Vanishing Point
Discussion
Can't remember the original thread but someone was talking about Santa Pod and Vanishing Point, Sammy Miller's rocket car.
I said that I'd try and find some photos I took at its first European run twentysomething years ago when we used to race at the Pod most weekends.
Sorry for the quality but the cameras were crap in them days..
I said that I'd try and find some photos I took at its first European run twentysomething years ago when we used to race at the Pod most weekends.
Sorry for the quality but the cameras were crap in them days..
Hey i saw that a few years ago.. totally wierd.
Completely silent on the startline, big countdown from the crowd then whoosh.. its simply not there anymore. never seen acceleration like it, way quicker than a top fuel dragster and they aren't exactly slow. I believe 3.8 seconds at over 380 mph for the standing quarter mile...
Completely silent on the startline, big countdown from the crowd then whoosh.. its simply not there anymore. never seen acceleration like it, way quicker than a top fuel dragster and they aren't exactly slow. I believe 3.8 seconds at over 380 mph for the standing quarter mile...
quote:Ah that was me I believe! Always good to see some old pictures of the Pod. Hasn't really changed much in all these years, and that includes the toilets!!!!!
Can't remember the original thread but someone was talking about Santa Pod and Vanishing Point, Sammy Miller's rocket car.
Sammy Miller was actually at Santa Pod Two weekends ago. He was testing out a new combination I believe and ended up spinning around in the field at the top end!
There is a good meeting coming up in the first week of June, if anyone's interested, called The Main Event! Plenty of Top Fuel and Top alcahol so should be good, as long as the weather holds!!
quote:
I don't get it
If it's a rocket car, why the mismatch in tyres front to back. Surely massive wide slicks at the back are totally pointless in a rocket car?
>> Edited by MEMSDesign on Tuesday 21st May 09:09
yup, totally pointless. although i guess you have to run the rocket motor at a slight angle to stop the thing from taking off, which it could very easily, so there must be some component of force pushing down on the car, although you might expect this to be evenly distributed over all four wheels. I suspect the real reason for big back wheels is that they look good
quote:The rear tyres really aren't that big, certainly no where near the size of a conventional Funny Car's. Still doesn't explain the mismatch in size though. I'd agree with Mad Dawg. A set of skinny back wheels would look pretty crap underneath a Funny Car body. I'm sure that fatter front wheels would make steering a bit slow and heavy- not good when you need to adjust at over 300MPH.
If it's a rocket car, why the mismatch in tyres front to back. Surely massive wide slicks at the back are totally pointless in a rocket car?
Just guessing of course!!!
Found this web page with a few details and pictures!www.au004a2814.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/miller.html
quote:p'haps they were all that was available, and sinec they aren't critical just use whatever you have?
big back wheels is that they look good
Must go to the Pod again soon. Excellent day out if you like extreme motors.
Staying in the "shed" when the jet cars go off is a laugh - video'd this once but it doesn't do the experience justice. Imagine standing in a howling gale blowing off the Sahara, with more than a hint of paraffin in the air. The blast is so strong you are struggling to stand still, and the combination of heat and paraffin is making it difficult to see (not to mention the grit being whipped up). You don't see it, but over the melee you here another "PUUFFF". That was the afterburner getting a tickle! You know whats coming now ... whap, there goes your baseball cap. If only you'd swallowed your pride and turned it round! It'll give the cows some variety in the diet! Another one of those and you'll be in the field too. Then with a whoosh suddenly you're not fighting to stay out of the field, and its gone quiet. You look up, and its gone. Not there. Just a parachute flailing wildly in the distance. 4 seconds to cover 1/4 mile .. if the ride in the shed is wild, what must it be like to be strapped to the front of that thing!
Jeez, now I HAVE to go to the Pod again, and soon! Until then I'll have to bang my S-VHS vid on and crank up the volume through the Denon AVC-A1.
Cetainly is cool to watch oil barrels being blown about like they are made out of paper, and the guys in the booth across the strip trying to hold the windows from blowing in. I've never seen Sammy run, but have seen the vampire and a couple of other jet cars.
I'll never forget the first time I heard a top fueller run though. A friend and me were commenting on it being quieter than we had expected as he did his burn out. When he actually launched in anger though we just both looked at each other in disbelief as the ground shook.
I'll never forget the first time I heard a top fueller run though. A friend and me were commenting on it being quieter than we had expected as he did his burn out. When he actually launched in anger though we just both looked at each other in disbelief as the ground shook.
Even Street / Pro Street class is loud. I used be the guy putting the 'grip juice' down and then trying to hold our car still whilst the slicks tried to cover me and the car in rubber during the line lock burn out.
Big rumbly V8s through open headers and pit dollies in hot pants - those were the days........
Big rumbly V8s through open headers and pit dollies in hot pants - those were the days........
quote:I'm always up for a trip to the pod! There are lots of events coming up soon, such as the cannonball, which is a Funny Car shootout! The best one to go to though, will be the European Finals in September, with all the top classes in car and bike!
who's up for a PH/Santa Pod meet then? (I'd like to see the top fuel V twin bikes)
Went to the Main Event a few weeks back, which was excellent! In supertwin topfuel bike, a guy ran 6.36 @ 205MPH! One of the quickest in the world ever! In Top Fuel dragster, one pairing recorded the first (outside U.S) side by side 4, the first 300MPH and the first side by side 300MPH!
Took a friend there for his first Drag racing experience! After a pair of top fuelers completed their burnout, he thought he could handle the noise. When they left the line though, he couldn't cover his ears quick enough! He dropped his camera and knocked his glasses off his face!!
Yes! Damn good idea.
There was a dance track out a year or so ago which had a commentary from Santa Pod overlaid - same bit of commentary you can hear on my Pod video. Anyone know what it was called/who it was by?
>> Edited by philshort on Friday 5th July 22:23
quote:www.santapod.com
Event
Ticket Type
Gate
Advance*
Grandstand
(On
The Day)
Grandstand
(Advance)*
European Finals
Friday Special 4pm
£8
n/a
£2
6th-8th September
Friday
£12
n/a
£4
£3
Saturday
£24
£19
£8
£7
Sunday
£24
£19
£8
£7
Saturday/Sunday
£40
£34
3 Days
£49
£39
Kids
under 16 go FREE
*Advance
Ticket Orders are Subject to Booking Fee*
quote:I'll never forget when one of the jet cars had a flame out underneath the commentary box - "Oo, oo, oo, its getting a little warm up here!"
and the guys in the booth across the strip trying to hold the windows from blowing in
There was a dance track out a year or so ago which had a commentary from Santa Pod overlaid - same bit of commentary you can hear on my Pod video. Anyone know what it was called/who it was by?
>> Edited by philshort on Friday 5th July 22:23
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