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After the recent death of Scott Kalitta should NHRA shorten races to 1,000ft

  • Yes

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  • No

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  • No but something need to be done

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  • Part of racing

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Shorter races

1074 Views 7 Replies 7 Participants Last post by  quartermilekyle, 
Brian Watts
Should the races be shortened to 1,000 from 1,320ft
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Rich Duncan Jr
I would say that, at some of the tracks that can not guaranty the safety of the drivers should they need the extra shut down room, like Englishtown, YES, they should run a shorter race. Even the racers said they wanted to run the race at 1000', at that race.
I have been to a lot of 1/4 mile races both VW and non VW. I have only been to one 1/8 mile race (Drag Day 2007) and I don't like the 1/8 mile, the runs are too short.
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J
I would say in the Nitro classes it should be 1000 ft because most catostrophic engine failers happen after a thousand feet.
the spectators would see quiker times 4 seconds flat instead of 4.5 but the mph would be down.
but as the car owner he might try a different gear ratio and still blow his sh!!!t up.
This one is tough.
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E
The track is sometimes the question. In this example Scott ( RIP ) would have had similar issues on a short track. I would question his capacity to slow the car. I hope that he was unaware of the situation due to the outcome. Yet, we need to understand that this is the item of interest. If we have a driver that is incapacitated, how do you slow a car. I would think that a driver would scrub a car on the wall if that was the only option which in this situation does not show thus the thought of capacity to drive. I would hope that a catch system be looked at. Multiple nets that are tethered at track side and those that increase in height. This is the extreme mean that need to be sought. Longer pits but also a pit that takes the car down not a ramp effect. GET THE POLES OUT OF THE WAY. SAD DAYS.
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Rich Duncan Jr
eric madson said:
The track is sometimes the question. In this example Scott ( RIP ) would have had similar issues on a short track. I would question his capacity to slow the car. I hope that he was unaware of the situation due to the outcome. Yet, we need to understand that this is the item of interest. If we have a driver that is incapacitated, how do you slow a car. I would think that a driver would scrub a car on the wall if that was the only option which in this situation does not show thus the thought of capacity to drive. I would hope that a catch system be looked at. Multiple nets that are tethered at track side and those that increase in height. This is the extreme mean that need to be sought. Longer pits but also a pit that takes the car down not a ramp effect. GET THE POLES OUT OF THE WAY. SAD DAYS.
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(Longer pits but also a pit that takes the car down not a ramp effect)
I wonder if a gradual rise in the elevation of the sand trap would help, much the same as a big rig sand trap for a trucks loss of brakes. Not sure if it would have helped at the Englishtown track though. Just thinking out loud.
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L
No no no. If they shorten the race to 1000 ft where will it end? Since the dawn of racing it’s always been ¼ mile or 1/8th mile. With speed comes crashes then safety. In all racing types after a major crash a major change is made to the car and or driver area. Now I believe a change needs to be made to the car and driver area.
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G
Some Math

At 300mph you are going roughly 600 feet per second

So take approximately 300 feet out (racing to the 1000ft mark)

So now you hit the tree at 290 mph instead of 300???

Will you get less killed at 290mph?
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Q
i think just because someone dies dosent mean that they should ruin the sport from the way its been sense the beginning.
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