Top Fuel Dragster Facts

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Check your tv listings. They show the sportsman classes from all the national events. Just not in the same show as the pro's.
Animal Jim is one of the tec inspectors at Route 66 and some times after we get done racing Jim stops by my trailer for a beverage. He tells some unbelievable stories about him and Arnie grudge racing.
Bill

Animal Jim Furer came on the scene a little bit later. As far as I know, Arnie was racing all the way into 2009 when he was badly injured in a car fire. I would treasure any conversation with 'Anjmal Jim" At any rate, Arnie did what Jim Lieberman couldn't. Jungle Jim ran another GTO funny car called "Brutus". After awhile, and because Brutus kept blowing up Pontiac engines while running nitro, he switched to a 392 hemi. That was ok but there stamped on the hemi valve covers was the word "Pontiac". To the uninformed, this actually flew as this car having a Pontiac motor. Arnie figured out a formula that allowed his "Tameless Tiger" with a Pontiac motor to use nitro and stay competitive in match racing. To this day, I prefer watching these nostalgia race cars to any modern day funny or pro stocker.

 

[beersngars]

Not a drag race snob, but when I'm at the track for a national meet, the only time we are in our seats is when the fuel cars are up. The rest of the time is spent in the pits. When I watch the races on TV, I usually DVR and start watching about an hour after they start so I can FastForward all but fuel. All that said, I still do like going to the more local tracks and watching the "regular folks" run. Maybe it's because you are so much closer to the action rather than being high in the stands.

 

[brain55]

Not a drag race snob, but when I'm at the track for a national meet, the only time we are in our seats is when the fuel cars are up. The rest of the time is spent in the pits. When I watch the races on TV, I usually DVR and start watching about an hour after they start so I can FastForward all but fuel. All that said, I still do like going to the more local tracks and watching the "regular folks" run. Maybe it's because you are so much closer to the action rather than being high in the stands.

That is exactly what I do at National events too.

 

[RobertN]

Sure other tracks do the same; Sacramento Raceway has Wednesday Night Fun Drags spring-fall. If it is street legal, you can run it. That's fun to watch.

All that said, I still do like going to the more local tracks and watching the "regular folks" run. Maybe it's because you are so much closer to the action rather than being high in the stands.

 

[JDgreen227]

Only time I ever saw a dragster actually run a quarter mile was back about 1970, think it probably took about 8 seconds. But exactly what is the purpose of spending huge amounts of money to travel such a short distance? Do developing and racing these single purpose vehicles add anything to the engineering for the vehicles 99.9% of drivers purchase?

 

[Chilly807]

Only time I ever saw a dragster actually run a quarter mile was back about 1970, think it probably took about 8 seconds. But exactly what is the purpose of spending huge amounts of money to travel such a short distance? Do developing and racing these single purpose vehicles add anything to the engineering for the vehicles 99.9% of drivers purchase?

Not a bit, it's pure entertainment.. I consider it to be speed and power **** :laughing:

Sean

 

[RobertN]

Sometimes. The Hurst tool that is common on most fire engines, was designed to get racers out of mangled up, wrecked cars.

And, the oils formulation, metallurgy etc finds it's way in to more common products and/or cars.

Only time I ever saw a dragster actually run a quarter mile was back about 1970, think it probably took about 8 seconds. But exactly what is the purpose of spending huge amounts of money to travel such a short distance? Do developing and racing these single purpose vehicles add anything to the engineering for the vehicles 99.9% of drivers purchase?

 

[arrow]

Only time I ever saw a dragster actually run a quarter mile was back about 1970, think it probably took about 8 seconds. But exactly what is the purpose of spending huge amounts of money to travel such a short distance? Do developing and racing these single purpose vehicles add anything to the engineering for the vehicles 99.9% of drivers purchase?

Its sort of like spending 52 million on Alex Rodrigues. Didn't do anything for me. Perhaps if you sat in say even an 8 second car and traveled down the quarter mile, depending on your psyche, that trip may not end fast enough or you'd have a big smile on your face and say: "refuel, I'm doin that again". I suppose its like anything else we humans do for sheer enjoyment. There does not always have to be an advantage for the masses or even a justification should one find interests elsewhere. I do know the industry has provided plenty of jobs for a very long time.

 

[JDgreen227]

My mom's sister was married to Larry Dickson (that's DICKSON, not DIXON) and Larry was a well known sprint car racer and competed in the Indy 500 a few times. When comparing drag racing and circle track racing I would surely think driving for several hours would be more demanding on a driver than a 6 second run down a straight track. And 52 million for Alex Rodrigues? Only complete morons would pay anybody that much.

 

[LD1]

When comparing drag racing and circle track racing I would surely think driving for several hours would be more demanding on a driver than a 6 second run down a straight track.

Maybe??? Maybe not?? But whats the point? Who's comparing circle track to drag racing And whos comparing what is more demanding of a driver