Electric drag racing?

Electric drag racing?

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Discussion

Gtxxjon

Original Poster:

684 posts

34 months

Tuesday 1st February 2022
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As one of the lucky peeps who have grown up in the era of ICE etc.

The up and coming era of electric drag racing is upon us (maybe)?

I see electric cars running mid 8’s something I never achieved with an ICE engine, tens in fact.
(Yes it was a Rob Loaring ICE engine lol)

So if any of us are thinking of returning to the new concrete track at the Pod.
Should we be thinking EV...?

Flying Phil

1,659 posts

152 months

Tuesday 1st February 2022
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EV has been the easiest way to accelerate quickly for a while I think.....The Tesla 0 - 60 time is what 2.3 seconds?...from the showroom!
......But it is totally soul-less. Drag Racing is about all the senses...... being overwhelmed. Yes, I watched Priddle and Skilton so am really old!

Gtxxjon

Original Poster:

684 posts

34 months

Tuesday 1st February 2022
quotequote all
Dodge Hellcat is one cool Mopar but...

The faceless EV of the future, fast but soul less...

And quiet enough to run you over, without you even knowing what hit you...



TRIUMPHBULLET

703 posts

120 months

Tuesday 1st February 2022
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EJ Potter aka The Michigan Madman ran an electric motor powered Austin 1100.
His way was as novel as the design of his motorbike!

Turn7

24,142 posts

228 months

Wednesday 2nd February 2022
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Ritchie Webb and the leccy beetle were in the 7s IIRC ?

Benni

3,546 posts

218 months

Thursday 3rd February 2022
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I am not sure about the current :-) state of electric Drag Racing in Europe.

In USA, the NEDRA has their own series, and records, but over here the story is different.

There are pioneers like the Blackcurrant Beetle (was it ever rebuilt after the Hockenheim meltdown?),
and the latvian "electric fox" rail dragster which has been in the low 7s,
and of course the new fully street legal production cars which are surprisingly quick considering the battery weight.

In Germany, one electro-converted Drag Bike is built with modified Busa chassis and slick.

But, has there not been an out-ruling of EVs from competition, and even track bans, due to the fire risk,
or better worded, the inability of fire crews to extinguish a battery pack when its is fully ablaze ?

I do not know how the "Formula Electro" racing circus is handling this,
do they have a specially-equipped , dedicated team that goes on tour with the racers ?

Once the hazard risk is handled, I would like to see some EVs on track,
but if they take over the quartermile sport I´m out, seems I am as much a Dinosaur as the Hemi Motor itself,
but the sheer sensual overload of a charged combuster is one important fascination factor to me.

NitroWars

665 posts

218 months

Friday 4th February 2022
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Full details of Black Current Racing here:

http://www.currentracing.co.uk/Blackcurrent/bc3.ph...

Only OEM EV vehicles allowed on track in the UK these days.

P.S. Not sure why Richie Webb has been mentioned above.

Edited by NitroWars on Friday 4th February 13:10

Terminator X

16,279 posts

211 months

Friday 4th February 2022
quotequote all
Gtxxjon said:
As one of the lucky peeps who have grown up in the era of ICE etc.

The up and coming era of electric drag racing is upon us (maybe)?

I see electric cars running mid 8’s something I never achieved with an ICE engine, tens in fact.
(Yes it was a Rob Loaring ICE engine lol)

So if any of us are thinking of returning to the new concrete track at the Pod.
Should we be thinking EV...?
Quick but no drama = bored. No from me.

TX.

Turn7

24,142 posts

228 months

Friday 4th February 2022
quotequote all
NitroWars said:
Full details of Black Current Racing here:

http://www.currentracing.co.uk/Blackcurrent/bc3.ph...

Only OEM EV vehicles allowed on track in the UK these days.

P.S. Not sure why Richie Webb has been mentioned above.

Edited by NitroWars on Friday 4th February 13:10
My mistake, Im getting mixed up with my fast Beetles !

TO73074E

464 posts

34 months

Friday 4th February 2022
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Effective as they are for a good old 1/4 mile dash, aren't there less variables with an EV?

ICE car depends: tyre temp and psi, tyre condition and quality, track condition, RPM of launch, reaction of driver, rpm of shift, fuel used etc etc.

EV: tyre temp and psi, tyre condition and quality, track condition. Then is it not just reaction time and press the accelerator as far as it will go to the floor? Surely each 1/4 mile time is exactly the same after this?

Gtxxjon

Original Poster:

684 posts

34 months

Friday 4th February 2022
quotequote all
Like most things in the modern era, it’s not for everyone lol.

I am a signed up dinosaur (as well) and still believe in the sacred Hemi lol.

A few Moparmates have switched to the mighty hemispherical with various results?

Back in 1964 the 426H was a world beater!
(It still is in its modern configuration)

But most of us are in the “wedge club” due ‘lack of wedge’ lol...

I was an engineer from school and in later life told I was “becoming redundant”...l
“You need to get trained up in electronics”, so I did!

That was in the 80’s and I still hate electrics lol...

So for me it has to be iron, steel and aluminium.(no copper windings or bearings)

The only electrics l need is to fire the plugs...beer

Edited by Gtxxjon on Friday 4th February 13:39

captain.scarlet

1,891 posts

41 months

Friday 4th February 2022
quotequote all
Gtxxjon said:
Dodge Hellcat is one cool Mopar but...

The faceless EV of the future, fast but soul less...

And quiet enough to run you over, without you even knowing what hit you...


As with all EVs I guess. Will there be a distinctive sounds between EVs now or in future? Doesn't look promising. As another forum member has pointed out, it's all about the senses. The sounds, the feeling, and feedback you get through the peddles, the gear changes, the revs and ultimately that all feeding into the steering wheel - nothing compares.

Sandpit Steve

11,357 posts

81 months

Friday 4th February 2022
quotequote all
TO73074E said:
Effective as they are for a good old 1/4 mile dash, aren't there less variables with an EV?

ICE car depends: tyre temp and psi, tyre condition and quality, track condition, RPM of launch, reaction of driver, rpm of shift, fuel used etc etc.

EV: tyre temp and psi, tyre condition and quality, track condition. Then is it not just reaction time and press the accelerator as far as it will go to the floor? Surely each 1/4 mile time is exactly the same after this?
For the OEM EVs, definitely. Taycans and the newer Teslas will do pretty much the same ET again and again, with most of the variation being in the reaction time.

The advancement will come when they can remove battery weight, most of which isn’t needed for a single run, and either hack or install substitute electronics to run the launch control and overpower the motors, in much the same way we currently run higher boost pressures and install better exhausts.

Tyres are another big one. Put a 765LT on R888rs, and it will be a few tenths up, put a Tesla on R888rs and it will confuse the hell out of the computer.

Panamax

5,048 posts

41 months

Friday 4th February 2022
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To stand at the finish line at Santa Pod when the Top Fuels are racing simply blew my mind. I can't imagine an electric tea-trolley having quite the same impact.

kestral

1,833 posts

214 months

Sunday 6th March 2022
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Drag racing in the Uk has been in decline for years. EV will just speed the decline up.

Lack of High Test Peroxide was the death of Rocket cars doing 3 seconds.

Lack of nitro will finish Top Fuel off.

liner33

10,779 posts

209 months

Monday 7th March 2022
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kestral said:
Drag racing in the Uk has been in decline for years. EV will just speed the decline up.

Lack of High Test Peroxide was the death of Rocket cars doing 3 seconds.

Lack of nitro will finish Top Fuel off.
When I first got into Drag Racing in the 90's some mates said it was doomed and was dying a death, last few times I've been to the Pod its been heaving with loads going on.

Its always going to be a minority sport due to lack of TV but I really haven't seen the decline rather the opposite

PurpleTurtle

7,579 posts

151 months

Monday 7th March 2022
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I've been to the Pod many times, but not for about 20yrs, other stuff in life got in the way. Still a keen fan on TV/online though.

Now we've got a 7yo who is into all things to do with cars he is keen to go and see the drag racing in real life.

I've been holding him off it for a couple of years because he didn't used to be great around loud noises, but nowadays he is fine. Hoping to get to the Easter meeting.

I'm seeing it as a rite of passage for him, to see those machines which could at any time blow their engine. I just don't see that people would want to go and see two EVs race in the same way - it's all about the aural and visual assault on the senses.

Turn7

24,142 posts

228 months

Monday 7th March 2022
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Our Avian poster has a huge obsession for Sammy Miller, and for some reason doesn’t seem to attend since the demise or rockets.

Because if this, he is unlikely to have actually seen the HUGE investment that still hasn’t stopped, at SPR.

Our sport will always be a niche product, which is why the track runs lifestyle events almost every weekend in the season.

But, as long as things have power and wheel, drag racing will always exist…..

liner33

10,779 posts

209 months

Monday 7th March 2022
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Certainly a change from the Roy Phelps days smile

Turn7

24,142 posts

228 months

Monday 7th March 2022
quotequote all
liner33 said:
Certainly a change from the Roy Phelps days smile
O/T, but pretty sure there was some
Pics of your bike on the uk drag race group on fb….