Yes, it\'s called \"Drag Racing\" and is basically an acceleration contest over a fixed distance. Usually 1/4 mile, but there are also 1/8th mile tracks. Two vehicles line up on exactly the same line (measured by light beams), and start based on a countdown of lights on a light pole (called a Christmas Tree) on an island divider between the two contestants. The lights come as a surprise to the racers, so a race winner is judged by not only who runs the distance the quickest, but in may cases by who reacts the quickest to the green light. Many races are ultimately determined by .01 seconds or even less.
The quickness of the vehicles is determined by a very precise balance of track and atmospheric conditions, engine power, aerodynamics, tire traction, clutch management, frame geometry, suspension action, and driver technique. The top classes of motorcycles in our sanction have around 900 HP out of +/- 190 cubic inch engines.
In NHRA car drag racing, the top classes of cars are becoming so fast, that they have limited the races to 1000 feet instead of the full 1/4 mile (1320 feet) in order to limit the speeds the cars can attain. The top class of NHRA Top Fuel have engines producing in excess of 8000 HP.
Jan 09, 2009 at 05:34 AM
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