Dragsters

Dragsters are the fastest cars on earth. Two top fuel dragsters are more powerful than 15 Grand Prix cars and reach 100 mph in one second and 300 mph in five. The race consists of two drivers racing head-to-head over a quarter of a mile known affectionately as “the strip.” With a modern top fuel dragster going 330 MPH in less than 4.5 seconds in a 1/4 mile track, the limitations are not the chemical engine technology per se but more the regulations preventing the teams from going too much faster for safety reasons. Although how much faster they could go if unregulated is not a dramatic amount, the forces involved already are incredible and pushing the boundary of safety for entertainment.

Top-Fuel Racing refers to a class of drag racing in which the cars are run on 85% nitromethane and about 15% methanol also known as racing alcohol, instead of gasoline. The nitromethane used to power the engines of top fuel dragsters costs about $30 per gallon. Top Fuel dragsters use between 10 and 12 gallons of fuel for a complete pass, including the burnout, backup to the starting line, and quarter-mile run. The engine makes about 3.4 times as much power as a similar displacement engine running gasoline.

Top Fuel dragsters can create such a deafening amount of noise that their engines make at full throttle that it is enough to make a person’s eardrum physically hurt. The 150 decibels of intense noise are not only heard but they are also felt by feeling vibrations all throughout the body while even at the top of the stands. People describe the passing cars, comparing it to the surrounding area being pummeled by an artillery strike. Prior to the dragsters going down the strip, race announcers usually advise spectators to cover their ears, ear plugs and earmuffs are often handed out to fans at the entrance to a Top Fuel drag racing event.

—————

The Truth About Cat Food Nutrition – An informative story of the pet food industry and what to look for when choosing a pet food.