Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 4, 2018 14:51:31 GMT -6
This should bring about a whole host of discussion. It's something I wondered for a long time, and still question the validity of the logic.
What is the advantage, or reason, for a dragster to be as long as long as it is? In other words, why build a car the length of a Top Fuel car as opposed to building it the length of an Altered?
|
|
gloozalot
Pit Crew
Old, Feeble, Blind, Retired, Broke, Stupid.
Posts: 177 
|
Post by gloozalot on May 4, 2018 19:37:30 GMT -6
What is more aerodynamic and faster flying through the air, an arrow or a brick? Thats pretty easy logic to me. High School Physics will answer most of this for ya.
|
|
|
|
Post by 41chevy on May 4, 2018 20:47:11 GMT -6
This should bring about a whole host of discussion. It's something I wondered for a long time, and still question the validity of the logic. What is the advantage, or reason, for a dragster to be as long as long as it is? In other words, why build a car the length of a Top Fuel car as opposed to building it the length of an Altered? The length has to do with straight line stability. A long, narrow car will drive straighter down the track than a short, wide car. As for the other classes, Pro Stock, Funny Car, etc. those cars are "derived" from actual street driven cars, and there are certain parameters to govern their chassis design, though they actually bear little resemblance to the original cars in their final form. These have also become elongated over the years. At a velocity of 300 mph, or 440 feet per second, the slightest variance in the dragsters path is multiplied extremely quickly. The tires are also designed in such a way that the contact patch, where the rubber meets the track, is long and narrow. Both the length of the car and the design of the tire help to correct the straight line stability should the dragster begin to stray. Note the word "help", as these cars will still get away from a driver very quickly when he makes a big enough mistake. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 4, 2018 21:10:05 GMT -6
Yep. Both you guys have the answer I've always been told. I questioned it a lot until I had been driving a semi for a while. Most drivers will tell you they'd much rather back a 48' or longer trailer as opposed to a short cube trailer. Backing a shorty can quickly result in a problem compared to a 48' trailer, or even a 40' double hopper.
|
|
