Dragstrip
A dragstrip is a facility for conducting automobile and motorcycle acceleration events such as drag racing. Although a quarter mile (402 m) is the best known measure for a drag track, many tracks are eighth mile (201 m) tracks, and the premiere classes will run 1,000 foot (304.8m) races. The race is begun from a standing start which allows three factors to affect the outcome of the race: reaction time, torque, and traction.
Features
A dragstrip is a straight, purpose-built racetrack, typically an eighth, ten feet longer than three-sixteenths, or a quarter of a mile long (660/1,000/1320 feet, 201/304.8/402 metres), with an additional shutdown area to allow vehicles room to stop after crossing the finish line. Common features also include a 'water box' where vehicles and motorcycles start their burn-outs to clean and heat up their tires to improve traction. There is a set of lights known as a 'Christmas Tree' that counts down to the start. There are also return lanes for the vehicles to return from the end of the track to the pit area.
Vehicle equipment requirements
Like all other motorsports, drag racing has many safety requirements for the vehicles that compete. These can be found in the applicable governing body's rule book. Most rules do not apply until the vehicle exceeds a specified time, such as 10.99 seconds. This allows anyone with a regular production vehicle to take part for very little cost, and encourages participation of many people who cannot afford a proper racing vehicle.
Dragstrip locations
Typical quarter mile times
| SI units | |
|---|---|
| 0.4023360 km | 402.3360 m |
| US customary / Imperial units | |
| 0.2500000 mi | 1,320.000 ft |
Acceleration times differ even between identical vehicles due to widely varying factors - vehicle tune, elevation, driver/rider differences, payload, track surface conditions, weather conditions.
| Vehicle | Elapsed time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rocket dragster | 3.2 sec @ ~390 mph (630 km/h) | |
| Top Fuel Dragster | 4.503 sec @ ~332.02 mph (534.33 km/h) | Larry Dixon, 30 March 2012, Willowbank Raceway [1] |
| Top Fuel Dragster (1000 foot) | 3.701 sec @ ~328.78 mph (529.12 km/h)
|
ET: Antron Brown, 15 April 2012, Pittsboro, IN [2]
|
| Top Fuel Funny Car (1000 foot) | 3.986 sec @ ~320.58 mph (515.92 km/h) | Jack Beckman, 8 October 2012, Mohnton, PA [2] |
| Top Alcohol | 5.2 sec @ ~250 mph (400 km/h) | |
| Pro Modified Top Doorslammer in Australia |
5.772 sec @ ~258.71 mph (416.35 km/h) | Melanie Troxel, 4 June 2011, Old Bridge Township Raceway Park |
| Pro Stock | 6.477 sec @ ~212.49 mph (341.97 km/h) | Jason Line, 3 October 2009, at Maple Grove Raceway[2] |
| Top Fuel Bike | Best 1/4 mile: 5.809 seconds(Dinwiddie, VA 2006) - 255 mph (Valdosta, GA) | |
| Pro Stock Motorcycle | 6.750 sec @ ~199.26 mph (320.68 km/h) | Eddie Krawiec, 10 March 2012, at Gainesville Raceway [2] |
| Electric Motorcycle | 6.94 sec @ ~201.37 mph (324.07 km/h) | Larry McBride, 4 May 2012, at Virginia Motorsports Park [3] |
NOTE: Nitro Funny Car records set at 1,000 ft (300 m), which since 2008 (NHRA) is the official distance for both Top Fuel and Funny Car in the NHRA. Starting in 2012, the FIA also uses the distance for Top Fuel and ANDRA does for selected Top Fuel races at certain circuits. All official records must be backed up within one percent during the same race meet in order to be claimed. The official records for terminal velocity and elapsed time are different in the professional car categories, and only the elapsed time run (and respective speed of that run) is listed. There have been some cases where a car has run faster than the official record, but because they were not backed up within one percent during the same meet, they are not recognised by the NHRA or ANDRA. The Top Fuel record is the official quarter-mile record in ANDRA, the only sanctioning body that races quarter-mile drag racing for the category.
References
External links
- International Hot Rod Association (IHRA)
- National Hot Rod Association (NHRA)
- New Zealand Drag Racing Association (NZDRA)