# Why I LOVE TOP FUEL dragsters **URL:** \ **Category:** PittSpeed Automotive\ **Created:** [January 30, 2007, 6:02pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/why-i-love-top-fuel-dragsters/187738 "2007-01-30T18:02:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Orr89rocz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac91a4/32.png) [@Orr89rocz](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Orr89rocz)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2007, 6:02pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/why-i-love-top-fuel-dragsters/187738/1 "2007-01-30T18:02:13Z")
ACCELERATION PUT INTO PERSPECTIVE - One Top Fuel dragster 500 cubic-inch Hemi engine makes more horsepower than the first 4 rows at the Daytona 500. \*Under full throttle, a dragster engine consumes 11.2 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 merely drive the dragster’s supercharger. - 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. - At the stoichiometric 1.7:1 air/fuel mixture for nitro methane the 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, dissociated from atmospheric water vapor 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 1/2 way, the engine is dieseling from compression plus the glow of exhaust valves at 1400 degrees F. The engine can only be shut down by cutting the fuel flow. - 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. - Dragsters reach over 300 MPH before you have completed reading this sentence. \*In order to exceed 300 MPH in 4.5 seconds, dragsters must accelerate an average of over 4 G’s. In order to reach 200 MPH well before half-track, the launch acceleration approaches 8 G’s. - Top Fuel engines turn approximately 540 revolutions from light to light! \*Including the burnout, the engine must only survive 900 revolutions under load. \*The redline is actually quite high at 9500 RPM. \*THE BOTTOM LINE: Assuming all the equipment is paid off, the crew worked for free, & for once, NOTHING BLOWS UP, each run costs an estimated $1,000 per second. The current Top Fuel dragster elapsed time record is 4.441 seconds for the quarter-mile (10/05/03, Tony Schumacher). The top speed record is 333.00 MPH (533 km/h) as measured over the last 66’ of the run (09/28/03, Doug Kalitta). Putting this all 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 & 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 & pass the dragster at an honest 200 MPH. The ‘tree’ goes green for both of you at that moment. The dragster launches & starts after you. You keep your foot down hard, but you hear an incredibly brutal whine that sears your eardrums & within 3 seconds the dragster catches & 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 & not only caught, but nearly blasted you off the road when he passed you within a mere 1320 foot long race! That’s acceleration! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![TeamWRX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@TeamWRX](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/TeamWRX)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2007, 6:23pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/why-i-love-top-fuel-dragsters/187738/2 "2007-01-30T18:23:17Z")
i love going to the nhra races. sooo much fun. and so folking loud. ---
**Author:** ![imported\_Jon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/edb3f5/32.png) [@imported\_Jon](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/imported_Jon)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2007, 6:24pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/why-i-love-top-fuel-dragsters/187738/3 "2007-01-30T18:24:22Z")
Cool facts, but I don’t think the whole corvette thing is right…if I did the math right. Off the top of my head, it seems that at a straight 200mph it would take 4.5s to do the 1/4 mile. Record being, 4.441 seconds. With the added acceleration It sure would be close… Eh, oh well who really cares right? Boredom. Once again though, cool facts I never knew any of that shit. ---
**Author:** ![Dominator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a4c791/32.png) [@Dominator](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Dominator)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2007, 6:41pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/why-i-love-top-fuel-dragsters/187738/4 "2007-01-30T18:41:12Z")
The vette would loose, but if it where a charger… Fuel cars rule! ---
**Author:** ![green](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/green/32/5996_2.png) [@green](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/green)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2007, 7:04pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/why-i-love-top-fuel-dragsters/187738/5 "2007-01-30T19:04:16Z")
> [@vw=sti w/ mods](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/vw-sti-w-mods/17672/93): > > \*Under full throttle, a dragster engine consumes 11.2 gallons of > nitro methane per second; a fully loaded 747 consumes jet fuel at the same rate with 25% less energy being produced. :nuts: I think your info is a little off. 747 fuel capacity 48,445 at 11.2 gallons of fuel per second the plane would only be in flight for 70-71 minutes?? Even if where you got it from meant minutes it would be capable of flight for 70 hours. Which isnt no where even near possible. And Im not even going to start about the whole thrust vs. horsepower. Considering that 4 Rolls Royce engines making 51,000lbs of thrust each is 25% less? Remember it has to put 735,000 pounds in the sky and keep it there. Yes I am a geek ---
**Author:** ![imported\_Jon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/edb3f5/32.png) [@imported\_Jon](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/imported_Jon)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2007, 7:45pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/why-i-love-top-fuel-dragsters/187738/6 "2007-01-30T19:45:09Z")
> [@i think this is bullshit but still pretty funny](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/i-think-this-is-bullshit-but-still-pretty-funny/27643/2): > > **The vette would loose** , but if it where a charger… > > Fuel cars rule! :hahano: ---
**Author:** ![taco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@taco](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/taco)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2007, 8:11pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/why-i-love-top-fuel-dragsters/187738/7 "2007-01-30T20:11:59Z")
fuel cars are awesome They are something that needs to be experienced, words can’t do them justice. If you are standing alongside the fence when they go by you feel the sound pressure in your chest like it is going to stop your heart, kinda like the first time you ever sat in a car with a bunch of subwoofers. ---
**Author:** ![Pewter](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/pewter/32/5936_2.png) [@Pewter](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Pewter)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 4:09am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/why-i-love-top-fuel-dragsters/187738/8 "2007-01-31T04:09:53Z")
TF\>\* the fastest TF ET is & by who? The fastest TF MPH is & by who? ---
**Author:** ![SoLow](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/solow/32/6001_2.png) [@SoLow](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/SoLow)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 4:40am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/why-i-love-top-fuel-dragsters/187738/9 "2007-01-31T04:40:52Z")
> [@i think this is bullshit but still pretty funny](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/i-think-this-is-bullshit-but-still-pretty-funny/27643/2): > > The vette would loose, but if it where a charger… > > Fuel cars rule! > [@Why did some Attack choppers just fly over my house?](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/why-did-some-attack-choppers-just-fly-over-my-house/27626/22): > > :hahano: ---
**Author:** ![Whats\_Missing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a183cd/32.png) [@Whats\_Missing](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Whats_Missing)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 1:35pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/why-i-love-top-fuel-dragsters/187738/10 "2007-01-31T13:35:21Z")
> [@Hi I'm new](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/hi-im-new/27623/13): > > TF\>\* > > the fastest TF ET is & by who? > The fastest TF MPH is & by who? TF/FC\>\* IMHO, Funny cars are just as cool. Name next to fastest et and mph should be Alan Johnson, not Shoe. Any competent TF driver could get into that car and make those numbers. Team was ok before AJ came on board, and will slide back if AJ ever gets fed up with Don Schumacher’s shit. Fuel cars are the best show! Especially during a pedal fest! Hope I get to a NHRA event this year. Sucks that Columbus is no longer on the schedule. Might try Norwalk or Reading this year. ---
**Author:** ![Orr89rocz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac91a4/32.png) [@Orr89rocz](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Orr89rocz)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 3:13pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/why-i-love-top-fuel-dragsters/187738/11 "2007-01-31T15:13:50Z")
i dont know how old that info i posted is…my dad just emailed it to me and that was the first time i ever seen these facts ---
**Author:** ![tom\_vito](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/tom_vito/32/6000_2.png) [@tom\_vito](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/tom_vito)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 3:57pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/why-i-love-top-fuel-dragsters/187738/12 "2007-01-31T15:57:40Z")
cool facts… ---
**Author:** ![85TransAm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/8/e68b1a/32.png) [@85TransAm](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/85TransAm)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 4:41pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/why-i-love-top-fuel-dragsters/187738/13 "2007-01-31T16:41:06Z")
> [@Veesta](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/veesta/27654/6): > > cool facts… yea, more than the first 4 rows at Daytona, damn! ---
**Author:** ![tom\_vito](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/tom_vito/32/6000_2.png) [@tom\_vito](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/tom_vito)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 6:37pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/why-i-love-top-fuel-dragsters/187738/14 "2007-01-31T18:37:32Z")
> [@Veesta](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/veesta/27654/10): > > yea, more than the first 4 rows at Daytona, damn! The facts that I have seen online would almost push that to 5 rows…:eek2: ---
**Author:** ![SloWhite\_Z](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/slowhite_z/32/5969_2.png) [@SloWhite\_Z](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/SloWhite_Z)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2007, 9:44pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/why-i-love-top-fuel-dragsters/187738/15 "2007-02-04T21:44:10Z")
> [@i think this is bullshit but still pretty funny](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/i-think-this-is-bullshit-but-still-pretty-funny/27643/2): > > The vette would loose, but if it where a charger… > > Fuel cars rule! :finger2: it TOP FUEL and it were not where can somebody get this kid some spell check ---
**Author:** ![Dominator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a4c791/32.png) [@Dominator](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Dominator)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2007, 6:18pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/why-i-love-top-fuel-dragsters/187738/16 "2007-02-05T18:18:09Z")
lol. Can somone get this kid some punctuation and a copy of spell check as well. ---
**Author:** ![slvr98camaro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7c8e57/32.png) [@slvr98camaro](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/slvr98camaro)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2007, 10:49am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/why-i-love-top-fuel-dragsters/187738/17 "2007-02-11T10:49:50Z")
didnt read the whole thread, but they go 0-100mph in 0.8 seconds ---
**Author:** ![blackfive-o](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3e96dc/32.png) [@blackfive-o](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/blackfive-o)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2007, 12:44pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/why-i-love-top-fuel-dragsters/187738/18 "2007-02-18T12:44:35Z")
:wackit: