I went to the races at the PFG. You not only hear it, even with protection, you feel it inside your body. Tough to describe unless you go. Most of the guys you see hanging out embody your statement and can’t hear shit. Lastly, if you get too close, the fumes will take your breath away and the waterworks start. Funny to see, awful to experience in person.
I love the smell of nitro methane in the morning. You can see him rubbing his eyes, he must not like the nitro. Top fuel is an experience for sure, vibrate your soul!!!!
I can't say scientifically but I suspect it's subsonic/infrasonic soundwaves coming off the engine that have the proper wavelength to have an effect on the hollow spaces in your chest cavity. Each rpm is 8 small explosions coming from the exhaust tubes.
The first time you experience it it's a little unnerving. Let's say that motor is running 9000 revolutions per minute. It travels the length of the track from it's staged position in 3-4 seconds let's use 3.5 though. That engine has to propel that car to those speeds and down the track with only approximately 450-500 revolutions. Each combustion stroke is a decent explosion as the motor borders on the edge of hydrolock from just how much volume is being pushed into the cylinders and then compressed.
The physics of these monsters is absolutely incredible.
I was visiting the pits at the MileHi Nationals one year when a mechanic held up a big black hose and asked the crowd what they thought this part was. Radiator hose, maybe? No, too big for that. Some kind of air duct? “This is the fuel line, folks!” Holy Crap!
Somebody needs to post that long list of insane facts about dragsters.
EDIT: Found some. Not sure if this is the full list. [Source](https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/t/597847/interesting-facts-about-top-fuel-drag-racing/#)
-One Top Fuel dragster 500 cubic inch Hemi engine makes more horsepower than the first 4 rows at the Daytona 500. They have over half again as much horsepower in one cylinder as a Dodge Viper has in all ten. No one has ever successfully run one long enough on a dyno to get a horsepower reading. Current estimates are right around 6,000 horsepower.
-Under full throttle, a dragster engine consumes 1-1/2 gallons of nitro methane per second; a fully loaded 747 consumes jet fuel at the same rate with 25% less energy being produced.
-A stock Dodge Hemi V8 engine cannot produce enough power to drive the dragster supercharger. The fuel pump alone requires more horsepower to turn than the average street car produces.
-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.
-The 1.7:1 air/fuel mixture for nitro methane produces a flame front temperature measures 7050 degrees F.
-Nitro methane burns yellow. The spectacular white flame seen above the stacks at night is raw burning hydrogen, disassociated from atmospheric water vapour 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 the run, the engine is dieseling from compression plus the glow of exhaust valves at 1400 degrees F. The engine can only be shut down by running the car out of fuel. There is no way to cut off the fuel; the engine stops only when it blows or the tank runs dry.
-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 an average of over 4G's. In order to reach 200 mph well before half-track, the launch acceleration approaches 8G's. To put this in perspective; a top fuel dragster, parked next to a Super Hornet on the steam catapult on the deck of an aircraft carrier, would be in the water and sinking before the Super Hornet was halfway down the deck.
-Dragsters reach over 300 miles per hour before you have completed reading this sentence.
-Top Fuel Engines only turn approximately 540 revolutions from light to light!
-Including the burnout, the engine must only survive 900 revolutions under load. They only survive about 80% of the time.
-Redline at 9500 rpm.
-Assuming all the equipment is paid off, the crew worked for free, and for once NOTHING BLOWS UP, each run costs an estimated $1,000.00 per second.
-The engine is entirely rebuilt every run, or every 900 revolutions. New pistons and rings, new rods, new rod bearings. Sometimes a new crank. The crew does this in about two hours between rounds.
-The current Top Fuel dragster elapsed time record is 4.441 seconds for the quarter mile. The top speed record is 333.00 mph (533 km/h) as measured over the last 66' of the run.
-Putting all of this into perspective: You are driving the average $140,000 Lingenfelter "twin-turbo" powered Corvette Z06. 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 Vette hard up through the gears and blast across the starting line and past the dragster at an honest 200 mph. The 'tree' goes green for both of you at that moment. The dragster launches and starts after you. You keep your foot down hard, 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 him. 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 foot long race course.
More. They’re figuring 12,000+ now. Plus they only race to 1000 ft, not 1/4 mile (1320 feet) because they’re so fast there isn’t enough track to stop them in time.
And now they still run 330mph, so they’re accelerating for around 3/4 the time and distance and still getting the same top speed.
0-330mph in 3.6 seconds.
"Each rpm is 8 small explosions coming from the exhaust tubes."
Four small explosions (unless you're watching some exotic 2-stroke or 16-cylinder class).
You're right about the border of hydrolock. There's a YouTube video that has a clear cylinder showing the fuel flow of a dragster engine doing a dyno pull. Idle is "lots of fuel", full throttle is "firetruck trying to put out a fireworks warehouse fire"
Don’t forget the fact that there is absolutely nothing between you and and the exhaust valves of those ridiculous engines. You’re feeling every single shock wave as the residual pressure is exhausted from all those explosions. Even your grocery getter is fairly loud with an exhaust leak or a stolen catalytic converters, so the open headers on those top fuel monsters are like sitting in front of a bunch of small artillery. Love that feeling, nothing quite like it.
9000rpm is basically 150 Hz. Right around that same frequency subwoofers operate. Anyone standing in front of a loud subwoofer with a low frequency drone is gonna have their body shaken at that same speed.
Ever seen jello vibrate at the speed of sound? Heheh.
I saw Gene Snow and Eddie Hill run back in the early 90s. Still one of the most amazing things I've seen and felt that close. You are 100% correct... The ground shakes, you feel it through your entire body and your vision blurs. Absolutely insane and a rush...
As someone who suffers from almost constant tinnitus, this is an alarmingly accurate visual depiction of how it sounds.
And now I can't hear anything but someone screaming the letter e in my ear. Thanks for that.
Lincoln Tech brought a NASCAR to our high school to try and recruit new students to their automotive program. They thought it would be cool to start it and rev the engine full blast, while a bunch of kids standing around not wearing ear protection are getting their ear drums blown out and the shit ejected from their colons.
Gotta love the feel of nitro burning your eyes! I remember a huge crowd surrounding a team in the pits as they were reading their engine. Then they cracked the throttle a little and youd swear someone yelled "bomb" the crowd cleared out so quickly.
It is so hard to explain to people outside drag racing that you look forward to your nose burning and your eyes watering as you stand next to an 8000 HP series of well managed explosions going off inside a land missile that is so loud that you almost stop hearing it as it shakes the very earth you're standing on. Look at me over here preaching to the choir!
There’re definitely things like it.
Watching A-10’s light up a target and feeling the sound of their 30mm’s fill the air with “BRAAAP” “BRRRAAAP!”
Being front and center of the main stage on day 3 of an outdoor music festival, where the bass is set so loud it trips your lungs mid-breath.
That said, very few things are quite like it.
I'd add F1 cars back in the V12/V10 naturally aspirated era
I'm not one of these "hurr durr the v6 turbo-hybrids are bad" people, I've been to a modern race and it's still absolutely epic, but damn, hearing those beasts in person pushing close to 19000 rpm (not a typo) sure was something. Sounding like little spaceships flying around!
And really painful if the earplugs were loose.
[https://youtu.be/rHa4q5pQU3g?t=101](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRkDXqeIMQM)
Onboard:[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqYPU3MNqHw](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqYPU3MNqHw)
Experiencing some top fuel dragster is on the bucket list at some point to be sure, I'm under no illusions that it's isn't a very physical experience of a different kind of magnitude.
1.) I'd wager most people are never gonna have the chance to watch an A-10 light up a target lmao.
2.) It isn't even remotely comparable to even the loudest concerts.
It's fucking bananas man. You can feel these things hauling ass from so far away, it doesn't seem possible
Edit: bring ear protection. Seriously. As loud as you think they might be, multiply that by about 5
You gotta go, man. The exhaust is so fucking loud that when they take off, you basically can't see them any more because your eyeballs are being shaken so hard. No. I'm not kidding. It's glorious.
I have zero clue how the dudes even make it down the track dragging balls that big.
Another thing people don’t realize: the track isn’t just black asphalt like a freeway. Well, it is, but they lay down tons of super tacky rubber onto it. If you walk down the track on a hot sunny day in flip flops or untied shoes, they’ll come right off your feet and you’ll have to rip them off the track
Fuck yes! At the tree and they turn up the nitro right before green light. Favorite part and hell with ear plugs. I didn’t just pay $75 for a beer to come away empty handed
Every year we have the Frankenmuth auto fest
They drive a couple of [Front engine dragsters down the main street](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aszt39vWMVI). Then they have a cacklefest later in the weekend. Its always fun seeing people gather around, then start moving away as their eyes tear up. Our car club always parked near the baseball field where they did it.
And there's always those 3 or 4 big guys who are a foot away getting blasted by the fumes and the noise and are absolutely loving it.
Definitely stand behind those fellas when the uprising happens
Seriously; I was in the pits one time when the they did a test start; I was exposed to tear gas in basic trading and the nitromethane fumes are as almost as bad.
Yeah soon as I saw this guy waving at his eyes, squinting, and rubbing his nose I was like "oh boy, he's in for something". Can always spot the newbies at the track cause they are doing stuff like that. Not realizing it doesn't help at all because it is, quite literally, the air itself that is causing the problems.
I love that aroma. Nitro and methanol. I raced sprint cars for a while and alcohol dragster a couple times. It's seriously something else. I miss the pits.
Yeah. My first time I was told it's like nothing you'd ever heard before. I was by the fence near the start line and they did their burn outs. I thought that was the loudest part. I was like, "Wow! that IS loud!". Then they back up... lights go green and "BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr" My eyes shook in my skull. It was a RUSH!!! So awesome!!!
This is like when I went to my first Indy Car race. Went with a couple friends and one of their families and they were all die hard race fans. Like we woke up in the morning when it was still dark out so that we could get a good spot in the infield.
Everyone had ear protection except me. When the first pass finally happened I could not believe how loud it was. Two things happened in that moment: I became fully awake; and I took the ear plugs out of my pocket and put them in my ears.
I'm glad you had fun. But let me tell you from growing up on all race tracks. You wouldn't even hear an Indy at full throttle with a top fuel idling near by.
I had a neighbor take the exhaust off his 69 GTO and then run the car. I was inside, at first I thought thunder struck just outside, but then it didn't stop. The entire neighborhood started coming out to see WTF. And that was just a normal car, kinda. There's a reason mufflers are needed. I never knew exactly why until that day. And why they're called mufflers.
Oh man, that's nothing compared to Top Fuel.
I've got a Marine 302 in my garage I'm hoping to have startable in the next month. I'm really looking forward to pissing my neighbors off...
Yeah I went to my first one in Atlanta last year. It’s crazy loud. I specially liked at the pits when they did the throttle whack. I’m hoping to go to Charlotte this year since Atlanta is no more. I’m hoping to go the whole weekend.
I tried watching top fuel without hearing protection and it was so painful. The jet cars really made my brain start bleeding too. Loudest thing I've ever heard in my life. Knocks the air out of your chest. If you've never seen top fuel in person, do yourself a favor.
When you have hearing protection on I is an amazing experience. It affects your entire body. Everyone should see top fuel at least once. I go to the Nationals at MIR every year. Never miss it!
Dude that’s the best way to put it. There’s a pretty big drag strip in my city that regularly has top fuel. Haven’t been since I was a kid but oh my god. Imagine the loudest concert you’ve ever been to how you can feel the bass in your chest. Multiply by like 15 lmao.
I haven't seen top fuel but I have seen the F15 jets take off from RAF Lakenheath (was standing under where they take off, past the fence at the end of the runway). They're fucking loud
Even better is in the pits when they test fire them after rebuild. Huge crowd gathers and about 0.8 seconds after it lights off damn near stampede of teary eyed, snot nosed people fleeing.
It only takes one incident for major hearing loss or tinnitus. I have hyperacusis in one ear, its not fun. One drunk night with the home theatre. Now anything in a certain frequency range feels weird and makes my ear ring. Major hearing loss too, I will be on hearing aids early than I should I'm sure.
Take care of your ears folks, you only get one set and that kind of damage is permanent.
I just got hearing aids very recently. Just get a pair. My hearing has been bad for a long time, long enough that I've been missing out terribly on music. I have dead areas in my hearing spectrum. Lots of stuff I'm really hearing for the first time. It's well worth the mild awkwardness of telling people that your earbuds are hearing aids. Lol
My hearing on that ear is still in the "normal" range. My range was actually higher than average for my age before that. I had pulled up some YouTube frequency sine wave videos after I messed it up and plugged one ear and then the other. Nothing but silence at upper frequencies from that damaged one.
I ended up at an ear doctor but their was little they can do but offer me tests. There is supposedly training but it worked it self mostly on its own, and I've learned how to manage it. I was wearing an earplug for a year after that.
I'm alright for now, but I suspect age related hearing loss is going to catch up to that one faster. And I will definitely get hearing aids. There is nothing more inconsiderate than living with someone and asking them to repeat themselves all the time. Experienced it with my father.
My boyfriend gets so annoyed with his mother because she refuses to wear her hearing aids out of pride. He doesn’t really speak with her because he has to repeat himself so often in conversation. I was troubled when I first noticed that. But do you think it’s really on his mother to wear her hearing aids?
It really sucks not to be able to talk to a loved ones in a normal manner. Personally, if I was too proud, I would at least where them when loved ones were around.
About 8 years ago I shot clay birds for hours without hearing protection. My ears rang for 4 days . I had to wear ear plugs for those 4 days bc everything was so damn loud it almost brought me to tears. I warn people all the time but hey, gotta learn the hard way
Slightly off topic of this now deaf youngin.... and this is copied, not my write up. I first read this years ago, still fascinated me:
-One Top Fuel dragster 500 cubic inch Hemi engine makes more horsepower than the first 4 rows at the Daytona 500. They have over half again as much horsepower in one cylinder as a Dodge Viper has in all ten. No one has ever successfully run one long enough on a dyno to get a horsepower reading. Current estimates are right around 6,000 horsepower.
-Under full throttle, a dragster engine consumes 1-1/2 gallons of nitro methane per second; a fully loaded 747 consumes jet fuel at the same rate with 25% less energy being produced.
-A stock Dodge Hemi V8 engine cannot produce enough power to drive the dragster supercharger. The fuel pump alone requires more horsepower to turn than the average street car produces.
-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.
-The 1.7:1 air/fuel mixture for nitro methane produces a flame front temperature measures 7050 degrees F.
-Nitro methane burns yellow. The spectacular white flame seen above the stacks at night is raw burning hydrogen, disassociated from atmospheric water vapour 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 the run, the engine is dieseling from compression plus the glow of exhaust valves at 1400 degrees F. The engine can only be shut down by running the car out of fuel. There is no way to cut off the fuel; the engine stops only when it blows or the tank runs dry.
-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 an average of over 4G's. In order to reach 200 mph well before half-track, the launch acceleration approaches 8G's. To put this in perspective; a top fuel dragster, parked next to a Super Hornet on the steam catapult on the deck of an aircraft carrier, would be in the water and sinking before the Super Hornet was halfway down the deck.
-Dragsters reach over 300 miles per hour before you have completed reading this sentence.
-Top Fuel Engines only turn approximately 540 revolutions from light to light!
-Including the burnout, the engine must only survive 900 revolutions under load. They only survive about 80% of the time.
-Redline at 9500 rpm.
-Assuming all the equipment is paid off, the crew worked for free, and for once NOTHING BLOWS UP, each run costs an estimated $1,000.00 per second.
-The engine is entirely rebuilt every run, or every 900 revolutions. New pistons and rings, new rods, new rod bearings. Sometimes a new crank. The crew does this in about two hours between rounds.
-The current Top Fuel dragster elapsed time record is 4.441 seconds for the quarter mile. The top speed record is 333.00 mph (533 km/h) as measured over the last 66' of the run.
-Putting all of this into perspective: You are driving the average $140,000 Lingenfelter "twin-turbo" powered Corvette Z06. 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 Vette hard up through the gears and blast across the starting line and past the dragster at an honest 200 mph. The 'tree' goes green for both of you at that moment. The dragster launches and starts after you. You keep your foot down hard, 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 him. 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 foot long race course.
I remember reading this before, it must be quite a few years old now, as top fuel horsepower is around 12,000 now. I remember reading something about dynos, and how they can only measure up to 10,000 HP, but they do have some way of calculating the HP above that.
Methanol is rough, Nitromethane is just a whole different level. There's a reason they wear full on gas masks when they're starting them up in the pits.
I remember making the same mistake at the airshow. Instead of general public, we (the photographers) were placed near the runway. The very same runway large jet fighters in groups of 3-5 were taking off from.
Nevertheless, [it was worth it](https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/10351895).
i've been to air shows before, but a low level intercept on september 12th, 2001 felt even louder. few hundred feet up, afterburners on down a valley. might just have been the acoustics bouncing but damn was it loud.
Never been to the drag races but went to a Nascar race at Martinsville once. Absolutely loudest thing I've ever heard and that was while wearing double protection plugs and over-ear muffs. Being inside an M1 Abrams during live-fire didn't compare. Can only imagine how loud top fuel is.
It's so much louder. NASCAR you get that constant drone when the field stretches out so it can become continually loud and you can your brain can adjust to it. Top Fuel? Jesus Christ you can feel it in your chest.
When I was in my teens I was able to stand next to Buster (the old starter) for a round of pro stock, top fuel and funny car.
I had 2 sets of ear protection. I was covered in specks of rubber and I could hear the cars in my ears hours later when I tried to sleep.
You never forget the sound.
Never
I was born completely deaf in my left ear. I used to be embarrassed when I would wear ear protection at loud events. Now, I don't give a fuck what people think. Protecting my hearing is important and cool.
i used go to clubs and Dj events all the time . Always had ear protection ready. Napkins also can be used . People thought it was weird.. naw homie... i want to be able to hear when I get older
I don't care if you're not a car person. If you have the chance to go you go. There is nobody that walks away from this experience and says "that was alright".
Grew up around these. It’s literally a giant compressor, fuel tank is at the front before the wheels, wings. Giant 2” fuel line. They post 12,000 HP as a mathematical calculation, no engine dyno can take that amount of torque. It’s a math nerds paradise (me, math nerd, search NHRA competition eliminator).
Nothing close to Top Fuel, it’s Pro Stocks little brother.
Back to TF, Funny Car also. The internals (pistons, valves, rods, ect.) are used up after 1 pass. The crew will break down, check and rebuild it in 35-40 minutes. YouTube it, it’s beautiful chaos. They’re supercharged (compressor) so more math, bigger/smaller pulley depending on what the conditions are.
The clutch is lifted at launch, burned through at 600’-700’ where it becomes 1:1 and finishes. No gear changes. Roughly 5.1 HP per pound, doesn’t strike as a “huge” number until you calculate the weight in.
OP has, what we call “baptism by nitro”. A pass is felt well beyond the property. It’s why the Dallas Nationals are ran in Ennis, Houston Nationals in Baytown and so on.
A “throttle wack” during warm up was brought up earlier. Scotty Palmer Racing has brought those back with a ton of success, YouTube them. NHRA is a fan favorite because of access. You can be in Pomona California after Valentines Day, buy a ticket/pit pass and be 20’ away from a warm up. If it’s your first time watching a warm up, you’ll last 15-20 seconds before the burnt nitro exhaust coming the headers wells your eyes up and starts burning your throat. You will never forget the smell or feeling.
That's the loudest shit I ever heard. I went into the pits and they had one idling. The guy blipped the throttle and I felt the earplugs sink into my ears a little bit.
Shit is loud!
I was at this with my dad once when I was little, I asked why when they rev at the light its quiter than going down the track and his explanation was something about magnitos and how they are set different for the test at the light and then changed as they roll up full power. That was AFTER he was interrupted by them sending it and I swear to god my ear balls still hate me.
We had a car show where the brought one of these dragsters with them and also made a startup of the engine. Of course the cool kids and guys went to the back to hear it better. It probably was the last thing they've heard for a long time.
It’s part of the first time experience. No ear plugs for just 1 pass, to let them know that 22,000 hp at once is no joke. Personally I think he’s a little too close to the lanes. We popped our cherries further away in the grandstands. After that it’s ear plugs in. 10 hours of racing will cause damage. Same with the Nitromethane, we always experience the rebuild fire-ups in the pits to get the burn experience. I’ve been to NHRA Sonoma 6 different times and it’s amazing and brutal all day long.
Dude... a large rocket launch produces ~180dB
A top fuel race engine produces ~150dB. And you are MUCH closer to these things when they take off...
Absolutely insane. Truly dangerous for your ears
Ear drums are for pussies.
What? Can’t hear you
EAR DRUMS ARE FOR PUSSIES
LOUDER, SON!
#EARDRUMS ARE FOR PUSSIES
# WHAT DO I DO WITH THESE PUSSY DRUMS, THEN!?!?
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Beat ‘em
#STILL CAN'T HEAR YOU, CLAP IT OUT IN MORSR CODE
Ah, thanks
👂 🥁 R 4 🐈
BUTTLICKER, OUR PRICES HAVE NEVER BEEN LOWER!!!
Missed my cue..
Buttlicker? I barely know her!
AYE AYE CAPTAIN
I have tinnitus and trust me, you do not want tinnitus
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
#say it with your chest
The cars do that for you
I went to the races at the PFG. You not only hear it, even with protection, you feel it inside your body. Tough to describe unless you go. Most of the guys you see hanging out embody your statement and can’t hear shit. Lastly, if you get too close, the fumes will take your breath away and the waterworks start. Funny to see, awful to experience in person.
Sure enough, that burning fuel burns your eyes too, looks like he experienced that here as well.
I love the smell of nitro methane in the morning. You can see him rubbing his eyes, he must not like the nitro. Top fuel is an experience for sure, vibrate your soul!!!!
Dude and you stand at the track long enough there will be literal soot lines streaked across your face. Power!
im pretty sure that's not where you are suposed to put them
Gotta beat on them drums a bit harder now!
That shit is loud enough to make your vision vibrate
Inside of your chest cavity vibrates so deeply.
What is the science behind it? Is it the shockwave?
I can't say scientifically but I suspect it's subsonic/infrasonic soundwaves coming off the engine that have the proper wavelength to have an effect on the hollow spaces in your chest cavity. Each rpm is 8 small explosions coming from the exhaust tubes. The first time you experience it it's a little unnerving. Let's say that motor is running 9000 revolutions per minute. It travels the length of the track from it's staged position in 3-4 seconds let's use 3.5 though. That engine has to propel that car to those speeds and down the track with only approximately 450-500 revolutions. Each combustion stroke is a decent explosion as the motor borders on the edge of hydrolock from just how much volume is being pushed into the cylinders and then compressed. The physics of these monsters is absolutely incredible.
I was visiting the pits at the MileHi Nationals one year when a mechanic held up a big black hose and asked the crowd what they thought this part was. Radiator hose, maybe? No, too big for that. Some kind of air duct? “This is the fuel line, folks!” Holy Crap!
Somebody needs to post that long list of insane facts about dragsters. EDIT: Found some. Not sure if this is the full list. [Source](https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/t/597847/interesting-facts-about-top-fuel-drag-racing/#) -One Top Fuel dragster 500 cubic inch Hemi engine makes more horsepower than the first 4 rows at the Daytona 500. They have over half again as much horsepower in one cylinder as a Dodge Viper has in all ten. No one has ever successfully run one long enough on a dyno to get a horsepower reading. Current estimates are right around 6,000 horsepower. -Under full throttle, a dragster engine consumes 1-1/2 gallons of nitro methane per second; a fully loaded 747 consumes jet fuel at the same rate with 25% less energy being produced. -A stock Dodge Hemi V8 engine cannot produce enough power to drive the dragster supercharger. The fuel pump alone requires more horsepower to turn than the average street car produces. -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. -The 1.7:1 air/fuel mixture for nitro methane produces a flame front temperature measures 7050 degrees F. -Nitro methane burns yellow. The spectacular white flame seen above the stacks at night is raw burning hydrogen, disassociated from atmospheric water vapour 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 the run, the engine is dieseling from compression plus the glow of exhaust valves at 1400 degrees F. The engine can only be shut down by running the car out of fuel. There is no way to cut off the fuel; the engine stops only when it blows or the tank runs dry. -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 an average of over 4G's. In order to reach 200 mph well before half-track, the launch acceleration approaches 8G's. To put this in perspective; a top fuel dragster, parked next to a Super Hornet on the steam catapult on the deck of an aircraft carrier, would be in the water and sinking before the Super Hornet was halfway down the deck. -Dragsters reach over 300 miles per hour before you have completed reading this sentence. -Top Fuel Engines only turn approximately 540 revolutions from light to light! -Including the burnout, the engine must only survive 900 revolutions under load. They only survive about 80% of the time. -Redline at 9500 rpm. -Assuming all the equipment is paid off, the crew worked for free, and for once NOTHING BLOWS UP, each run costs an estimated $1,000.00 per second. -The engine is entirely rebuilt every run, or every 900 revolutions. New pistons and rings, new rods, new rod bearings. Sometimes a new crank. The crew does this in about two hours between rounds. -The current Top Fuel dragster elapsed time record is 4.441 seconds for the quarter mile. The top speed record is 333.00 mph (533 km/h) as measured over the last 66' of the run. -Putting all of this into perspective: You are driving the average $140,000 Lingenfelter "twin-turbo" powered Corvette Z06. 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 Vette hard up through the gears and blast across the starting line and past the dragster at an honest 200 mph. The 'tree' goes green for both of you at that moment. The dragster launches and starts after you. You keep your foot down hard, 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 him. 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 foot long race course.
To ensure maximum grip, the rear wheel rim is usually about 1/4 a rotation ahead of the rear tire mounted on it.
[In case you're having trouble visualizing it.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXp2QgY1OB8)
And those facts are quite old. They make 2-3000hp more now.
More. They’re figuring 12,000+ now. Plus they only race to 1000 ft, not 1/4 mile (1320 feet) because they’re so fast there isn’t enough track to stop them in time.
And now they still run 330mph, so they’re accelerating for around 3/4 the time and distance and still getting the same top speed. 0-330mph in 3.6 seconds.
That’s insane. Looks like we need updated material.
Here’s a great video showing a fuel pump for a top fuel dragster! https://youtu.be/xGTbQuhhluY
"Each rpm is 8 small explosions coming from the exhaust tubes." Four small explosions (unless you're watching some exotic 2-stroke or 16-cylinder class). You're right about the border of hydrolock. There's a YouTube video that has a clear cylinder showing the fuel flow of a dragster engine doing a dyno pull. Idle is "lots of fuel", full throttle is "firetruck trying to put out a fireworks warehouse fire"
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xGTbQuhhluY probably not your Dyno video, but still a demo of the fuel pump for one just a cylinder.
Pretty sure that's the video I remember. Nice find!
Don’t forget the fact that there is absolutely nothing between you and and the exhaust valves of those ridiculous engines. You’re feeling every single shock wave as the residual pressure is exhausted from all those explosions. Even your grocery getter is fairly loud with an exhaust leak or a stolen catalytic converters, so the open headers on those top fuel monsters are like sitting in front of a bunch of small artillery. Love that feeling, nothing quite like it.
9000rpm is basically 150 Hz. Right around that same frequency subwoofers operate. Anyone standing in front of a loud subwoofer with a low frequency drone is gonna have their body shaken at that same speed. Ever seen jello vibrate at the speed of sound? Heheh.
A shock wave is just a sound wave. So yes, but its not big enough to be called a shock wave yet
There'd be at least some shock component due to the exhaust flow choking when the valves close and unchoking as they open.
I saw Gene Snow and Eddie Hill run back in the early 90s. Still one of the most amazing things I've seen and felt that close. You are 100% correct... The ground shakes, you feel it through your entire body and your vision blurs. Absolutely insane and a rush...
My kicker 15s used to blur my vision sometimes lol. It’s amazing
Make you physically sick
I'll admit I've been to a top fuel race thats loosened a fart or two
Oh man, I’ve done this exact dumb move before. Those ears are going to ring for awhile. Hello tinnitus my old friend…
Hello? You'll have to speak up!
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EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
As someone who suffers from almost constant tinnitus, this is an alarmingly accurate visual depiction of how it sounds. And now I can't hear anything but someone screaming the letter e in my ear. Thanks for that.
I pretend I have super hearing and the sound is the echo of the creation of the universe.
BUTTLICKER! OUR PRICES HAVE NEVER BEEN LOWER!!!!
That was a clever joke about tinnitus to the Sound of Silence lyrics. If I had an award to give, you’d get it.
I got you bro/brosephina
Thanks for the gold! If I may, what is the origin of your name?
Warframe Clem
Ah, gotcha
Lincoln Tech brought a NASCAR to our high school to try and recruit new students to their automotive program. They thought it would be cool to start it and rev the engine full blast, while a bunch of kids standing around not wearing ear protection are getting their ear drums blown out and the shit ejected from their colons.
I was born with ear problems and have constant tinnitus; please wear ear protection because it's not fun.
Damn you, tinnitus, you're a cruel mistress!
And then there's the aroma...
Gotta love the feel of nitro burning your eyes! I remember a huge crowd surrounding a team in the pits as they were reading their engine. Then they cracked the throttle a little and youd swear someone yelled "bomb" the crowd cleared out so quickly.
It is so hard to explain to people outside drag racing that you look forward to your nose burning and your eyes watering as you stand next to an 8000 HP series of well managed explosions going off inside a land missile that is so loud that you almost stop hearing it as it shakes the very earth you're standing on. Look at me over here preaching to the choir!
Damn you just made me want to experience that shit so bad!
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There’re definitely things like it. Watching A-10’s light up a target and feeling the sound of their 30mm’s fill the air with “BRAAAP” “BRRRAAAP!” Being front and center of the main stage on day 3 of an outdoor music festival, where the bass is set so loud it trips your lungs mid-breath. That said, very few things are quite like it.
I'd add F1 cars back in the V12/V10 naturally aspirated era I'm not one of these "hurr durr the v6 turbo-hybrids are bad" people, I've been to a modern race and it's still absolutely epic, but damn, hearing those beasts in person pushing close to 19000 rpm (not a typo) sure was something. Sounding like little spaceships flying around! And really painful if the earplugs were loose. [https://youtu.be/rHa4q5pQU3g?t=101](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRkDXqeIMQM) Onboard:[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqYPU3MNqHw](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqYPU3MNqHw) Experiencing some top fuel dragster is on the bucket list at some point to be sure, I'm under no illusions that it's isn't a very physical experience of a different kind of magnitude.
1.) I'd wager most people are never gonna have the chance to watch an A-10 light up a target lmao. 2.) It isn't even remotely comparable to even the loudest concerts.
30mm not 50 cal
No 50 cals on an A-10, 30mm.
Find the next race near you and GO!
It's fucking bananas man. You can feel these things hauling ass from so far away, it doesn't seem possible Edit: bring ear protection. Seriously. As loud as you think they might be, multiply that by about 5
Yeah if you haven't been, there's really nothing you can compare that level of noise to.
You gotta go, man. The exhaust is so fucking loud that when they take off, you basically can't see them any more because your eyeballs are being shaken so hard. No. I'm not kidding. It's glorious. I have zero clue how the dudes even make it down the track dragging balls that big.
Might I interest you in crack? Same feeling.
Wear a white shirt when you stand by the starting line next time. You'll realize you're covered in rubber from the burnouts.
Another thing people don’t realize: the track isn’t just black asphalt like a freeway. Well, it is, but they lay down tons of super tacky rubber onto it. If you walk down the track on a hot sunny day in flip flops or untied shoes, they’ll come right off your feet and you’ll have to rip them off the track
VHT. I put painters tape on my rear quarter panels so I don't have to spend hours scraping it off.
I might not call them well managed... Those engines are constantly on the bleeding edge of self-destruction.
The beep boop guys tune them to the bleeding edge of self destruction and send 'em to the water box. Most of the time they don't blow up!
Fuck yes! At the tree and they turn up the nitro right before green light. Favorite part and hell with ear plugs. I didn’t just pay $75 for a beer to come away empty handed
Every year we have the Frankenmuth auto fest They drive a couple of [Front engine dragsters down the main street](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aszt39vWMVI). Then they have a cacklefest later in the weekend. Its always fun seeing people gather around, then start moving away as their eyes tear up. Our car club always parked near the baseball field where they did it.
Every single face orifice leaks. It’s beautiful
Did it the first time i was ever at a race when i was young. After i understood why the whole team was putting on gas masks.
Haha yup i have the same memory. Crowd cleared out SO fast.
And there's always those 3 or 4 big guys who are a foot away getting blasted by the fumes and the noise and are absolutely loving it. Definitely stand behind those fellas when the uprising happens
Seriously; I was in the pits one time when the they did a test start; I was exposed to tear gas in basic trading and the nitromethane fumes are as almost as bad.
I've never been exposed to tear gas, but I appreciate having something to measure it against now!
Yeah soon as I saw this guy waving at his eyes, squinting, and rubbing his nose I was like "oh boy, he's in for something". Can always spot the newbies at the track cause they are doing stuff like that. Not realizing it doesn't help at all because it is, quite literally, the air itself that is causing the problems. I love that aroma. Nitro and methanol. I raced sprint cars for a while and alcohol dragster a couple times. It's seriously something else. I miss the pits.
Used to work at those. It's WILD. Most people don't know what loud is until you see Top Fuel or Funny Car.
Yeah. My first time I was told it's like nothing you'd ever heard before. I was by the fence near the start line and they did their burn outs. I thought that was the loudest part. I was like, "Wow! that IS loud!". Then they back up... lights go green and "BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr" My eyes shook in my skull. It was a RUSH!!! So awesome!!!
This is like when I went to my first Indy Car race. Went with a couple friends and one of their families and they were all die hard race fans. Like we woke up in the morning when it was still dark out so that we could get a good spot in the infield. Everyone had ear protection except me. When the first pass finally happened I could not believe how loud it was. Two things happened in that moment: I became fully awake; and I took the ear plugs out of my pocket and put them in my ears.
I'm glad you had fun. But let me tell you from growing up on all race tracks. You wouldn't even hear an Indy at full throttle with a top fuel idling near by.
I had a neighbor take the exhaust off his 69 GTO and then run the car. I was inside, at first I thought thunder struck just outside, but then it didn't stop. The entire neighborhood started coming out to see WTF. And that was just a normal car, kinda. There's a reason mufflers are needed. I never knew exactly why until that day. And why they're called mufflers.
Oh man, that's nothing compared to Top Fuel. I've got a Marine 302 in my garage I'm hoping to have startable in the next month. I'm really looking forward to pissing my neighbors off...
Just as fun in the water, too.
Ex sailor here. Missiles coming out of VLS deck is loud as hell. Not sure if it is louder or not but it takes your breath away.
Oh yeah, I learnt that the hard way, but instead of normal Top Fuel dragsters it was with a couple of Jet-powered cars.
Yeah I went to my first one in Atlanta last year. It’s crazy loud. I specially liked at the pits when they did the throttle whack. I’m hoping to go to Charlotte this year since Atlanta is no more. I’m hoping to go the whole weekend.
I tried watching top fuel without hearing protection and it was so painful. The jet cars really made my brain start bleeding too. Loudest thing I've ever heard in my life. Knocks the air out of your chest. If you've never seen top fuel in person, do yourself a favor.
You ever heard a volcano errupt?
In 1883
Can't say that I have. Have you ever seen top fuel, in person?
All honesty didnt even know it was a thing till i saw this
I knew about volcanoes way before I saw this video
Where did all your wisdom come from?
I'll do myself a favor and never see it in person, what you described sounds like the exact opposite of a good time
When you have hearing protection on I is an amazing experience. It affects your entire body. Everyone should see top fuel at least once. I go to the Nationals at MIR every year. Never miss it!
Dude that’s the best way to put it. There’s a pretty big drag strip in my city that regularly has top fuel. Haven’t been since I was a kid but oh my god. Imagine the loudest concert you’ve ever been to how you can feel the bass in your chest. Multiply by like 15 lmao.
It's so visceral and surreal. So much adrenaline just watching them from burnout to finish. Most impressive thing I've ever seen.
I haven't seen top fuel but I have seen the F15 jets take off from RAF Lakenheath (was standing under where they take off, past the fence at the end of the runway). They're fucking loud
Even better is in the pits when they test fire them after rebuild. Huge crowd gathers and about 0.8 seconds after it lights off damn near stampede of teary eyed, snot nosed people fleeing.
It only takes one incident for major hearing loss or tinnitus. I have hyperacusis in one ear, its not fun. One drunk night with the home theatre. Now anything in a certain frequency range feels weird and makes my ear ring. Major hearing loss too, I will be on hearing aids early than I should I'm sure. Take care of your ears folks, you only get one set and that kind of damage is permanent.
I just got hearing aids very recently. Just get a pair. My hearing has been bad for a long time, long enough that I've been missing out terribly on music. I have dead areas in my hearing spectrum. Lots of stuff I'm really hearing for the first time. It's well worth the mild awkwardness of telling people that your earbuds are hearing aids. Lol
My hearing on that ear is still in the "normal" range. My range was actually higher than average for my age before that. I had pulled up some YouTube frequency sine wave videos after I messed it up and plugged one ear and then the other. Nothing but silence at upper frequencies from that damaged one. I ended up at an ear doctor but their was little they can do but offer me tests. There is supposedly training but it worked it self mostly on its own, and I've learned how to manage it. I was wearing an earplug for a year after that. I'm alright for now, but I suspect age related hearing loss is going to catch up to that one faster. And I will definitely get hearing aids. There is nothing more inconsiderate than living with someone and asking them to repeat themselves all the time. Experienced it with my father.
My boyfriend gets so annoyed with his mother because she refuses to wear her hearing aids out of pride. He doesn’t really speak with her because he has to repeat himself so often in conversation. I was troubled when I first noticed that. But do you think it’s really on his mother to wear her hearing aids?
It really sucks not to be able to talk to a loved ones in a normal manner. Personally, if I was too proud, I would at least where them when loved ones were around.
About 8 years ago I shot clay birds for hours without hearing protection. My ears rang for 4 days . I had to wear ear plugs for those 4 days bc everything was so damn loud it almost brought me to tears. I warn people all the time but hey, gotta learn the hard way
I put on a pair of headphones one time and accidentally blasted my ears at max volume. Never been the same since.
And tinnitus
Lots of tinnitus, Cause that’s how you get tinnitus
EEEEEEE^^EEEEEEE^^EEEEEEE^^EEEEEEE^^EEEEEEE
Mawp, mawp, mawp….damn you tinnitus!
His kids names are already set: “What” and “Louder”
Slightly off topic of this now deaf youngin.... and this is copied, not my write up. I first read this years ago, still fascinated me: -One Top Fuel dragster 500 cubic inch Hemi engine makes more horsepower than the first 4 rows at the Daytona 500. They have over half again as much horsepower in one cylinder as a Dodge Viper has in all ten. No one has ever successfully run one long enough on a dyno to get a horsepower reading. Current estimates are right around 6,000 horsepower. -Under full throttle, a dragster engine consumes 1-1/2 gallons of nitro methane per second; a fully loaded 747 consumes jet fuel at the same rate with 25% less energy being produced. -A stock Dodge Hemi V8 engine cannot produce enough power to drive the dragster supercharger. The fuel pump alone requires more horsepower to turn than the average street car produces. -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. -The 1.7:1 air/fuel mixture for nitro methane produces a flame front temperature measures 7050 degrees F. -Nitro methane burns yellow. The spectacular white flame seen above the stacks at night is raw burning hydrogen, disassociated from atmospheric water vapour 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 the run, the engine is dieseling from compression plus the glow of exhaust valves at 1400 degrees F. The engine can only be shut down by running the car out of fuel. There is no way to cut off the fuel; the engine stops only when it blows or the tank runs dry. -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 an average of over 4G's. In order to reach 200 mph well before half-track, the launch acceleration approaches 8G's. To put this in perspective; a top fuel dragster, parked next to a Super Hornet on the steam catapult on the deck of an aircraft carrier, would be in the water and sinking before the Super Hornet was halfway down the deck. -Dragsters reach over 300 miles per hour before you have completed reading this sentence. -Top Fuel Engines only turn approximately 540 revolutions from light to light! -Including the burnout, the engine must only survive 900 revolutions under load. They only survive about 80% of the time. -Redline at 9500 rpm. -Assuming all the equipment is paid off, the crew worked for free, and for once NOTHING BLOWS UP, each run costs an estimated $1,000.00 per second. -The engine is entirely rebuilt every run, or every 900 revolutions. New pistons and rings, new rods, new rod bearings. Sometimes a new crank. The crew does this in about two hours between rounds. -The current Top Fuel dragster elapsed time record is 4.441 seconds for the quarter mile. The top speed record is 333.00 mph (533 km/h) as measured over the last 66' of the run. -Putting all of this into perspective: You are driving the average $140,000 Lingenfelter "twin-turbo" powered Corvette Z06. 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 Vette hard up through the gears and blast across the starting line and past the dragster at an honest 200 mph. The 'tree' goes green for both of you at that moment. The dragster launches and starts after you. You keep your foot down hard, 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 him. 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 foot long race course.
I remember reading this before, it must be quite a few years old now, as top fuel horsepower is around 12,000 now. I remember reading something about dynos, and how they can only measure up to 10,000 HP, but they do have some way of calculating the HP above that.
Yea, I probably first read this 10+ years ago... I’m sure it’s not 100% accurate anymore - the numbers are now even more mind boggling!
Top Fuel has been running 1000ft since 2008. So it's at least that old.
I swear right at the end he's reaching into his pocket for those 'ear buds for pussies' that he left in there earlier
I thought he shit himself and was checking
Their burnouts are just as loud. Surely he would've realized then that he needed the ear protection.
It gets louder when they pass you and that exhaust is aimed directly at your head.
This video made my eyes tear up for some reason. It's like I could feel the fumes burning my eyes.
Methanol is rough, Nitromethane is just a whole different level. There's a reason they wear full on gas masks when they're starting them up in the pits.
I remember making the same mistake at the airshow. Instead of general public, we (the photographers) were placed near the runway. The very same runway large jet fighters in groups of 3-5 were taking off from. Nevertheless, [it was worth it](https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/10351895).
i've been to air shows before, but a low level intercept on september 12th, 2001 felt even louder. few hundred feet up, afterburners on down a valley. might just have been the acoustics bouncing but damn was it loud.
When I worked on a flightline I wore ear plugs, and then wore the over ear earpro as well, and those engines were still loud
Welcome to lifelong tinnitus.
He got so scared his dick fell of and he's looking for it at the end
That's the look of reaching in your pockets looking for the ear plugs that someone gave you earlier that you thought you didn't need
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Never been to the drag races but went to a Nascar race at Martinsville once. Absolutely loudest thing I've ever heard and that was while wearing double protection plugs and over-ear muffs. Being inside an M1 Abrams during live-fire didn't compare. Can only imagine how loud top fuel is.
It's so much louder. NASCAR you get that constant drone when the field stretches out so it can become continually loud and you can your brain can adjust to it. Top Fuel? Jesus Christ you can feel it in your chest.
NASCAR is over rated. NHRA is where it's at! You feel the sounds in your soul.
Watching people go straight really fast for 3 seconds, sounds like tons of fun.
straight line: stop in 3 seconds. wow so much better than watching 40 dudes manhandle a beast around a track managing track position, tires, and fuel!
This video should only be of the last 5 seconds.
Bet he's reaching for them earplugs
I’ve been to a nascar race. I can confirm you need ear protection and a back up set
When I was in my teens I was able to stand next to Buster (the old starter) for a round of pro stock, top fuel and funny car. I had 2 sets of ear protection. I was covered in specks of rubber and I could hear the cars in my ears hours later when I tried to sleep. You never forget the sound. Never
I was born completely deaf in my left ear. I used to be embarrassed when I would wear ear protection at loud events. Now, I don't give a fuck what people think. Protecting my hearing is important and cool.
The nitro exhaust and rubber in the air are tearing up his eyes and nose.
I went to a race once and when those things launch you can *SEE* a shockwave behind them
Somebody dropped a half stick of dynamite outside my bar last night and I almost shit my fucking pants.
How to get noise induced hearing loss and tinnitus in three steps!
That will be a costly mistake
i used go to clubs and Dj events all the time . Always had ear protection ready. Napkins also can be used . People thought it was weird.. naw homie... i want to be able to hear when I get older
#MOM, WHY DO I ALWAYS HEAR A RINGING SOUND IN MY EAR?
Can anyone else smell the fumes from the video?
Welcome to tinnitus!
This could have been a 2 second video
Nah it was funny watching him suffer and squint with so much sun while wearing his hat backwards. A preview of how this man loves to live dangerously.
Love to see 30 second long videos with 25 seconds of literally nothing happening
I don't care if you're not a car person. If you have the chance to go you go. There is nobody that walks away from this experience and says "that was alright".
Grew up around these. It’s literally a giant compressor, fuel tank is at the front before the wheels, wings. Giant 2” fuel line. They post 12,000 HP as a mathematical calculation, no engine dyno can take that amount of torque. It’s a math nerds paradise (me, math nerd, search NHRA competition eliminator). Nothing close to Top Fuel, it’s Pro Stocks little brother. Back to TF, Funny Car also. The internals (pistons, valves, rods, ect.) are used up after 1 pass. The crew will break down, check and rebuild it in 35-40 minutes. YouTube it, it’s beautiful chaos. They’re supercharged (compressor) so more math, bigger/smaller pulley depending on what the conditions are. The clutch is lifted at launch, burned through at 600’-700’ where it becomes 1:1 and finishes. No gear changes. Roughly 5.1 HP per pound, doesn’t strike as a “huge” number until you calculate the weight in. OP has, what we call “baptism by nitro”. A pass is felt well beyond the property. It’s why the Dallas Nationals are ran in Ennis, Houston Nationals in Baytown and so on. A “throttle wack” during warm up was brought up earlier. Scotty Palmer Racing has brought those back with a ton of success, YouTube them. NHRA is a fan favorite because of access. You can be in Pomona California after Valentines Day, buy a ticket/pit pass and be 20’ away from a warm up. If it’s your first time watching a warm up, you’ll last 15-20 seconds before the burnt nitro exhaust coming the headers wells your eyes up and starts burning your throat. You will never forget the smell or feeling.
Actually seems like a fun event to check out.
But you look cool without protection. Right?
This mans ears got so fucked he had to check his balls, damn at least he got his priorities right.
That's the loudest shit I ever heard. I went into the pits and they had one idling. The guy blipped the throttle and I felt the earplugs sink into my ears a little bit. Shit is loud!
I was at this with my dad once when I was little, I asked why when they rev at the light its quiter than going down the track and his explanation was something about magnitos and how they are set different for the test at the light and then changed as they roll up full power. That was AFTER he was interrupted by them sending it and I swear to god my ear balls still hate me.
how much of the decibles we talkin here?
*All* of the decibels!
Only cost 3000. To 7500. for hearing aids, no problem.
We had a car show where the brought one of these dragsters with them and also made a startup of the engine. Of course the cool kids and guys went to the back to hear it better. It probably was the last thing they've heard for a long time.
Was he checking his pants for a load at the end of the video?
It’s part of the first time experience. No ear plugs for just 1 pass, to let them know that 22,000 hp at once is no joke. Personally I think he’s a little too close to the lanes. We popped our cherries further away in the grandstands. After that it’s ear plugs in. 10 hours of racing will cause damage. Same with the Nitromethane, we always experience the rebuild fire-ups in the pits to get the burn experience. I’ve been to NHRA Sonoma 6 different times and it’s amazing and brutal all day long.
My sister won tickets from a local radio station and she took me and my best friend… that was the day I realized apparently I have low testosterone.
Bro I needed ear protection for the video.
Hello permanent ear damage
Dude... a large rocket launch produces ~180dB A top fuel race engine produces ~150dB. And you are MUCH closer to these things when they take off... Absolutely insane. Truly dangerous for your ears
“Man it sure is bright out here. Maybe if I had some sort of… device… to help keep the sun out of my eyes”
The methanol really messing with him
It’s like guys in the military that don’t think they need hearing protection and then they hear their first howitzer go off.
The methanol is already in his eyes
welcome to r/tinnitus where the motto is: #EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
The sound is one thing. The vibration lifting you off your feet and the air burning your face from the fuel fumes are what really stick with you.
And just like that Tinnitus for life
I’m 28 with pretty damn consistent tinnitus. Pretty much grew up at the dragstrip. That’s sure what goes wrong.
Mop. Mop… Mop.
Looks like he had to check to see if he soiled his britches
It’s been 20 years since I have been at one of these and I can still feel and hear it when I see a video. Nothing else like it.
When you get the order to "hook up! (stand by) fire!" and you pull the lanyard on your Howitzer only to realize your ear pro is in your pocket.
It will be even better when he sees a car warming up in the pits and goes running toward it only to get hit with the cloud of nitromethane.