In the hot seat......
Discussion
During a discussion at one of my local car club meets last year, we got on to the subject of drag racing and inevitably the usual points came up; "what's the big deal?", "it's only a straight line" and "do they even have steering?" to name a few. Anyway, in light of this I pieced together a post for the club's message board and posted it to give them an idea of what goes in to a run. I had plenty of positive feedback and it helped change more than a few opinions so I thought I'd stick it here too. See what you think..........
The run starts in the pits with the preparation; once the engine, clutch and suspension tune-ups are deliberated and set, it's time to warm up the car and check she's firing on all eight smokin' barrels. So, with the car up on the Pro-Jacks she's ready to rock. Climb in the hot seat, make sure everything is switched off at the main panel and give the nod. The main power switch is armed and the car is live, now the lead for the oil pan heater is disconnected. A quick glance at the voltmeter; 18 volts, all set. Another nod and the crew chief opens up the oil accumulator to instantly add 30psi of oil pressure to the engine. Once it's checked there are no leaks from the lubrication system, the air bottle for the shifter buttons is opened and it's time to turn her over. Fuel on *click*, and a quick stab of the throttle squirts some fuel in to the carb venturis. The crew chief now checks the fuel system for leaks and everything's fine. Water pump on *click*, and hit the starter button *rududududududu*, after a letting the motor turn over a few times hit the ignition *click* and then slowly press the throttle pedal down until she lights *vraaaam....rumpthumparumpthumpa.....*. Once the idle has settled to around 900RPM, press the clutch pedal down and engage forward drive, and first gear, now let the clutch out and allow the wheels to spin, this heats up the oil in the rear axle. Slowly bring up the RPM to around 2000 and go through the gears, 2nd *click*, 3rd *click* and 4th *click*. Now hit the clutch, engage neutral and take a look at the gauges; oil pressure's good, fuel pressure's good and the temperature is just coming up to 120 degrees. Time to clear her throat a bit. Slowly bring the RPM up to around 3000, then mash it a couple of times to around 5500 *vraaaam*. Once the crew chief has had a look over the motor and gives the ok, he shuts of the oil accumulator and gives the thumbs up, kill the ignition and the fuel *click, click* and turn on the fan. A quick check of the valve clearances, a top up of motion lotion and she's ready.
The car is towed down to the fire-up road and now it's the moment you've been waiting for. Once you're in, you put on your helmet and gloves. Now the crew chief tightens up the belts and checks you're comfy, plugs in the radio and fits your neck brace.....tension's building. You sit there and collect your thoughts, while the crew check the tyre pressures. Now the crew chief is busy setting the wheelie bar height, arming the fire bottle and making sure the nitrous bottle is up to temperature. There are only two cars left in front, and the marshall gives you the thumbs up.....it's your turn. A shake of the hand with the crew chief and the window net is clipped in place, the door is shut and your heart starts pounding. You push the talk button and tell the crew chief to open up the oil accumulator and switch on the power. You get the thumbs up and it's the start procedure again; *vraaaam....rumpthumparumpthumpa.....*. You check the gauges and engage first, now bring the car round to the water box ready for the burnout.
As you sit there patiently awaiting the signal, you watch the car in front leave the line, looking for any negative reaction that gives you a clue to the condition of the track surface that awaits you. The track is clear and the starter gives the thumbs up......burnout time. You engage forward again, select 3rd and 4th gear *click, click* but leave 2nd un-enaged...you'll need it in a moment. Press the brake pedal and watch for 500psi on the pressure gauge, then place your thumb on the line-loc. The crew chief comes over the radio to hit it....a couple of blips of the throttle, hold it at 3000RPM, dump the clutch......you feel the back end rise as the tyres expand, release the line-loc button, now punch 2nd gear and you're away, correcting the steering as the back end squirms around and the car vibrates hard. As you go past the christmas tree you dip the clutch and come off the throttle....slow down, dis-engage the gears and snick it in to reverse just before she stops rolling. A quick look at the oil pressure and engine temperature; ok. Now open the door to let the smoke out and begin reversing back to the start line, as the appreciative crowd applaud your long smokey burnout. You're concentrating solely on the crew chief out front, who's guiding you to place the car directly over the still-smouldering rubber tracks you just layed down. Watch for the signal and then stop, you're behind the startline again and it's time for the last preparations. As you look at the gauges once more the crew chief opens the door and opens up the nitrous bottle, and another crew member removes the safety pin from the parachute. Thumbs up and the door closes again. Now arm the nitrous system *click* and hit the purge button to remove any vapour from the lines *shhhhhhhh, shhhhhhhhh*. You're ready to go, engage 1st again and follow the crew chiefs signal as he guides the front wheels to the "hands off" line just behind the start line. He gives you the thumbs up, walks to the rear of the car and activates the data recorder....an "ok, she's all yours" comes over the radio and this is it.....you're on your own.....
One last check of the gauges; temp's ok, oil pressure's ok, fuel pressure's good....now switch on the fan. Now you let the clutch out slowly and inch the car in to pre-stage. The light comes on and you prepare for launch. Clutch pedal down, you press the brake until you see 500psi on the gauge again, finger on the line-loc. The front brakes are now applied on their own, your opponent lights his pre-stage bulb, you let the clutch up slowly and apply a small ammount of throttle, just to drive through the brakes until the stage light comes on.....it illuminates and you wait for your opponent to do the same, it does, now floor the clutch, floor the throttle and the whole car rocks as the engine hits the 6500RPM launch limiter *wrabababababababa*, you see the yellow lights just starting to illuminate on the christmas tree and release the clutch. The nitrous oxide system is activated, the RPM climbs instantly as the clutch fights to contain the power, the prop shaft turns, the tyres wrap up and the car moves just as the green comes on....a 0.020 reaction time, well done. Now you get a ferocious kick in the back as your shoulders are planted against the seat...all you can see is sky. The sheer grunt of the engine is pulling the car over towards the wall but the front wheels are in the air...you judge where the steering wheel needs to be for landing and the front comes down softly. 1 second in and you punch 2nd gear...the RPM drops right back down in to the peak torque zone and the front rises slightly once more. Another second passes, you correct with the wheel as the back end is trying to move around and punch 3rd gear, 4.8 seconds in to the run, you're doing 150mph and she's still pulling hard, you hit 4th gear and again the tyres spin briefly and the rear end moves around as the huge slicks struggle to contain the torque....finally the car has settled and you wrestle her back in to the centre of the lane, you get your right hand hovering in the air ready to kill the motor as you take a glance to see if your opponent is alongside; no sign of him. As you pass through the finish line, still at full throttle you kill the ignition then hit the parachute.........*bang* you feel the 'chute deploy as it throws you hard against the harness and you begin to slow down, kill the fuel, engage neutral and dip the clutch pedal. As you coast around the corner to a halt, you await the news over the radio.....7.53 seconds @ 182mph....congratulations, you just set a new class record. Now release your belts, turn off the nitrous bottle, purge out the remaining nitrous from the lines and dis-arm the system *click*. As you get out of the car the safety crew are gathering your parachute and your opponent comes across to shake your hand. Now you await your crew to celebrate the win and tow the car to get weighed.
The run starts in the pits with the preparation; once the engine, clutch and suspension tune-ups are deliberated and set, it's time to warm up the car and check she's firing on all eight smokin' barrels. So, with the car up on the Pro-Jacks she's ready to rock. Climb in the hot seat, make sure everything is switched off at the main panel and give the nod. The main power switch is armed and the car is live, now the lead for the oil pan heater is disconnected. A quick glance at the voltmeter; 18 volts, all set. Another nod and the crew chief opens up the oil accumulator to instantly add 30psi of oil pressure to the engine. Once it's checked there are no leaks from the lubrication system, the air bottle for the shifter buttons is opened and it's time to turn her over. Fuel on *click*, and a quick stab of the throttle squirts some fuel in to the carb venturis. The crew chief now checks the fuel system for leaks and everything's fine. Water pump on *click*, and hit the starter button *rududududududu*, after a letting the motor turn over a few times hit the ignition *click* and then slowly press the throttle pedal down until she lights *vraaaam....rumpthumparumpthumpa.....*. Once the idle has settled to around 900RPM, press the clutch pedal down and engage forward drive, and first gear, now let the clutch out and allow the wheels to spin, this heats up the oil in the rear axle. Slowly bring up the RPM to around 2000 and go through the gears, 2nd *click*, 3rd *click* and 4th *click*. Now hit the clutch, engage neutral and take a look at the gauges; oil pressure's good, fuel pressure's good and the temperature is just coming up to 120 degrees. Time to clear her throat a bit. Slowly bring the RPM up to around 3000, then mash it a couple of times to around 5500 *vraaaam*. Once the crew chief has had a look over the motor and gives the ok, he shuts of the oil accumulator and gives the thumbs up, kill the ignition and the fuel *click, click* and turn on the fan. A quick check of the valve clearances, a top up of motion lotion and she's ready.
The car is towed down to the fire-up road and now it's the moment you've been waiting for. Once you're in, you put on your helmet and gloves. Now the crew chief tightens up the belts and checks you're comfy, plugs in the radio and fits your neck brace.....tension's building. You sit there and collect your thoughts, while the crew check the tyre pressures. Now the crew chief is busy setting the wheelie bar height, arming the fire bottle and making sure the nitrous bottle is up to temperature. There are only two cars left in front, and the marshall gives you the thumbs up.....it's your turn. A shake of the hand with the crew chief and the window net is clipped in place, the door is shut and your heart starts pounding. You push the talk button and tell the crew chief to open up the oil accumulator and switch on the power. You get the thumbs up and it's the start procedure again; *vraaaam....rumpthumparumpthumpa.....*. You check the gauges and engage first, now bring the car round to the water box ready for the burnout.
As you sit there patiently awaiting the signal, you watch the car in front leave the line, looking for any negative reaction that gives you a clue to the condition of the track surface that awaits you. The track is clear and the starter gives the thumbs up......burnout time. You engage forward again, select 3rd and 4th gear *click, click* but leave 2nd un-enaged...you'll need it in a moment. Press the brake pedal and watch for 500psi on the pressure gauge, then place your thumb on the line-loc. The crew chief comes over the radio to hit it....a couple of blips of the throttle, hold it at 3000RPM, dump the clutch......you feel the back end rise as the tyres expand, release the line-loc button, now punch 2nd gear and you're away, correcting the steering as the back end squirms around and the car vibrates hard. As you go past the christmas tree you dip the clutch and come off the throttle....slow down, dis-engage the gears and snick it in to reverse just before she stops rolling. A quick look at the oil pressure and engine temperature; ok. Now open the door to let the smoke out and begin reversing back to the start line, as the appreciative crowd applaud your long smokey burnout. You're concentrating solely on the crew chief out front, who's guiding you to place the car directly over the still-smouldering rubber tracks you just layed down. Watch for the signal and then stop, you're behind the startline again and it's time for the last preparations. As you look at the gauges once more the crew chief opens the door and opens up the nitrous bottle, and another crew member removes the safety pin from the parachute. Thumbs up and the door closes again. Now arm the nitrous system *click* and hit the purge button to remove any vapour from the lines *shhhhhhhh, shhhhhhhhh*. You're ready to go, engage 1st again and follow the crew chiefs signal as he guides the front wheels to the "hands off" line just behind the start line. He gives you the thumbs up, walks to the rear of the car and activates the data recorder....an "ok, she's all yours" comes over the radio and this is it.....you're on your own.....
One last check of the gauges; temp's ok, oil pressure's ok, fuel pressure's good....now switch on the fan. Now you let the clutch out slowly and inch the car in to pre-stage. The light comes on and you prepare for launch. Clutch pedal down, you press the brake until you see 500psi on the gauge again, finger on the line-loc. The front brakes are now applied on their own, your opponent lights his pre-stage bulb, you let the clutch up slowly and apply a small ammount of throttle, just to drive through the brakes until the stage light comes on.....it illuminates and you wait for your opponent to do the same, it does, now floor the clutch, floor the throttle and the whole car rocks as the engine hits the 6500RPM launch limiter *wrabababababababa*, you see the yellow lights just starting to illuminate on the christmas tree and release the clutch. The nitrous oxide system is activated, the RPM climbs instantly as the clutch fights to contain the power, the prop shaft turns, the tyres wrap up and the car moves just as the green comes on....a 0.020 reaction time, well done. Now you get a ferocious kick in the back as your shoulders are planted against the seat...all you can see is sky. The sheer grunt of the engine is pulling the car over towards the wall but the front wheels are in the air...you judge where the steering wheel needs to be for landing and the front comes down softly. 1 second in and you punch 2nd gear...the RPM drops right back down in to the peak torque zone and the front rises slightly once more. Another second passes, you correct with the wheel as the back end is trying to move around and punch 3rd gear, 4.8 seconds in to the run, you're doing 150mph and she's still pulling hard, you hit 4th gear and again the tyres spin briefly and the rear end moves around as the huge slicks struggle to contain the torque....finally the car has settled and you wrestle her back in to the centre of the lane, you get your right hand hovering in the air ready to kill the motor as you take a glance to see if your opponent is alongside; no sign of him. As you pass through the finish line, still at full throttle you kill the ignition then hit the parachute.........*bang* you feel the 'chute deploy as it throws you hard against the harness and you begin to slow down, kill the fuel, engage neutral and dip the clutch pedal. As you coast around the corner to a halt, you await the news over the radio.....7.53 seconds @ 182mph....congratulations, you just set a new class record. Now release your belts, turn off the nitrous bottle, purge out the remaining nitrous from the lines and dis-arm the system *click*. As you get out of the car the safety crew are gathering your parachute and your opponent comes across to shake your hand. Now you await your crew to celebrate the win and tow the car to get weighed.
Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 17th September 19:56
Great write up fella.. Enjoyed that..
Can you give us a bit more of an insight into the gearbox? Whilst I'm familiar with transbrakes selecting 1st and reverse, I'm not up to speed with selecting 3rd and 4th, then selecting 2nd..
Cheers,
slinky
587racing.com
Can you give us a bit more of an insight into the gearbox? Whilst I'm familiar with transbrakes selecting 1st and reverse, I'm not up to speed with selecting 3rd and 4th, then selecting 2nd..
Cheers,
slinky
587racing.com
really interesting piece. after spectating for years and then geting in the hot seat this year myself i know that a run feels a damn site quicker than it actually is, and that so much goes on in those few seconds. i have the greatest of respect for anyone that goes faster than i do, i know how quickly 13 seconds flies by and what a buzz it is so god knows what sub 10 seconds feels like
adam
adam
Slinky said:
Great write up fella.. Enjoyed that..
Can you give us a bit more of an insight into the gearbox? Whilst I'm familiar with transbrakes selecting 1st and reverse, I'm not up to speed with selecting 3rd and 4th, then selecting 2nd..
Cheers,
slinky
587racing.com
Yeah, no problem. A Lenco is a modular planetary transmission, so effectively (in our case with a 4 speed) 3 seperate transmissions bolted together. The internals are much the same as an auto, with a sun gear and planetary sets placed inside a drum. Each unit is sealed from the other though, so engaging one module alters the speed of the input shaft of the next one along. When you activate them all in sequence this gives a gradually taller ratio. As the modules all work independantly of one another though, you can actually engage them in any order and it will give a different gear ratio. So, for the burnout you engage 3rd and 4th (a Lenco is always in 1st gear) which gives the optimum ratio to get the car up on the tyre, then activating 2nd engages the tallest ratio as all the modules are now activated.Can you give us a bit more of an insight into the gearbox? Whilst I'm familiar with transbrakes selecting 1st and reverse, I'm not up to speed with selecting 3rd and 4th, then selecting 2nd..
Cheers,
slinky
587racing.com
Whether air shifted, or done manually by levers, the shift mechanism is the same. Behind each gearset is a series of clutches. Pulling the lever or pushing the button (if air shifted) acts on a wedge shaped fork which compresses the clutch pack against the gearset.
You could point them to this if they want to know what it's like to be a rookie bricking himself 
www.eurodragster.com/news/features/super_gas_drive...
www.eurodragster.com/news/features/super_gas_drive...
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