[Loco4Fomoco]

I don't mind saying...I'm inexperienced as far as track time(Drag Racing), and have a question. I see time and time again in all the videos I have downloaded, traction loss at half track resulting in serious damage. My question is...In most cases, what causes these accidents? My guesses are: #1. Rear tire goes down (Guys running slicks to the bitter end without changing them?). #2. Vehicle slides in its own fluid (Water Overflow/Oil etc.). #3. loose car and or track( and driver pushes his luck?) Watching these videos over and over and almost always, the slightest bit sideways and they have lost it. Seems like if they would get their foot out of it (or I guess its called "peddling it&quot

they could save their investment. I will be having my investment on the track soon, and would like to hear from some experienced track goers, and their thoughts on these matters. Also, any input on 4-speeds (I have Line-Lock), water box(I'll have E/T streets), Christmas tree(Reaction Time)..etc...
Thanks in advance for any Experience & Knowledge you will have supplied!!!

_________________
<font color="blue">L8R,
Rick in Indy</font>
408 Clevor
Remember...Success is a Journey, Not a Destination

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: FATNFAST on 5/2/06 9:09am ]</font>

 

[mavman]

Pretty much any number of things cause it. Most folks (including me...) focus more on starting line traction and don't give a second thought to traction loss further down track. Also, a lot of tracks will only spray VHT to the first 1/3 of the surface...and the last 2/3 will still be slick & greasy from past oildowns.

Most of the cars/vids I've seen of half-track spinning are high(er) HP cars running small tires. Outlaw 10.5 classes are notorious for this. In their attempt to get 1500+ HP to hook on "small" tires, they configure their cars to leave reliatively easy then "hit" at about 1/3-1/2 way down the track. Friend of mine runs a outlaw 10.5 '90 Mustang. Turbocharged 432" dyno'd around ~2100 HP at 8200...leaves pretty soft, but with it turned up, it will spin and get away from him at halftrack. First time he made a "full" pass (been making 60' passes most of the day to get used to the car) it nearly rolled. How he kept the shiny side up, I don't know.

 

[chipmechanic]

When your racing...especially bracket racing the last thing that is going through your mind is saving the investment and "peddling" the gas is not going to give consistent times. Fact is it takes longer to react to a situation that dont expect than you'd think.

As far as why they lose traction half track theres a couple of reasons. Undersized tires coupled with a lot of top end HP conspire with weight transfer to lose traction. The major weight transfer and rear suspension leverage are over by the time your a couple of hundred feet down the track. I know that if I were to run the normal tires I run on the street when I am racing I'd be all over the track. They'll totally break lose at 80 mph in 3rd gear.

 

[63SportsCoupe]

A lot of tracks are concrete to about 1/2 track, then transition to some kind of asphalt.