cars will be slower.

At 300 MPH there is not much you can do to save yourself. It's game over!

It happens so infrequently that a driver dies. It's amazing it doesn't happen more often.

Don't forget if drivers die then parents won;t be taking their kids to the races. This is a spectator sport where spectators pay the bill. No spectators no show. You can't have drivers dying in horrific crashes with a crowd of spectators watching.

SlowZster · 07-03-2008, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JETPILOT

Don't forget if drivers die then parents won;t be taking their kids to the races. This is a spectator sport where spectators pay the bill. No spectators no show. You can't have drivers dying in horrific crashes with a crowd of spectators watching.

I thought that made for good entertainment? Maybe not the death part, but the crashes. It's kinda like the show cops. You know they are gonna wreck, but we still watch it (when nothing better is on)

JETPILOT · 07-03-2008, 12:29 AM

When your there and realize what you just saw it's really sad especially when you realize you just saw him in the pits signing autographs.

SlowZster · 07-03-2008, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JETPILOT

When your there and realize what you just saw it's really sad especially when you realize you just saw him in the pits signing autographs.

good point, im sure something like that is different when you are there versus in the comfort of your own home.

coachk · 07-03-2008, 04:04 AM

I don't like the idea of shortening it down to 1,000', but on the other hand if it was only a 1,000' then I wouldn't of blown my motor. My motor went right at the 1,000' mark

....

Alberto · 07-03-2008, 05:13 AM

They should instead force tracks to have longer, more effective safety areas. That alone would cause many tracks to renovate, or be built, that would be nice.

coachk · 07-03-2008, 05:22 AM

I remember seeing the vid of Kalittas car blowing up, but can't remember if the cause of death was from him crashing it or from the fire...anybody

WShade · 07-03-2008, 06:36 AM

I heard the explosion knocked him out and the 250+ mph impact at the end of the track killed him. I agree with the idea of longer shut down areas but who is ultimately going to pay for it? NHRA, track owners, promoters or race teams?

scotts300 · 07-03-2008, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WShade

I heard the explosion knocked him out and the 250+ mph impact at the end of the track killed him. I agree with the idea of longer shut down areas but who is ultimately going to pay for it? NHRA, track owners, promoters or race teams?

NHRA would enforce it, and the tracks can decide to comply or not. At 300mph, no amount of sand or run-off is going to save a fireball unless said run-off is equipped with emergency water as well. That is not impossible, but certainly isn't practical.

411Z · 07-03-2008, 01:24 PM

ok guys...

first off, kallitta was killed because his parachute did not blossom and e-towns shutdown area was not long enough. this is only a temporary precaution until the offseason, when the tracks have the downtime to lengthen the shutdown. in the meantime, more r&d will go into parachute development and overall safety. nobody wants to slow these cars down, but we may see lower rev limiters, and other caps on speed. capping the speed will not have much effect on the et, as the et is made in the first 600'.

here in vegas, as well as bandimere, the shutdown area is sloped up-hill. i think most track will go to a design like this, because it is incredibly effective. we hardly ever have a car fail to stop here, and it is not as big of a problem when the chutes dont deploy.

btw: e-town had a retaining wall perpendicular to the race track at the end of the trap. kallitta hit that wall, and that impact killed him. if the wall had not been there, more than likely he would not have been killed.
the wall was torn down that night.

roast · 07-04-2008, 07:21 PM

My local NHRA track has rail road tracks running perpendicular just a few feet from the end of the shutdown.... if they plan on lengthening it they will have reroute the train tracks.... or go backwards...and that wouldn't really work either....

I bet they will end up just slowing the cars down.... much cheaper than doing expensive renovations all over the US.....

07-02-2008, 08:25 PM	#2
xDIEGOx Smiley Whore Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 4,446 iTrader: (0)	__________________

07-02-2008, 09:27 PM	#4
TreeFiddyZee Do WHAAAAT!? Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Hoosier-ville Posts: 2,259 iTrader: (10)	Good grief! They could shorten the race to 500 feet and the guy still would have gotten killed. He was an uncontrolled fireball once he hit the finish line. Typical safety "freakoutedness" of our culture. __________________ Is math an sgàthan sùil caraide. Last edited by TreeFiddyZee; 07-02-2008 at 09:50 PM.

07-02-2008, 09:46 PM	#5
eltness350 The Untouchable Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 1,614 iTrader: (47)	+1...y not keep it a t 1/4 mile but lengthen the area after the finish line another 1000 feet? __________________ Procharged 12psi 431/375 (12.3 1/4 @7psi) SOLD....Tubonetics T-66...@ 8psi....405/398...SOLD....Built Motor...GREDDY TT....numbers in the spring courtesy of FORGED....05 Nissan Titan to haul $hit...

07-02-2008, 10:00 PM	#6
C6Zhombre Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Corpus Christi, TX Posts: 43 iTrader: (0)	the real issue was the runout room distance and configuration at englishtown.....I'm not sure reducing the actual timed section 320 feet is the answer. this is a money decision pure and simple - keeps historic facilities like englishtown (that really isn't up to standards for modern drag cars) from having to spend more money buying land/and or extending runout or repositioning safety walls. basically lame. make the facilities step up, regardless of cost __________________ '08 G35 6MT sedan, '06 C6Z (showroom stock 11.31), '04 Cobra Vert (one bad arse pullied mofo daily driver)

07-02-2008, 10:47 PM	#7
SlowZster Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: seatown Posts: 2,192 iTrader: (12)	well, im not top fuel, or a funny car, so I guess I'm still ok. __________________ "BOOST" [rock chips] [bug matter] [dirt] [brake dust] [nail in tire] [scratches] [cracks] [scrapes] [key mark] [door ding] [wheel scuff] [burnt paint] [zip ties] [missing bolts] [blown rear strut] [missing fender lining] coming soon [chip in windshield]

07-02-2008, 08:39 PM	#3
JETPILOT Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Vero Beach, FL Posts: 5,600 iTrader: (44)

07-02-2008, 10:50 PM	#8
Z Infidel Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Atlanta Posts: 97 iTrader: (0)	If they shorten the length they can forget about breaking speed/time records as they would have to start from scratch.

07-02-2008, 11:02 PM	#9
onebadfyvo Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: SF Bay Area, Ca Posts: 1,404 iTrader: (1)	I heard most of the NHRA racers are all for this because it will lessen the number of mechanical failure due to the fact that most failures occur after the 1000 feet mark. I agree with most of you on this board though. Sounds like your typical "knee jerk reaction". __________________ DILLIGAF?

07-02-2008, 11:42 PM	#10
JETPILOT Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Vero Beach, FL Posts: 5,600 iTrader: (44)	The 1000 foot will only be temporary until they can make changes in the off season to slow these cars down. The changes will be mandated in the off season and next year the 1320 will be back but the cars will be slower. At 300 MPH there is not much you can do to save yourself. It's game over! It happens so infrequently that a driver dies. It's amazing it doesn't happen more often. Don't forget if drivers die then parents won;t be taking their kids to the races. This is a spectator sport where spectators pay the bill. No spectators no show. You can't have drivers dying in horrific crashes with a crowd of spectators watching.

07-03-2008, 12:29 AM	#12
JETPILOT Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Vero Beach, FL Posts: 5,600 iTrader: (44)	When your there and realize what you just saw it's really sad especially when you realize you just saw him in the pits signing autographs.

07-03-2008, 04:04 AM	#14
coachk Lovin Life Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Florida Posts: 3,261 iTrader: (17)	I don't like the idea of shortening it down to 1,000', but on the other hand if it was only a 1,000' then I wouldn't of blown my motor. My motor went right at the 1,000' mark .... __________________ 2003 PPW 5AT.....Lovin Life www.performancefactory.com

07-03-2008, 05:13 AM	#15
Alberto SHIFT_Blah Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Maryland Posts: 19,780 iTrader: (12)	They should instead force tracks to have longer, more effective safety areas. That alone would cause many tracks to renovate, or be built, that would be nice. __________________ 11.1@126mph old set-up low boost Wanna see my Z go 170+mph? Click Me *More Videos* Fixed & Tuned by PFSUPERCARS

07-03-2008, 05:22 AM	#16
coachk Lovin Life Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Florida Posts: 3,261 iTrader: (17)	I remember seeing the vid of Kalittas car blowing up, but can't remember if the cause of death was from him crashing it or from the fire...anybody __________________ 2003 PPW 5AT.....Lovin Life www.performancefactory.com

07-03-2008, 06:36 AM	#17
WShade Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 60 iTrader: (0)	I heard the explosion knocked him out and the 250+ mph impact at the end of the track killed him. I agree with the idea of longer shut down areas but who is ultimately going to pay for it? NHRA, track owners, promoters or race teams? __________________ '07 G35S Sedan 6MT ---- '05 Subaru with a little sauce

07-03-2008, 01:24 PM	#19
411Z Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: North Las Vegas, NV Posts: 137 iTrader: (0)	ok guys... first off, kallitta was killed because his parachute did not blossom and e-towns shutdown area was not long enough. this is only a temporary precaution until the offseason, when the tracks have the downtime to lengthen the shutdown. in the meantime, more r&d will go into parachute development and overall safety. nobody wants to slow these cars down, but we may see lower rev limiters, and other caps on speed. capping the speed will not have much effect on the et, as the et is made in the first 600'. here in vegas, as well as bandimere, the shutdown area is sloped up-hill. i think most track will go to a design like this, because it is incredibly effective. we hardly ever have a car fail to stop here, and it is not as big of a problem when the chutes dont deploy. btw: e-town had a retaining wall perpendicular to the race track at the end of the trap. kallitta hit that wall, and that impact killed him. if the wall had not been there, more than likely he would not have been killed. the wall was torn down that night.

07-04-2008, 07:21 PM	#20
roast Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Okay, see? Posts: 3,912 iTrader: (2)	My local NHRA track has rail road tracks running perpendicular just a few feet from the end of the shutdown.... if they plan on lengthening it they will have reroute the train tracks.... or go backwards...and that wouldn't really work either.... I bet they will end up just slowing the cars down.... much cheaper than doing expensive renovations all over the US..... __________________ I got a chevy with a mopar cam, I'll be your jonny on the spot!