The solution

Timing couldn't be better. Spec 75-gallon fuel pumps and back to 1320 feet.

Mike Dakin
Tipp City, Indiana

Another EPA warning

I am a soil scientist working for the federal government. This morning I re-read the article about mandatory Haz-Mat training and "compliance" for (ALL competitors) running NHRA national events. The onsite regs are meant for all fuel jugs, oil containers, nitro drums, and more.

Also did you notice that you have to keep these things in an "EPA approved" secondary containment vessel? That "EPA approved" secondary containment device is going to cost a ton. And if "oil plus nitro" is considered a haz waste and has to be treated as such, it can cost as much as ($50.00/gal) to haul off-site. I don't think the racing community has any idea of what these new regulations mean in terms of cost. Also an approved haz waste vendor is appointed to each race track and it is they that "test" your stuff to find out if it is considered hazardous or not.

I thought you might want to do some research and let the racers know just what is expected of them and the cost of compliance.

Believe me, all these requirements are really expensive and I don't know for sure, but I think that motor oil plus alcohol and or nitro is considered haz waste. And just try to find a portable EPA approved secondary containment device on the web. GOOD LUCK, I sure as hell couldn't find one. I did however look at what the EPA definition of the device is and it doesn't look good for the racers.

Enough.

Just some FUEL for your thought process.

Also: I was with Butch and Teri Blair at the March Meet yesterday and Teri determined that Butch has attended each March Meet for the last 51 years (starting in 1958. And only a few of these times was he without a car to race.

Man! That is really Far Out.

Bry Schmidt
Fresno, California

A physics lesson

There have been numerous well thought out suggestions regarding an effective means to slow the nitro cars down without ruining the show. In a perfect world (one with some serious sponsor money), all of the concepts would be worth evaluating. However, we live in a world where the rest of you have caught up with my own personal tight budget. Thus, changing displacement or blower sizes seems to be a non-starter due to cost.

While it wouldn't be cheap to change other aspects of the engine, it would seem cheaper to go from two mags to one... and to limit fuel flow.  

The physics is inescapable: weaker spark, less fuel = less horsepower; thus, slower speeds.

Seems like less strain on the engines (can't spin them to infinity without the sufficient fuel) and the rest of the drive train. Should allow survivable-but-enjoyable speeds on a quarter-mile track (for those purists who must have the quarter mile). Might not have quite the same crackle as the engines do now, but allowing unrestricted nitro might bring some back.

And we'd all still get to enjoy that wonderful nitro experience!!

Gerry Harrison
Twain Harte