DUH!
Kinda obvious (the) frame folded up. Mr. Light's response as to what was being done: Monday we should have parts out of analysis and we'll talk to the frame builder to see if he has ideas to make it better and we should have results in a couple of weeks.
Hello. . .these frames are built to NHRA specs, and you have how many TF passes before the results (will be) back? Whole fleets of airplanes are grounded for less. Race safe. . .maybe.
Daniel E. Griffin
Hanover, IL
IT'S NOT THE TIRES, IT'S THE WING
Lots of people are jumping up and down with anger over Cory Mac snapping his car in half and there have even been questions asked about why his car broke and others do not. Well, I an sure there are a thousand reasons why one car will break and its sister won't,
but I think the main reason why Top Fuel cars are having a hard time with chassis and tyre failures is TOO MUCH WING!
We ran fuel cars here in Perth last season and tyres chunking led some teams to say the track was too sticky and not suitable for Top Fuel events. That's right, too much traction at the fast end for their cars. With a thirty mile per hour head wind it was costing them a set of tyres per run. Our two leading teams had the problem, but in the final, only one team chunked the tyres. The other guys took some wing out each round and the tyre damage stopped in the end.
Everyone makes so much horsepower now days they can crank the wing up and damn the drag, it will help make even more horsepower. I do not think any of them considered the load on the car and having watched them bow as they went down track, I am here to tell you, they were loaded at the finish line. Woo Hoo.
I am beginning to believe blown tyres and broken chassis are the car's way to tell the crew chief to reduce the wing, but very few listen.
What would the NHRA do if it was a fuel pump that caused unexpected explosions? They would ban it immediately. If race teams are going to have a tunable part on their car that can cause catastrophic failures, they must learn to tune it often and correctly. If they will not or can not tune it correctly, the NHRA and all racing bodies should change the wing's dimensions until it's incorrect use cannot over load the car or tyres.
If you build an 8-ton truck and regularly put 20 ton in it, you will blow tyres and break the chassis eventually.
Regards,
STU BOND
Australia
CHECK OUT THE TRACK
Just getting back from the Bristol Thunder Valley Nationals. I hope you investigate the terrible track conditions that existed near the shutdown area in both lanes. No wonder Cory Mac's car came apart. Both Ron Capps and Gary Scelzi had near misses during eliminations. In fact, I believe John Force had problems negotiating the repair patches, which may have cost him a win. Not that John needs excuses, and I happen to be a Capps fan.
I really think with your investigative power some light could be shed on this. I hardly believe Speedway motorsports, who in my opinion have the finest facilities, would not have done a better job of making the track the best surface to race on. Making repairs that your state DOT finds acceptable should not be a standard for 300-mph drag racers!
They announced at the race that they would be resurfacing the track after this season. That is great, but too bad they didn't recognize it sooner or at least grind the surface smooth prior to this week's race.
Maybe ask the Carrier brothers what it is like to lose a race car that had three race events. On it. Ask Cory Mac the same. Last I checked, they don't give out consolation prizes for making the highlight reel. Hey, we don't need another Darrell Russell incident. Just my opinion.
N. Stank
Charlotte, NC
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