MORE QUESTIONS
Regarding the Top Fuel/Funny Car chassis issue:
Just wondering: If the rules/specs call for 4130 Chromoly tubing in the normalized condition for Funny Car, are all the owners of "heat treated" cars going to get their money back?
Just wondering: If the latest incident didn't involve John Force, would it have generated the same amount of coverage, or would it have been passed off as a "freak accident" or "sometimes these things happen"?
Just wondering: Do you have to have an Engineering Degree of some type (and I don't just mean a piece of paper) or even some "hands on" practical experience to become the head of the SFI?
Just wondering: By not sticking to known, published (some by the government, no less) engineering principles regarding tubular structures, do the NHRA and SFI open themselves up to lawsuits when things go wrong?
Just wondering: Why don't more teams in Top Fuel and Funny Car build their own cars? Hell, they do just about everything else in house. Some teams even bring their own chef to the track!
Just wondering: Why do racers play "follow the leader" when it comes what chassis/body/engine/clutch/etc. combo they run? With a few exceptions, this seems to be true. Some "medicine man" gets hold of a top team, sells them on a product, and everyone else has to have it. In some ways, this whole thing reminds me of "The Emperor's New Clothes".
Time to speak up!
Paul Katata
Torrance, California
LET’S TRY COMPUTER SIMULATION
I'm aware that chassis builders have computer programs that can design a car. I'm wondering if anyone would have a program that would kinda be a virtual track test, i.e.: "run" the car on the computer to see what it would do with various changes. One of my friends was saying that he thought the nitro teams should have cars that are dedicated to testing only, although this would be expensive. So my thought was, is there a way to do that by computer?
It might lead to some interesting designs, especially if you could "wind tunnel test" the car virtually. By the way, I was noticing a photo of the late Gary Ormsby's streamliner on the NHRA web site. I wonder if a design like that would be feasible today. I'm thinking that perhaps streamlining with a smaller wing could lead to safer cars, as they wouldn't have that tremendous down force that is now being generated.
Well, just my thoughts.
Cliff Morgan
Phoenix, Arizona
NEED NEW TECHNOLOGY
Ban heat treated tubing in fuel cars! Make funny cars weight 50-100 lbs more to make the chassis safer. We need new technology; these cars are still using 70's chassis technology! 8000 horsepower, 6000 lbs of torque or more and the huge down force on the body and the chassis is bound to break metal tubing!
James Haaker
Oceanside, California
COULD THIS BE MANCINI’S ‘GODFATHER’?
Hi I was wondering if you could help me. I was just talking with a friend at work here about old legends from the Detroit area, when we brought up Mancini racing. I know there was a ‘69 roadrunner that was named The Godfather.
Have any of you ever heard of this car? Back, I'd guess about 18-20 years ago, I went to look at a ‘69 Roadrunner and the guy's garage the car was in had this Roadrunner there named The Godfather which I remember from around the neighborhood. I thought it was one of Mancini's cars but I'm not sure. If anyone has a clue what I'm talking about drop me a line.
Thank you for your time and have a great day.
Chris Tipsword
Clinton Twp., Michigan
MAKING WAVES?
I liked your sand drag stuff; any boat drag goodies? For me, although Formula 1, NASCAR, Indy Car, ALMS & Moto GP are cool, drag racing be it on asphalt, sand or water are Number One in my book.
Jack W. Smith
Chesapeake, Virginia
Photographers James Drew and Tim Marshall covered several drag boat events this year. Here’s one, and here's another, or you can check out our race coverage archive for more.
