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#1
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talking MPG
One Top Fuel dragster 500 cubic inch Hemi engine makes more horsepower than the first 4 rows at the Daytona 500. Under full throttle, a Top Fuel dragster engine consumes 1.5 gallons of nitromethane per second; a fully loaded 747 consumes jet fuel at the same rate with 25% less energy being produced. A stock Dodge 426 Hemi V8 engine cannot produce enough power to drive the dragster's supercharger. With 3000 CFM of air being rammed in by the supercharger on overdrive, the fuel mixture is compressed into a near-solid form before ignition. Cylinders run on the verge of hydraulic lock at full throttle. At the stoichiometric 1.7:1 air/fuel mixture for nitromethane the flame front temperature measure 7050 degrees F. Nitromethane burns yellow. The spectacular white flame seen above the stacks at night if raw burning hydrogen, dissociated from atmospheric water vapor by the searing exhaust gases. Dual magnetos supply 44 amps to each spark plug. This is the output of an arc welder in each cylinder. Spark plug electrodes are totally consumed during a pass. After 1/2 way, the engine is dieseling from compression plus the glow of exhaust valves at 1400 degrees F. The engine can only be shut down by cutting the fuel flow. If spark momentarily fails early in the run, unburned nitro builds up in the affected cylinders and then explodes with sufficient force to blow cylinder heads off the block in pieces or split the block in half. In order to exceed 300 mph in 4.5 seconds, dragsters must accelerate at an average of over 4g's. In order to reach 200 mph well before half-track, the launch acceleration approaches 8G's. Dragsters reach over 300 mph before you have completed reading this sentence. Top Fuel engines turn approximately 540 revolutions from light to light. Including the burnout, the engine must only survive 900 revolutions under load. The red-line is actually quite high at 9500 rpm. The bottom line: Assuming all the equipment is paid off, the crew worked for free, and for once, NOTHING BLOWS UP, each run costs an estimated $1,000 per second. The current Top Fuel dragster elapsed time record is 4.441 seconds for the quarter mile (Tony Schumacher.) The top speed record is 335.32 mph as measured over the last 66' of the run. Putting all this into perspective: You are riding the average $250,000 Honda Moto GP bike. Over a mile up the road, a Top Fuel dragster is staged and ready to launch down a quarter mile strip as you pass. You have the advantage of a flying start. You run the RC211V hard up through the gears and blast across the starting line and past the dragster at an honest 200 mph (293 ft/sec.)The "tree" goes green for both of you at that moment. The dragster launches and starts after you. You keep the throttle hard open, but you hear an incredibly brutal whine that sears your eardrums and within 3 seconds the dragster catches and passes you. He beats you to the finish line, a quarter mile away from where you just passed at 200 mph. Think about it, from a standing start the dragster had spotted you 200 mph and not only caught, but nearly blasted you off the road when he passed you within a mere 1320 feet.
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#2
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Suddenly, I don't feel so bad getting 14.5 mpg because I always have to have the pole position.
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Current: 2016 X6 ///M Black Sapphire Metallic |
#3
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Wagner, Exc. dig!
I have that BM'd somewhere from awhile ago, but can figure out what Folder the sumbitch is stuffed in....I have a v. good friend that drives ProStock and he said he would not get into a Top Fuel for any reason. That remarkable narrative explains "why", I think. Thanks for that dig,W! BR, TheOl'Guy
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Ol'UncleMotor From the Home Base of Pro Bono Punditry and 50 Cent Opins... Our Mtn Scenes, Car Pics, and Road Trip Pics on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/4527537...7627297418250/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/4527537...7627332480833/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/45275375@N00/ My X Page |
#4
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Wow! Very cool info...
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#5
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Very interesting read! The comparo w/ the bike at 200 mph blows me away!
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'05 X3 3.0i Alpine White/Gray Leather/Alum. Trim Sport/Steptronic/Servotronic/Panoramic Prem. Sound/Staggered 18" Style 114 Y-Spokes |
#6
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Great read Wag - thanks!
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'08 335i Coupe - Barbera Red / Saddle Leather / Light Poplar Wood / 6spd Manual Options: Sport, Premium, Cold Weather, Comfort Access, Active Steering (awesome!), Power Rear Shade, IPod Adapter, Navigation w/IDrive Mods: M6 Wheels, Split Armrest, M-Steering Wheel, Euro Light Switch w/Rear Fog Lights, Short Shift Knob w/Matching E-Brake Handle, Clear Reflectors, CDV, Clear Bra Retired:'04 X5 4.4i |
#7
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Neat stats. What is amazing is the feel of the shock waves when you are sitting by the starting line and these things take off.
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2004 X5 4.4i Sterling Grey/Black Sport Prem 132s/Diamaris Rear Climate OEM Nav/Sirius RBs AngelBrights Roundel Valve Caps, 35% front tint. Sold MArch 2012
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#8
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Wow. Freakin' amazing.
Quote:
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#9
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Wagner
I used to be into drag racing and went to see some of those races down at englisstown. Absolutely amazing the power of those engines. Nothing can compare. Dont they have something like 5000 hp. Maybe im wrong but its def in the thousands. Good write up By the way laura i would always give you pole position. When ever you want.
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Dinan M3 2006 X5 4.4i Sport Current Vehicle 2006 CLS 55 AMG Current Vehicle 2010 FORD F-450 King Ranch Current Vehicle 2012 GL 550 Current Vehicle 1999 M3 Dinan S3 SOLD 2001 M3 Dinan S2 SOLD 2002 M5 SOLD 2004 X5 4.4i sport SOLD 2007 335 XI Lease ended 2009 E92 M3 SOLD |
#10
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wow. now that's engineering. even if it IS just in a straight line lol ... WOW.
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MARC/CROSVS | UCLA Bruin, B.A. Econ, Aug 2004 | J.D., Thomas Jefferson School of Law, May 2008 -- MEMBER: California State Bar, December 4, 2008 2005 BMW 645 Cabrio | Black Sapphire Metallic, Ti trim | 6AT | fully loaded sans HUD 2000 Ford Mustang V6 | laser red on tan | 5-spd | track-prepped |
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