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Post by allstarhr on Jul 2, 2008 15:58:13 GMT -7
Gosh guys! I didn't know this site was watched by NHRA and I didn't know I had that much clout! (See page 1 of this thread)
NHRA's website just announced that the MileHighNationals in Denver will be run at 1000'!
I suggest the Colorado guys who will attend hold their comments until they watch the race.
I have a feeling it's gonna be a good one as all will feel they can run to the finish hard again.
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Post by johnbalich on Jul 2, 2008 18:47:48 GMT -7
obviously Phil, NTRA is once again on the cutting edge! lol
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Post by allstarhr on Jul 2, 2008 19:29:39 GMT -7
I went to an ADRL Pro Mod, etc. race in Valdosta a month ago and watched a good race with all running on the edge on the 1/8th mile. Not much wasted time with clean up other than the best looking car there smacked the wall. Great race and at 1000' it should be better yet. At the same time taking that last 320' and 30 mph off should greatly reduce the injury potential. When I was buying track insurance so many, many years ago I thought it was outrageous then. Can you imagine what it is today with these speeds and larger crowds? I'm sure that has also effected today's decision. I can't make the MileHi's but wish I could. Bet it will be great even with all the ticked off traditionalists.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2008 19:35:44 GMT -7
i guess iam a traditionalist. i like the 1/4 mile tjetcar
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2008 23:58:32 GMT -7
I too am a traditionalist Sheldon! However, I'm going to Mile High Nats and will report back how it went. Guess I should move my seat more towards the starting line now instead of down track...
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Post by nightrider on Jul 3, 2008 4:56:07 GMT -7
Jet,, 50' downtrack from the start line and about halfway up on the pitside... I used to get seats in that area, Awesome.. Chris
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Post by johnbalich on Jul 3, 2008 6:55:35 GMT -7
if they DON'T shorten the track, what do they do?? I don't like restrictor plate races in Nascar either, but unlimited speed isnt a realistic expectation....without restrictions, the cars would be faster every year...Indianapolis 500 has the same wrestling match.....over history the engines have gotten smaller and smaller, and yet faster....I have been going to the drags since 1960, and love the tradition of the 1320......... but change sometimes overtakes us. Ever see pictures of the NHRA pioneers, driving rail jobs in jeans and a T Shirt? NHRA has been limiting speeds for several years now. Limiting cubic inch displacement, limiting Nitro, banning twin engines, mandating gear ratios. I dare say the speed record would be over 350 if these limitations had not been in effect....we can still have the 1320 for all classes slower than say 280 m.p.h.
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Tbolt
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Post by Tbolt on Sept 23, 2008 16:27:23 GMT -7
NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE OFFICIAL NEWS RELEASE
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Office of Public Information (609) 882-2000 Capt. Al Della Fave - ext. 6514 Lt. Gerald Lewis - ext. 6516 Sgt. Stephen Jones - ext. 6513 Sgt. Julian Castellanos - ext. 6515
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 17, 2008
State Police Fatal Accident Unit Releases Findings on Drag Strip Crash that Claimed Life of Scott Kalitta
West Trenton, N.J. - The New Jersey State Police has concluded its investigation of the motor vehicle racing crash that claimed the life of NHRA Top Fuel Funny Car driver Scott Kalitta. The crash happened on June 21, 2008 at 4:20 p.m. during the Lucas Oil NHRA SuperNational drag racing event at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.
The NJSP Fatal Accident Investigation Unit has provided the following description of the crash: Scott Kalitta occupied the right lane in a 1/4-mile (qualifying) drag race against opponent Tony Bartone and was operating a 2008 Toyota Solara Top Fuel Funny Car. Shortly after the race began, Bartone’s vehicle experienced an equipment failure and its speed slowed substantially. Moments later, Kalitta’s vehicle experienced a catastrophic mechanical failure resulting in a fuel-fired explosion prior to the quarter-mile finish line. Kalitta’s vehicle crossed the 1/4 mile mark 0.716 seconds later, at a speed of 300.73 MPH. At the time of the explosion, the rear portion of the vehicle’s fiberglass body separated from the vehicle causing deployment of the damaged parachute system.
Evidence discovered in Kalitta’s lane revealed that he had applied mechanical braking and maintained steering control of the vehicle throughout the 2235-foot-long “shutdown” portion of the racetrack. Post crash examination of the vehicle further revealed the clutch system to be locked, maintaining engine power to the rear wheels. Witnesses and audio recordings reveal the vehicle’s engine firing throughout the shutdown portion of the racetrack, which further reinforced the fact that the vehicle’s engine was still providing power for some period of time.
The vehicle continued from the point of engine failure to the end of the racetrack (approx. 2300') on fire over the course of approximately 7.07 seconds. Upon reaching the end of the paved racetrack, Kalitta’s vehicle entered a “run-off” area constructed of pea gravel at a speed of approximately 125 mph and was positioned near the center of the racetrack’s right lane. As Kalitta’s racecar entered the “run-off” area, the front of the vehicle appeared to pitch upward, allowing air under the vehicle’s fiberglass nose resulting in its separation from the chassis. Over the course of the following .5-second, the vehicle took flight and traveled toward the right side of the run-off area and over the western concrete retaining wall. Immediately thereafter, the vehicle impacted a steel post that supported the right side of a cargo net which was in place to stop race vehicles from passing this area of the racetrack. This impact was specific to the right side of the vehicle and caused separation of the right front suspension components and damage to the right side engine exhaust system. The vehicle continued forward and impacted a piece of heavy equipment (JLG model 600S telescopic boom lift vehicle with a specified (dry) weight of 22,750 pounds), which was positioned outside the “run-off” area by the ESPN television crew. This impact caused catastrophic damage to the vehicle and additional separation of chassis components and the vehicle’s engine. Beyond the boom lift vehicle, a Chevrolet van and a Suzuki Ozark ATV, which were also positioned by ESPN television crew, were damaged by collision debris. The largest portion of the race vehicle came to rest in a grassy area 250' south of the shutdown area and 153' from the initial pole impact. Scott Kalitta was contained in this portion of the race vehicle and had sustained fatal blunt force injuries. A review of information provided by Delphi, which was recorded by accelerometers, mounted to the Kalitta vehicle revealed multiple impacts producing over 100G, with some approaching or exceeding 200G. No information was obtained from the RacePac data recorder installed in the Kalitta vehicle. Post mortem examination confirmed that Scott Kalitta’s death was caused by multiple blunt trauma injuries.
The New Jersey State Police Fatal Accident Investigation Unit has identified the following items to be noteworthy or contributory in the occurrence of this incident:
Engine Failure The stimulus behind the sequence of events leading to the death of Scott Kalitta was a massive failure of the vehicle’s engine. Although not uncommon in Top Fuel drag racing, the exact diagnosis and chronological succession of the engine failure in this incident was beyond the scope of the State Police investigation. After post-crash inspection of Kalitta’s vehicle components by the NJSP, the vehicle was turned over to the NHRA and, ultimately Kalitta Motorsports.
Fuel Flow Interruption After failure of the engine in the Kalitta vehicle, a fire ensued which survived for more than seven seconds, throughout the crash sequence. Additionally, fuel continued to be fed to the engine, either residually or via remaining fuel routing from the fuel tank. This engine power handicapped the capability of the mechanical brake system. Had the driver been rendered unconscious or temporarily unable to apply mechanical braking after the engine explosion and parachute failure, the vehicle’s deceleration over the next ½ mile would have been minimal.
Insufficient Braking Despite approx. 1832’ of intermittent tire marks to indicate the functionality of all four brake systems, the vehicle’s speed was reduced slightly over 50% in the last ½ mile of the racetrack. The initial engine explosion and loss of body components, deployment and minimal expansion of the parachute system as well as the vehicle’s suspension system and tire pressure and composition may have contributed to a loss of tire contact, which made braking partially ineffective. Additionally, the clutch system was found to be locked which maintained engine power to the rear wheels.
>Insufficient Auxiliary Braking (parachute failure) The vehicle’s parachute system was deployed (but did not blossom) at the time of the explosion when the rear portion of the vehicle’s fiberglass body separated. Post crash inspection revealed substantial damage to the parachute system. This damage included tearing, burning, and tangling assumed to be caused by the engine explosion, ensuing fire, body separation, and spoilage of air over the remaining vehicle chassis, and high speed ground contact.
Driver Toxicology Post mortem toxicological analysis of blood obtained from Scott Kalitta during his autopsy revealed the presence of Ethanol at a level of 23 mg/dL. This level converts to a BAC percentage of .02% BAC. This level, 25% of the legal limit for intoxication in the State of New Jersey, remains in violation of NHRA rules (Section 1.7, I., B.1.) as well as N.J.S.A. Title 13 Chapter 62 New Jersey State Motor Vehicle Racetrack Regulations.
Fixed Object Impacts Upon entering the “run-off” area and impacting the pea gravel, Kalitta’s race vehicle took flight at a speed of approximately 125 MPH. The vehicle sailed over the western retaining wall and its right front tire rubbed the concrete wall before the vehicle impacted the western “catch net” support post. This (8.5" diameter x 7' high) hollow steel post was protected on its northern and southern sides by the concrete barrier by its position within the barrier, but extended above the wall with no attenuation.
After impact with the cargo net support pole, the Kalitta vehicle continued 15' from the pole impact before impacting the cast iron counterbalance portion of an aerial boom lift vehicle, which was in place to position a remote television camera over the center of the racetrack. As the impact continued, the Kalitta vehicle made multiple impacts with this 23,000 lb. vehicle and its extended boom component.
The New Jersey State Police Fatal Accident Investigation Unit, as the sole agency with responsibility to regulate the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Racetrack Regulations (N.J.S.A. 13:62) has concluded this investigation and has forwarded all reports to the Office of the Middlesex County Prosecutor for review. After this review, further safety recommendations will be discussed between the NJSP, the NHRA, and all three of New Jersey’s licensed 1/4-mile (drag racing) racetracks.
All requests for further information into this matter should be made through The New Jersey State Police Office of Public Information at 609-882-2000.
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